NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10- 900a). 1. Name of Property historic name South Side Community Art Center other names/site number Seaverns mansion Name of Multiple Property Listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) 2. Location street & number 3831 South Michigan Avenue not for publication city or town Chicago vicinity state Illinois county Cook zip code 60653 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: national statewide local Applicable National Register Criteria: A B C D Signature of certifying official/Title: Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Date Illinois Historic Preservation Agency State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 South Side Community Art Center Cook, Illinois Name of Property County and State 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) Signature of the Keeper Date of Action United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Cook, ,Illinois Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the apply.) count.) Contributing Noncontributing X private X building(s) 2 buildings public - Local district site public - State site structure public - Federal structure object object Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register N/A 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Recreation and culture – Community Art Center Recreation and culture – Community Art Center Domestic – mansion 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Classical Revival foundation: stone walls: brick roof: asphalt other: limestone detailing 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 South Side Community Art Center Cook, Illinois Name of Property County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity). Summary Paragraph The South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) is located at 3831 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The building was designed in 1892 by architect L. Gustav Hallberg as the residence of George A. Seaverns Jr., his wife, Clara Seaverns, and their two sons. The home was originally built among many wealthy neighbors and was well suited in this context. By the mid-1920s the home and its coach house had become multiple rented apartments, and the neighborhood began to decline. In 1940 the home was purchased by the South Side Community Art Center, an organization created under the auspices of the Federal Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project Community Art Center program. The 1940 art center renovation has been credited to two prominent figures in the New Bauhaus school: Hin Bredendieck and Nathan Lerner. Although the exterior maintained its original features and residential character, the primary interior spaces were transformed to a more progressive architectural aesthetic. The main building is in good condition with various areas in need of differing levels of repair. The coach house is in generally poor condition with some areas having been better protected or maintained. _________________________________________________________________________ Narrative Description General The South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) is a 3½ story Classical Revival brick masonry structure with limestone trim and decorative features. The building has a hipped roof with a single dormer at the south projecting bay. The size, massing, siting, and design of the building are indicative of its original 1892 residential use, as well as the affluent influences of the neighborhood at the turn-of-the-20th century. The interior embodies elements of the building’s original residential construction; as well as a 1940 renovation, which incorporated a distinct New Bauhaus design in several main rooms that were intended to serve the art center function. There is a two-story coachhouse at the rear of the property which is constructed of masonry similar to the main house. The SSCAC is sited on the east side of a wide, urban boulevard along the 3800 block of South Michigan Avenue. There are several historic and contemporary single and multi- family homes on this block; but nearly half of the lots are vacant land. At the time that the building was renovated for the art center, the surrounding neighborhood was likely much more densely populated, since much of the mansion-lined street had been converted to multi-family tenement houses by the time of the Depression. Although several structures on adjacent blocks have been removed since 1950 (based upon Sanborn maps from 1912 and 1950), the overall character of the surrounding neighborhood remains residential as it was during the period of significance. Site The SSCAC is sited on a wide lot, approximately 50 feet x 140 feet. The northeast corner of the site is slightly chamfered due to a jog in the adjacent rear alley. The main building is generally rectangular and is located toward the north of the site providing a larger yard to the south. The coach house is located at the eastern edge of the site, and its rectangular plan is also truncated by the jog in the property line at the northeast corner. The orientation of the buildings on the site creates a lawn area along the south of the main building which continues to the rear of the lot between the house and the coach house. This yard area is minimally planted with grass and a few sparse trees and shrubs which are likely volunteers that have grown more permanent over time. 4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 South Side Community Art Center Cook, Illinois Name of Property County and State There is a simple five-foot high wrought iron fence along the west (front) side of the site that is installed upon a concrete curb, a deteriorated paved path leads from the street to the coach house through the center of the lawn, and a few permanent art installations have been placed near the west side of the site. The spatial arrangement of the two buildings on the site remains the same as during the period of significance; no parking lots or other structures have been added to the site. Exterior The west (front), north, and south elevations of the main building are constructed with red/brown face brick with a limestone base. The east (rear) elevation is constructed of common brick. The limestone base at the north, west, and south includes basement level window openings which are primarily single-lite, wood-framed, hopper windows. Three windows at the base of the south rounded bay are taller openings that extend below grade into shallow light-wells. These three windows are wood framed, double-hung units. All basement window openings include exterior decorative iron grilles. The exterior front elevation is articulated by a pedimented limestone entrance canopy with fluted ionic columns, and a rounded projecting bay at the south half of the first and second floors. Limestone