Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Chapter House
Also known as: Matthew W. Busey Mansion
Why it's listed
Set on West Michigan Avenue in Urbana, this Tudor Revival house was designed in 1914 by local architect Joseph William Royer and completed in 1915 as a residence for banker Matthew W. Busey. Its first story is patterned brick, while the upper story is stucco and half-timbering beneath steep slate roofs, twin front gables and tall patterned chimneys. Inside, dark mahogany wainscoting, staircase and built-in wardrobes survive. The Alpha Xi Delta chapter bought the property in 1928 after earlier rented quarters proved too small, and it has remained a sorority house since. Additions at the rear and east side, plus code-driven interior changes, have been made with care for the original appearance. The property is recognized for its role in the Greek system at the University of Illinois and as a fine example of Royer's Tudor Revival work. Busey was long-time president of Busey State Bank.
Significance in brief: It represents the Greek letter society movement that shaped higher education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus (Criterion A). It is also an excellent example of Tudor Revival architecture designed by prominent local architect Joseph W. Royer (Criterion C). Its integrity has been retained despite sympathetic additions and code-related changes.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001110, listed August 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 715 W. Michigan Ave., Urbana |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | August 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001110 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Royer, Joseph W. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a sorority chapter house, with sympathetic rear and east additions and interior changes made to meet building codes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.10150, -88.21842 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001110.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20710415
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.