We Love 3-Bedroom Penthouses in Converted Rectories: 3100 N. Kenmore in Lakeview

This 3-bedroom penthouse at 3100 N. Kenmore in Lakeview came on the market in February 2012.

It is the top floor of a converted rectory.

The unit has exposed brick and large windows in the living room area along with a 20 foot vaulted ceiling.

It’s a triplex with two of the bedrooms on the second level and the third on the third floor.

The listing says there is a private planted roof deck.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

For former rectory is an elevator building with 10 units and garage parking.

The unit is listed just $10,000 under the 2007 price.

Will this property be able to command that price?

Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3G: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approximately 2000 square feet, 1 car parking

  • Sold in March 2000 for $419,000
  • Sold in October 2007 for $585,000
  • Originally listed in February 2012 for $599,000
  • Reduced
  • Currently listed at $575,000
  • Assessments of $344 a month
  • Taxes of $8398
  • Central Air
  • Washer/Dryer in the unit
  • Bedroom #1: 15×13 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #2: 20×12 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #3: 20×14 (third floor)

29 Responses to “We Love 3-Bedroom Penthouses in Converted Rectories: 3100 N. Kenmore in Lakeview”

  1. Priced too high when you consider Kitchen and Baths need to be remodeled.

    0
    0
  2. Those bathrooms and kitchen need a lot of work to update. More like 2000 price to get this sold.

    0
    0
  3. The window and skylights are nice and overall the unit seems to be a unique layout. It has the potential to have some “character” if weren’t cookie-cutter-ed up with bleak upgrades/furniture that scream “we can’t decide whether to go vintage or contemporary with this space” – but it doesn’t detract from the space, just doesn’t have that “wow” factor to it yet.

    Refacing the cabinets and, of course, ditching the crib and baby crap on the wall would do wonders to please the eyes. Always wonder why owners don’t take 10 minutes to do that kind of stuff (the baby room, not the cabinetry). +5 points to the owners for not painting that room with some ridiculous over-saturated color that will help baby Heath grow up to be a well rounded kid.

    0
    0
  4. Could be a lot worse for $375k, I think that someone will be interested around that price. Wait, how much?

    0
    0
  5. Nice place. Don’t know what the prices around here are though.

    0
    0
  6. meh…unique space, but can’t imagine this going over 500k. too much work with redoing the kitchens and baths. And, yes there should be some kind of ban on the kids name in their room.

    My elder son actually asked recently why people had the name on the walls (he’s 7) and we were watching an HGTV house hunters…here in Chicaog actually…..kids name on the wall was Frost…was wondering if there was a twin named Freeze

    0
    0
  7. Not bad for the price and being a top floor, but I hate these properties where it looks like the walls have been put through a blender.

    0
    0
  8. “…..kids name on the wall was Frost…was wondering if there was a twin named Freeze”

    There’s always Foster Friess, the pretender to that throne, even tho he came (slightly) first.

    0
    0
  9. Nice looking place. I always like B&W’s full-screen photos. It’s too bad more realtors don’t offer them. I don’t know what this place is worth & I’ve got nothing snide to add.

    0
    0
  10. “+5 points to the owners for not painting that room with some ridiculous over-saturated color that will help baby Heath grow up to be a well rounded kid.”

    Wut?

    “And, yes there should be some kind of ban on the kids name in their room.”

    Huh?

    Why is it that every Tom, Dick, Elliot and Trudi thinks they have the answers to the question, “how do I raise the perfect kid?” Wall colors and names on the wall? Really? If those are really concerns for you worth debating online, I’ll go ahead and suggest you’ve run out of actual problems to solve.

    Next CC topic: correlation between your kid’s hair style and their lifetime earnings potential. Discuss!

    0
    0
  11. On this property: the layout seems interesting and has the potential to be a great space. And I love the outdoor space. I do agree with others on the finishes, though. And the pictures leave me wondering about the flow of the house and how much actual interior space is here. I wonder if the 2000sq ft quoted is a bit optimistic or includes the outdoor space.

    0
    0
  12. how much does it cost to put up crown molding? It makes such a difference in my opinion. This place looks so cheap to me w/o crown molding. Am I the only one who dismisses a place if it doesn’t have this detail?

    0
    0
  13. “Why is it that every Tom, Dick, Elliot and Trudi thinks they have the answers to the question, “how do I raise the perfect kid?” Wall colors and names on the wall? Really?”

    Wow you need to relax, it’s Friday. I was just joking around about the over-the-top things parents do for their kids. I was commending the current owners on tastefully painting the room, unlike so many other baby rooms I’ve seen on the MLS. Wasn’t telling them how to raise precious Heath. In fact with those paint colors in his room, he just might grow up to marry the trophy blonde and make the 6 figure salary.

    0
    0
  14. “names on the wall”

    Lemme guess, lil tftinchi knows all the letters of his/her name?

    0
    0
  15. HB: “how much does it cost to put up crown molding? It makes such a difference in my opinion. This place looks so cheap to me w/o crown molding. Am I the only one who dismisses a place if it doesn’t have this detail?”

    Cheap. There are a lot of really good products out there to choose from and the trend right now is toward plastic type material, which is much easier to install (if you aren’t a pro) and much more forgiving if you have less than perfectly straight walls, though it is a bit more expensive per foot. Material cost for a small room (12×12) would probably range from about $80 to $150, depending on how fancy you get with a poly-based moulding.

    0
    0
  16. ummm, I thought we were on a real estate site….commenting on things that drive us crazy when we look at homes. Just a thought 🙂

    “Why is it that every Tom, Dick, Elliot and Trudi thinks they have the answers to the question, “how do I raise the perfect kid?” Wall colors and names on the wall? Really? If those are really concerns for you worth debating online, I’ll go ahead and suggest you’ve run out of actual problems to solve.”

    0
    0
  17. Every time I see photos with cribs, names on walls & cabinet kid-proofers, I think it says “This place isn’t big enough to raise a family”, which then scares of god knows how many buyers.

    I understand that it goes w/ the territory in 2/2 or 3/2 condos and they can’t necessarily not have the stuff there when doing showings but the realtor really should get the crap off the walls and the cribs packed up for the photos.

    And the “names on walls” stuff is getting ridiculous. I saw it many times in staged single-family places where someone must have thought “oh ! Lets put a kid’s name on the wall so that someone won’t forget that this can be used as a KID’S bedroom !” Genius !! :rolls eyes:

    0
    0
  18. DZ: “Lemme guess, lil tftinchi knows all the letters of his/her name?”

    Haha. Yes, but not due to his name being on the wall. We were given a set by a well-meaning relative and they ended up on the inside of a closet door. In the tyke’s off-white bedroom. 😉

    Elliot: “Wow you need to relax, it’s Friday. I was just joking around…”

    Well, I was also joking (mostly). CC-ers have a tendency to bash the little details of places in ways I find inexplicable. The name on the wall thing seems to come up weekly, for instance. Though this may be the first time I’ve heard a wall color comment in regards to how to treat little Timmy.

    0
    0
  19. >Am I the only one who dismisses a place if it doesn’t have this detail?

    probably.

    0
    0
  20. re: Crown Moulding

    We just put in 4″/5″ oak crown moulding in 2 bathrooms/3 bedrooms & cost of materials was about $500 (primed not painted). Had it installed for another $500. Then had to paint, but it makes a huge difference and looks amazing.

    0
    0
  21. Crown moldings do not belong in this loft or most lofts especially vaulted. And plastic looks and is cheap. The price is getting close: 425K

    0
    0
  22. I love the brick, windows and metal beams. Lots of character not easily replicated. Too bad the finishings don’t live up to the space. Ususally, I’d say its a good buy b/c with updated baths and kitchen and finishings this place could really have the “Wow” factor. However, I hate the fact that its a triplex. I think this will always limit its resale value (even in good times) b/c retirees and couples who plan to have kids don’t want this much stairs for the size of space. I wish builders would stop putting up one room third floors they end up wasted spaces that cost a lot to heat and cool.,

    0
    0
  23. “how much does it cost to put up crown molding? It makes such a difference in my opinion. This place looks so cheap to me w/o crown molding. Am I the only one who dismisses a place if it doesn’t have this detail?”
    Seriously, and some moldings around the door frames. I HATE just a cutout in the drywall that you see in every cookie cutter place. Looks so cheap. Also plastic molding looks cheap.

    0
    0
  24. Crown moulding in a loft…….not a good match. They could do some cool trim but the standard HD or Lowes stuff is not the play in this place. Yeeeech!

    I was a bit disappointed with the photos as RJA usually has some of the best listings. Penthouse loft over $500K just did not live up to my expectations. Still a great place and YES you could raise a family here!

    0
    0
  25. They’ve been trying to sell this since 09 and had it listed then at 599k. They took it off in ’10 at 580k then back on in 2/12 at 599. Now down to 575k. If they had put it on at 525 or less in 09, I think they would have sold it. Buyer activity is pretty good in this area right now, but not that good. They still need to get realistic. That kid’s room doesn’t have a window (unless you consider the door overlooking the living room one) and the 3rd bed is upstairs off the deck, which I would consider a den. 499,000 gets this sold.

    0
    0
  26. 3 bedrooms,
    2.5 baths,
    approximately 2000 square feet
    east of Ashland
    prime LakeView
    non-cookie cutter loft (i.e. unique, despite its quirks)
    top floor

    maybe not $300 psf, but definitely above $200 psf. So, at $250 psf it’s worth $500K.

    0
    0
  27. I haven’t read any child-care books in a long time. Perhaps young parents can clue us in o this. Do the current Dr. Spocks recommend that a child’s name be displayed in the nursery as a self-esteem builder?

    0
    0
  28. RE: polyurethane crown moulding. If you don’t buy the cheap stuff, you install it properly and it is going to be a painted application, polyurethane is the superior product for crown moulding, IMO. I’d never use it in a lower location, but it has several advantages compared to wood over time and the difference is imperceptible from the floor if done right, at least in the good installations I’ve seen. Older products, cheaper products and improper installation can all make it look terrible…we’ve all seen the wavy, dented plastic stuff. But I’ve seen some wood that looks pretty terrible, too. Ever see what happens when you install wood trim in a dry house in January without giving it room to expand?

    I don’t have any moulding in my house right now (cheap bastard!), but I’d seriously consider the poly stuff if I put it in

    0
    0
  29. Those steel trusses are great, but the built in decor elements are schizophrenic.

    0
    0

Leave a Reply