Secret to Chicago's bungalow boom lies in Rogers Park grandma's home-baked cookies

For many Chicagoans, the warmth of home is found in a bungalow. Bungalows are memories of baking chocolate chip cookies at grandma’s house, block parties on Independence Day, the smell of babies and friendly, familiar, smiling faces. They are constant reminders of the past.

“People long for the kinds of things they remember as children,” said real estate agent Mark Ahlheim about homebuyers and their attraction to bungalows.

When Susan Schoenbeck’s grandmother asked her almost 31 years ago if she wanted to buy her 1925 bungalow, Schoenbeck was eager to own the home where she spent her childhood summers learning how to sew and garden. After raising one daughter and four dogs in her bungalow, Schoenbeck continues to preserve the architectural integrity of her home.

“The bungalows were built to be a livable house. And, I think they’ve proved to be very livable and adaptable,” she said.

Schoenbeck isn’t alone.

As residents across Chicago long to return to their roots, emphasis on preserving these historical structures – they are characterized by protruding bay windows, brick exteriors, limestone accents, and stained-glass windows – has increased significantly over the last eight years.

In 2000, Mayor Richard M. Daley, who grew up in a Bridgeport bungalow, introduced the Historic Chicago Bungalow Initiative. The program encourages bungalow owners to appreciate their homes and offers financial assistance for those wanting to restore and preserve them.

“Chicagoans have a real fondness for their bungalows,” Ahlheim said.

From 1910 to 1940, roughly 80,000 bungalows were built in the city. It is estimated that bungalows make up one-third of the single-family homes in Chicago, according to the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, which administers the initiative. This influx in middle-class housing formed what is now known as the "bungalow belt" on the near north and south sides.

“Anecdotally, I’ve been told that everyone who grew up in Chicago either lived in a bungalow, lived down the street from a bungalow or always wanted to live in a bungalow,” said Susan Ross, of the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Homeowner Connie Warnstedt said her bungalow evokes a sense of family and closeness. That feeling makes her stay in her Rogers Park Manor neighborhood where she’s lived for 37 years.

“If I sold my house, I could not buy something better than what I have now,” she said.

In addition to the sentimental value, “Bungalows represent a lot of Chicago’s history,” Ross said.

Perhaps more notable is the impact bungalows had on architecture.

“Bungalows are an example of architecture that was built for working families at moderate cost. They are historic. They are real indicative of Chicago-style architecture,” said Sunny Fischer of The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Chicago bungalows were designed for versatility. Attics and basements can be converted into extra rooms for growing families, said Faith Foley of the bungalow association. Bungalows are also recognized for their unique craftsmanship and intricate detailing.

Some drawbacks to bungalows are their lack of closet space and energy efficiency. The association encourages bungalow owners to think about eco-friendly ideas when restoring their home. The association gives grants to some bungalow owners, who have been certified by the association, to replace their windows, doors, and heating and cooling units.

“We’ve really kind of geared toward the whole green movement,” Foley said.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation will provide bus tours of the city's bungalows beginning in May.

Interested in bungalows? Check out the Building a Better Bungalow blog.