I
n the heart of Chicago's Austin neighborhood, a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece teeters on the brink of collapse. The J.J. Walser Jr. House, a rare Prairie-style gem, has been added to Preservation Chicago's 2025 Chicago 7 list of endangered architecture due to its deteriorating condition and years of vacancy.

    Built in 1903 for printing executive Joseph Jacob Walser at a modest cost equivalent to $150,000 today, the house boasts distinctive overhanging eaves, an open floor plan, and art glass windows that reflect Wright's vision of affordable Prairie-style design. Despite its beauty, the property has suffered from water damage, vandalism, and neglect since the passing of its last owners, Anne and Hurley Teague, in 1997 and 2019.

    The house's current state is a cry for help: every part of it needs attention, from patchwork fixes to a top-to-bottom overhaul. Preservation Chicago and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy are sounding the alarm, urging someone to step forward and rescue this architectural treasure before it's too late.

    Designated a Chicago Landmark in 1981 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, the house is protected from demolition but faces legal complications from foreclosure and a 2003 reverse mortgage. A new owner could tap into federal and state tax breaks to fund the fix-up, but time is running out.

    "We need the community to voice their support for this amazing house and be a partner in its restoration, repair, and revival," says Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. "We're also pleading with City Hall to help fund the resurrection of Wright's vision before it's too late." The clock is ticking, but with advocacy efforts underway, there's still hope for this Prairie-style stunner to be restored to its former glory.