The childhood residence of Pope Leo XIV in southeast suburban Dolton was up on the market till Thursday when the proprietor realized he held the keys to a now-historic website.
The proprietor, who shouldn’t be talking with the media right now, is now grappling with the tough choice of what to do with the house, Steve Budzik, the property Realtor and the proprietor’s pal, stated.
“It’s protected to say that it gained’t be bought and it gained’t be rented out,” Budzik stated.
On Thursday morning, the home was listed at $219,000 however was shortly taken down after Budzik, with ICandy Realty, discovered Robert Prevost was elected pope. Since then, he and the proprietor have been discussing how they might pay homage to the primary U.S. pope with this residence.
Newly elected Dolton Mayor Jason Home stated he’s on board with making the house a chosen historic landmark. He’s even discussing probably renaming the road after the pope.
“We take a look at it from a approach of honoring any position that we are able to play in his childhood and recollections. I feel that’s a deep honor, and we wish to make it possible for we’re doing it correctly,” Home stated.
It’s an thrilling time for Dolton, he stated, and so they wish to acknowledge this historic second.
One concept, Budzik stated, is to revive it to how the pope could have remembered it in his childhood. In addition they mentioned turning it right into a viewing residence or a museum.
The pope’s dad and mom purchased the 1,200-square-foot brick home on East 141st Place new in 1949, paying a $42 month-to-month mortgage. The Prevost household — Louis, an educator, Mildred, a librarian, and their sons, Louis, John and Robert — had been generally known as devoted and religious musicians, altar boys, lectors and volunteers.
Budzik stated one factor for sure is that the proprietor needs to talk with the pope’s household, particularly his brother John Prevost, who lives in far southwest suburban New Lenox earlier than deciding the subsequent steps.
“Speaking to the household is essential as a result of it’s their childhood residence,” he stated. “As a substitute of simply making an attempt to revenue off of someone else, having them concerned will likely be crucial.”
Budzik and the proprietor wish to know the way the home used to look to probably restore it.
“These homes weren’t huge again within the day. Massive households grew up in small homes. That was the norm, so we wish to attempt to get an concept of how they operated and the way we are able to carry it again,” Budzik stated.
The Chicago property investor purchased the house a couple of yr in the past with a plan to repair it up and promote it or lease it out. Budzik stated the proprietor spent greater than $80,000 in renovations to replace everything of the home.
It now features a full-finished basement, 5 bedrooms, three full bogs and beauty adjustments all through the home. However, these renovations may be ripped out and the within restored to how the over 70-year-old residence as soon as seemed.
Budzik stated they’re enthusiastic about what’s to return for the house.
“Who would have identified that it could have been a Chicago-born and raised pope that was picked and for his home to be in Dolton. I used to be actually simply greatly surprised and stunned, however actually honored,” Budzik stated.
Contributing: Lauren FitzPatrick
