Your Full Floor Vintage Beauty Across From Lincoln Park Awaits: 2344 N. Lincoln Park West

This 5-bedroom vintage unit at 2344 N. Lincoln Park West across the street from Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

Built in 1916, the listing describes it as a “Beaux Arts Beauty.”

It commands the entire floor of a 6-unit building with 4 exposures, including Lincoln Park and the lake front.

The building has an elevator and there is 2 car parking with the unit.

It has the features you would expect from construction in this era including crown molding and wainscotting.

The unit has a 35 foot foyer and a formal dining room.

It also has space pak cooling and a washer/dryer in the unit.

Is this a  good alternative for those who want the space, but not the hassle, of a single family home?

Karen Breen Elia at Re/Max has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4250 square feet, 2 car parking

  • I couldn’t find a prior sales price
  • Currently listed for $2.8 million
  • Assessments of $1890 a month (includes heat)
  • Taxes of $17398
  • Space pak cooling
  • Washer/Dryer in the unit
  • Bedroom #1: 19×14
  • Bedroom #2: 13×13
  • Bedroom #3: 14×11
  • Bedroom #4: 16×13
  • Bedroom #5: 11×10

55 Responses to “Your Full Floor Vintage Beauty Across From Lincoln Park Awaits: 2344 N. Lincoln Park West”

  1. Dream home. Beautiful, exceptional apartment. I’ve never seen anything available in this building before.

    I’m not sure it’s worth $2.8M, but $2M would seem about right.

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  2. Nice space, but the kitchen and its tiles are terrible. Mind you, it is not just the cabinetry which is usually the problem, but the weird angles and all. I think this place really needs a designer to come up with a good kitchen design.
    Bedrooms and the bath are in dire need of update too.

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  3. I agree with miumiu. the kitchen is pretty awful for this space.

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  4. I’ll agree the kitchen is bad, bad, bad. Not just the cabs and tile but also that cheap ass under-cabinet lighting.

    I’d still buy it if I could afford it, though. The rest of the place is perfect. And I’m guessing if you can drop $2+M on a place, you can swing a pretty sweet kitchen reno.

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  5. “Is this a good alternative for those who want the space, but not the hassle, of a single family home?”

    Most definitely. That’s exactly what it is, who needs a yard when you have Lincoln Park? No snow to shovel, etc. etc.

    The kitchen is almost back in style. Replace the sink w/ undermount, and add some European bar pulls to the cabinet doors and it looks like brand new Porcelanosa.

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  6. size and location are prime fda choice angus beef! but the over mount sinks are in need of an update asap!

    2k a month in ass fee’s it better include heat

    still again its condo living and one would think that your neighbors and “co-owners” will be at the the top of the snooty barometric pressure meter.

    it has all the potential to be even a greater level of vintage awesomenessitude but its already at 2.8mil list with 2k ass fees at that price it should be ready to go without updates

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  7. Too rich for my blood, obviously. That kitchen is probably what the future looked like in 1960? 1970? It’s sleek, clean and neat though not to everyone’s liking. The bedrooms need updating? What would that be, painting and new furniture & window treatment.

    As Madeline said, if you can afford this place you can probably afford to change it to your tastes. You’re buying this for the Lincoln Park front yard and other status perks.

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  8. Real question is when is the top floor of this place will get listed. that one looks like it will be bad azz!

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  9. Beautiful. I don’t mind the kitchen. It appears to be closed off from the rest of the house, which I like.

    The bathrooms are questionable since the listing only has one picture of one of the 4 bathrooms. Why do agents upload so few pictures?

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  10. “That kitchen is probably what the future looked like in 1960? 1970? ”

    MLS listing says “snaidero”. This kitchen isn’t *that* old. What’s really different from the new kitchen Noah Properties are putting in? The current “in” kitchen is espresso cabinets w/ flat doors w/ european bar pulls and white-ish quartz countertops. Again, this isn’t that far off.

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  11. gringozecarioca on March 9th, 2012 at 9:09 am

    “Real question is when is the top floor of this place will get listed. that one looks like it will be bad azz!”

    My first thought as well. The balconies with the columns just scream for a wild toga party… oops.. I forgot how fat people are up there – scratch that idea. Well some sort of drunk revelry is necessary up there!

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  12. I think the problem with the kitchen is that it doesn’t fit with the rest of the decor. The other rooms appear elegant, but the kitchen is modern.

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  13. gringozecarioca on March 9th, 2012 at 9:13 am

    “Again, this isn’t that far off.”

    Agree. Just very to the individual taste and the angles are very sharp. The floor exacerbates it. Causes me discomfort.

    Feels like the house was slowly being renovated. A hodge podge of styles goin on in there.

    Needs a few big ass abstracts on the walls too. Lots of bright reds, preferably.

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  14. “Causes me discomfort.”

    Photography has to be at least partly to blame (angle too low / narrow). It should not be possible to make a kitchen that cost that much look that cheap.

    Kitch photos also make it appear about half the size of the dimensions (24 x 16 ain’t a small kitchen but I feel like I bumped into the counter just viewing the photo).

    But now after looking at the living room now I’ll have that damn black keys song in my head the rest of the day. . . always wondered where I’d actually find “gold on the ceiling”. . .

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  15. Lincoln Parker on March 9th, 2012 at 9:37 am

    This full floor home is very nice but the kitchen needs a reno and the baths are questionable since you can only see one and it does not look all that great. Full Floor w/ 2 parking spaces in a 1916 building is highly sought after esp on LPW BUT at what price?

    Look at these comps:

    This place is 1/2 of an entire floor and has amazing north and east views from the 10th floor. There is no building directly north of this on. If you’re on Belmont and Sheridan and look south you can see this building! One parking space is included.

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/399-W-Fullerton-Pkwy-60614/unit-10E/home/21722517

    This place sold for less than 1/3 the asking price on 2344 LPW #3 and is slightly smaller but without parking. But come on, less than 1/3 the asking price — AND the kitchen is very nice! Lower assessments too.

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/305-W-Fullerton-Pkwy-60614/unit-1W/home/13349880

    Also, 2344 LPW faces a bus stop. It’s not like you can see the zoo or the harbor or anything really special in Lincoln Park.

    Don’t mean to be a hater. 2.8 is a lot for this place.

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  16. I love these vintage units with high ceilings, those low ceiling’d places in coops on LSD look like shit by comparison

    Yes the kitchen sucks, especially with that view of the fire escape right out your window, but if you have that much money, you can probably hire a personal chef, or eat out every night!

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  17. jenny is right the kitchen doesn’t match the house. Ilike the style, but just not here. those tiles are too big, too white. I hate light colored kitchen floors.

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  18. Awesome. I’m glad I don’t have $2 mm to spend right now (because that’s around what they should take), as I’d rather hold out for the top floor, which should be coming on the market in the not so distant future (once the current owner/occupants complete their mansion right off of Lakeview Ave, just west of the the 2520 building).

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  19. great place. no doubt it will fetch a price well north of $2MM…assessments aren’t too bad given the size of this place and how few units are in the building.

    all in all listing price seems quite reasonable given what i see. location is top notch.

    so, Laura mentioning that these places are rare/never to market, got me thinking — off topic question but any posters have experience with making an offer on a place that is not on the market?

    personally, if i was in the market for the ultra high-end of Chicago i wouldn’t limit myself to just what’s officially on the market. if i wanted the penthouse in a specific building above all others i’d make sure the owner of that penthouse knew the price i’d be willing to pay before i moved on to another location.

    and i’d have absolutely not problem if someone made a an unsolicited offer on my current place. granted, i wouldn’t move unless someone offered well north of market price…

    anyway, i just never hear much about this and i’m curious that others think…part of me thinks that others may frown on this practice…maybe not, but if anyone has actually done this would love to hear background/how it went, etc.

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  20. This place is awesome.

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  21. “anyway, i just never hear much about this and i’m curious that others think…part of me thinks that others may frown on this practice…maybe not,”

    If you don’t ask, you already know the answer.

    Depends a little whether you care what the owner might think of you, if they’re the sort to frown on it. Otherwise, can’t hurt, can it? And you might hit someone who’s looking for a reason. And, it’s pretty common in the not-hihg-end space–developers/investors have been mailing “if you’re considering selling, call us” letters for decades.

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  22. “(once the current owner/occupants complete their mansion right off of Lakeview Ave, just west of the the 2520 building).”

    how do you get information like this?

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  23. also, since Sabrina couldn’t find any previous sales info, is it because it’s been that long or have the rich owners managed to hide it somehow?

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  24. “old_hickory”

    It’s called Zillows “Make me move” price

    http://www.zillow.com/make-me-move/

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  25. “also, since Sabrina couldn’t find any previous sales info, is it because it’s been that long or have the rich owners managed to hide it somehow?”

    CCRD info usually only goes back to about 1987 or 1988 (and even those sales usually don’t have a price.) Since this house was last sold in 1983- forget it. I’m sure you can find it in the original cook county recorder of deeds info (just NOT online.)

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  26. “off topic question but any posters have experience with making an offer on a place that is not on the market?”

    I think it depends on whether you are talking about a place that was on the market recently and the listing expired versus one that hasn’t been on the market in years. Completely different mindset for the owner. The first wanted to sell but didn’t get their price. The other never had the thought cross their mind until you approached them.

    I’m sure both owners would suddenly feel that you really wanted their place and would be willing to pay a premium for it.

    “and i’d have absolutely not problem if someone made a an unsolicited offer on my current place. granted, i wouldn’t move unless someone offered well north of market price…”

    depends on what you consider “well north”. Keep in mind that when you put your place on the market and people come look at it, that is your pool of potential buyers, of which you might get so many offers.

    when one person knocks on your door and says I like your house, by chance would you sell it. Yeah he/she is interested but that is your pool and if you price it too far beyond market value, they are still gonna have to walk away (let’s assume they are savvy enough to do at least some rudimentary research).

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  27. By the way- if anyone has any properties they really want featured in the next week or two- please send me the tips at cribchatter@yahoo.com. I’m going out to take some pictures this weekend.

    Thanks!

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  28. “By the way- if anyone has any properties they really want featured in the next week or two- please send me the tips. I’m going out to take some pictures this weekend.”

    you have my list already 😉

    stop posting here and enjoy your damn vacation missy

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  29. “how do you get information like this?”

    There were a few articles about it a while back. Joe Mansueto (founder/head of Morningstar) purchased some lots from the 2520 developer (which would have been THs or rowhomes), on which he plans to build a place. Can’t remember exactly where I learned that they live atop this building, but since the place is the stuff (my) daydreams are made of, I suppose I was attentive to it. (Plus, in this year’s, as well as past years’, Tribune story re: Chicago billionaires, he and his wife are pictured on the PH’s terrace). Given where they’ve been living, I’m actually a bit surprised that they arent’ instead opting for some sort of palatial combo unit at 2520. But I’m sure the house is going to be pretty amazing.

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  30. 399 W. Fullerton is a co-op isn’t it? With $3K assessments it sure sounds like it. If it is, it’s not a good comp.

    “This place is 1/2 of an entire floor and has amazing north and east views from the 10th floor. There is no building directly north of this on. If you’re on Belmont and Sheridan and look south you can see this building! One parking space is included.”

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  31. Send it my way too, I haven’t seen anything I want to live in for the next 10 years in my price range.

    “you have my list already “

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  32. “Send it my way too, I haven’t seen anything I want to live in for the next 10 years in my price range.”

    email me at groove77cc at yahoo dot com

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  33. “Needs a few big ass abstracts on the walls too.”

    No it doesn’t. (don’t feed the troll)

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  34. gringozecarioca on March 9th, 2012 at 12:22 pm

    helmethofer.. I never understood the attraction that one person should have for urinating on another person.
    You really help me to understand this.

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  35. (don’t feed, don’t feed……)

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  36. Is there any outdoor space at all? I dig vintage but I want at least a balcony or a patio for almost 3 million.

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  37. “I haven’t seen anything I want to live in for the next 10 years in my price range.”

    What was wrong with norwood park gazebo?

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  38. gringozecarioca on March 9th, 2012 at 1:11 pm

    “and i’d have absolutely not problem if someone made a an unsolicited offer on my current place. granted, i wouldn’t move unless someone offered well north of market price…
    anyway, i just never hear much about this and i’m curious that others think…part of me thinks that others may frown on this practice…maybe not, but if anyone has actually done this would love to hear background/how it went, etc.”

    As a matter of fact yes. I needed a unit to complete my current residence. I had the doorman of the building contact the resident. There was another unit available in the building but in a more favorable tier. I paid to move the guy within the same building. All was done without a broker- just lawyer. Good deal for all around.

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  39. “What was wrong with norwood park gazebo?”

    I forgot about that one. have to see if it is still available or if someone snapped it up when it dropped $300K.

    cannot believe this one went about ask with all the work it needed

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/5816-N-East-Circle-Ave-60631/home/13508929

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  40. stepped away for a bit…thanks for the responses.

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  41. Total OT, but this place was just listed and we’ve talked about it a couple of times, though it wasn’t featured by sabrina. See streetview for old house. Still Zaskowski. Curious what his pricing strategy will be for this.

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2234-W-Lyndale-St-60647/home/13357662

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  42. “Real question is when is the top floor of this place will get listed. that one looks like it will be bad azz!”

    Groove – Way back in 1990 I was in the top floor of this one or the one next door to the south. My friend was in law school at U of I and one of his classmates lived there. The kids dad was an attorney and if I recall correctly had some tie in to Sam Zell.

    The place was UNBELIEVABLE. The lobby was really just totally unimpressive. It looked like a small room with 8 closet doors. They were actually private elevators to each floor. It opened into a huge lobby with an atrium. The dining room table looked like it could fit 30 people. The kitchen was very commercial and that was way before that trend had started. Simply amazing.

    Used the bathroom while we were there and I think that I pissed off the rich kid. I came out of the bathroom with a confused look. He asked what was wrong and asked him if I was supposed to tip the bathroom attendant….. he did not get the joke but my buddy thought it was really funny.

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  43. where was it that Big Jim Thompson once lived?

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  44. Old Hickory; Only saw your question now – I regularly make offers to off-market owners (mainly owners of commercial but also to homeowners). Only once in last 10 years has an owner reacted angrily. Most commonly people who have no interest ignore my offers. (if my plan needs it I then get their phone number and raise the price offered until owner at least considers my offer.) I recommend using the less formal letter of intent format instead of a contract to make an offer. LOI highlights price offered & includes basic terms and is not binding unless parties subsequently agree on contract terms. Good luck!

    “..but any posters have experience with making an offer on a place that is not on the market?..”

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  45. Wow. Every time I’m like “vintage fabulous!” on a posting everyone (except maybe groove) is “ehhh” and the one time I’m all “ehhh” about something this historic (original floorplan) and vintage people are gushing?

    It’s BIG, but unimpressive for 2.8 mil as-is. Slash the price, and let a buyer who loves vintage put some of the vintage opulence back into it. Until then? Yeah, no. It’s not impressive enough to make this CONDO an alternative to many vintage SFHs, or even something smaller at 2520 Lakeview. LPW cannot command this premium, no ma’am.

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  46. I don’t care how great a mansion the current owners of this PH are building. It couldn’t be as good as the PH of this place. I’ve dreamed of living there for years.

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  47. Dan, I remember watching the 3rd story being added to the penthouse of this place, about 20 years back, as I walked through Lincoln Park. It has to be one of the greatest penthouses in a city with a lot of beautiful penthouses, but I’m only guessing as I’ve never seen interior photos.

    Again, love this apartment and while I’d have done the kitchen and baths differently, the place is overall beautiful and would be a great deal for someone aat $2M.

    And I thought of you when I noticed recent price reductions on units at 3500 N LSD. Maybe somebody there would take a cash offer low enough to make the insane assessments worthwhile. Then you could get in there and see if there’s any way the building could work to reduce its operating costs.

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  48. Thanks for thinking of me, Laura. I still like 3500, and I’ll keep watching for units there, but we’re very far from being ready to leave our suburban abode.

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  49. This unit was just lowered $500,000 to $2.75 million. [Correction- it just lowered $50,000 to $2.75 million.]

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  50. So at 10% off list, now we into the 2.5 range…sigh…makes me drift off into thinking how can I can raise the $$$

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  51. Actually what are the thoughts on what the top floor will trade at?

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  52. “So at 10% off list, now we into the 2.5 range”

    Were there before–Sabrina added a zero, it was a $50k chop, not a half mill.

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  53. I wonder to what extent these folks are concerned re: 2520.

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  54. “I wonder to what extent these folks are concerned re: 2520.”

    Shouldn’t everyone in that neighborhood be? (at least along the park)

    Buyers want “new”. Sure, there’s a small contingent who love the vintage and will choose it over new despite its (sometimes) quirks. But 2520 will have central air, in-unit washer/dryer, amenities in the building such as an exercise room, and each unit will have outdoor space (which most vintage units do not.)

    Also- as far as this unit- #3S above it just came on the market priced under $800,000. It doesn’t have the private terrace but otherwise it looks like the same layout.

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  55. “Were there before–Sabrina added a zero, it was a $50k chop, not a half mill.”

    Sorry- It was late and my math wasn’t too good. You’re right. Just a $50,000 reduction.

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