Chicago Bungalow Association

10/01/2026

Dear members and friends,

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Executive Director, Mary Ellen Guest. Mary Ellen passed peacefully on September 20, surrounded by her family, at the age of 71.

Mary Ellen led Chicago Bungalow Association (CBA) for more than 16 years, joining as Executive Director in 2010. She improved the lives of many through her devotion to serving the people of Chicago.

A lifelong South Sider, with an extensive background in politics and nonprofits, Mary Ellen extended our impact beyond bungalows and the Bungalow Belt to respond to the changing needs of Chicago homeowners and neighborhoods.

She brought deep Chicago roots and a dynamic, grounded nature to her leadership. Mary Ellen strengthened CBA as a trusted resource, built trust through strong partnerships, personally attended countless community events, and advocated for programs based on what she heard from Chicagoans.

"Meet people where they are" was one of her guiding principles. She worked with our staff to give every CBA member patience and individual attention. She believed in treating each homeowner with care "like you're going into your mom's house."

A beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and inspiration to many, Mary Ellen will be deeply missed. Her legacy continues through the families she served, the neighborhood relationships she strengthened, and the staff and partners carrying her work forward.

We welcome you to share memories on her tribute wall here: https://www.curleyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Mary-Ellen-Guest?obId=49687205

With gratitude and remembrance,
The Chicago Bungalow Association Board and Staff

09/08/2026

Don’t miss BAPA’s upcoming Old House Lecture Series

Meet Carla Bruni, Preservation and Resiliency Specialist at the Chicago Bungalow Association. She will speak on her recent book co-authored with Paul Thompson - Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City’s Everyday Architecture

Bruni will take questions after the lecture. The Chicago Bungalow Association will also have a table for people who want to learn more about older homes, and Bruni’s book will be available for purchase. 

Free, RSVP required - visit BAPA.org

09/03/2026

"The Chicago Bungalow Association will host 'Heat Pumps 101: What Chicago Homeowners Need to Know' on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m. During the webinar, Rigo Lopez, of RLJ Mechanicals Inc. and DNR Construction Inc., will present an introduction to heat pumps, what they are, how they work, their benefits, and answers to common questions, including how they perform through Chicago winters. The webinar will include important considerations such as what electrical upgrades might be needed, ducted versus ductless systems, and why insulation, air sealing and energy-efficiency measures are critical steps for every home." - The Beverly Review
https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community_news/article_fbaa3cfa-89c3-4a81-b325-626c80ffa5f8.html

Check our Facebook events for this free webinar!

The Beverly Improvement Association (BIA) will host a Family Bike Ride on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. Participants will meet at 93rd Street and Hoyne Avenue, and they will

09/02/2026

Did you make your better? We want to see it!

Enter a home improvement project completed in the last five years for the 22nd Annual for a chance to win cash prizes in seven categories ⭐

Refinished your original floors? Fixed up your concrete? Made your basement more usable? Insulated your attic? Improved your yard?

You don't need a huge renovation or a big budget to win a Driehaus Bungalow Award. We celebrate the smart, practical, creative ways Chicago homeowners care for and improve their bungalows.

Nominations are due September 23 at www.chicagobungalow.org/nominate

Generously funded by The Driehaus Foundation 💛

08/27/2026

Design inspiration for a charming ✨🍃 Historical colors of the (See the full blog post at www.chicagobungalow.org/post/historical-colors-chicago-bungalow)

08/19/2026

"While researching their new home—a Craftsman bungalow—online, Edwards-Haynes stumbled upon the Chicago Bungalow Association website and learned that it held annual competitions. 'We just wanted to learn as much as we could about Chicago,' Edwards-Haynes said. 'My competitive nature caused me to want to participate in the contest.'"

And we're glad she did enter the ! 🌸 Congratulations to Joi and Arthur, winners of Best Bungalow Window Box, featured in The Beverly Review 👏

Joi Edwards-Haynes and her husband, Arthur Haynes, may be new to Chicago, but they’ve quickly made their mark on a home in Beverly.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to the Best Bungalow Window Box runner-up of the 10th Annual : Herb Lentz 🌟🌿

About the garden, Herb wrote: "Many window boxes go all in on flowers, but mine goes the other way, built mostly from succulents in every shape and shade, from pale green rosettes to deep burgundy aeoniums, with a little coleus tucked in for a spark of contrast. The result is a box you read for texture, not just color, and it shifts character in every light from morning to dusk. Set against the brick, it is less a seasonal display than a small experiment in how much life you can layer into a few feet of soil."

See photos of all awarded gardens at www.chicagobungalow.org/garden-contest-gallery-2026

08/06/2026

Congratulations to the Best Bungalow Window Box winner of the 10th Annual : Joi Edwards-Haynes 🌟🌿

About the garden, Joi wrote: "We built our 12 foot long cedar flowerbox specifically for our bungalow, then added: two foliage thrillers — caladiums and coleus — for bold color that holds up between blooms, impatiens to provide continuous color, and sweet potato vine and vinca spilling generously over the edges. Our flowerbox faces 99th Street where neighbors pass by on their way to school or the Metra. It's been a small, happy way to feel like part of the neighborhood."

See photos of all awarded gardens at www.chicagobungalow.org/garden-contest-gallery-2026

08/06/2026

Congratulations to the Best Vegetable & Herb Garden runner-up of the 10th Annual : Laurita Williams 🌟🌿

About the garden, Laurita wrote: "I have made a space where family and friends can enjoy watching Mother Nature provide us with her beauty as well as a bounty to nourish us. As a retiree, I enjoy the peace my garden provides."

See photos of all awarded gardens at www.chicagobungalow.org/garden-contest-gallery-2026

08/06/2026

Congratulations to the Best Vegetable & Herb Garden winner of the 10th Annual : Angela Jones (Mahogani Phreedom) 🌟🌿

About the garden, Angela wrote: "The Sacred Roots Community Healing Garden is more than a garden—it is a living sanctuary where food, medicinal herbs, native pollinator habitat, and community healing flourish together. Every bed is cultivated with intention to promote food sovereignty, herbal education, environmental stewardship, and community wellness. Thoughtfully designed to restore both people and the environment, Sacred Roots reminds us that caring for the earth is also a way of caring for one another."

See photos of all awarded gardens at www.chicagobungalow.org/garden-contest-gallery-2026