Dear Guests,
My "Mushroom House ensemble" consists of 4 distinct properties, all "rescued" Earl Young houses. Earl Young is the famous eccentric builder/architect who lined the Park Avenue stretch in front of Michigan Beach Park with his wonderful creations.
The main house of my "mushroom house compound". is called The Thatch House (304 Park Ave) along with The Chalet, attached at the rear. It was Earl Young's first home that he built for himself and his family. Part of this property was an old carriage house behind the main house. Both properties were in deplorable shape. Most potential buyers assumed they needed to be torn down, but I fell in love with them, and with the spirit of Earl Young that's on display along this beautiful stretch of Park Avenue. I bought the house and carriage house in 2013. Inspired, I also bought "Applecore" (8003 Mt McSauba Rd), a "Mushroom House" designed and built by Earl Young's daughter Virginia. This beautiful house sat empty for 9 years. The cottage (305 Clinton St), which shares the grounds with the main house on Park Ave, was also added to complete the collection.
I vowed to restore these properties. The house on Park Avenue was a special case, and I knew that with this property I would be going beyond, way beyond, merely restoring it. "Re-imagining" was a word used often in the extensive media coverage the building of this house generated—its iconic thatch roof has now become somewhat of a tourist attraction. For the carriage house I saw potential for use as a charming "chalet". It now shares the thatch roof of the main house—although it's otherwise separate, with its own private entrances.
My accountants told me I was crazy. And I knew they were right, but I did it anyway. It was a labor of love. That's why I didn't spare time nor expense to turn these properties into the best they could be. I wanted to do justice to the spirit of Earl Young!
Michael Seitz.