The Threat
The preferred "highest and best" re-use North Shore bluff estate properties is subdivision: "vacant" land on or very near Lake Michigan is valued at 1.5 to 2 million dollars per acre. The Becker estate lies just north of the Lake Shore Country Club and its sought after golf course, an attractive inducement for would-be buyers of smaller tracts. Developers, real estate agents and contractors could profit by building a dozen or so luxury "mansionettes". In addition, neighbors would be concerned to see public access so close to their property -- especially if it remains uncontrolled. Local attitudes differ on the tax revenue implications of sub-division: the property has been at a reduced level on the tax rolls, so further loss would not be noticeable; however, subdivision would boost tax revenues.
Fortunately, both the landscape architect (Jens Jensen) and the architect (Howard Van Doren Shaw) have national as well as regional reputations. Both the house and grounds have a high level of significance, and the landscape retains an extraordinary level of integrity. Several preservation initiatives are being explored including the purchase and endowment of the Becker place as a park and study setting, perhaps with a high-end not-for profit "bed & breakfast" inn to defray costs. Alternatively, a small group of investors would like to rehabilitate the estate, building small number of private homes on the least significant parts of the landscape and selling the historically significant portion to the City of Highland Park for one dollar. The City has been supportive of this approach, in which it would maintain the historic core for public access and education. One less likely possibility would be public acquisition of the land by the Lake County Forest Preserve, the State of Illinois , or the National Park Service. However, cultural and historic values notwithstanding, the greatest financial profit would come through subdivision.
