Today In Awful News: The House From Family Matters Has Been Approved For Demolition
DNAinfo- The house where Steve Urkel made himself at home is set to be demolished. The city approved a demolition permit Tuesday for 1516 W. Wrightwood Ave., which served as the Winslow family home in the ’90s sitcom “Family Matters.” Although the Winslows were said to live in suburban Chicago, the show concerned the family of a Chicago Police officer, and the Wrightwood house was used to establish scenes placing the family at home. It was also seen in the opening credit sequence. The city approved a permit to “wreck and remove a two-story frame multi-unit residence” after previously approving a demolition permit for its detached garage in April.
Speaking for the owners, Coldwell Banker’s Lissa Weinstein said they planned to build a three-unit residence on the lot.
I know we have a lot of turmoil and strife going on in this country. Disagreements left and right without being able to find a common ground. But can’t we all put aside our petty differences for a little and try to save the Family Matters house? Certain things are bigger than money or politics. I’ve seen enough action movies to know that demolishing old houses to put up condos is usually done by some supervillain or evil corporation. We can’t let the Family Matters house fall to a similar fate as the old Ebbets Field or like 90% of the Amazon rainforest.
A few years ago my wife and I went to California for vacation. One of our stops was San Fran (people from San Fran haaaaate when you call it San Fran). Anyway, we were trying to figure out what to do while we were there. Literally the first thing on the list was visiting the house from Full House. It trumped the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, AT&T Park, or anything else. You know why? Because it reminded us of a simpler time when life was easier. Was it weird as fuck to take pictures in front of a house some rando was living in? Of course. Especially since the red door was gone (what an asshole move). But all these years later, I still smile when I see the Full House house on TV, knowing that I’ve been there. Same goes for the Home Alone house. Every 2 years or so it’s listed on the market for a bazillion dollars, I dream about what it would be like to live in the underratedly awesome McCallister mansion, and go about my life with bills and responsibilities. To have the Family Matters house simply vanish like its Judy Winslow would be a strike to the heart of every 90s kid walking the Earth.
And don’t you DARE try to tell me that this house was just a house that was quickly captured in the opening credits with the absolute banger of a theme song. The house WAS what the theme song ipso facto was what the show was all about.
It’s a rare condition, this day and age,
to read any good news on the newspaper page.
Love and tradition of the grand design,
some people say it’s even harder to find.
Well then there must be some magic clue inside these tearful walls
Cause all I see is a tower of dreams
real love burstin’ out of every seam.
As days go by,
we’re gonna fill our house with happiness.
The moon may cry,
we’re gonna smother the blues with tenderness.
When days go by,
there’s room for you,
room for me,
for gentle hearts an opportunity.
As days go by,
it’s the bigger love of the family.
The house was even in the closing credits for Christ sake!
That house may not have technically been the house where Steve Urkell drove Carl Winslow up the wall by kiiiiinda legitimately stalking his daughter. But it might as well have been. And all that stalking wasn’t weird. You know why? Well partially because of good writing and an 8:30 PM ET time slot in a family-centric TGIF lineup. But also because the house just exuded love in the credits.