amation District acquired the Schweikher House and Studio itself in either 1987 or 1988, seizing the land through eminent domain. The district's lawyers claimed that they needed the land to expand a nearby sewage plant, while other figures, including an Art Institute of Chicago curator and one of Schaumburg's former mayors, advocated for its preservation. A court approved the land seizure while ruling that the Langsdorfs could continue to live in the house for the rest of their life. The district was also compelled to make repairs to the house as necessary. The house remained a private residence and was rarely opened for public tours, though the public could visit the house on occasion. Alexander Langsdorf lived into the house until his death in 1996. In 1997, the village's Olde Schaumburg Centre Commission recommended designating the Schweikher House and Studio as a municipal landmark, following six years of studies on whether to grant landmark protections to various buildings in the village. The water district opposed the designation, as it wanted to demolish the Schweikher House and Studio to make way for the sewage plant expansion, and the district wanted to demolish it after Martyl Langsdorf died or moved away. The disputes over the building's proposed demolition led to Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois to list it as one of Illinois's 10 most endangered historic sites in 1998. Martyl opposed the proposed demolition, saying that "it's an absolute act of vandalism to tear it down". Martyl also considered repurchasing the ho