Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District; Hyde Park-Kenwo
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Why it's listed
Two courtyard apartment buildings on East 49th Street in Chicago were added to the Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District through a boundary extension. The 1916 building at 821-29 East 49th Street, designed by Roy F. France for Maurice M. Robinson, is a red brick, U-shaped structure of three stories over an English basement, with 48 apartments and sparse limestone trim. Its main alteration is brick infill of basement windows for security. The 1929 building at 816-26 East 49th Street, designed by R. A. Northquist for Alvin Oscar Johnson, is yellow brick and S-shaped, with 36 units, terra cotta trim, arched windows, green tile roofs and Spanish Colonial Revival detailing. The nomination says neither building has special architectural distinction, yet both match the district's many three- and four-story courtyard apartment buildings. Adding them gives the district a more distinct western edge, beyond which the land was cleared for Urban Renewal in the 1950s and 1960s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the two buildings are similar in scale, materials, integrity and design quality to the many courtyard apartment buildings already in the district. Including them also gives the district a clearer, more logical edge at its western boundary, next to land cleared for Urban Renewal. The form concedes they lack special architectural distinction but says they contribute to the district's overall fabric.
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 84000996, listed August 16, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 821-829 and 816-826 E. 49th St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 16, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000996 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Roy F. France (821-29 E. 49th St.); R. A. Northquist (816-26 E. 49th St.) |
| Architectural style | Courtyard apartment buildings; the 816-26 building shows Spanish Colonial Revival inspiration |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 821-29 building's only major exterior change is brick infill of the basement windows for security reasons. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.80603, -87.60495 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 84000996.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1640023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.