1 Year Later, “Surge Into the Red Zone” 5-Bedroom SFH Is Still Available: 1738 N. Winchester
If there was a “Crib Chatter Hall of Fame”, then this 5-bedroom single family home at 1738 N. Winchester in Bucktown would probably be in it for its sheer uniqueness.
We last chattered about this house a year ago when it was on the market as a short sale for $1,699,900.
See our prior chatter here.
The description of the property is still the same: “IF YOU ARE READY TO ACT BUYER, BUCKLE UP BECAUSE YOUR ANTICIPATION IS GETTING READY TO SURGE INTO THE RED ZONE.”
However, the house has now been reduced another $500,000.
The reductions are coming more quickly now- with several significant price cuts in just the last 3 weeks.
You’ll recall that the house has a modern exterior and interior except when you’re in the lower level which has a very unique fully bricked recreation room, including a curved ceiling, complete with fireplace and jacuzzi tub in the floor.
Some of you called it a “man cave” in the prior chatter.
The house also has a home theater on the third floor and an elevator.
The five bedrooms are scattered on several floors with the master bedroom on the second level, 2 bedrooms on the third level and 2 on the fourth.
The kitchen has modern red cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
Built on a 24×125 lot, it has a 2-car garage.
The listing now also says “needs some water damage work.”
What will this house ultimately sell for?
Anthony Zaskowski at Property Consultants Realty still has the listing. See the pictures here.
1738 N. Winchester: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 6200 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in March 2003 for $375,000 (old property)
- Originally listed in May 2008
- On and off the market since then
- Lis pendens foreclosure filed in February 2009
- Was listed in July 2010 for $1,799,900
- Reduced
- Was listed in September 2010 as a “short sale” for $1,699,900
- Reduced
- Currently still listed as a “short sale” for $1,199,900
- Taxes of $22,500
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 17×16 (2nd floor)
- Bedroom #2: 16×13 (3rd floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×12 (3rd floor)
- Bedroom #4: 15×12 (4th floor)
- Bedroom #5: 19×17 (4th floor)
This house is going to be a problem because, as it is, I don’t think any non-contractor could get over the decor (at any price over 600-700k). Contractors who can see the potential and know that they can make it more palatable with little cost (less than 100k) are not going to get into a project like this unless they can be guaranteed a profit – so they will be looking to buy at 600-700k max. The owners might be smart to just the property go…..
Ew just looking at that basement makes me want to take a shower.
I predict one of his friends is planning to pounce right at the last second and pay the bare minimum just to rub his nose in it. Under a mil.
This is less a ‘surge into the red zone’ as it is a ‘highway to the danger zone.
Ah I was waiting for a Bucktown listing. Since last Monday Sabrinah has listed 30 properties, 15 of which are CC-repeats. The breakdown:
8 Lincoln Park (1 in ELP)
7 Lake View (5 LakeView, 2 Lake View)
3 West Town
Avondale
Logan Square
Lincoln Square
Ravenswood Manor
Uptown
North Center
Loop
South Loop
Gold Coast
Peterson Woods
Icarus–that’s only 28 (29 if you count the current B’town).
anon,
THAT is the extent of your contribution?!!
It’s good to see updates on properties and fun to see how some contributors have a knack for predicting.
The basement looks like they were trying to recreate the Beatles’ famous underground “Cavern Club.”
thanks Anon I jotted it down on paper and must have miscounted though that means more than 50% revisits
Definitely worthy of Crib Chatter Hall of Fame, just like the Chinatown place.
I’m still lolling at this $hitbox.
Is R. Kelly looking for another in-town home?
honestly I have no idea who would buy such a tacky place at such a high price, maybe if jersey shore does a season filming in Chicago?
Still ugly. Now that the Playboy Club is making plans to come back to Chicago, they should pick this joint up as an in-town for Hef.
Wow. This house makes me feel even dirtier than the R. Kelly house.
I’m not that familiar with this particular location, but the house next door looks like a dump.
From the comments on this thread, it is obvious that nobody has any imagination, patience, or ability for analysis/critical thinking. However, they are representative of the morons out there – so if you are a seller, this is proof that cosmetics and decor make a HUGE differece!! Honestly, someone could come in here and, with 50-100k you could make this place a show-stopping stunner. I almost feel like doing something like this to show you people how easy a cosmetic renovation (as opposed to a gut rehab) is to do (and how much of a difference it makes). This may sound logical and basic to most, but just look at the property and the comments…
Actually I think it should sell around $900K unless the floor plan sucks too (hard to tell without touring). It is not too hard to rehab the top floors they are in pretty decent shape and the owners can slowly fix the dungeon : )
wow clio brilliant analysis
where can I subscribe to your newsletter for some monthly brilliant insight such as that
that’s the basement from silence of the lambs
Sorry, I love that basement it is so cool!
“Now that the Playboy Club is making plans to come back to Chicago, they should pick this joint up as an in-town for Hef.”
Actually, I posted an update to a building at 215 e chestnut (sabrina had done a previous thread on the penthouse which is up for rent again) – anyway, they are building a playboy type lounge (but much much much more upscale on the first floor of the building. I think it is going to be a martini/wine bar/lounge called “grand cru chicago” – sounds really cool – probably opening by summer of next year).
http://cribchatter.com/?p=7858
check out the pictures of the penthouse (i linked to it on my last comment on the thread)
“Actually I think it should sell around $900K unless the floor plan sucks too (hard to tell without touring). It is not too hard to rehab the top floors they are in pretty decent shape and the owners can slowly fix the dungeon : )”
Don’t forget the water damage. The price for this place in pristine condition might be something like $1.3MM if the layout is good. As it is, would you rather get the place below or buy this place for $900K plus have $225K to fix (I know this place is reportedly larger)?
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1726-N-Winchester-Ave-60622/home/12772035
Another weird thing about the listing is that dungeon photos have been given precedence over the main floor. Does the agent really think it is something to be proud of? Also kitchen looks very ikea to me and there are no bathroom photos.
Looking at the neighboring houses, it is unfathomable how you could design/build a house like this on this lot? Shouldn’t it be a non negotiable aspect of architecture/development that some consideration is given to the style of the neighboring houses? This design is a massive FU to the neighbors and the developer/owner deserve to fail – as they clearly have here.
The only positive that I can see is that it is a lot of square footage for the money for this neighborhood. And all stone/brick. I would say that it will sell for $950,000.
Oh it has water damage too? and DZ your listing is so much nicer. I would rather get that too.
“Shouldn’t it be a non negotiable aspect of architecture/development that some consideration is given to the style of the neighboring houses?”
I had asked the same question before. Usually municipalities impose rules on what type of building is permissible to make sure the fabric of the neighborhood is not disturbed, but I don’t think that is the case in Chicago (US?).
Yeah, I guess I’m not the only one questioning that sales pitch!
“This is less a ’surge into the red zone’ as it is a ‘highway to the danger zone.”
“would you rather get the place below”
Is this *really* “Bucktown’s most desirable block”, as claimed in DZ’s sold comp?
Miu:
It wouldn’t look out of place were it three houses south. The neighbors are just holdovers on the block–about half of it is new, big, boxy SFHs, like htis one and DZ’s link.
“Yeah, I guess I’m not the only one questioning that sales pitch!”
Makes sense to me. If people just saw the outside they might not look at the rest of the pictures, and call the broker. Then they would enter and run away screaming, wasting brokers time.
This way, anyone calling (obviously no one) knows what awaits, and less time is wasted.
This thing is horrendous
Agent: “Buyers…before we’re done here…y’all be surging into the red zone.”
Prospective Buyers: “What does that mean?”
Agent: “Never question Anthony Zaskowski!”
“Another weird thing about the listing is that dungeon photos have been given precedence over the main floor.”
My comment above was in response to miu… either way. this place is awful
““Never question Anthony Zaskowski!””
POTD!
““Never question Anthony Zaskowski!””
“POTD!”
Second. I love zaskowski.
“Is this *really* “Bucktown’s most desirable block””
Well, the first question is whether it’s even in bucktown. Setting the btown/wicker q aside, I’ve always thought of these N-S street east of damen as pretty interchangeable, aside from wood, which is prob the busiest. Pretty sure I’ve seen similar claims on listings for most of these streets. Tradeoffs are how close you want to be to Damen/North, and staying relatively far from xway. But I haven’t scrutinized really closely.
Tony Zaskowski is a former Air Force performer, apparently. Maybe that’s why he writes his listings straight outta Top Gun.
http://chicagoultimatehomes.com/profile.php
Personally, I would love to buy a house from a guy that looks like Vladimir Putin.
“a guy that looks like Vladimir Putin.”
I’m not sure whether the Pole or the Russian would be more insulted by the comparison.
“Clio on September 1st, 2011 at 8:03 am
with 50-100k you could make this place a show-stopping stunner.”
LMFAO.
Stark contrast to your point of view in this Cribchatter thread: http://cribchatter.com/?p=10710
Say for whatever reason you could get a really good deal on this house, and you want the space/ location etc. Is there really anything that could be done (cost effectively) to “redo” the basement den of iniquity?
Bradford,
Good God – where do I begin: OK –
1. There is a HUGE difference between a gut renovation/new construction, and a cosmetic rehab.
2. The other loft property was a shell – again, huge difference
3. This property is finished and just needs cosmetic updates – again, huge difference
If you seriously can’t see this, then you need some serious help.
The monthly costs of this place are over 7k. Wouldn’t you guys rather live in the penthouse of a gold coast/streeterville building? I know I would – check out the previous chatter – the place is up for rent again and I posted a link to the pictures – my final post on that thread:
http://cribchatter.com/?p=7858
“Is there really anything that could be done (cost effectively) to “redo” the basement den of iniquity?”
Depends on the result you want. If you can deal with the wine cave effect, sure, b/c that’s just tearing out the hot tub and re-doing the floor.
Turning it into a white box really depends on how they constructed the walls and ceiling–might be easy, might not be.
“Wouldn’t you guys rather live in the penthouse of a gold coast/streeterville building?”
Believe it or not, there are some people who would rather live in a sfh in Bucktown than a gold coast penthouse.
marco – but did you see the pictures? WHO would rather live in this place when they can have the penthouse? Also, with the upscale lounge/restaurant on the first floor, you don’t have to worry about going out in bad weather or driving drunk, etc.
http://cribchatter.com/?p=7858
link to the pictures in my final comment on that thread.
“Turning it into a white box really depends on how they constructed the walls and ceiling–might be easy, might not be.”
I was just curious — seriously, the place give me the creeps.
i went throught this house with an eye towards buying, rehabbing and flipping. the house is well located, huge (excess of 6,000 Sq. Ft.), and pretty unique layout.It has a great view of the skyline off the deck at the penthouse level too. That being said, it has some weird finishes; see basement, and bright red kitchen cabinets. It also has SIGNIFICANT water damage from poor original masonry workmanship. It has no drip edges at copings, no sign of flashing or weeps at copings,etc. It will require that the entire top floor and parts of the floor below it be essentially gutted beacause of water infiltration and mold growth. The entire home needs to be re-pointed and sealed, etc. My estimated was buy at $900K, put in $300k, flip at $1.75M. I think it’s doable but i am worried about the risk that once you gut the top two floors, you find out the joist are all rotten because this thing has been leaking since day one and then my costs spiral out of control….
Love the upper part but that basement (?) reminds me where people starved to death back in earlier times. Also, is that an urn? That increased the creep factor up to 5%.
so basically this is a pickup truck special?
I bet this sells as a moldy forclosure in 2 years @ 600k
Seems we were having the same assessment evincentg ($900K) and then the rehab, but given the extend of water damage you describe, it seems to be a disaster zone. Maybe that is why the agent calls it red zone : )
extend >> extent
“Clio on September 1st, 2011 at 9:03 am
Bradford,
Good God – where do I begin: OK –
1. There is a HUGE difference between a gut renovation/new construction, and a cosmetic rehab.
2. The other loft property was a shell – again, huge difference
3. This property is finished and just needs cosmetic updates – again, huge difference
If you seriously can’t see this, then you need some serious help.”
1. Yes, with the new construction loft, you know what you’re going to get. This is *not* a cosmetic renovation. You think that masonry constructed barrel ceiling basement can be fixed easily? Mystery water damage? You’re a n00b.
2. Um, see #1.
3. Um, see #1 again. Did you really just list the same reason three times as a bulleted list in order to make your argument look stronger? LOL. You truly are a fvcking moron.
3.
“Contractors who can see the potential and know that they can make it more palatable with little cost (less than 100k)…buy at 600-700k max.”
“…nobody has any imagination, patience, or ability for analysis/critical thinking.”
“Honestly, someone could come in here and, with 50-100k you could make this place a show-stopping stunner.”
“or buy this place for $900K plus have $225K to fix”
“$900K, put in $300k, flip at $1.75M.”
LOL good entertainment this morning!! Thanks ms clio
clio & DZ,
Didn’t our gracious host kindly ask ALL posters not to post links to properties when discussing featured properties?
Also, got a good laugh reading through the 152 Huron thread that was referenced by Bradford…who made perfect sense…as opposed sheer nonsense/name calling/childlike behavior from our resident clown, clio.
westloop, those weren’t all my comments. My main contribution to this thread was pointing out that you could rent a beautiful penthouse in chicago (which we already talked about) for about the same amount. In addition, they are building a very high end and extremely nice martini/wine bar/lounge on the first floor of that building (215 e chestnut). check out the prior chatter and click on the link to the pictures of the unit (on my last post of that thread)
http://cribchatter.com/?p=7858
“Didn’t our gracious host kindly ask ALL posters not to post links to properties when discussing featured properties? ”
WL: The threat of deletion applied just to suburban properties, iirc.
“Also kitchen looks very ikea to me …”
yet another clown (same clown, different moniker?) who doesn’t know what she is talking about.
The cabinets in this unit are uber expensive, custom Italian products.
Not even close to anything IKEA (shivers) mass produces. But then I don’t expect anything correct or of any relevanace to come from you.
It is quite clear to see the effects of clios ‘mental meds’ makes by reading the style of posting between early morning clio and mid morning clio.
And yes cClio, I know those weren’t all your comments…where did I say they were?
Your main contribution to this thread, like most of your contributions, is that you start off by blasting all CC morons for what you believe is their lack of imagination, lack of knowledge of renovations, lack of knowledge of RE pricing, lack of kno…well you get what I mean.
OK anon, I understand your interpretation of Sab’s request. Still, it is so distracting to be reading about the featured property only to have previous discussions/other properties brought up and then the conversation will take on a whole new direction ending up with the unavoidable discussion of schools, correct neighborhood designation, etc.
Can’t we just stay on topic of the featured property without all the other nonsensical comments? It would be such a wonderful blog to read if we spoke exclusively about the featured properties and their pros and cons.
“yet another clown (same clown, different moniker?) who doesn’t know what she is talking about.”
and
“Not even close to anything IKEA (shivers)”
YEAH – FRUITLOOP – THESE STATEMENTS ARE NOT MEAN OR ARROGANT/POMPOUS – give me a break!!!
the threat applied to suburban properties only but it was implicit that she didn’t like the west suburban property links.
“Can’t we just stay on topic of the featured property without all the other nonsensical comments? It would be such a wonderful blog to read if we spoke exclusively about the featured properties and their pros and cons.”
But if it’s a genuinely valid comp–as DZ’s just sold, also 5/4.5 SFH, 5 doors down from this place is, and as my (in the next thread) 2/1 in the same complex is–they are relevant to the discussion of the featured property.
I realize you are likely in part railing against the other, irrelevant, links that don’t technically violate the rule, but, because other similar properties *will* get mentioned, and so banning links to the referenced, relevant, property, on the intertubez, just isn’t a reasonable practice.
“Can’t we just stay on topic of the featured property without all the other nonsensical comments? It would be such a wonderful blog to read if we spoke exclusively about the featured properties and their pros and cons.”
That would be nice and it probably was the original intent of this blog. Unless Sabrina puts forth the effort (read lots of extra work) to delete, ban and block people, a certain amount is going to fall through.
It’s her blog and she can do what she wants…no one holds a gun to my head and makes me point my browser here.
I’d love it if we could have certain nabes featured certain days, that way I wouldn’t need to waste my time on the days that didn’t interest me and the rest of you could do the same.
for every piece of useful info i’ve learned on this site (Groovy resto recommendations, expert vintage window repair, etc) there has been a pletheria of useless batshit that some cave somewhere wants back.
actually what would probably be most helpful if people (including me) were limited in the number of times they could post. It could be a 10 post maximum per thread.
“for every piece of useful info i’ve learned on this site”
are you kidding me? – you can’t really learn anything useful on this site – this is pure entertainment. Please don’t take anything anyone says on here seriously. It is a good gauge of what and how people think, though. That is very helpful….
“The cabinets in this unit are uber expensive, custom Italian products.”
Agree… but still terrible.
“Agree… but still terrible.”
All the worse for being expensive, and sought out specifically, no? If cheap, and available from the 24-hour Home Depot, more understandable.
loopy, you are nothing but a rude name calling poster. At least Clio apologizes once in a while. You even called anon nasty names, see
http://cribchatter.com/?p=8546
I guess your insanity is seasonal and changes target.
It is possible that you are really as wealthy as you claim to be and take over huge projects, but I bet that can occur only in large deviations regime. Most likely you are a bitter failed designer that does low end contractor work at best. I doubt your claims at wealth and your business being what you claim to be.
and the cabinets look awfully like these:
http://athome.kimvallee.com/images/blog_kimvallee_com/WindowsLiveWriter/LivingwithRedKitchenCabinets_F0E7/ikea_abstraktred_2.jpg
Did you inspect the cabinets in person that you are so certain?
“Not even close to anything IKEA (shivers) mass produces.”
Westloop –
I installed some white /glass front IKEA kitchen cabinets at my Brooklyn place 13 years ago and after a lot of wear and tear they still look great. I went for the mid-range ones. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either.
Not everyone can afford high end, you know what I’m saying? That doesn’t mean that only the wealthy can buy or renovate homes. Anyway, those red cabinets in the Bucktown house look like shit. Proof that money can’t buy class.
As a shocking waste of money, this place ranks right up there with the ghost trike mansion near United Center. (And I think that featured dog-fighting, due to the doggy bath and spectator area around the “trike” ring.)
http://cribchatter.com/?p=10243
Add in the water damage, and it’s the ideal money pit, not man cave.
Is it just me or loopy sounds like the other personality of James who posts in long paragraphs?
miumiu,
westie is again accusing us of being the same person. remember when the paranoid schizo southbout thought me , you and Andrew were the same person? People sure are paranoid!!
“Proof that money can’t buy class”
isn’t that the name of a new song?
miumiu: sorry, but WL is a master of reason, coherency and truth compared to clio. Is he occasionally coarse? Sure, but many of the regulars here get their panties in a twist on occasion. I’ve learned a thing or two from WL and most other regulars here and that makes the comments worth reading.
Clio, however, lives and breathes insults, lies, baiting and inconsistencies. Clio represents the problem with the internet. I don’t trust a thing he says.
Wait – I think TftInChi=westloop
The Chinatown place and this one are my top two crazy properties ever posted to CC. The idea that someone found this jumble of “styles” appealing is absolutely hilarious.
That hot tub needs to be burned. Burn it. Burn it with fire.
clio: “Wait – I think TftInChi=westloop”
Busted!!! I pretend to be a rehabber with my other persona. When I get tired of that, I head over the Sun Times and pose as a retired cop. Then over to HuffPo to pretend I’m running a puppy mill to rile up all the veggies.
“miumiu: sorry, but WL is a master of reason, coherency and truth compared to clio. ”
TftInChi, that is not saying much though, is it? : )
So many haters on here. I give who ever designed and decorated this place a lot of credit. They put what they like in it and not just whatever stupid fad is trendy right now. Yeah, the basement is creepy but it looks like a lot of fun, so the kitchen cabinets aren’t what you see in ever other kitchen, at this price why would want what every other person has.
clio: “TftinChi, now read your last post – pot meet kettle.”
lol. yes, my behavior is *exactly* the same as yours. jeebus, dude, try just a little objectivity. i’m no angel, but which circle of hell would i be in? which would you be in?
miumiu: “TftInChi, that is not saying much though, is it? : )”
i guess not, no. heh.
“All the worse for being expensive, and sought out specifically, no? If cheap, and available from the 24-hour Home Depot, more understandable.”
I think they look good in that tiny, super modern, Italian kitchen, that has about 4 boxes and one of those super modern lil ovens,that’s just a touch bigger than my toaster. Then they kinda look cool.
Like this… my bet is white comes back in style 3-4 times, before these do.
Ikea sells a kitchen that looks exactly like this (Abstrakt high-gloss red).
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/hot-or-not/hot-or-not-abstrakt-red-highgloss-ikea-kitchen-040773
coincidentally, whenever I go to Ikea on a sunday, I feel like my brain is surging into the red zone
Ok, what’s the red zone?
“Vlajos on September 1st, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Ok, what’s the red zone?
HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE
good stuff sonies. any mall on a weekend puts my head in the red zone. damm people love to buy crap…. or maybe they all just saw Fast Times and are looking for a pretty young mall worker to take on a date to a dugout.
“damm people love to buy crap”
ain’t that the truth, you ever watch the show hoarders? just as scary as the basement and mold in this house
“Busted!!! I pretend to be a rehabber with my other persona. When I get tired of that, I head over the Sun Times and pose as a retired cop. Then over to HuffPo to pretend I’m running a puppy mill to rile up all the veggies.”
Wait, I thought you were one of the “screw the citizens” mook “cops” over on SecondCityCop?
anon: “Wait, I thought you were one of the “screw the citizens” mook “cops” over on SecondCityCop?”
Even trolls can’t survive over there. All that’s left are the cockroaches…
“Didn’t our gracious host kindly ask ALL posters not to post links to properties when discussing featured properties?”
I don’t mind links if it’s relevant to the discussion at hand. Most times it is. But it adds nothing if we’re discussing a house in Portage Park and someone says, “why would you buy this house when you can buy XYZ in Hinsdale for the same?”
This is a Chicago blog. If the suburban posts are relevant to the discussion at hand (and sometimes they are)- then fine. If you want to link to a house down the street or a condo across the courtyard in the thread- then that’s great too.
Also- if you are really DYING to know what the chatterati think about a certain property- instead of linking to it- why not send me an e-mail and ask me to feature it? I routinely feature properties that people send me because they “want to know what everyone thinks.”
Just be sure that it’s not yet under contract. I don’t like posting about properties that someone is already buying.
They took what could have been a really solid house and really f%cked it up.
Im surprised the builder just didn’t dismantle it and ship it in a container over to Eastern Europe. This is pretty intact.
“I’m not that familiar with this particular location, but the house next door looks like a dump.”
Funny, I was thinking the exact opposite.
Relisted at $1MM. Description is not zaskowski’s best work (I’m glad we memorialized parts of the prior listing) but still some interesting info. House is “completely stripped”, which prob increases its value.
SOLD: 7/30/2012 for $780,100!
Re-sold 10 months later for $2mm:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1738-N-Winchester-Ave-60622/home/13354962
“Re-sold 10 months later for $2mm:”
Someone should write the new owners about what transpired in that basement. You can’t rehab your way out of that.