Vandals Damage Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed Home

Riverside Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for vandalizing the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Coonley bedroom home sometime in the last two weeks.

The break-in at the landmarked home was not reported to police until July 26. A police investigation has determined that the vandalism and break in took place sometime prior to this date.

Police believe that the section of the home at 300 Scottswood Road was accessed through some open windows which may have fallen into disrepair.

Sgt. Frank Lara, of the Riverside Police Department said there was no permanent damage to the historic building.

“There was a little bit of graffiti and evidence of people drinking,” Lara said. “Some of the windows were gone, which could have been due to age and neglect. [The suspects] may have found an opening, offering an opportunity to hang out.”

After the vandalism was discovered on July 26, a special watch was placed on the property.

“While one of my midnight sergeants was checking the property at approximately 10:30 p.m., he discovered that the property was still not secured,” Riverside Police Chief Weitzel said in a news advisory. “I then contacted the real estate agent and homeowners again through our building department and asked that they take immediate action to secure the home. The home is now secured, but it is extremely disappointing that the former owner and current real estate agent would not have taken immediate action to preserve such a landmark residence within the Village of Riverside when the initial burglary was discovered.”

The famed architect designed the home for industrialist Avery Coonley in 1912. The estate is a series of intersected buildings built along the banks of the Des Plaines River. Wright often referred to the Coonley home as “my greatest house.”

The Coonley House represents the last of Wright’s Prairie-style houses during his Oak Park period.

Half of the house on Bloomingbank Road, the gardener’s cottage and coach house have been restored to their original architectural design. The Scottswood bedroom estate that was damaged is currently listed by the Pearson Realty Group for $354,100.

Anyone who has information about who may have caused the damage to this landmark estate, is asked to please contact the Riverside Police Department, Detective Sergeant Frank Lara at 708-447-2127 extension 263 or flara@riverside.il.us.

Callers can remain anonymous when reporting this information. Riverside Police are just looking for a lead to assist in solving the case, the news advisory said.

PHOTO: Coonley bedroom estate at 300 Scottswood Road, Riverside.