Chicago Bauhaus and Beyond was featured in this special by reporter Kevin Roy. The report featured interviews with CBB founders Joe Kunkel, Joan and Gary Gand, and others in the modernist community.

The report also included the Frueh house (by Robert Bruce Tague, faced with demolition soon unless a buyer steps in) and an interview with Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission chairman Daniel Kahn, and the Forest Crest subdivision of Keck and Keck homes, with an interview with original owners there. Joan and Gary Gand's Keck home was shot for the report, as well as Joe Kunkel's Edward Dart Home and the largest Humrich commissioned house which is currently for sale in Olympia Fields.

The piece covered the topics of preservation, tear-downs, and how CBB was formed to create awareness and appreciation.

The text of the news story appears below:

The Chicago area is filled with architectural treasures from the mid-20th century. However, to developers, mid-century homes are often ideal targets for teardowns and big money.

Modernism is one of the hottest trends going right now nationally. Mid-century 1950's design is making everything retro cool again -- from furniture to cars and even houses. In places like California, the value of mid-century homes is soaring. But here, the trend is only beginning to catch fire and not in time to save some modern treasures that already have been lost.

The City of Big Shoulders and even bigger buildings is the birthplace of modernism. Mies Ban der Rohe's steel and glass towers. Bertrand Goldberg's Marina City. But hidden in Chicago's suburbs are many mid-century modern houses that are often overlooked.

"These mid-century homes are so much like, you know, someone's '57 T-Bird that's just rusting in a driveway somewhere undiscovered under a tarp," said Joan Gand, Chicago Bauhaus and Beyond.

Joan and Gary Gand are fifties fanatics. They collect vintage mod furishings from the post-war era. But their biggest prize is their Keck and Keck mid-century home in north suburban Riverwoods with its flat roof and floor to ceiling windows.

"And the posts, all the rooms are so openm, the wood ceiling. It's just a great looking design," said Gand.

A design that in large part evolved from the ideas of internationally acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Just as Wright's homes are considered masterpieces Tuesday, the Gands say mid-century homes from the next generation of American architects --the Keck and Keck Brothers -- Edward Dart and others -- should be preserved and made into household names as well, which is why they formed 'Chicago Bauhaus and Beyond,' a group dedicated to doing just that.

"Chicago seems to be a few years behind...now we have a great wealth of these homes here now, but the trend hasn't hit yet," said Gand.

The trend is hottest in places like Palm Springs, California, where home values are skyrocketing for these fabulous 50's ranches. In Glencoe, there's a similar neighborhood -- the forest crest subdivision of modest Keck and Kecks. But here, the teardown craze is all too obvious. Two of 26 are already gone...going up in their place, what Keck owner Harold Katz calls "McMansions."

"You have these huge houses that are being built...that I did refer to as McMansions, the developers have no interest other than trying to maximize profit," said Katz, Keck and Keck homeowner.

Katz fought to have his neighborhood designated as an historic district. But a majority of neighbors revolted for fear it would affect property values.

Barb and Scott Padiak are just moving into a Keck and Keck they plan to refurbish.

"We were very hesitant buying here because we were worried about the constant heartbreak of, you know, every year this one goes, or another one goes down every year," said Scott Padiak, Keck and Keck homeowner.

A couple of years ago it was the Kunstadter house in Highland Park, a stunning Keck and Keck, it won top honors from the American Institute of Architects. A developer bought it and built not one -- but two multi-million dollar homes in its place.

"It's a shame to have lost it, it really is," said Gand.

There have been victories, like the Farnsworth house, a Mies van der Rohe Steel and glass icon, the National Trust for Historic Preservation saved it, buying it for $7 million and turning it into a museum last year. But when it comes to deciding what is -- or isn't -- worth saving, perhaps no house has been more contentious than the Freuh House in Highland Park, designed by architect Robert Bruce Tague.

"We have books showing it to be Tague's best work...it's basically his Mona Lisa," said Gand.

But one man's Mona Lisa is another man's eyesore. Once a showplace, the home is in a state of decay. A developer bought it with plans to tear it down, but when members of Chicago Bauhaus and Beyond protested, the Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission slapped a one-year delay on the demolition.

"The developer was shocked out of his mind," said Commission Chairman Daniel Khan, who says the developer was told to try to find a buyer. But so far, there have been no takers. "While I don't understand it, a lot of important people do and we've tried to protect it, but I'm afraid this house is going to go in a dumpster."

The south suburbs is also teeming with mid-century marvels -- and the best buys. In Olympia Fields, this house designed by Edward Humrich in 1955 is one of the architect's very best. It's on the market for $565,000.

"A similar Humrich house on the North Shore would go for well over a million dollars," said Joe Kunkel.

Real estate agent Joe Kunkel lives in a groovy Edward Dart house in Olympia Fields. He says many mid-century gems here go for half of what they would on the North Shore. The key to preserving them, he believes, is raising appreciation.

"The better way to get a home preserved is getting it in the hands of someone who actually loves it," said Kunkel.

That's easier said than done because in many neighborhoods where the teardown craze is on, home sellers call developers and ask for an offer. If the price is right, sellers sometimes don't even list their homes. So some of these modern gems wind up being lost without anyone ever finding out they might have been available and possibly could have been saved.

There are still hundreds of these great homes out there just waiting for someone to give them a little TLC.