ok here they

Not a pro. That door is beautiful. Why have it professionally stripped, repaired if necessary, and reglazed? You can have the jamb or trim replaced if it’s rotting.

I agree - worth having someone look at restoring. It won’t be cheaper necessarily but it keeps the charm. That building makes me miss my home town - chi town. What neighborhood is it in?

I think that was not original to the bulding adoor more like the center one in this pic would be better IMO as for landscaping some nice plantings down the walkawy would good and depending on the tenants in the lower suite removal of those hedges but they do give a bit of privacy. Maybe 3 tall planters instead planted with seasonal plantings aa bit nicer for them to look at too.

Your 3-flat is a beauty! By all means keep the door, many options are available to reduce the "glass sweating" that occurs during winter months. If the shrubs are Yews keep them, their top-line should be kept trimmed (straight-line hedge, not "balled") to the mid-line of the garden apartment windows. This allows for privacy in that unit and helps to keep snow off the wooden window frames. Proper once-a-year hand pruning is a must, instructions on YouTube. Seasonal color achieved by adding a planting bed in front of the Yews. I rented here in the 70's. https://www.ildealmakers.com/ListingDetails/10927-South-Longwood-Drive-3-Chicago-Morgan-Park-IL-60643/10442886

The door complements the 3 flat. Your home is beautiful and @chiflipper has good advice. My old two flat went to foreclosure years after we moved and it eventually came down. Good to see these signature homes in Chicago still cared for.

Wow everyone,nice compliments..Its my sons 3 flat and we work on design together inside and out its been a fun journey.He really keeps up on the building and does try to keep and restore what he can.Thanks for all the info,i cant wait to tell him.And thinkdesignlive,the area hes in is called horners corner next to Irving Park.

I would love to see the inside :-)

I agree with the above comments—I would keep the door—whatever you replaced it with would not be nearly as nice and whatever money you spent to restore the door would be well worth it and less than the cost of a new door probably. I wonder if adding a full view glass storm door would solve the condensation problem (but I’m no expert). I wouldn’t add anything to the landscaping as the yard is pretty tiny and I too would keep the shrubs—i agree they add some privacy for that bottom flat. Beautiful building! Love!

Are there any old photos of your building that show what the original door was like? Might be worth pursuing if you want to stay true to the buildings character. It's a beautiful building by the way! Good luck!

Thanks ,i wonder I 'll look into

njmomma,ill see if i any to post.

We refi ished the hallway,the wood was painted over and over and then found this beautiful wood.

chicago 3 flat · More Info

So nice to see! Neighbor was a 12 flat with the same kind of steps. We lived upstairs in a two flat and had a door to our stairwell that you buzzed open. Talked into a "hole" in the wall to screen the visitor.

Thanks della70,he has that too, but thank goodness we had all that wood stripped down and now the hallway doesnt look so ugh anymore.

Really nice home. Like the front door, too, but if you're having condensation issues, you might consider adding a clear storm door to protect the wood frame of the front door from moisture.

Would remove the entire planting -- everything now growing beside the front door in your pic -- and pot(individually) anything worth saving to take it inside to enjoy.

Two neatly cared for plants of the same kind in really large attractive pots would be preferable to the overgrown weed look.

Trim the row of shrubs in the front to be the same below windowsill height.

You might also add a plain concrete birdbath atop the ?manhole? -- one with the bottom of the bowl smaller than the top so if/when the water freezes, the ice can expand without breaking the bowl. When the water is frozen, pour enough hot water on the center of the ice cube to enable the edges to melt enough to dump the ice cube and refill with water.

https://www.hayneedle.com/product/beauvoircaststonebirdbath.cfm?source=pla&kwid=BirdBathsandAccessories%20level01&tid=CIB763-11&adtype=pla&kw=&&g_acctid=933-667-2123&g_campaign=PLA%20%7C%20Outdoor%20%7C%20Outdoor%20Decorative%20Accents&g_campaignid=2052058296&g_adgroupid=73444088775&g_adid=359638993579&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=aud-303119289342:pla-816655067430&g_adtype=pla&g_merchantid=5643243&g_productchannel=online&g_productid=CIB763-11&g_partition=816655067430&g_network=g&g_ifproduct=product&g_ifcreative=&tid=neng2052058296-73444088775-aud-303119289342:pla-816655067430-359638993579&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-prBzsmu5QIVgP_jBx1xXAAaEAQYBCABEgI-R_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

As a practical matter, have you considered some kind of awning -- perhaps copper or clear with metal support frame -- over your front entrance.

http://ayukliburan.com/go/ 

or

#15 ... https://homedesignlover.com/architecture/awning-ideas/

or

https://www.designyourawning.com/project/customer-pictures-usa/

Miss my ChiTown.
Lovely building. I would try to select a fixture for above the door that casts a larger pool of light for safety.

Another Chicago girl here (Chicago and Western - Ukie Villiage). That stained glass window in the second floor is pretty, I would think about echoing that window glass in the front door. The old neighborhoods used to have mini courtyards in the front because grass and space was tiny and precious...you might think about doing the same...it would be a wow factor for visitors and like all good Chicago neighborhoods, you sit on your front porch and chit chat with your neighbors.

We talked about getting another light.We still have a few things to do so that will probably come last.

hahaha chiflipper,he got lucky,there is so much parking by him,they should have shared so some of us don't have to get the chairs out.ha

Your interior stairway looks great! I love the color palette. Did you guys do the refinish yourselves or hire someone? We are in a historic district with a multi unit and the front looks more similar to the one Patricia posted, but with one door and two side lights (that is what I understand the side windows are called). We need to keep EVERYTHING being in landmark so will just be refinishing the outside. I was planning on heating the entryway with in floor electric heat, but now I am wondering about condensation like a PP mentioned. It doesn't do it now, but wondering with heat if that will change... Any ideas?

Reading this post, it made me think of something and I am going to make another thread. Does anyone in Chicago know where I can sell the side light glass panels? They are original leaded glass and we did replace everything with safety glass. The door glass panel had been smashed in and replaced with plexiglass - what a look! Any insights would be appreciated.

https://salvageone.com/store/

Scroll to bottom for info on selling pieces.

I would have suggested salvage one first also google top 10 salvage and restoration places.jerrynsue my son hired his friend to do the woodwork and a few of us took part doi g different things to get it together.

thank you chiflipper and sharon!

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/ct-met-chicago-gangways-grossman-20191129-ypvc43upwzevfnjn57yw2352ki-story.html

This article explains so much about the space between flats like this one...