Building at 813-815 Forest Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 on the east side of Forest Avenue in Evanston, this three-story brick apartment building rises above an English basement and takes the form of an L, or half a courtyard building. It holds twelve apartments, nine with two bedrooms and three with one, plus four attached garages at the rear. Architect Jens J. Jensen and the firm Bowman and Regner, who served as owner and builder, enriched the brick walls with Tudor details. Three doorways have Tudor arches formed by limestone moldings and heavy wooden doors with wrought iron hinges. Leaded windows, some with stained glass shields, light the lobbies and stair halls. The slate roof is broken by crenellations, gables and pinnacles, and a crenellated tower marks the front. Inside, Tudor arches and medieval-style fireplaces continue the theme. The building is valued for these refined details and homelike character, and a zoning variation allowed its tower and shallower rear setback.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its many elegant Tudor-inspired details, which are consistent yet full of refinements and visual surprises. Its apartments are modest in size but homelike, and offer light, cross ventilation and interior garages like those in larger courtyard buildings. It is described as impressive as an English country house.
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 84000950, listed March 15, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 813-815 Forest Ave., Evanston |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 15, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000950 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Bowman and Regner, Owner and Builder; Jens J. Jensen, Architect |
| Architectural style | Tudor-inspired |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.03279, -87.67391 (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 84000950.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96374088
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.