Looking For History? This Lincoln Park Painted Lady Pre-Dates The Chicago Fire: 2029 N. Seminary

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom Victorian at 2029 N. Seminary in Lincoln Park in February 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

Many of you liked the house but were disappointed with the lack of true vintage features in the interior.

Listed for $1,574,900 back in February, the house is still priced the same 7 months later.

Built in 1861 on a 25×124 lot, the house pre-dates the Chicago fire (making it among the oldest houses we’ve ever chattered about) and the oldest in West Lincoln Park.

The listing says it was originally a farmhouse.

With 3 fireplaces it still has its antique mantles and leaded glass.

It also has the modern amenities of central air and a 2-car garage.

The extensive listing says it was last renovated in 1992 (when it also last sold.)

The kitchen has white cabinets and black appliances.

Back in February, on the listing page on Coldwell Banker, it said this property had been viewed 2,690 times. Now, the property has gotten 6,519 views.

There are also several videos of it and the block by YoChicago and Chicago Magazine  if you read the comments in the prior chatter. You can’t say it hasn’t gotten publicity.

But with the spring/summer busy season now ending, will this house have to wait until until 2013 to sell?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker still has the listing. See the pictures and floorplan here.

2029 N. Seminary: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

  • Sold in May 1992 for $560,000
  • Originally listed in June 2010 for $1,749,000
  • Reduced
  • Was listed in February 2012 at $1,574,900
  • Currently still listed at $1,574,900
  • Taxes of $16573
  • Central Air
  • Bedroom #1: 15×19 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #2: 15×12 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #4: 13×15 (lower level)
  • Recreation Room: 19×14 (lower level)

26 Responses to “Looking For History? This Lincoln Park Painted Lady Pre-Dates The Chicago Fire: 2029 N. Seminary”

  1. still for the life of me cannot figure out why this hasnt sold.

    groove f’ing loves this home and its potential!!!!!!!!

    BTW you think they would sell the lot next door and for how much?

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  2. Groove77 (February 14, 2012, 4:11 pm)

    Dennis “top schools” Rodkin did a video for this place, check it out.

    http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/February-2012/A-Pre-Fire-Farmhouse-in-Lincoln-Park/

    btw when did real estate journalists turn into grader of school performances?

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  3. this realtor needs to do some research before listing crap

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  4. like this place a lot. can i borrow 1mil from someone though?

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  5. “this realtor needs to do some research before listing crap”

    What? Regarding price? Something else?

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  6. i don’t want to call the exterior ugly because it’s not, but it just bothers me…i like what they’re trying to do just not the execution.

    regardless, nice place. just not for me.

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  7. Lovely place, esp. the fireplaces and great curb appeal! The kitchen and bathroom don’t let on that it’s a $1.5 million home, though, and it’s likely to be a money pit, as renovating those areas will likely uncover all sorts of trouble in a house this old.

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  8. I love the exterior of this house, it’s gorgeous. at least from the pictures. I love the colors, the painted lady. It’s a great looking house on the outside, but nothing on the interior says “$1,500,000” – not the decor, not the furniture, not the fixtures, not the kitchen, not the PAINTED TRIM (they likely painted over 500 year old ‘old world’ growth trees from Northern WI or MN – this is a pet peeve of mine). Not the hardwood floors (likely replaced at some point in the past), not the location, not the kitchen, nothing at all says $1,500,000. It’s just a mish mash of bland painted over styles. DOn’t get me wrong, the curb appeal is awesome, but the inside – where buyers spend of their time, leaves much to be desired.

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  9. Charming and unique, but families looking to spend $1.5 on a 3 bedroom (with a fourth bedroom and rec room in the basement) in LP currently have other options in move-in ready condition, in better locations (albeit with one-car garages).

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  10. “this realtor needs to do some research before listing crap”

    what you don’t ever jog to Wrigley field? Only about a 4 mile round trip… fatty

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  11. “what you don’t ever jog to Wrigley field? Only about a 4 mile round trip”

    This is safely in the “Eric Rojas Bike to Wrigley Zone” ™.

    Now, do I want to ride 2 miles up Sheffield with my kids? Doubtful. But you *can*.

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  12. What’s wrong with the location? Maybe too far from the lake, I suppose. But this is a beautiful street and Armitage is charming and nearby.

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  13. I actually prefer this location to ELP – a little less congested. But I guess there are some convenience tradeoffs.

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  14. A lot closer to the highway for easier access, too.

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  15. I need Ames to take photos of me

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  16. “chichow (September 6, 2012, 6:09 am)

    I need Ames to take photos of me”

    why am i picturing a bearskin rug, bunch of chest hair, and a gold medallion necklace?

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  17. “I actually prefer this location to ELP – a little less congested. But I guess there are some convenience tradeoffs.”

    really the only convenience tradeoff is lake distance. And at his location you get better access to shopping. and really lets face it we all would rather shop than go to the lake.

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  18. “I need Ames to take photos of me”

    Who does she use? Does she not use some standard service? I do notice she has her copyright rather than VHT or something on the photos.

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  19. “why am i picturing a bearskin rug, bunch of chest hair, and a gold medallion necklace?”

    2 out of three aint a bad guess.

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  20. As far as the interior, it’s certainly fine, but very bland considering this is 140 years old. No interior woodwork to speak of. Few if any built-ins. If I were looking to spend $1.5 mln on a 140-year old home, I’d be seeking charming touches like a built-in hutch in the dining room, for example, or a grand wood stairway in the front hall. I have friends out on the West Coast (Oregon) whose home from the early 20th century cost a lot less than this, and has a lot more interior charm.

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  21. 2 out of three aint a bad guess.

    sssssshhhhhhhhhh

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  22. “I have friends out on the West Coast (Oregon) whose home from the early 20th century”

    1861 prairie farmhouse =/= Arts&crafts-era Willamette Valley. Just not a fair comparison.

    And, in 1861, this location may as well have been Wisconsin, from a construction standpoint. Just would have been very unlikely to be a “fancy” house.

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  23. Anon,

    That’s a fair point.

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  24. “Charming and unique, but families looking to spend $1.5 on a 3 bedroom (with a fourth bedroom and rec room in the basement) in LP currently have other options in move-in ready condition, in better locations (albeit with one-car garages)”

    your saying same price point you can get a yard too and windows on all four sides? “better” location excluded as thats subjective

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  25. Now under contract

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  26. Must have fallen through. Now listed for $1,529,500.

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