You know the building: Two stories, an apartment unit on each floor, usually with bay windows and a facade of brick or greystone. &#13;
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But how did the two-flat become so popular, and who was it originally built to serve?&#13;
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In our last episode, we looked at the types of places Chicago’s single women lived in at the turn of the 20th century.&#13;
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In today’s episode, we explore the Bohemian origins of the humble Chicago two-flat. As it turns out, the advent of the two-flat mirrors the development of the city’s middle class. &#13;
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“Our design No. 144 is a two-family flat designed for a money making proposition,” begins a 1915 ad enticing homebuyers to build a two-flat. “Anyone wanting a comfortable home and at the same time a good income on the investment will do well to consider this proposition.”&#13;
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Plus, we answer another housing-related listener question: why are Chicago fire escapes distinctively wooden (read: flammable) and are they actually effective during fires? &#13;
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This episode was reported by Chris Bentley and was originally published in 2014.

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