Nearly 5 Years Later, This 3-Bedroom Is Still 3 Blocks From The Water Tower: 29 W. Chestnut In The Gold Coast
We last chattered about this 3-bedroom unit in a vintage carriage house at 29 W. Chestnut in the Gold Coast all the way back in August 2008 (when Crib Chatter was first getting started!).
See our 2008 chatter here.
The triplex unit never sold and was on and off the market the last 5 years.
The property came back on the market in January 2013 to try again.
Despite it being nearly 5 years later, the listing sounded basically the same.
The carriage house was built in 1889 and has 5 units.
It still has a “newly remodeled kitchen designed by award-winning architect: John Vinci” with stainless steel appliances and stainless looking cabinets.
2 of the 3 bedrooms are on the third floor with the third on the main floor. The living/dining and kitchen are on the second floor.
It has 12.5 feet ceilings, central air and a private attached garage.
Both the listing from 2008 and the one from 2013 point out that the property is just 3 blocks from the Water Tower.
When we last chattered about it in 2008 it was listed at $849,000.
It came on the market in January 2013 for $795,000 and was just recently reduced to $785,000.
Will this finally sell in 2013 and at what price?
Marlene St. George at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #5A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2000 square feet, triplex, attached 1-car garage
- Sold in January 1997 for $265,000
- Sold in November 2001 for $440,000
- Was listed in August 2008 for $849,000
- Withdrawn in February 2009
- Re-listed in January 2013 for $795,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $785,000
- Assessments of $122 a month (they were $183 a month in 2008)
- Taxes of $3900 (they were $5469 in 2008)
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 13×18 (third level)
- Bedroom #2: 11×10 (third level)
- Bedroom #3: 10×10 (main level)
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Nearly 5 Years Later, This 3-Bedroom Is Still 3 Blocks From The Water Tower:”
Was there some risk that it might move westward?
Those real estate taxes are highly suspect, and someone should mail the real estate listing to the tax assessor’s office. Owner is a former Daley administration official.
well we at least know its not the location thats hold it back.
the fact all the blinds are closed on a sunny day throws out a red flag to me.
oh and also the 850k original list and only a haircut of 60k in reduction in the past 5 years?
The owner should depersonalize the space. Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.
“The owner should depersonalize the space. Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
what is wrong with pictures of the baby jebus?
Still 3 Blocks From The Water Tower
“Was there some risk that it might move westward?”
I believe Sabrina was referring to the listing not changing after five years.
It’s a unique unit and I agree with depersonalizing a bit. They are turning off all those who don’t like Obama.
Totally agree with you Jenny, even as a liberal I think that’s a bad idea. The real estate photographer should’ve known better too; unless the owners “forced” him/her to keep it in. Quite ironic if the buyers want to disenfranchise potential 1%er buyers.
When my parents sold their house in River Forest, the realtor told them to take down all of the (highly embarrassing) grade school photos of my sister and I to depersonalize the space, but they kept them in anyway and she (the realtor) admitted that in the end she actually thought it helped sell the place because most of the people looking were families with newborns. So in some situations I don’t think a space needs to be completely depersonalized, just depends on your market. Political stuff has no place though, especially in the age of the tea-party, it’s just too polarizing.
Besides, how many liberals are going to be able to afford this place anyway? Am I right? Ok bad joke..
” Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house?”
1. Surprised it took over 90 minutes after the first comment for this comment to be made.
2. Gotta say I’m surprised it was Jenny first across the line.
I disagree. after 5 years they are hoping for some luck. get the right crazy obama fan to come through and he/she might fall in love, throw caution out the window and snap this place up.
obama has a lot of crazy fans in chicago so it’s not super limiting. notre dame does too. but they should have tested that marketing strategy while nd was still undefeated and teo’s girlfriend wasnt out of the closet.
“It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
what is wrong with pictures of the baby jebus?”
ps: You two know someone that has bona fide religious artifacts? Or are you referring to idealized, Rockwell-esque religious schlock? The latter is base idolatry, the former genuinely interesting (and valuable) even for the non-religious.
“Nearly 5 Years Later, This 3-Bedroom Is Still 3 Blocks From The Water Tower:”
Lol good to know it didn’t grow legs and move
“Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
actually, its MUCH MUCH worse than that
“They are turning off all those who don’t like Obama.”
i still think its more the price of 850k and what lurking behind the closed blinds that is turning off the buyers.
you can hang a naked picture of icarus doing a handstand while highfiving a shirtless Dan#2 and i still think its will be the price detouring folks from visiting
Seems like a nice place, nice location and the price seems reasonable. Would have to walk it to see about issues with light.
A few years ago I personally would have made an offer. Times are bit different (my priorities more than anything else) but I don’t think the price is out of line.
Great for people who don’t want to deal with condo issues.
Lots of books in there too. Though I imagine that might turn off the same folks turned off by the Obamaorabilia.
“Great for people who don’t want to deal with condo issues.”
How so? Note the assessment–it’s part of a condo association.
I saw that about the assessment.$122 per month, and the note just references water. Anybody know what it shares, and with who/what?
“The owner should depersonalize the space. Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
it’s the same thing. dont you know obama it the second coming??
“it’s the same thing. dont you know obama it the second coming??”
Can you take your political comments to a different forum?
It is one thing to say to depersonalize the place. That’s relevant.
But none of us could possibly care less what you think of the President,
However, if you do choose to make political comments, please first learn to spell “don’t.” It would make reading the comments slightly less annoying.
“Anybody know what it shares, and with who/what?”
Rest of association seems to be 833 Dearborn (record address–may not match ‘real’ address).
You have to close the blinds on a sunny day or the photos are overexposed. It is very difficult to shoot a room well and include the view without resorting to Photoshop fakery. It took me weeks to shoot my LR with the skyline view and get it right. There was only about 10 minutes at sunset where the natural lighting worked.
““The owner should depersonalize the space. Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
1) it’s not like there are dozens and dozens of photos, it’s what one or two photos?
2) I don’t think a picture of Obama, Jesus, or a unicorn farting glitter would stop an interested buyer from making an offer. Those don’t stay and anyone interested in this place knows that.
3) based on my CC education these past 3? years, I’d say its the price that is keeping this on the market.
4) OMG I’ve spent 3 years on this 9th circle of Hell, I should give it up for Lent.
5) Just kidding about #4
Estimated Taxes: $3,900. Ridiculous…
“You have to close the blinds on a sunny day or the photos are overexposed. It is very difficult to shoot a room well and include the view without resorting to Photoshop fakery”
challenge excepted;
please see this example;
http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/property/details/2965751/MLS-08259161/100-East-Huron-Street-Chicago-Near-North-Side-IL-60611.aspx
Sabrina how come we haven’t seen any West Loop postings in ages?
“please see this example”
not an expert, but those look photoshopped to me.
Interior is pretty bland for three quarters of a million dollars, eh?
GC – as you can tell from Groove’s link, and many others, it’s not only possible to shoot with windows open, but it’s encouraged. With proper strobe/external off-camera lighting and exposure bracketing, good photographers can capture the full tonal range of a scene with little-to-no photoshop trickery involving sky/window replacements. I highly doubt Jennifer Ames (or more likely her assistant) is spending more than 30 minutes total photoshopping her images for any particular unit.
In some cases where the view is limited, it can be aesthetically pleasing to let the windows “burn out” and use the daylight coming through to supplement the scene with ambient light. This technique works so much better than just being lazy and shutting the blinds; it looks better because it lets more light into the unit, and, if the windows tastefully overexposed, they can hide the non-views as well.
Anon –
Maybe some minor contrast tweaks, but the views are not fake or blended in. With extra lights you can balance the exposure of your foreground (condo living room) to the exposure outside. It’s just what good real estate photographers do.
“The owner should depersonalize the space. Who wants to see pictures of Obama all over the place when viewing a house? It’s as bad as pictures of Jesus.”
I agree, depersonalize. I’ve seen menorahs in some listings, and that’s even worse! And take down those mezzuzah things too, religious people are low-brow and stupid.
“not an expert, but those look photoshopped to me.”
and i wouldnt expect any less if i was handing over commission to sell my place.
*didnt really read the photoshop part just the sunlight part
“Maybe some minor contrast tweaks, but the views are not fake or blended in.”
Agree, with range of what constitutes minor open for discussion. Tip point for me is near perfection of sunlight falling on the floors, within overall context.
Does anyone else ever turn their heads to see what titles are on the bindings of coffee table books used in photos, esp, for AD magazine and layouts like that? I do…
“Maybe some minor contrast tweaks, but the views are not fake or blended in. With extra lights you can balance the exposure of your foreground (condo living room) to the exposure outside. It’s just what good real estate photographers do.”
I am a point and shoot type of “photographer”. so i know nothing about exposure, ISO, or the like but i really think it can be done with little manipulation. if i can do it with a pocket point & shoot and the stock software the camera gives you, could you imagine what a novice photographer could do.
i agree blinds up and let the light flood a bright window will block the view of the garbage dumpster reaching distance from the window.
This thread has gotten totally derailed into Spielberg territory! Let’s get back on track to talking about how awful Obama is. Don’t even get me started on Obummer.
so how is that segway in the ice and snow?
Saw this place – with the exception of the master bedroom, the rooms all felt small (especially the “master” bath). The first floor has a bedroom that was clearly converted from a garage, a decent bathroom, and access to a single garage parking space. Okay light in the bedroom. First floor feels totally separate from the rest of the house. The living room/dining room/kitchen combo takes up the entire second level and didn’t work for me – just not enough space, though there was plenty of light. The third level was pretty dark – tiny third bedroom, small master bath, and master bedroom. Acceptable closet space. There’s also some outdoor patio space, but it’s not really private – the unit next door owns the driveway parking spot and has the right to walk across the patio area to get to/from the exterior entrance to the unit.
The Segway is pretty good, actually (my nickname for it now is The ‘Way). Haven’t really been taking it out in the bad weather, though. I have been thinking about trying to fabricate some sort of mini snow plow to go on the front of it b/c I could probably make extra money shoveling sidewalks with The ‘Way and I imagine it would be pretty easy (after all, you just stand there and lean, basically). It would basically pay for itself with the cashflows.
I dont think The ‘Way would have the torque to manage anything more the a very light drift.
and for that you dont even need a shovel or broom just ride past it fast, the air diffused off the wheels should clear it sufficient enough.