North Milwaukee Ave. & Sauganash, Chicago
81 Single Family Homes
Client: Bejco/Terrestris Development

The Sauganash neighborhood, on the northwest side of Chicago, features an eclectic mix of traditional single family homes. Often referred to as "The Suburb in the City", this desirable community features large lots, graciously appointed with mature trees and landscaping that are more typical of Chicago's suburbs than an urban neighborhood.

A unique twelve-acre site bounded by an old, heavily wooded cemetery and a forest preserve offered our clients the opportunity to introduce a new type of housing to the City. FAA created a site plan for this parcel featuring a single point of entry, expansive yards and meandering streets typical of the naturalistic type of suburban plan, all within the city limits of Chicago.

The winding streets provide access to 84 homes that comprise this unusual community. Front-loaded driveways and attached garages resulted in large rear yards which face the adjacent stands of mature trees. The result is a single family neighborhood nestled within a treelined setting and a rare opportunity for relaxed living in an urban location.

Numerous house plans were offered in anticipation of the widely varying preferences of upscale buyers. The expansive yards were emphasized by the creation of generous family rooms and master suites facing the wooded areas.

The architecture is derived from the eclectic assortment of 'Stockbroker' Tudor and ÔFrench County' styled homes from the 1920's which make the existing Sauganash neighborhood so appealing. Alternate elevations were offered for each home type as well as a choice of material and color palettes to achieve a varied streetscape and ensure that each home would be unique, in keeping with the strong sense of individuality that makes Sauganash so distinctive.