LINCOLN PARK — Artist Roger Brown’s former home and studio has cleared another key hurdle toward landmark status, months after preservationists warned the 19th-century building could be torn down.

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks’ Program Committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the designation for the property at 1926 N. Halsted St.

The commission cited the building’s value as a critical part of Chicago’s cultural heritage and its identification with Brown, a leading figure in the city’s Imagist art movement.

Brown, who lived and worked in the three-story Halsted Street home from 1974 until shortly before his death, used the building as a combined residence, studio and display space.

After he donated the property to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1996, the school ran it as the Roger Brown Study Collection for more than two decades, offering students a rare opportunity to study the life and work of one of Chicago’s most influential artists.

His paintings are held in major museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A blank column in Roger Brown’s mosaic reflects the “perils of ambition” at City Hall across the street. Credit: Hillary Marzec

The property became a focus of preservation efforts last year after SAIC listed it for sale. Alumni, former students and preservation groups quickly mobilized, submitting letters and nearly 600 signatures calling for protection of the home.

Respondents described the Halsted Street building as “one of the most magical places in Chicago,” “a living archive,” and a space that “completely changed the trajectory” of their artistic lives.

Many recalled visiting during their first year at SAIC, saying the experience shaped their practices for years to come. Others highlighted the home’s significance to both queer and art history in Chicago, calling it “a rare, intimate look into a life lived through art” and “a place that convinced me Chicago could be my home.”

Susannah Ribstein, a historic preservation alum of SAIC who helped organize the open letter, said the support reflected the building’s unique role in Chicago’s artistic community.

“This isn’t just about a house,” she said. “It’s about preserving a place where Chicago art history was made.”

With the Program Committee’s recommendation, the proposal now moves to the city’s Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards Committee, which will review it before sending it to the full City Council for a final vote.

If approved, the designation would protect the building from demolition or unsympathetic alterations and ensure that Brown’s legacy remains a tangible part of the city’s cultural landscape.

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