Would You Pay $499K For a Unique Gold Coast 1-Bedroom? 1209 N. State Parkway
This large duplex up 1-bedroom in the historic Fisher Studio Houses at 1209 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.
Designed by Andrew Rebori and built in 1936, the building was sold as condos in 2000/2001.
Most of the units are smaller duplex 1-bedrooms.
The listing for this unit says it used to be a 2-bedroom. The master bedroom now measures 23×15.
It has the unique features found in the rest of the building including a circular wood staircase, some brick floors and glass block windows.
The listing says it has a new kitchen, which has cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, and new baths.
There is in-unit washer/dryer but there is no central air (it is window units only) and there is no deeded parking. There is rental parking next door, however.
Would you pay $499,000 for a 1-bedroom or will the seller have to put the wall to the second bedroom back up to sell it?
Meredith Meserow at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1: 1 bedroom, 2.5 baths, 1400 square feet, duplex up
- Sold in January 2001 for $461,000
- Currently listed for $499,000
- Assessments of $718 a month
- Taxes of $10,590
- No central air- window units
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- No deeded parking- it is available to rent next door
- Bedroom: 23×15 (second floor)
- Office: 4×7 (second floor)
The kitchen and baths are new but just do not fit in with the late Deco/International style building (too bad). All said this is priced well and should move : I like 450K
The tax is $10,590 !?!? So with assessments it would be roughly $1,700 a month to “own” if I paid cash?
no. i couldnt get passed the fact that i cant see out the windows.
What a spacious and gracious apartment. The glass block is cool though admittedly there is no view. The outdoor space is pleasant, especially for being so up close and personal with the Division Street bar scene. I’ve known a couple of people who lived in the building over the years and they found it to be a very special place.
“The kitchen and baths are new but just do not fit in with the late Deco/International style building”
this and the fact i cant find a window that a window a/c would go is what is killing it for me.
the potential this place had is sick, i would even say if kitchens/baths and decorated they way in my mind it could sell for 700k. as is right now its been neutered and w/ one bedroom taken out it should only sell for 399k
It’s got kind of a welcome to the Hotel California vibe to it. Like something you could bring an expat cougar from LA that you met @ Rush / Division back to.
“All said this is priced well and should move : I like 450K”
460k?
Totally agree with ed, shoudl have gone a more european look in the kitchen and baths… modern european, the pottery barn look is f-ing terrible, wow bad! Other than that, I think the fair value of this place shoudl be around 350k since the assessments and taxes are ridiculously high.
Lack of windows is killing this place. I think removing the glass block and replacing it with a huge window would do wonders. Otherwise, you may have to find a buyer who is Vampire or suffering from that crazy disease where you can’t be in sunlight.
I don’t mind the lack of a second bedroom since it has 2.5 baths. A couple could live her quite comfortably.
However, the glass block windows kill it for me. I need to be able to see outside.
LOL, remove the glass block? That’s the whole point of this place. Though I see a heat pump AC system, through the wall not window unit, which I don’t really consider the same, since through-walls are permanent rather than sitting in a window.
I hate the kitchen and doors (and floor) – really out of character. It’s my understanding that a lot of original detail got ripped out before the city stepped in (or it’s another Miller building).
I’d feel like a prisoner without any windows I can actually see through… other than that, I think it’s a pretty neat space. But the windows would be a deal breaker.
You would NOT be allowed to remove the glass blocks
Pretty sure sunlight shines just fine through glass block
I know the glass block is part of what makes the building special, but the lack of other useable windows with a decent view blows. I was just thinking a large curved single pane window would look kind of cool on the front, particularly the upper level, instead of the glassblock so the building wouldn’t feel like some kind of fancy prison.
if you look carefully at the glass block, there are regular windows within the blocks, near the sides. It also looks like there are other windows throughout, just not very large or noticable.
This is a unique building. If a 1 bedroom commands nearly half a million in any neighborhood, I suspect it would be the GC.
unique space…and i like it. i really think there’s a market for something like this, particularly in this location. close to the night life…market it to the older bachelor crowd and i bet you could get it sold.
jmho
on a random note, i think Dr. Seuss could list this place…would go something like this:
would you, could you, in a box?
would you, could you, with glass blocks?
this house is good, you will see
step out back and see a tree!
…that’s all i’ve got so far.
I agree the floors and kitchen have ruined this place. Check out the book, Edgar Miller and the Hand-Made Home to see what these units should look like. Miller worked with Rebori and designed the stained glass and details that make this place a gem. My wife and I looked at one of the smaller units last year and though it was a terrific place, they’re so small you have to go outside to change your mind. You need to be a single person and an architecture aficionado to live here unless you want a great in-town place.
There is a great article in Chicago mag showing another condo from 2009, Thoroughly Moderne Rebori. Beautifully restored.
Looks like the facade was designed after a letter in the hebrew alphabet!
I love this beautiful, unique place but I hate some of things that have been done to it, especially recent renovations.
The kitchen and baths are cookie-cutter and are all wrong for this place, as are the “traditional” pocket doors. They are so wrong, I wish the seller hadn’t bothered. Now, he expects someone to pay for these tragedies.
And, yes, the 2-bed configuration needs to be restored.
I’d really want to deduct $100K at to redo the kitchen and baths by a designer who appreciates this place, and another $50K to restore the bedroom and kitchen.
The exterior is so lovely. I just love the design of the building as a whole. As everyone else has said, the kitchen and baths are a disaster. What a shame to have had it be done so terribly and not at all in keeping with the home’s style! This would look so beautiful and cool in a more modern/euro/lofty style.
I think if it was redesigned correctly, it could be an awesome bachelor pad. I dated a confirmed-bachelor-type architect a few years ago who would have loved this place — total architecture/design boner for the building itself + chic hidden gem quality inside (if designed right) + patio for smoking cigarettes and reading mags + no need to pull any drapes when bringing home the ladies as the glass block takes care of the privacy issues! Could totally see it going to a designer/architect bachelor type, but the kitchen isn’t attracting those sorts.
I’m not going to commit to this, but somewhere lodged in my mind is that this was one of the first buildings with air conditioning. I can’t remember if that’s right or what form that took. I don’t think central air, but I think it’s unlikely you’d be sweating it out in the summer. My main concern with this unit is that I think it’s the one on the street and I’d be concerned about the noise. I’d say that about no other unit in the building. Also, people who are remembering something about architectural details going amiss – I think, but again not sure, the main part of that was a window nightmare with a lot of Edgar Miller stained glass being taken out years ago before preservationists stepped in. Some got saved, some didn’t make it. Weirdly, I’ve noticed most of the units now have kitchens that seem a little ill-suited to the building. They’ve nearly all been done in granite and all 2010. I think the bedroom now looks way too big and it would be better as a two bedroom. So, I agree with some folks here. I love the building, and the square footage of this is really nice, but personally it’s actually the unit I would probably least want to live in, of the ones I’ve seen either in person or photos.
You’re correct that much of the original stained glass was removed. I think each front door had a small inset piece of stained glass each of which was different. Many, if not most, were removed. Likewise with many of the windows.
Unless there’s something I’m missing, the 2010 taxes were actually $5823.
“Unless there’s something I’m missing, the 2010 taxes were actually $5823”
Nonya,
the $5823 strangely looks like a first installment payment. (55% of total). are you sure you looked at it correctly?