Body
Whereas, the first South Side House Tour took place on April 27, 1991 and was organized by the Design Committee of the South Side Local Development Company that began operation in 1982 in response to a declining neighborhood economy; and,
Whereas, when the SSLDC disbanded in 2012, the South Side Community Council, an all-volunteer organization with the mission of improving the quality of life for residents on the South Side, became the tour's organizers; and,
Whereas, The South Side Community Council is the Registered Community Organization (RCO) for the neighborhood and, in addition to coordinating the home & garden tour, gives voice to residents through the review of new development and support of the South Side Community Action Network, enhancing community connections and vitality through beautification projects and fiscal sponsorship of the Friends of South Side Park that celebrates GoatFest each summer; and,
Whereas, in 1994, Jennie Halapatz, the House Tour chair, stated that the tour was not just a showcase of beautiful homes but also the vitality of a city living in a residential neighborhood; and,
Whereas, in 2001 the House Tour was renamed the Home Tour because Nancy Eshelman, a longtime South Side resident and business owner, wanted to emphasize that the homes and the neighborhood were very much lived in; and,
Whereas, the tour books contained "terms to know" - restoration, rehabilitation, remodeling, Italianate and Queen Anne, many of the homes on each year's tour maintain historic features that reflect part of their history while showcasing their owners' unique tastes; and,
Whereas, in the tour's early years, the neighborhood churches opened their doors to visitors, and in later years, those same doors now open to beautiful condominiums, expanding the South Side's appeal to many styles of living - historic row house, lofts, condos, new builds - all within walking distance of the many neighborhood amenities; and,
Whereas, the tour b...
Click here for full text