Frank Lloyd Wright's 123-Year-Old Walser House Listed for Sale at $350,000 Amid Restoration Concerns
A long-suffering Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Austin has finally hit the market for sale after two decades of disrepair. The Walser House, a two-story stucco property located at 42 N. Central Ave., is being sold by Fannie Mae for a staggering $350,000, with restoration costs estimated to be over $2 million.
The house, which was built in 1903 for printing executive Joseph Jacob Walser, has been in shambles since it entered the foreclosure process in December. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and preservation groups Landmarks Illinois, Preservation Chicago, and Austin Coming Together had been working together to save the home since 2020.
Despite its historical significance as a landmark building that showcases many of the elements Wright would later use in his more notable works, including the Emil Bach House and the Barton House, the property's condition has left it uninhabitable. The organization Austin Coming Together had raised $40 million to convert another abandoned Chicago Public School into a new community center but was unable to purchase the Walser House.
According to Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller, restoring the home would require significant work to maintain its original design intent and materials. "It's going to be an expensive house to restore, but I think it's one really worth restoring," he said.
However, Austin Coming Together Executive Director Darnell Shields expressed frustration that the property was listed for sale at a price significantly higher than its estimated value of $65,000. He still plans to pursue purchasing the house and converting it into community use but warned that without proper development, stabilization, and investment, the home remains under threat.
The listing comes as the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy sees this as an opportunity for potential ownership to revive the landmark building, provided buyers are willing to commit to extensive restoration efforts.
A long-suffering Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Austin has finally hit the market for sale after two decades of disrepair. The Walser House, a two-story stucco property located at 42 N. Central Ave., is being sold by Fannie Mae for a staggering $350,000, with restoration costs estimated to be over $2 million.
The house, which was built in 1903 for printing executive Joseph Jacob Walser, has been in shambles since it entered the foreclosure process in December. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and preservation groups Landmarks Illinois, Preservation Chicago, and Austin Coming Together had been working together to save the home since 2020.
Despite its historical significance as a landmark building that showcases many of the elements Wright would later use in his more notable works, including the Emil Bach House and the Barton House, the property's condition has left it uninhabitable. The organization Austin Coming Together had raised $40 million to convert another abandoned Chicago Public School into a new community center but was unable to purchase the Walser House.
According to Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller, restoring the home would require significant work to maintain its original design intent and materials. "It's going to be an expensive house to restore, but I think it's one really worth restoring," he said.
However, Austin Coming Together Executive Director Darnell Shields expressed frustration that the property was listed for sale at a price significantly higher than its estimated value of $65,000. He still plans to pursue purchasing the house and converting it into community use but warned that without proper development, stabilization, and investment, the home remains under threat.
The listing comes as the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy sees this as an opportunity for potential ownership to revive the landmark building, provided buyers are willing to commit to extensive restoration efforts.
! It's like a piece of history just waiting to be preserved and shared with the world 
. I think $350k is a bit steep considering it needs over $2 million in restoration costs 
, but at least the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy is on board to help make sure the house stays true to its original design intent 
.
! It would be amazing to see this incredible piece of architecture not only restored but also bring people together 
. Fingers crossed everything works out and the house gets the TLC it needs 
#FrankLloydWright #WalserHouse #PreservationMatters
can u believe this house is being sold for like $350k?! I mean i get that it's a historic property and all but come on who's gonna buy it at that price? The restoration costs alone are insane 
over 2 million?! I would've thought they'd be able to get more interest from preservation groups or even some private collectors. But still, its worth saving because of Wright's design 
and the fact that its been abandoned for so long is just sad 
. Whoever buys it better be ready to invest big time 
Can you believe someone's trying to flip a $2M restore project into a $350K sale price? It's like they're trying to make Frank Lloyd Wright cry... tears of joy, right? 
It's like they say: "If you can't afford it, don't buy it... or just fix it yourself, that's what grandkids are for!" 
. I mean, how are you gonna restore a whole house for $2m? 
. Its not like its a mansion or somethin. 2 mil 4 restoration? that's wild! 
). Just think of all the $$ thats gone 2 waste on restoration efforts...its crazy! 
Ugh, can't believe they're selling this iconic Walser House for a whopping $350k when it's basically in shambles and needs over 2 million bucks worth of work... like, what's the point? 
It'd be an amazing community hub, and we should all be supporting that effort. Anyway, I guess this is a chance for a new owner to put their money where their mouth is (and maybe learn a thing or two about Frank Lloyd Wright's design genius 
)
. Fingers crossed whoever buys it does some amazing restoration work - that would be a total game changer 
.
. The Walser House is iconic and all, but $350k is insane 
. Can you imagine being able to walk through those doors and feel the history? 
It's crazy how few people get to experience his genius firsthand.
. That's not even counting all the other projects he worked on! 
