Building at 1929-1931 Sherman Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 on the east side of Sherman Avenue in Evanston, this three-story brick apartment building sits above a full English basement and contains twelve apartments. Its roughly "L" shape forms a half courtyard. The shallow side court, the neighboring side yard and the building's many projections give the apartments light, cross-ventilation and multiple views. Red brick walls are trimmed with limestone, and the basement level is rough-faced limestone. Tudor precedents inspired the picturesque massing, which includes square and three-window bays, a slate roof, hipped wall dormers and a half-timbered projection under a broad hipped gable. Lobbies are at ground level behind a round-headed oak door with brass hardware. Apartments have paneled dining rooms and arched entries between rooms. Maher and McGrew designed the building and also worked on prominent Evanston buildings such as Rotary International and the Standard Rate and Data Building. The building became a condominium in 1978, and a rear garage provides four parking spaces.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a high-quality "L" type, half-courtyard apartment building that combines sophisticated design with a domestic character. It has varied design detailing, Tudor-inspired massing and masonry, and apartments with the amenities of a home. It is also the work of Maher and McGrew, architects of several prominent Evanston buildings.
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 84000978, listed March 15, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1929-1931 Sherman Ave., Evanston |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 15, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Maher and McGrew |
| Architectural style | Tudor-inspired "L" type half-courtyard apartment building |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to condominiums in 1978; 1978 work included rewiring, kitchen remodeling in one unit and prefabricated fireplaces in all units. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.05328, -87.68162 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96374085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.