Mavrek Development Blog

Room to Grow in Roscoe Village

The Roscoe Village neighborhood is one of Chicago’s hotspots for young families searching for space and convenience without sacrificing the perks of city life. When this property appeared on the market, we recognized the potential in the house’s bones right away, and knew this former rental would make a remarkable single family home.

The first order of business was a total demolition of the neglected interior, and we stripped the structure right down to its original masonry. This allowed us to spend considerable time reimagining the floor plan to create the most comfortable and functional space allowable—beginning with what has become a Mavrek Development signature structure: an expansive and open staircase that will allow natural light to flood all three stories, courtesy of a generously sized skylight (three feet by six feet!) directly above.

The formerly cramped basement level lacked real living space until we reached into the earth and found more than two feet of additional ceiling height. The lower level now holds a utility room, recreational space with a bar area, and a one bedroom, one bathroom ‘In-Law Suite’. 

With the main level’s newly open floor plan, an ample kitchen—complete with a beautiful fireplace—is given star billing. Informal seating flanks the kitchen at the rear of the home and catches light from the large eastern- and southern-facing windows, giving a cohesive feeling to the area that is sure to be the heart of its future family’s home.

Paving the Way for Modern Amenities

This charming single family home looks as though it were freshly ripped from the pages of a history book. Sitting on three city lots in the Ravenswood Manor historic district, it is a painted lady with a long history—one that dates beyond the ‘modern’ amenity of an attached garage.

While many of us take for granted the luxury of a secured and protected passage from vehicle to house, be from snow storm or cover of dark, these homeowners were stuck in the home’s Victorian age with a modern dilemma: they desperately wanted to add this convenience, but wouldn’t sacrifice the historic aesthetic to do so.

The homeowners contracted Mavrek Development, and we are currently in the midst of an impressive and historically sensitive addition: a three car garage with attached mudroom plus basement storage—and not finishing before including brand new landscaping that will include a ‘sports court’ for their three children. Stay tuned as we keep you updated on this very special project.