Chicago Brownstones For Sale or Rent
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What is a Chicago Brownstone?
While extremely popular in places along the East Coast, it’s possible to find some true brownstones in the Chicago area, as well. Many of them are coveted not only for their unique features, but also their history and their location.
A Chicago brownstone is a brick row house or townhouse that’s made of brick and covered with a brownstone sandstone façade. It’s that brown hue that makes brownstones so distinctive and easy to spot. The dark brown color comes from all the iron in the stone. For some, using brown sandstone was a cheaper alternative at the time than other stones, such as marble and limestone.
Common Characteristics of a Chicago Brownstone
Usually, a true brownstone not only has its distinctive coloring, but it’s also adjoined to the building next door. This creates a solid façade from the street. Oftentimes, each individual brownstone will have a couple of street-facing windows on the front, as well as access to a small courtyard on the backside of the building. Most brownstones were originally constructed as single-family homes for the middle class.
A brownstone often comes with Italianate detailing, which was more popular around the mid 1800s, the time when many of the first brownstones in the city were constructed. It also often comes with multiple levels of living space, which means lots of stairs if it remains a single-family home today. Most did follow a pretty standard floor plan, so you won’t see a lot of variations in the layout, unless the property has been heavily remodeled. While brownstones can also be considered townhomes, only a true brownstone has the brown sandstone façade for which it gets its name.
Where You’ll Find Brownstones in Chicago
You’ll commonly find brownstones in some of Chicago’s most desirable, historic neighborhoods. Expect to see brownstones in places like Lincoln Park, Old Town, and the Gold Coast. Some of the original brownstones still standing today in Chicago have been nicely updated and renovated over the years. This includes keeping some of the original features and finishes, but at the same time modernizing the brownstones to make them more appealing to today’s buyers.
People enjoy Chicago brownstones today for their historic appeal and oftentimes their location. Some original brownstones stand within walking distance of local attractions, like Michigan Avenue, the lakefront and area beaches.