Stepping off the pitcher's mound and onto the real estate field, former Chicago Cubs star Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah are selling their historic Winnetka mansion for a lofty $8.5 million. The couple, known for their occasional shifts in living spaces, are letting go of their 11,250-square-foot Georgian Revival estate, as reported by the Chicago Tribune and BNN Breaking.
The dwelling, encapsulating over a century of history after being constructed in 1902 for railroad executive Charles I. Sturgis, presents a slice of architectural panache by William Otis. Inside the stately walls lies a kitchen sporting white marble countertops, and a Farrow & Ball blue island, and they're complemented by five fireplaces which provide the home with both aesthetic and literal warmth, six bedrooms including a sumptuous primary suite situated on the second floor consisting of not one but two walk-in closets, and an enticing fireplace that could make even the coziest of dens seem spartan by comparison.
Not to be constrained by the past, Kerry and Sarah Wood who have a predilection for refurbishment, stamped their mark on the house's basement transforming it into a versatile area with an arts and crafts studio, a gym replete with a sauna, a wine room, and a pleasing recreation room with a bar, allowing a space for every mood and every occasion, the Chicago Tribune details. The property's outdoor features are similarly lavish with a swimming pool, a new pool house, and an outdoor kitchen, perfect for both hosting and private enjoyment.
According to the Chicago Tribune interview, the notable shakeup in the Woods' living arrangements comes as their son rounds off his high school years, but Chicago remains close to their hearts and is irreplaceably called home. Their property history narrates a pattern of antiques and luxury homes, including an impressive mansion in Lincoln Park and a scenic waterfront abode in Wisconsin which they ceded ownership of in past years, with a historic Tudor Revival-style mansion in Winnetka among the notches on their real estate pole, which was bought and sold within three years at a loss.
Listed by Jena Radnay of @properties, who gushed to the Chicago Tribune about the "Mecca of beauty" Winnetka compound, the mansion carries more than just a hefty price tag; its annual property tax bill alone stood at $91,357 for the year 2022.
