The demolition was approved today at the Design Commission meeting. We’re choosing to look at this moment as an opportunity to learn, share, and celebrate local history. Since the decision has now been made, we thought it would be meaningful (and pretty fun) to dig into the story of the house, the Kennicott family who lived there, and the roots of Arlington Heights. We greatly appreciate the well over 300 signatures we received in less than 24 hours to save the house!

The Design Commission's staff report says:

"The existing house (proposed for demolition) is a colonial style home that according to the real estate listing was built in 1861. The existing house was not included in the 2004 School of the Art Institute Historic Preservation Report because this part of the neighborhood was not covered in the report. The existing house has a stately presence and charming curb appeal that contribute to the character of the neighborhood. Staff encourages preservation of historic homes with architectural quality, so a renovation/expansion of the existing home is encouraged in lieu of demolition/new construction. The Design Commission needs to evaluate the proposed demolition per the municipal code Chapter 28 (Zoning Regulations), Section 13.7.c, which states, prior to issuance of a Certificate of Approval for demolition and new construction, the Design Commission will need to evaluate if the existing home has “significant architectural, historical, aesthetic, or cultural value”.
The first photo in this post comes from a real estate listing displayed at the Estate sale that took at this address a few months ago. It includes a description of the "Kennicott Historic Home, Circa 1860", and includes a picture of the house without the porch addition on the East side as you see today.

Although the recommended path wasn't taken, there's a lot of fun facts to know about the house and Kennicotts who lived there:

916 W. Campbell St was built in 1861 and lived in by the Kennicott family in Arlington Heights. The Kennicott Family is shown to have owned the land from Campbell St all the way down to Grove in a map from 1886.

A Daily Herald Article published August 5th, 1990 says that "according to research by James Robb of Arlington Heights, Mary and Joseph Kennicott purchased a large farmhouse and surrounding farmlands in Arlington Heights in 1865. That house is now located at 916 W. Campbell."

The Daily Herald wrote on November 18, 1982 that "streets here named after early settlers". Specifically, "Joseph E. Kennicott was born in New York State and came to Arlington Heights in 1865. He was a scientific farmer and contributor to various agricultural papers. He owned a nursery and planted many maples in the central area of the village."

The family is considered to be historically significant by the Arlington Heights historical society: "The Kennicotts were deeply involved in the founding of the Methodist Church. Mary worked in the Ladies Aid Society and taught Sunday School."

And recently on Instagram account by the Arlington Heights Historical Society: "Mary Kennicott, was a woman well-known and well-liked by the citizens of Arlington Heights. She had such an impact on shaping our Village that they threw her a parade in honor of her 100th birthday."

Even though the house itself won’t remain, the story does, and that’s worth sharing. This is about documenting what will have stood here before it's replaced by a 6,323 sq-ft house (for sale next Spring!). Progress and preservation can coexist through awareness, and we hope this little history lesson brings a smile, a new fact, or a deeper appreciation of Arlington Heights' history. All sources are attached, especially for architect Keith Ginnodo.