Frank Lloyd Wright’s Avery Coonley House knocks another $100k off its price

Described by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright as one of his greatest works, the Avery Coonley House in suburban Riverside is back on the market with a lower price. Built between 1908 and 1912, the large home was restored over the last two decades and features trademarks of Wright’s Prairie School of architectural design such as low hanging ceilings, art glass windows, and long, flat eaves. The home’s grounds were laid out by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen and include a lily pond and sunken garden.

The Coonley House has struggled to find a buyer for some time. After the whole property unsuccessfully listed for two years starting in 2010 asking $2.89 million, its unrestored south "bedroom wing" was able to fetch $355,000 in 2015. At that time, the three other wings were available for $2.1 million. With no takers, the remainder of the 6,000-square-foot home re-listed in mid 2016 for $1.79 million before returning again this week asking $1.69 million.

Will the latest price chop be enough to find a buyer? Hard to say. With costly upkeep and other associated headaches, owning a Frank Lloyd Wright is said to be more like a vocational calling than a simple real estate purchase. If the current owner is serious about moving the property, some higher quality listing photos might not be a bad place to start.

• 281 Bloomingbank Road, Riverside IL [Estately]
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Coonley House Returns with Lower Asking Price [Curbed Chicago]
• Previous Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Curbed Chicago]