My in-laws have one of those cute little porcelain signs in their bathroom reading, “Never judge a man by his relatives.”

So let’s all keep that in mind here as the following, a tale of two neighbors, unfolds.

The trouble all started a couple of years ago when George Giannoulias started building his four-story home at 21 E. Cedar St., next door to Dr. Gordy Siegel and his wife Clary’s circa-1891 house at 25 E. Cedar, a place where Frank Lloyd Wright once lived.

To make a long story short, during the Giannoulias “McMansion” construction, major structural damage to the west wall of the Siegel’s home — where they had lived for 25 years — destroyed their house, and forced them to move elsewhere.

Neighbor DeeDee Spence ran into the Siegels recently, found out what was happening, and organized a protest. On July 28, about 30 people showed up at the home, where posted was a sign with bold black and red letters and a frowning smiley face stating: “Giannoulias, Stop the destruction of this house.” (Name familiar? George is brother to State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, living across the street on Cedar and currently running for U.S. Senate).

“I saw it crumbling and thought, ‘This just can’t be,’” said Spence, a Near North Neighbors member who’s circulating a preservation petition. “It’s way too sad to lose a part of history. An old building with charm and character is good for the soul.”

At first, Giannoulias was neighborly about the situation, saying not to worry, he’d take care of it, and even offering to tuck point the west wall, Siegel said. The pair and their wives had dinner together. But Siegel said when he asked for help with some out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance, Giannoulias basically told him: “That’s your house, your problem, and I can do what I want,” according to Siegel.

The Chicago Tribute Marker of Distinction outside the Siegel’s home recognizes that Frank Lloyd Wright lived there while designing Hyde Park’s Midway Gardens, an entertainment complex built in 1914 and demolished 15 years later. The Siegel’s building is not a Chicago landmark or part of a city landmark district, so the house is not protected, said Jonathan Fine, executive director of Preservation Chicago.

Fine was a “concerned observer” particularly interested in Wright’s connection to the building. But he said even without Wright, the building “is a historic property contributing to the streetscape.”

Fine, a licensed architect, hadn’t been inside but said: “Damage of this nature in general does not automatically require demolition.”

The Siegels are working out a monetary agreement with their insurance company. They’re still not sure of the home’s fate.

“Our first choice is to save the house,” Dr. Siegel told me.

Neighbor Trudye Connolly pointed out that the Giannoulias family is friends with Mayor Daley and President Obama, who was just in town raising money for Alexi. Jeff Jarmouth complained he’d had major problems just trying to build a garage at his Elm Street home.

And with the Cedar Hotel, Esquire Theater, and State and Elm properties all vacant, “This is just another example of the neighborhood literally crumbling,” said Sally Loeser, a Near North Neighbors member.

I’m really hoping George gets downright neighborly here, because I hear Alexi’s opponent, Rep. Mark Kirk, is one “pompous” guy, so I’d hate for Alexi to lose Gold Coast votes come election time because of his brother, who didn’t respond to attempts to reach him.

Meanwhile, as once again a beautiful old Gold Coast property is threatened, the band Queen’s song, “Another One Bites the Dust,” just keeps running through my head.

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By Bill from Lincoln Park
Posted: 09/04/2010 6:11 PM

Just think if this is the attitude of a Giannoulias before becoming U. S. Senator just think what it will belike after? While Mark Kirk is a pathological liar this family thinks that they are royalty just like a Daley. Just hope that at some point he mans up.