North Shore Sanitary District Tower
Why it's listed
Built in 1931, this 50-foot semi-circular brick tower rises from a wooded ridge at Cary Avenue, overlooking Lake Michigan just north of Highland Park's Rosewood Beach. Engineers Greely & Hansen designed it as a venting tower for sewer gases, and it stands near a pumping station. A stainless steel ornamental spire crowns the structure. Although it is no longer in operation, the tower is described as being in excellent condition and unaltered. Its importance rests on Art Deco detailing that seldom appears in a purely utilitarian structure. A flat steel Dutch door is trimmed in cut stone, and the windows have decorative cut stone sills. The sanitary district that owns the tower objected to its listing, but because the owner is a public entity, that objection did not prevent listing. The tower was entered in 1983 as part of Highland Park's multiple resource group, recognized for the architectural quality given to an everyday piece of infrastructure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tower is significant for its unusual Art Deco detailing, which rarely appears in a utilitarian structure. Details include a flat steel Dutch door trimmed in cut stone and decorative cut stone window sills. The sanitary district owner objected, but because the tower is publicly owned the objection did not block listing.
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 83000322, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cary Ave., Highland Park |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000322 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Greely & Hansen, Engineers |
| Architectural style | Art Deco detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rated excellent condition and unaltered; originally used as a venting tower for sewer gases, now inoperative. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.16781, -87.77171 (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 83000322.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687977
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.