Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1921 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “The zoning question in Oak Park came up at home and we are going to have a restricted district on Euclid Avenue between South Boulevard and Madison Street.” Oak park residents were trying to save its residential districts from large apartment complexes that year. Local contractors were putting pressure to build a fifty-two-unit apartment complex and took their case to court
Newspaper headlines that spring reported, “Oak Park’s War on Huge Flats Reached Courts” as builders sought legal aid to get their permit (Chicago Tribune, May 8, 1921, page 137). Mills & Sons, Chicago builders, tried to pressure Charles E. White Jr., the Commissioner of Public Works, approve their building at the northeast corner of Euclid Avenue and Pleasant Street. The area was strictly residential district. Mills & Sons were also proposing another massive structure on the southwest corner of Randolph and Oak Park Avenue.
Moses lived at 233 S. Euclid Avenue, halfway between Randolph Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Neighbors rallied to prevent the construction of the large complex in their quiet neighborhood By April 17, 1921, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “Oak Parkers Win Battle in War on Big Flat Buildings” (page 137). Village ordinances were implemented to prevent the construction of massive complexes in primarily residential areas.
On May 19, 1921, a special meeting of the zoning committee further banned future apartment buildings on Euclid Avenue between South boulevard and Randolph street in Oak Park. Specifically, the village ordinance prohibited the construction of any building beyond a residential home in the two-block stretch (Forest Park Review, 21 May 1921, page 6).
Chicago was expanding, however, and land was often a good investment. Later that year, Moses wrote, “The Madam and I went to Elmhurst August 14th and bought a 100 foot lot for $1,600.00. We might build on it sometime.”). Elmhurst was another western suburb of Chicago, located due north of Oak Park.
The next year Moses looked at the prospects of building on their lot. In 1922, he wrote, “building material has been so high that no one has ventured to build. Only six houses have been built. Our lot is very high and a fine location.”
To be continued…
