A David Adler-designed coach house at 51 S. Mayflower Road in Lake Forest, listed at $2,495,000, drew national attention Saturday, July 25, when the New York Times featured it in a lifestyle briefing distributed to millions of subscribers.

The five-story tower house, built in 1928 as a coach house for the original Mayflower Road estate, is currently owned by acclaimed interior designer Kara Mann. The brick-and-stucco Italianate home spans 6,404 square feet with five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and a 75-foot tower that makes it one of the most recognizable residential structures in the city.

The property hit the MLS on Wednesday, July 1, according to Redfin listing data. Its $2.495 million asking price is nearly double Lake Forest's median sale price of $1,281,733, recorded over the March-through-May 2026 period by Redfin.

The same home sold in March 2022 for $1.8 million after spending close to 12 years on and off the market, according to the Chicago Tribune. The current asking price represents a roughly 39% increase over that 2022 sale.

Where it fits in the market

The $2 million to $2.5 million segment is the most active tier in Lake Forest's upper market, with the strongest absorption rates in the city, according to the Lyn Wise Group, a local real estate firm. Lake County's luxury tier posted a median sale price of $1,540,568 in the March-through-May 2026 period, up 4.4% year over year, with average days on market falling to 53, according to Redfin.

Still, Lake Forest sellers need patience. Average days on market in the city regularly exceeds 100, according to the Lyn Wise Group, and a meaningful share of listings are relisted each season.

New York Times feature

The New York Times included the Lake Forest property in its July 25 briefing titled "What Does Summer Taste Like?" alongside coverage of summer foods, home design, and sunscreen tips, according to the Patch AM newsletter for Lake Forest. The property was one of several homes and design features included in the lifestyle roundup.

David Adler, who designed the tower house, is among the most celebrated residential architects in Lake Forest history, known for landmark North Shore estates built during the 1920s and 1930s.

The listing is active with no publicly announced offer deadline or open house date as of Monday, July 27.