Ridgewood
Also known as: 1703-1713 Ridge Apt.Bldg.
Why it's listed
Ridgewood, at 1703-1713 Ridge Avenue in Evanston, is a three-story apartment building finished in 1905. It holds six apartments per floor above a basement, and each unit has its own working fireplace, built-in cabinets, hardwood floors and Prairie School oak woodwork. The exterior combines dark red-brown brick, limestone sills and stuccoed upper walls beneath a low hip roof with a wide overhang. Half-octagonal bays give the elongated U-shaped plan its strongest features, and Sullivanesque ornament marks the entries and the arched third-floor windows. The Chicago firm Atchison & Edbrooke designed it; Harry Edbrooke, trained under William K. Fellows and Howard van Doren Shaw, was the firm's designer. The nomination describes it as one of few apartment buildings in the Prairie School manner, and an early one, influenced by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. A 1977 restoration removed later intrusions such as enclosed balconies and updated the mechanical systems while keeping the original fabric, and the building remains in residential use.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the few apartment buildings designed in the Prairie School style, and as an early example given its 1905 completion. Its forms and Sullivanesque ornament are said to reflect the influence of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. It also shows how a significant building can be restored and kept in its original residential use.
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 78001136, listed October 4, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1703--1713 Ridge Ave., Evanston |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | October 4, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Atchison & Edbrooke |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; thoroughly restored and renovated in 1977 with no structural changes. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.04883, -87.68828 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 78001136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28125972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.