Wrightwood Bungalow Historic District
Why it's listed
Two blocks of West Wrightwood Avenue on Chicago's northwest side form a district of brick Chicago bungalows built between 1916 and 1926. The 4600 block was built in 1923-1924 by Stoltzner Construction Company with architect Joseph Klafter, who together produced all thirty-two bungalows there. The 4700 block grew more gradually through individual owners, small builders and architects, yet kept a similar scale and setback. The houses share low-pitched roofs, overhanging eaves, banded windows and brick and limestone detailing, set along a boulevard with a 200-foot right-of-way and a central green space. The showpiece is the yellow brick bungalow at 4701 W. Wrightwood, with a green terra cotta roof and extensive limestone ornament. The district was listed for its association with the spread of single-family homeownership in Chicago and for its well-preserved example of the bungalow type. Many early residents were immigrants or their children, who moved from mixed-use city neighborhoods to this quieter residential setting.
Significance in brief: The district is significant under Criterion A for its link to the promotion of single-family homeownership in Chicago, set against the rising density of apartments and tenements. Under Criterion C it embodies the bungalow as a distinctive type, period and method of residential construction, and it retains a high degree of integrity. It also shows both large-scale speculative building and individual development.
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 04000975, listed September 15, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4600 and 4700 Blks of W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | September 15, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000975 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1916-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Stoltzner Construction Company; Klafter, Joseph; various |
| Architectural style | Other: Chicago Bungalow |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function remains domestic, with single dwellings and garages. Eight bungalows have been altered enough to be non-contributing, most often by large side dormers. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 41.93036, -87.74432 (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 04000975.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85816332
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.