The 3-Bedroom Mid-Century Modern Townhouse: 2900 N. Sheridan in Lakeview

I’m not sure we’ve actually chattered directly about these midcentury modern townhomes at 2900 N. Sheridan in Lakview before but they have certainly been linked to in the past- when one has come on the market.

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This 3-bedroom unit was recently listed.

At 1500 square feet, all 3 bedrooms on on the second floor.

The listing says there is a “new kitchen” with granite counter tops and appliances (which look to be both black and stainless steel.)

The townhouse has a large brick patio, central air and 1-car parking (underneath the complex.)

Is this a deal for a townhouse in this location?

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Edward Guidone at Raedeke Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

2900 N. Sheridan Road: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1500 square feet, 1 car parking included

  • Sold in April 1998 for $222,000
  • Sold in June 2000 for $285,000
  • Sold in September 2004 for $347,500
  • Currently listed for $439,000
  • Assessments of $217 a month
  • Taxes of $7095
  • Central Air
  • Bedroom #1: 12×15 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #2: 10×9 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #3: 12×11 (second floor)

149 Responses to “The 3-Bedroom Mid-Century Modern Townhouse: 2900 N. Sheridan in Lakeview”

  1. Updated unit with classic mid-century design in a top notch location for a song – less than $300 psf. this will go fast. The first thing I would do after buying it however is to remove that ugly light fixture. Other than – absolutely perfect.

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  2. wow especially the ones over the ugly bathroom mirror/cabinet. how i despise those cabinets.

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  3. A very blah unit, but the place does have a lot of potential for an experienced DIYer as the ‘bones’ are probably quite good. I don’t understand why the owner of neighboring unit was allowed to / chose to go with white windows? Did the HOA not have any opinions regarding this issue? It seems, in common sense terms, that that owner would have requested black frames to keep the flow of the exterior. Going white def brought down value and appeal to the rest of the complex.
    Shame on the sellers and agent for allowing such horrid pictures of what is probably a pretty nice unit. As a fine, we demand a $100k reduction in the asking price to be split equally between the seller, agent and the neighbor with his white windows.!

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  4. “homedelete on July 22nd, 2011 at 10:14 am:

    Updated unit with classic mid-century design in a top notch location for a song – less than $300 psf. this will go fast. The first thing I would do after buying it however is to remove that ugly light fixture. Other than – absolutely perfect.”

    It was funny the first 200 times. Wait. No it wasn’t.

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  5. Westloopelo – welcome back and well said about the association. They should demand uniformity in the exterior window colorings. How did they let that happen?

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  6. Hey Jon, i’m not trying to be funny. I love all things mid-century. This place included.

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  7. I was almost under contract for a unit in this building back in 2009 for $335k. It was a short sale, but a cash offer came along and the buyer took the cash offer. However, doesn’t look like it ever closed. During my visit I noticed that the windows were in pretty bad shape.

    Living room was small, but the backyard was very nice.

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  8. I’m surprised this isn’t more expensive. I always imagined these townhouses would be a lot more expensive.

    I love that this place has a back yard. I would much rather live here than in a condo building.

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  9. shortwithhighceilings on July 22nd, 2011 at 10:41 am

    A couple years ago, we saw another unit in this complex (the Surf side) that had been completely redone, and it was classy, gorgeous, and not cookie-cutter in any way. I vaguely recall that one of the BRs was subsumed into a walk-in closet. Anyway, the issues at the time were that the underground garage was due for a major overhaul, and the HOA had been dragging its feet about it. The other issue (for me, anyway) was the volume of traffic in the area and the nearby hospital.

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  10. Thanks for the welcome back jp3chicago! I usually drop in late at night to catch up on listings but rarely comment anymore. Sad to see the state of affairs regarding home pricing in Chicago. Luckily NYC was not affected to the same extent and in some cases there are actually still lucrative profits to be made from buying, renovating and selling.
    Funny thing, bidding wars are actually occuring on the higher priced units here. I thought I would never see that happen again! A close couple of friends of mine got into a two week battle over a unit and ended up winning…by offering $350k more than the asking price.

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  11. @westloopelo:

    I hate to burst your bubble, but those white windows are of the listed unit not a neighboring unit.

    The exterior photos are (unintentionally?) deceptive, because they lead the viewer to think that the listed unit is the corner unit, but that is clearly not the case when you look at the windows from the interior pictures.

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  12. I live near here and have wondered about these units for years. Don’t remember seeing on on the marketing and I had no idea if they were $400k or $1 million — the prices of those other mid-century ones on Sheridan surprised me!

    I like the bones on this and the work needed seems mostly cosmetic in terms of lighting, etc. Probably in a price range my wife and I could swing once she’s done with grad school in a few months… hwo do we get out hands on it now?

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  13. “hwo do we get out hands on it now?”

    Make an offer with a 90 day close?

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  14. i think he has a longer horizon in mind. Perhaps the wife needs to find a job?

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  15. They should paint the exterior cement white or something to give it a cleaner look, looks like a crappy elementary school or something.

    I do like the inside though, could be MUCH better with a bit of DIY stuff… but those taxes make it a hell no for me

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  16. I could certainly live here, the location is great and the assessments are reasonable, taxes could of course be lower. That little patio is quite cute.

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  17. Re: the exterior, looking at the photos, it seems like it could look a lot nicer in person than it does on camera. The window situation however seems to have been quite a problem, it’s more than one neighbor with white ones. How strange.

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  18. “Sad to see the state of affairs regarding home pricing in Chicago. ”

    wait a minute – you come to “cribchatter” to assess the chicago housing market?!!! ha ha ha ha ha – for every horror story sabrina publishes here, I can show you 2 places where people actually made big profits…..but, I guess, what else could I expect from you….

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  19. “for every horror story sabrina publishes here, I can show you 2 places where people actually made big profits…..”

    Please show us obi-wan.

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  20. “Please show us obi-wan.”

    The market must be getting worse, tho, because Heitman used to claim 5 winners for every loser.

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  21. “Please show us obi-wan.”

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/159-E-Walton-Pl-60611/unit-32A/home/12593128

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  22. Yeah, wife needs to find job first — she graduates from physical therapy school next April. Will have to run numbers over the weekend and see what kind of family loan might work to cover mortgage on one salary until then. At least my Apple stock is way up of late…

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  23. “Palmolive Unit 32A”

    What’s with the taxes? Is that all the historic tax credit?

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  24. I’m surprised you guys like this place so much. I thought it looked promising from outside, but everything inside looks cheap and flimsy and like it would not withstand much wear and tear. The closet doors, floors, banister on the staircase, lighting fixtures, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, ugly wooden trim around the sliding doors – it all looks like it fall apart with a family using it on a daily basis.

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  25. http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1924-N-Howe-St-60614/home/13348061

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  26. Net of inflation (2008 sale price of $5615 is $5,887 in ’11 $s) and 6% Realtor fee the Palmolive 32A investment earned a bit over a hundred grand in three and a half years.

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  27. http://www.redfin.com/IL/Hinsdale/955-Cleveland-Rd-60521/home/14057677

    there are hundreds/thousands of similar examples.

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  28. 1924 Howe is at best a 10% real loss. $2400000 in 2000 dollars is worth $3,015,000 today.

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  29. giardiniera,

    wrong wrong wrong:
    1. first of all realtor fees are 5% – and at this level, you can absolutely negotiate a 4% fee
    2. second of all, if the person lived here and had a mortgage, you have to compensate for the tax deduction and also rent deduction – because real estate also has a use (you can live in it)/;
    3. third of all, if it was a rental (it wasn’t), then you have to add in the rent collected.

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  30. $2300000 in 2000, excuse me.

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  31. gringozecarioca on July 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    “and at this level, you can absolutely negotiate a 4% fee”

    Think I once got 2 or 2.5% even. Possibly had something to do with buying it from the same broker, about a year earlier, though.

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  32. “Net of inflation (2008 sale price of $5615 is $5,887 in ‘11 $s) and 6% Realtor fee the Palmolive 32A investment earned a bit over a hundred grand in three and a half years.”

    Don’t forget transfer taxes,holding costs, etc. plus the property sat on the market for over a year. I think if you talked to the owner wouldn’t define this as “big profits”….. but thank Clio for pulling some examples…..

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  33. Clio,

    Please refer to Rule #1

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  34. “The market must be getting worse, tho, because Heitman used to claim 5 winners for every loser.”

    But that only applied to properties that were smart buys. Buy stupid and lose money. Buy smart and it was s 5:1 ratio.

    In truth, he’s right.

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  35. “Buy smart and it was s 5:1 ratio.”

    Yeah, but what? 60? properties qualified as “smart”. His boundaries and limitations were basically Unicorn in LP-OZ, at a price close to rental parity.

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  36. I lived in the three flat right next door for a year (you can see my former kitchen in the pic above). I was always curious about these places, but there’s really no security buffer between the units’ doors and the outside world. That and there are 24 hr/day “Route 151, Sheridan to Union Station” announcements.

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  37. clio,
    One other thing regarding the Palmolive sale…..
    As we all know you own a unit here and you have mention many times how you would like to sell it. If there are such great profits to be had why don’t you put your unit on the market. Please come back in a year and tell us all about the “big profits’.

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  38. valasko,
    if i sold my particular unit, i would definitely lose money – however, i didn’t buy it as an investment. i bought it as an in-town – and the joy it has brought me (via new friends, new business acquaintances, late night meetings, etc.) is PRICELESS. I wouldn’t trade the experiences I have had for a profit. That being said, I will be OK in a couple of years – the overall economy IS stabilizing and real estate will follow. I am telling you guys, you will NOT remember this downturn in 5 years.

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  39. I guess because it rained out it made it a bit shilly

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  40. gringozecarioca on July 22nd, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    “I am telling you guys, you will NOT remember this downturn in 5 years.”

    Oh, yes I will. And it ain’t over yet.

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  41. Funny how times change. I grew up around the corner from these when they were built, and at the time they were viewed with complete disdain, the same kind of reaction that 4 plus 1’s got 10 or 15 years later. They were also seen as where “poor” people lived (not abject poverty certainly, but definitely lower middle class families).

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  42. groovy your too funny

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  43. 955 Cleveland in Hinsdale did clear almost $200,000 real dollars, before transaction fees are netted out. You wonder if there were any significant/expensive improvements made in the place over the 14-yr. life of ownership (to further reduce that return) or if Hinsdale has just come up a lot and people are paying strong premiums for old houses.

    Anyway, yes extremely high-end properties get discounts on the marketing fees, 6% surely overstates the commission a bit… but there is still a fair bit of friction in the transaction.

    Point is, of these three alleged big winners we have actually

    –one big winner
    –one narrow winner
    –one big loser.

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  44. giardiniera,
    your missing the point…… it a win win either way.
    You can make money…… WINNNNING
    You can loose money, oh the joy………. WIINNING
    OR
    You can make money and have the joy……… REALLY WINNNNNNNNING!

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  45. Oh I know, lotta tiger blood flowing in DuPage for sure.

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  46. Milkster, I am on your side. I think this place looks hideous inside AND out! I’ve always noticed this place and thought it looked weird…the inside is even worse. 🙁

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  47. From the Google Streetview images, it’s hard to say whether more of the window frames are black or white. Wonder how it was originally.

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  48. a general thought – Anyone ever heard of all owners in a complex like this 100% deciding to sell for redevelopment.

    I would think a site of this size in this location would have been drool fodder for tower condo developers during the bubble – provided one could build 10-20 stories in this location.

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  49. “Now, let me help you improve your math skills…. if you paid 1 dollar for something and sold it for 50 cents you would of lost 50 cents. Big deal, you still have 50 cents.”

    What does this have to do with my math skills? I understand that you still have 50 cents left, but you still would have lost money. Good God – do ANY of you on this site have ANY investments/experience/intelligence/common sense to understand ANY of this. This is getting too ridiculous.

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  50. “955 Cleveland in Hinsdale did clear almost $200,000 real dollars, before transaction fees are netted out. You wonder if there were any significant/expensive improvements made in the place over the 14-yr. life of ownership”

    You don’t think clio would answer that honestly, do you? The sale didn’t go through the mls. Here’s the only recent mls activity:

    It was listed 4/25/07 for $1.85M with price reductions down to $1.749M and cancelled 11/3/07.
    It was relisted 3/3/08 for $1.695M with price reductions down to $1.449M and expired 10/2/08.

    This is the description from one of the listings:

    FAMILY FUN AND ENTERTAINING, 4,100 SQUARE FEET PLUS FINISHED REC LEVEL. COMPLETELY RENOVATED WITH GENIUS GOURMET KITCHEN AND FORWARD THINKING OPEN DESIGN ELEMENTS. DCS APPLIANCES, GRANITE, OMEGA MAPLE WOOD CABINETS, MIELE ESPRESSO CENTER, SUBZERO REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER, ALL HARDWOOD FLOORING, SELF INDULGENT MASTER SUITE. PHENOMENAL PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED 99X247 LOT IN 3M AREA.

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  51. valasko: wtf are you trying to say? please state your point in clear short grammatically correct sentences.

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  52. “valasko: wtf are you trying to say? please state your point in clear short grammatically correct sentences.”

    Does Clio have ANY investments/experience/intelligence/common sense to understand ANY of this. This is getting too ridiculous.”

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  53. okay clio I will try to explain my point one more time.

    You said: I still would clear over 750k!! This statement implies that you made a profit. Let me give you a simple example.

    Scenario 1: I buy a stock for $100 and sell it for $200 dollars. Now I tell my buddy I just cleared $100 on my stock purchase.

    Scenario 2: I buy a stock for $100 and sell it for $75 dollars. I don’t tell my buddy I cleared $75 dollars. The proper answer is I lost $25.

    Now do you get……

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  54. I tend to limit the issues on which I consult doctors for their expertise to their specific medical specialty, and even then I try to second-guess their arrogant assess on the internet as much as possible. Your average business issue – doctors would be just about the last group I would seek out to ask.

    A doctor might have to be pretty arrogant and intelligent enough to get into and through medical school ahead of a bunch of smart people who want to be doctors, but those traits and knowledge don’t really serve them well in most other fields.

    I had a friend who decided not to invest in a business opportunity as soon as he found out one of the other investors was a doctor. He didn’t even care to find anything more out – if that doctor was in, he was out. Still cracks me up.

    “late night meetings”

    Oh yeah, baby, uh uh, yeah, oh, oh, yeah, let me tell you about my real estate, oh, oh, oh, uh, uh, ahhhhhhhhh…..

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  55. “[955 Cleveland listing history]”

    Ah, very helpful, thanks! So less a “big winner” and more a “got 2/3 of the original asking price after plowing many tens of thousands of dollars into the joint and waiting for four years [putting your life on hold?].”

    For sure it is easy to believe that there are hundreds/thousands of similar examples.

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  56. ” ended up winning…by offering $350k more than the asking price”

    Westloopelo – That is one of the main differences between NYC and Chicago. $350K more than asking price could only happen in

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  57. How long do you guys think this one will last?

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2020-N-Lincoln-Park-W-60614/unit-W15M/home/13348285

    My guess is that there will be a bidding war and it will go for 375-400k – anything less is an ABSOLUTE STEAL!!

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  58. JJJ – I’m sure the doctor is crying (….all the way to the bank)! Your friend is a moron.

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  59. well, 27M just went for 355…smaller but more expensive finishes

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  60. “How long do you guys think this one will last?”

    So, do you now have to offer two more winners?

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  61. And 28M for 339.

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  62. roma, do you know what a “comp” means? Good Lord – once again, nobody on this site seems to know a god damn thing about real estate!!!

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  63. Hm, not sure 27M is smaller, maybe just a more truthful sqft estimate in the listing? how the hell do they get 1500 sq ft?

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  64. clio

    no, please explain.

    is it short for “computer”?

    i’m not too technologically literate

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  65. Clio – take a chill pill and check back to CC in the morning. You are too stressed out today. Is the Lambo in the shop? If not have one of your assistants drive around the block a few times while you look out the windows. That will get a smile back on your face.

    Hopefully this weekend you can have a late night meet up with one of the celeb friends at the Palmolive in-town. You need the break.

    Sabrina – thanks for another great week of fun on CC. I appreciate the occasional breaks from my world that you provide. I wonder just how many people lurk in the background like Westloopelo and never post.

    Stay cool and enjoy the weather. In a few short months we will be longing for days like today!

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  66. Oh and someone buy this place and make it really cool. I love MCM units. They can be awesome! My prediction is that it sells at $375K before the Bears have lost three games.

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  67. “Is the Lambo in the shop?”

    YES!!! How did you know? Seriously – how did you know?

    A tree branch fell on it during that first storm (end of June) and it has been in the shop ever since. They say they need 2-3 more weeks but I cannot understand it – all the branch did was knock off the side mirror and scratch/debt the door and front panel. What could possibly take so long to repair?!!!

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  68. Clio, how is 27M not comparable? I would assume it is even far higher in the building and therefore more desirable, but I do not know much about the building….

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  69. according to Red Fin Parking is NOT included in the price.

    That would seriously drag down the price of this joint, it is very hard to park around here.

    P.S. Clio, watch your language, there are ladies present, you almost made my french manicure crack

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  70. JJJ: my aunt was once married to a doctor and he made more money than he knew what to do with during the 70’s and 80’s He made terrible investments right and left, and finally, my aunt tells a story where she had to step in and say “Stop!! We are not investing in mangroves in Florida!”

    Which if you think about it, doesn’t even make sense. How you do invest in mangroves? Regardless, she had to put her foot down and cut off his own access to his own money.

    There of course there’s the doctor’s dream to have not one but two families in a lifetime. Unless they have a wife that’s part of the ‘skeleton crew’ who work out and stay skinny and fit into their 40’s and 50’s praying to god their husband doesn’t leave them for some half their age…..

    Even my ENT, who is in his late 40’s maybe early 50’s, tells me he has an 18 month old at home….

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  71. “A tree branch fell on it during that first storm (end of June) and it has been in the shop ever since.”

    You’re obviously lying – why would a later-model Lamborghini be anywhere where a tree branch can fall on it. Someone else I might buy, could be parked on a city street or something, but we already know you don’t go anywhere with “bad views”, like places that have trees. Did one of you “late night visitors” take it out and damage it will visiting one of his other daddies?

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  72. JJJ – I live on an estate property in the suburbs – that first storm came out of nowhere and the car was parked on one of my parking pads.

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  73. He means sugar daddy : )

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  74. I was glad to see an article was posted about a unit in this building, as I live just down the street and was always curious about them.

    Then I began reading the comments, hoping for an intelligent conversation about the property. Instead there’s (almost) nothing but kindergarten name calling and playground insults being flung about. Guess I shouldn’t have expected anything else from this site…

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  75. Sad_at_Plaza440 on July 23rd, 2011 at 8:51 am

    ““Is the Lambo in the shop?”

    YES!!! How did you know? Seriously – how did you know?”

    Ah, I was driving around last night and got behind a gray Lambo with the personal license plate “SKS MD.” Was wondering if it was Clio, but guess not.

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  76. ” ended up winning…by offering $350k more than the asking price”

    Thanks for the update Miranda… say hi to Carrie for me!

    My sister lives the ‘life’ in a grand co-op on Park near the Armory with her big shot WS husband, and I can tell you that even they tell a *very* different story about the state of financial affairs in NYC. Sure the very top buyers (most of whom are *international* and about as American as a camel riding down 5th) will spend absurd amounts to ‘fit in’ and we all know money is green to a broker, but your statement is part of the reason why the rest of the country rolls their eyes at you people: hey DesMoines, my house is worth a couple of mil in LP… wasss up with you?? I don’t think my sis’s Mr Big isn’t in any danger of not getting his bonus, he’s at the top, but he says differently about the *thousands* of dudes beneath him who live in tiny but well done 2/1.5 with $3k HOA fees… hand to mouth although at a different plateau.

    I’m not hating on you nor NYC, far from it and I wish Chicago had even an ounce of your urban optimism. But remember, this is the Midwest (also 3M in Chgo vs 8M in NYC) where the glass is always half empty and if you can’t catch a unicorn, you willingly live in your parent’s basement and then bitch/post about your lack of views… and whether or not you’ll eat food prepared from someone’s kitchen other than your own. See what I mean?

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  77. “Is the Lambo in the shop?”
    YES!!! How did you know? Seriously – how did you know?

    I can tell that you are or were in a foul mood on Friday. Do yourself a favor and find something positive to do today or Sunday and get into a better place.

    Perhaps a happy meal and quick crawl thru the Oak Brook McDonald’s Play place. After that go test drive a Bentley or Ferrari.

    It’s time to get happy or get some help!

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  78. BTW Go to Google maps and see that someone was in the process of changing out their windows at that exact moment.

    Looking at the street view it is clear that the president of the HOA should be shot on sight for allowing unit owners to do whatever they wanted with existing window openings. Truly a tragedy for what could otherwise be a really interesting small mid-century modern development.

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  79. “Looking at the street view it is clear that the president of the HOA should be shot on sight for allowing unit owners to do whatever they wanted with existing window openings”

    uhh – and I’M in a bad mood?!!!

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  80. I have to shamefully admit that I have always received a good amount of entertainment and ‘joy!!’ from seeing clio defend himself when he is questioned about any part of his alleged fabulous life…his many degrees, his multi million dollar car collection, his beyond fab ‘estate’ and equally fabulous Palmolive in-town, the high end places he claims to frequent, etc, etc, etc.
    What I do not understand is how any very successful, highly educated and uber wealthy man…the type he claims to be, has time in his busy schdule to post up to/over a dozen times a day the garbage he posts on an anonymous internet website?

    Getting to be a success in any field requires a great deal of dedication, self control and hard work. They, like the person he claims to be, have to work hard to hone their reputations, build personal wealth and all of the spoils it affords. The people I admire who have reached this level in their careers and personal lives would in NO WAY exhibit any of the foul behavior and outlook he exhibits…it just cannot be a part of their functioning lives. None of them would even entertain the thought of behaving in the manner he has fallen into… the outrageous behavior, callous language and needless belittling not to mention the foul practice of accusing others of being morons and idiots, etc.

    With each new and inexcusable post, he seems to be falling into a serious and dangerous psychotic meltdown…the name calling, the needless judgmental callouts and cyber smack downs along with the general crass and vulgar persona is indicative of a man who is not only a danger to himself but to society in general.

    I think the best thing we can do for him at this point is to, as a group, totally ignore his crass behavior by refusing to be any part of what he is attempting to do. Hopefully that will ease some of the stress he is facing and will allow him to recognize what a fool he is turning into.

    By continuing to engage him in his unacceptable confrontations and allowing him to be a part of this community of sincere and well informed RE obsessed posters, in my honest opinion, is only allowing him to fall deeper into whatever psychotic malady he is currently experiencing.
    This is a great Real Estate blog and is one Sabrina has worked extremely hard to accomplish. To see it damaged is not an option for her or for any of us. She has been very gracious by allowing us to discuss and debate the material that makes up our hobby…or for some, our actual careers.

    We are all proud to be a part of this site which, thanks to Sabrina’s dedication and hard work has a solid reputation in Chicago Real Estate circles.
    I hope this post will bring this serious topic to light and will allow her to realize how her intervention, by way of constant and fair moderation will end this type of violation…simply putting limits on the topics we are able to talk about will go a long way in maintaining the reputation she has worked so hard to earn.

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  81. “What I do not understand is”

    What you do not understand is clio is more fiction than fact. He’s an apparition by a big RE brokerage house in Chicago. Some clerk earning crumbs to try to work on Chicago’s online RE image.

    Once you critically examine the personas posting here you find there are fake identities contributing as well.

    And if you think Sabrina seriously cares about your heartfelt thanks I’ve got a bridge to sell you, too: it’s about ad dollars & site visits. (Controversial = more hits = more ad dollars = more $). It’s not rocket science, wleo. In her defense her blog has _way better content_ than most all others that operate under the same formula.

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  82. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 4:41 am

    “None of them would even entertain the thought of behaving in the manner he has fallen into… the outrageous behavior, callous language and needless belittling not to mention the foul practice of accusing others of being morons and idiots, etc.”

    That you admire, maybe not, but sounds like a regular day for many I know.

    And censorship is a very slippery slope my alternative lifestyle friend. Better to just ignore what you don’t like when you seek others, rightfully, to do the same.

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  83. “And censorship is a very slippery slope my alternative lifestyle friend. Better to just ignore what you don’t like when you seek others, rightfully, to do the same.”

    exactly. ze if you run for the office, I’ll vote for you : )

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  84. “And censorship is a very slippery slope my alternative lifestyle friend. Better to just ignore what you don’t like when you seek others, rightfully, to do the same”

    Ze, he’s clearly calling for a boycott, not censorship. He isnt suggesting Sabrina ban clio, just that we all ignore him. Boycotts are not a slippery slope situation, imo.

    As to Bob’s point, if someone at a brokerage is falsely using the facts of the real person behind clio’s persona here without his knowledge, the real person might actually have recourse against that brokerage (unlike the threats of legal action we’ve seen here many times).

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  85. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 7:10 am

    i read the last paragraph, and still do, differently. Calling for HER intervention and HER limiting of topics? What was/am i missing?

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  86. BTW, I recall Clio or/and Bob accusing of liberals causing havoc. I wonder how they justify the Norway disaster?!

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  87. A few responses to clarify my position.
    And yes CLIO or clio or Clio…this is my final reply to your nonsense. You repulse me, not attract me. I have a feeling that even if you looked like…Ruffalo, Pitt, Channing combined your superior and pompous attitude combined with your mental issues would far outshine any admiration I might hold for you. I judge/value/admire people not on outward physical appearance but rather on the content of their moral outlook…something which you lack.
    Bob, your explanation is probably true. But I don’t feel Sabrina does not value the regular family of visitors she has gained. Sure there might be a financial draw, but the job she does shows a real and deep interest in keeping this blog and her reputation spotless. I for one deeply respect her for her fairness, intelligence and interest in Chicago’s RE.
    anon(tfo), you are 100% correct. I am asking for moderation to the extent that the name calling and belittling posts be removed in interest of keeping that element off a site dealing with RE matters. Sure we go off topic on occasion, but we learn from doing so. To read a mentally challenged person’s nonsensical ramblings… we learn nothing from.
    Yes, I am saying we need to do a group ignore of his nonsense. Other sites I visit usually have an ignore button that prevents you from seeing anything a violator posts. Might that work here? Or would it only encourage more violence? In that case, banning would certainly end his BS.
    ze, I am calling for her ‘moderation’ (removing offensive posts authored by those who simply don’t know any better) in order to keep her hard work from being minimalized to pure internet garbage. If that moderation does not work then yes, banning would work.
    I don’t understand how the multiple clio’s work. If she uses ISPs to identify posters, which has been stated is not allowed, cannot this be used to delete most of what this lunatic says?
    Anyway, come down to it, as enjoyable, educational and useful as it might be, it is still only an anonymous internet board. It is her sight and she can do as she sees fit. I am only making suggestions to keep this a respectable (respectful) place to visit.
    Nothing more.

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  88. It’s funny how your mind creates a fuzzy mental image of things you’ve never seen, and I always think of Wil Smith’s character in ‘Six Degrees of Seperation’ when I read clio’s posts… something’s not quite right, but entertaining enough to invite for supper.

    Although he makes *many* valid points IMO, I see him as someone who takes perceived notions of American establishment wealth and weaves them into his own special off-brand of internet money: wealth owns a well located comfortable home/apartment, internet money loves a manufactured western suburb by the guy who produced ‘Hair’. Wealth would only buy a Mercedes if they *had* to buy a foreign car (as someone in the family certainly has ties to Germany), internet money buys Italian with vanity plates. But to ban / ignore him because he calls someone an idiot? That’s more offensive to you than owning a Lambo? Seriously?

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  89. “the real person might actually have recourse against that brokerage”

    Unlikely as the clerk has never explicitly stated whose identity he has stolen. He only made it possible for people to find out the facts he let slip about “himself” belong to someone.

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  90. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 11:38 am

    westloop… Thanks for the clarification.
    I stated my piece on this issue quite some time ago. Now i just pay little attention. Most people are smart enough on here to start eventually seeing through the facades.

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  91. I reread my posts – they actually aren’t offensive at all. I just point out all the nonsense that real estate amateurs spout. Honestly, I don’t mean to offend anyone-but I just can’t let misinformation and idiotic comments go by without disproving them. Real estate is a very interesting subject-but u have to be careful about what u read -most people here don’t have a clue about how real estate investing works.

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  92. West – out of curiosity, how long does it take you to write up a bid? And how long are your estimates? It seems to me that if u really r a contractor, u probably spend most of your time writing volumes and volumes for even a simple job-

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  93. While I promised to not respond to you any longer, when you make posts questioning my occupation or how I perform any part of it, I do feel the need to respond enough to satisfy your curiousity.
    Writing of ‘bids’ is a group effort as members of my team all have their own special area of expertise. While I do have the final voice, I count on their input to make the job profitable.
    I am rather quick and decisive when it comes to my job. I have spent most of my life in this industry so little is left to guesstimates.
    In internet discussions I do tend to ramble on….feel free to by pass any of it should you deem it too long to read.

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  94. Mid-century modern? There are, and there should not be any “french doors” in a mid-century modern! That’s just a tiny aspect of what’s wrong with this property which, probably once was an actually respectable design both interior and exterior wise…

    Question: This is actually one of the few instances where conformity is good and well thought-out. So, I’d like to know, who is the dumb a** who approved the various neighbors’ new and uber ugly cosmetic additions like the white frame windows?

    Overall, this is a good home for good value, if anyone who has some respect for good design buys this unit, then there has to be some dramatic changes to the interiors, which is ok, as this is a primary residence, long term purchase, and these changes can easily be accomodated over the long run.

    And to the dumb a** above who suggested to paint cement to white: get some common sense dude!

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  95. “This is a great Real Estate blog and is one Sabrina has worked extremely hard to accomplish. To see it damaged is not an option for her or for any of us. She has been very gracious by allowing us to discuss and debate the material that makes up our hobby…or for some, our actual careers”

    Are you serious? Do you have any idea about how irrelevant this site is from the stand point of anyone who really understands real estate works?
    The only reason, I occasionally post here, is because I can not resist to the temptation of trashing the non-sense and the bs that’s going on here, but also because, the reality also is that, as much as irrelevant this site may be from the stand point of any respectable and serious people in the business, there are still few dumb a**es out there who takes this stuff seriously. And when you post something deragotary about a home where a good, decent homeowner’s lifesavings might be at stake, and that non-sense deragotary comment may cost them a sale, it becomes relevant in the most awful way.

    It is clear that whoever is Sabrina, she puts a good time in for this blog, and it is also clear that she does have somewhat of an understanding of the technical aspects of the system, i.e. how listings work, and distributed across the internet, she seems to be knowledgeable about some of the “perceptions” related to the profesional jargon, that only a professional would be aware of, etc. So, I’d like to ask, as she claims to be an “amateur” of the topic who does not have any vested interest in real estate, why would anyone spend a substantial amount of time creating something which clearly gets feeds from people who have a vested interest, and then clearly not care about the quality of the community who contribute.

    If one is serious about creating any respectable blog about any subject matter, your first request should be that people post in full disclosure of their full names.

    I suggest for anyone who, even occasionally, reads WSJ, to pay attention to the commentary section where people are obliged to post with their full names, and you will learn something about quality of debate and relevance of the topic that’s being talked about.

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  96. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    “And when you post something deragotary about a home where a good, decent homeowner’s lifesavings might be at stake, and that non-sense deragotary comment may cost them a sale, it becomes relevant in the most awful way.”

    Wow, took you less than 20 minutes to forgot your previous post. Or is it that the property you are referring to is owned by a child molesting homicidal psychopath, so no worries about this homeowners lifesavings at stake?

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  97. “And to the dumb a** above who suggested to paint cement to white: get some common sense dude!’

    and what would YOU do with it smarty pants? so I can make fun of your opinion by slinging insults for no reason at all

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  98. Westie- u make it WAY too easy!!!!!! U would probably provide hours and hours of unintended entertainment at a party!!!!!

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  99. “And when you post something deragotary about a home where a good, decent homeowner’s lifesavings might be at stake, and that non-sense deragotary comment may cost them a sale, it becomes relevant in the most awful way.”

    Wow, took you less than 20 minutes to forgot your previous post. Or is it that the property you are referring to is owned by a child molesting homicidal psychopath, so no worries about this homeowners lifesavings at stake?

    Bump. Set. Spike. Score:

    Spinoza: 0
    gringozecarioca: 1

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  100. “…U would probably provide hours and hours of unintended entertainment at a party!!!!!”
    I am a working man…most weeks putting in an 80-90 hr week. I have no time to provide entertainment at parties where the only attendees are irrelevent no ones like you. I am sure, however, that it is YOU who is the entertainment at the parties/high end bars you claim to frequent.
    I have many acquiantances who work in the F&B industry. When they gather after work to kick back and drink a few cocktails, their main source of entertainment are the pretentous bores like yourself who make fun of those who serve them or who you believe to be under your social standing.
    Just be careful what you eat and drink. That yellowish tint in your champagne glass isn’t always Dom!!

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  101. Wow, took you less than 20 minutes to forgot your previous post. Or is it that the property you are referring to is owned by a child molesting homicidal psychopath, so no worries about this homeowners lifesavings at stake?

    You know, it would help if you actually read what I have written, instead of conveniently responding to it with you would of preferred I had written.
    My post is absolutely contextual and well balanced. I point out very carefully what’s wrong with it, while at the same time
    making the point that it is a good value.

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  102. “and what would YOU do with it smarty pants? so I can make fun of your opinion by slinging insults for no reason at all”

    I don’t think you would understand my answer as your post suggests that you have absolutely no understanding of these issues.

    There is nothing wrong with the exterior of the home, in fact it’s close to perfection. You can not get decent modern at that price in this city.

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  103. And most of the commentaries that I refer to, in terms of its relevancy, are the ones that are randomly talking about pricing and valuation without offering any solid contextual base to it.

    I’m not saying that one should not ever criticize, what I’m saying is that if you have some respect for the people who are actually involved with the process, then you’d show the consideration to take the time to offer a solid foundation to your opinion and if you have confidence in your opinion put your name underneath.

    I am not personally going to give that curtesy to this forum when I am not being offered the benefit of the same curtesy. But, when I write in a forum that has the proper rules like it should, e.g. WSJ, you better believe I post under my full name.

    Anyone, who’s been or is involved with retail business will appreciate what I am saying in regards to these type of posts/reviews like the ones in yelp.

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  104. “If one is serious about creating any respectable blog about any subject matter, your first request should be that people post in full disclosure of their full names.”

    Ah- I go away for the weekend and this is going on?

    Classic!

    If you don’t like the forum, don’t post here. That solves “your” problem Spinoza.

    Crib Chatter has helped countless people find/buy and sell real estate. For that, I am proud. It created a forum for people to discuss real estate in Chicago that didn’t exist before.

    Thank you, Crib Chatter readers, for your advice and comments (and tips to me about properties.)

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  105. “I don’t think you would understand my answer as your post suggests that you have absolutely no understanding of these issues. ”

    so basically you’re a know nothing douchebag…

    got it!

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  106. and for the record dumb-ass, its “courtesy” not “curtesy” unless you really need to feel the need to do a female bow to show your submissive side (and yes even that is misspelled as the real word is curtsey)

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  107. You know what is nice about this blog? It is run by someone who has tolerance and does not constantly request people to be banned from posting. It is not only the interior designers, architects, and artists who buy homes. At least I understood with Dan as he had very extreme points and was insulting quite a few people, but so what if someone likes or dislike something about a property that you disagree with.
    I had to deal with G telling me I butt in, but honestly who are you people? Learn to show some tolerance. You don’t like someone’s posts ignore them.

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  108. Geez, moomoo, where was your tolerance when you tried to insult me the other day about bringing up the bet? What a hypocrite.

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  109. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Friday ended with everyone being on such a happy note… stop… breathe in deep.. happy thoughts!

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  110. I’m very happy to call out that hypocrite.

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  111. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    curious G.. did JMM ever apologize to you?

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  112. All I said was be a gracious winner and let Clio post too. You know it, I know it too.
    I never ever asked for you or anyone to be banned. If it was up to me, even Dan would be still posting. Now I wish someone else who had read the posts will jump in and correct me if I am wrong.

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  113. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    If it was up to me, even Dan would be still posting.

    NO!

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  114. ze I am curious given that you read my post, did you find it hypocritical?

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  115. BTW, G to give you more ammunition for complaining about my evil, hypocritical self, I was thinking who you remind me of (character wise) and I finally got it: Mimi from Drew Carey show : )

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  116. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    mm. I was out in the country and I don’t always get the best signal so I didn’t take particular note. If you link back to the convo for me I will give an honest opinion.

    I will tell you this. If reconciliation is what you seek, the 7:23 comment ain’t goin to help. Did like the show though, very talented bunch.

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  117. “f reconciliation is what you seek, the 7:23 comment ain’t goin to help.”

    not at all. had enough. there is a limit to one’s trying.

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  118. Here is the link:
    http://cribchatter.com/?p=11008#comments

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  119. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    mm… I agree with you. I don’t see how you are being hypocritical.

    I have a very low opinion of Clio. I went into great depth about this once before and don’t wish to again.
    It was clear months ago Clio had no intention of honoring a bet.

    I know those that let people out of bets and those that don’t. I see neither side as right or wrong but will generally mirror them out of reciprocity.
    I personally think Clio has made aggressive enough attacks against all the idiots, that anything said is not exactly undeserving. On the other hand why chase something you’ll never get so I would probably back off after a day or two and as you said “take my win graciously (since graciously is all i’m going to get)”

    Basically that makes me half hypocrite myself. If you only share that side of the opinion, I see nothing particularly hypocritical in your opinion or suggestion.

    Personally, if Clio really = Clio, I would have had the decency to donate something to Childrens Hospital, Paws, or Special Olympics in the name of CC.

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  120. All fabulous charities ze, good choices! 🙂 C’mon clio!

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  121. gringozecarioca on July 24th, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    Clio.. pick any of the 3. All in CC’s name, for purpose of anonymity. up to $200 (the number I said before) I’ll match you.

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  122. “If it was up to me, even Dan would be still posting.”

    The prob with Dan isn’t his viewpoints to me it’s just that on this forum his viewpoints quickly derail the convo pretty far away from real estate.

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  123. “Crib Chatter has helped countless people find/buy and sell real estate.”

    Crib Chatter for me helped me prevent a big financial blunder in my life and find others who cautioned me away from buying a condo in the south loop in early 2008. I think I still would’ve liked the condo, but not the neighborhood and not the current valuation.

    I still do plan on purchasing real estate in Chicago or a collar burb like Oak Park, Evanston or Wilmette at some point in the future. Likely Chicago but we’ll see. Being suburban born and raised from a smaller town I do NOT want to give up the walkability here. Most of America does NOT have that privilege. Most of America drives everywhere. It wasn’t so great at $1/gallon gas so now at $4 it sucks.

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  124. I like the charitable donation idea. At least it is of some good to someone.

    @ Bob, I know it is painful too look at the gas prices these days. But you have at least a hybrid so think about the dudes in hummers.

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  125. “But you have at least a hybrid so think about the dudes in hummers.”

    But I _only got 39 mpg_ last week with the AC on full blast & what not. 😀 Getting reimbursed at 55.5cpm and only paying 11cpm for fuel though makes commuting fun 🙂

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  126. Ze – I pay more taxes than anyone here so I don’t need to donate more idiot – actually as a foreigner you should real shut the fuck up -seriously shut up before I get interpol on ur ass!

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  127. Ok – I think one thing we can all agree on is that Sabrina runs a great site. I’m not sure why he chose a female moniker but whatever floats his boat – it still is an awesome site – thanks Sabrina!!

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  128. Cheap construction, ugly unit, noisy (having been in them) and the building is falling apart: walls along the sidewalk collapsing, etc. The entire complex should be torn down

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  129. gringozecarioca on July 25th, 2011 at 6:16 am

    “You live in brazil butbstill constantly post about Chicago real estate??”

    1-I like to watch.

    2-When the Palmolive bldg gets to my affordability area of 270k for a 3/2. I’m moving in next to you.

    And the wife comment? That’s the only thing that justifies me being online!!!! Single in Rio and online, now that would be very sad.

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  130. Let me just say this – I will certainly be hoping Clio isn’t real if I need surgery anytime soon, I don’t want a surgeon that writes in teenaged text speak operating on me thanks.

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  131. “I don’t want a surgeon that writes in teenaged text speak operating on me thanks”

    Worried that he might be operating with one hand, texting with the other?

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  132. “and for the record dumb-ass, its “courtesy” not “curtesy” unless you really need to feel the need to do a female bow to show your submissive side (and yes even that is misspelled as the real word is curtsey”

    There has to be an edit button, but there isn’t, is there? So, the only way to remedy mishaps due to fast writing is to double/triple post which will crowd the forum unnecessarily.

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  133. “Crib Chatter has helped countless people find/buy and sell real estate. For that, I am proud. It created a forum for people to discuss real estate in Chicago that didn’t exist before. ”

    What is your basis for this claim? Words are easy. You have no way of proving something like this.

    I asked you some simple, concrete questions in regards to your motivation and background as it relates on how you portray/describe yourself here.

    The only reality here, is that this is more of a social forum than anything else with its regulars who like to chatter about life’s events and occasionally say something irrelevant about real estate.

    I post here, because this blog could actually be something much better than it is. There is certainly potential for that. But, where there is no transparency, there shall be no relevancy. The day, you figure out how to create a more open and transparent forum with more actors of real estate than people who live in their parents’ basement, than you’ll have something.

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  134. gringozecarioca on July 25th, 2011 at 10:20 am

    “occasionally say something irrelevant about real estate.”

    Teach us, oh wise one!

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  135. “so basically you’re a know nothing douchebag…”

    I wouldn’t necessarily put it that way: My wisdom comes from knowing that I know nothing, and that prevents me from making comments in areas that I am not familiar with.
    For instance, let me ask you: Have you ever set foot in Prairie Bookstore? Do you know what it is, where it is?

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  136. “Prairie Ave. Books”

    You know it closed 2 years ago?

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  137. (I don’t think the concrete should be painted either.)

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  138. “Have you ever set foot in Prairie Bookstore? Do you know what it is, where it is?”

    Do you mean Prairie Avenue Bookshop? If so, don’t you mean to use the past tense?

    Also, (intentionally provocative) what does architecture as art have to do with most of the business of real estate?

    One more bit of advice–use firefox to post, then you get the squiggle for the misspellings, which makes nits about spelling much rarer.

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  139. Architecture buff on July 25th, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    The complex was designed by Homer Rissman back in 1951. Rissman built about 3 other innovative mid-century modern townhome complexes in the area including one on Sheridan just north of Oakdale and one on Barry a little east of the Bagel. Rissman then went to Vegas where he was a significant architect for the remainder of his life. The other interesting thing to note is Rissman was a student of Mies and the townhomes look very similar to Lafayette Park townhomes in Detroit.

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  140. 2904 N Sheridan recently came on the market on August 23, 2011 (today).

    We were wondering who went with those awesome white window frames and as it turns out it was Mr. Banker as this one is…BANK OWNED!

    Real estate owned. Ask price of $384,900, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Likely the same floor plan as 2900, but with awesome white window frames to piss off your neighbors.

    Jon thought the unit at 435k would go fast. He was wrong. Hey Jon why didn’t you buy unit 2900 for 435k then and help that seller out?
    MLS 07887607.

    Oh yeah and for those interested in my fuel costs (noone but me) they went down to 8.4cpm now that the AC isn’t on full blast.

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  141. I lived in this house, 2900 Sheridan Road, from 1958-1974.

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  142. 2904 N Sheridan, the white windowed one, had it’s ask price cut to 364,900 on October 11. It is a foreclosure.

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  143. 2904 Sheridan had its ask price cut to 350k.

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  144. Several people have made comments about the windows and asked why the HOA president allowed them. The answer is the complex was built in 1951 before condo law. The townhomes are fee simple with easement agreements. As such, there is no “condo association” and homeowners have the right to redo their windows as they see fit.

    There are 3 rows of townhomes. The ones on Surf street are the nicest because they have their own front yards and have slightly more square footage. The center row does not have basements. The north row has basements. The units vary based on both original design and the work that has been done through the years, but all are nice modern units.

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  145. 2904 N Sheridan is now a foreclosure listed today with an ask price of $274,900. MLS 08054358.

    WOW–I might be buying property in Chicago sooner than I thought.

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  146. Make it happen! I think it’s a cool place that could become a unique place to live

    We have officially hit bottom. HD and Bob have or about to close on homes! Holy crap….we need some new pessimism on the site. Calling all naysayers come out come out wherever you are.

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  147. “2904 N Sheridan is now a foreclosure listed today with an ask price of $274,900. MLS 08054358.

    WOW–I might be buying property in Chicago sooner than I thought.”

    It’s 1395 square feet. Shouldn’t it be around $275,000 anyway???

    The new listing says the assessments are $1275- is that a typo and it’s really $275 a month? I’m assuming it is.

    Yeah- this is MUCH more of a deal than anything it was priced at before. But wait- didn’t Clio say there are never any deals in the GZ?

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  148. “The new listing says the assessments are $1275- is that a typo and it’s really $275 a month? I’m assuming it is.”

    Listing sez quarterly.

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  149. BTW Bob – I’d be stealth about when and if you buy a property. Over the years your well chosen and sharp words have been pretty harsh on a few fellow cc’ers. Just to be clear I do not have this issue but think that some might want to send you a not so nice house warming gift for all the kind things that you said to them.

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