Almost every day, DeeDee Spence walks by the soon-to-be demolished vintage home at 25 E. Cedar St., and feels “so sad.”

“I see the continued deterioration and know that we are soon to lose this little intriguing piece of history, our neighborhood treasure and a little Chicago treasure,” said Spence, a founder of the Near North Neighbors. “Sadly this little place will not be saved. I can hardly say that without my heart hurting.”

The circa-1891 home, most likely an old Gold Coast carriage house, recently sold for $1.5 million, and neighbors are taking the looming demolition plans hard. That’s especially true for Spence, who in July organized a protest trying to save the property, where Frank Lloyd Wright lived while designing Hyde Park’s 1914-built Midway Gardens, according to the Chicago Tribute Marker of Distinction sitting outside the place.

Although the home is in the Gold Coast National Register Historic District, it’s not a Chicago landmark or part of a city landmark district, so it’s not protected. In November, Spence contacted the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and suggested the house be landmarked.

“It met all the criteria to designate it a Chicago landmark,” she said. “I explained the situation, sent pictures and filled out all the forms, but never heard back.”

Yet Peter Strazzabosco, spokesman for the commission, said the property doesn’t meet the landmark ordinance’s criteria required for designation. Landmark suggestions are accepted on an advisory basis, he said, meaning staff is under no obligation to pursue the designation when suggested.

And demolishing the building won’t prompt the city to re-evaluate the area for the future, he added. “We have a good handle on the architectural resources in the community,” said Strazzabosco.

The trouble all started a few years back, when George Giannoulias — brother of former state treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias — started building his new home next door, at 21 E. Cedar St.

During construction, major structural damage ravaged the west wall of Wright’s former home, forcing its current residents Dr. Gordy Siegel and his wife Clary out of the home where they’d lived for 25 years. Neither party could be reached for comment by Skyline.

The house is an “attractive, older property” contributing to the context of the Gold Coast National Register Historic District, said Lisa DiChiera, director of advocacy for Landmarks Illinois. If a local, city historic district had been put in place in the neighborhood, “I’m sure the property would have been contributing to it as well,” said DiChiera.

She said she hopes the loss of the house prompts neighbors to consider working with the alderman and city landmark staff to reassess the area to decide if an additional historic district is appropriate.

The teardown is “a huge disappointment in public officials, our preservation committee, the neighbors on Cedar Street, our alderman and everyone else whose coat sleeves were tugged at to right a wrong and did nothing,” said neighbor Trudye Connolly.

It’s “a perfect example on why we need stricter enforcement by Zoning and the Landmarks Commission,” said Sue Basko, an attorney living nearby.

Unfortunately, some people don’t really care about history until it’s gone, said Spence.

“Then it’s too late,” she said. “Then someday, they or their children think how nice it would be to be able to see it again, to treasure it again, but it will be gone. Then, all we can do is show pictures and tell stories.”

FYI… Landmarks Illinois sent a historical preservation survey to each mayoral candidate. All except one — Gery Chico — answered. Check it out at www.land marks.org.

Sincerest condolences… to Cheryl Sloane on the death of her mom, Joyce, “mother” of Second City and a funny, memorable, and swell gal to interview.