Looking for a 2-Bedroom Duplex West Town Loft? 2250 W. Ohio
This 2-bedroom duplex loft at 2250 W. Ohio in West Town came on the market in May 2013.
At 1350 square feet the listing says either bedroom can be used as a master bedroom.
One is on the main floor and the second is on the second floor. The upstairs bedroom has a area in which you can walk out onto a deck (which the listing says needs to be built-out.)
It has exposed brick walls and high wood ceilings.
The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops and some stainless steel and some white appliances.
The loft has all the other amenities that buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit, air conditioning and garage parking.
The loft is listed $3500 over the 2007 purchase price.
Will it get the premium?
Rachel Kalocinski at Century 21 Affiliated has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #209: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1350 square feet
- Sold in May 1995 for $196,000
- Sold in July 2007 for $389,000
- Originally listed in May 2013 for $400,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $392,500
- Assessments of $315 a month
- Taxes of $4373
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- Parking included
- Bedroom #1: 20×15 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 16×12 (main floor)
It will get the premium not because of significant home price gains in the general city of Chicago, but because this area has rapidly gentrified over the past 5 years.
OT but is anyone worried about this FREAK storm coming up on Chicago in the next 6 hours? The last thing anyone in the metro area needs is another basement flood. Two flood events in 3 months is intolerable.
National Weather Service says–
“STRONG TORNADOES
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH
ISOLATED HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS
VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING”
I am not worried about any storm.
I have a duplex down apartment (vintage rehab). Lived in it for going on 5 years which includes multiple “worst rain storms ever, ever, EVER” and my home and the other duplex down in my building remain dry. Sump Pump, drain tile, 3 perimeter drains, and ejector pump for the downstairs facilities. Also we have major gutters that direct the roof runoff far into the yard. My developer went all out!
“Two flood events in 3 months is intolerable.”
Shouldn’t have bought in the flood zone, HD.
“Shouldn’t have bought in the flood zone, HD.”
Des Plaines?
in my duplex-down, rainwater came pouring down the basement steps, pooled in the stairwells, and then came in thru the door jambs. This happened at least twice during very heavy rains. We got at least an inch of water for each of those storms. Previous owner did not disclose this but should have, IMHO.
“Two flood events in 3 months is intolerable.”
Shouldn’t have bought in the flood zone, HD.”
You better get down in that basement and start bailing water, HD! You wanted to be a responsible adult with a mortgage well that means YOU are responsible for flooded basements. I’m on the third floor I’ve not a care in the world. And if I was below grade I’d get the landlord over promptly to take care of that for me.
I’ve been getting lucky this year so far but always have my fingers crossed. Under a few inches of rainfall is not an issue for me. Over that I get concerned.
“Shouldn’t have bought in the flood zone, HD.”
I don’t live in a flood zone. It’s storm drain backup. Happens in Chicago too. Two summers ago my neighbor in the old victorian said that she got 4′ in her basement and hadn’t had a flood in 30 years. Overhead sewers, catch basins, check valves, those are all things that will be installed in my house before the end of the summer.
“OT but is anyone worried about this FREAK storm coming up on Chicago in the next 6 hours? The last thing anyone in the metro area needs is another basement flood. Two flood events in 3 months is intolerable.”
I live in the city braj, I really am not too worried about flooding or power outages.
SUBURBS RULE!
“in my duplex-down, rainwater came pouring down the basement steps, pooled in the stairwells, and then came in thru the door jambs. This happened at least twice during very heavy rains. We got at least an inch of water for each of those storms. Previous owner did not disclose this but should have, IMHO.”
You don’t have a drain at the bottom of the stairs? Or was it clogged with leaves? You need a clean drain line to prevent this issue.
“Overhead sewers, catch basins, check valves, those are all things that will be installed in my house before the end of the summer.”
Should’ve done it before you did anything in the basement. Although I guess if the forecast is right, you probably will spend this week tearing out anything that’s left after the last flood.
Not much to tear out. Knew about flood issues so its pretty bare minimum in the basement. But still its a pita to clean up the silt. These freak floods are becoming freakishly regular. The flooding started in the 2008 flood.
Honestly, I hope you don’t get any mold, that would suck real bad
“STRONG TORNADOES
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH
ISOLATED HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS”
Maybe this time it will be better to be below?
” It’s storm drain backup. ”
Put something in to stop it. Make it everyone else’s prob.
” The flooding started in the 2008 flood.”
No I remember 2007 being particularly rough, driving through 2ft of water on parts of LSD (which, ultimately, caused a chain reaction of events killing my old car some months later–don’t drive through water!). All those old, downed trees on the lakefront.
The biggest worry for me is the storm is so bad it blocks the satellite signal of the game tonight.
I love storms, but I hope none of your houses get flooded. The only good thing about having a condo over a sfh is not having to worry about flooding. I hope we get baseball sized hail!
“The biggest worry for me is the storm is so bad it blocks the satellite signal of the game tonight.”
This is my fiancee’s fear. We want to go to a bar to watch the game, but almost every sports bar has DirecTV which will likely go out during the worst of the storm. The good news is the game is on NBC which means I should be able to get it with rabbit ears.
Also, this could be the third “100 year storm” in the past 5 years. May be time for a redefinition….
“The only good thing about having a condo over a sfh is not having to worry about flooding.”
Yes, if floodwaters rise to my 7th floor condo you will be able to find me on my balcony with binoculars looking for the four horsemen!
“Overhead sewers, catch basins, check valves, those are all things that will be installed in my house before the end of the summer.”
If you have the overhead sewer with the floor drains connected, you don’t need the other things listed. Check valves get stuck all the time and are less effective than the overhead sewer/ejector pump. fyi.
“The biggest worry for me is the storm is so bad it blocks the satellite signal of the game tonight.”
It’s on actual NBC, so if you have a tv with a good enough tuner, you can watch it OTA.
“It’s on actual NBC, so if you have a tv with a good enough tuner, you can watch it OTA.”
RCN in the apt (which cable actually uses dishes as well to transmit to the local office) & DirecTV at the sports bar. I don’t even have an HD OTA tuner (who does unless its included with sets sold after 2009).
“an HD OTA tuner (who does unless its included… ”
I do!
And, anyway, most non-cheapo HD post-conversion sets have a good enough tuner to pick up NBC in the city.
I remember 2007 being particularly rough
http://www.aerostorms.com/august-23-2007-chicago-derecho-storm-chase/
I was working in Detroit in 07, and I vividly recall standing at DTW and watching the big board as every single flight to Chicago suddenly switched to “cancelled”. I ended up renting a car and driving back home the next morning.
Tonight is opening night for the Grant Park Symphony. Will likely get rained out.
Yeah we get a bad derecho storm about once a year, hopefully this one won’t be as bad as the 2007 one (one of the few times i was glad i lived in a garden unit! lol)
No flooding today thank goodness but there might be more storms to come. I’m gonna throw down the 10k next month for the overhead sewers. However all the rage in my hood is the catch basin and check valve in the front yard. 2 people across the street did that last month and plenty f people in the neighborhood have it too.
“It’s on actual NBC, so if you have a tv with a good enough tuner, you can watch it OTA.”
You can also stream it live on NBCSports.com for free because it’s on normal NBC (don’t need a cable subscription.)
“STRONG TORNADOES DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH ISOLATED HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS”
Doh!
I guess that’s why I was the only one walking to Addison Mall tonight.
The lightning was scary. I counted between the flashes and the thunder to see if it was getting further away.
Btw, Danny – Joong Boo has Product of USA fresh oysters for 79 cents each.
CC Friends, I need you to opine on a mold quandary.
I’ve been in contract to buy a short sale SFH for 6 months now.
Recently, the seller’s side informed me the sewers backed up into the basement and asked if I wanted them to re-carpet or install tile.
I insisted that the house be inspected for mold before anything was replaced.
Sure enough, there was mold behind the walls.
I walked by the house the other night and ran into the seller working on the place and ripping out drywall. He disclosed to me that the house had actually flooded twice. Once in April and again in June. (I was only aware of the most recent flood.) He claimed it was not raw sewage, but clear water which came in through the shower drain after heavy rains and flooded the basement.
I asked if I could take a look at things, so he let me in. He is a handyman, and has been doing the work himself. He had cut away about a foot of drywall from the floor upwards, around the perimeter of the basement. He had also removed the carpeting, the vanity in the basement bathroom and the cedar lining in the bedroom closet. He had a dehumidifier going and he had some sort of mold-preventing spray. He said he was going to remove the insulation as well and paint the wooden framing with mold resistant paint. The mold remediating company he called came, but said they could not treat anything until it was dry. They treat the mold with ozone. Have you ever heard of this?
He said the problem had been caused by tree roots in the sewer catch-basin. He showed me a black trash bag full of tree roots which had been removed by a plumber who rodded the catch-basin. He believed the roots came from a tree which had been removed from the front lawn 5 years ago. He said the plumber stated that annual rodding should prevent future flooding.
I asked if he could please refrain from installing new insulation and drywall because I would like to have the home inspected once the work is done, and I would like the inspector to be able to see inside the walls.
My feeling is that I’m willing to wait and see how this goes. I ran it by my home inspector. He said there was something I could install which would run in the realm of 7K to make absolutely sure this won’t happen again.
What would you do in this situation? Would you take a chance on the home, or would you just walk away knowing there was mold even though it has been remediated?
“What would you do in this situation? Would you take a chance on the home, or would you just walk away knowing there was mold even though it has been remediated?”
Anyone with any advice for Milkster?
spend as much as it takes for mold remediation and flood control. that’s my advice. flooding is a common problem it’s hard to avoid it in a lot of cases
Roots in pipes = horrible problem
Yeah, roots in pipes means you got broken pipes. If you really wanted to fix the problem, you’d have them replaced going out to the sewer.
Who is the expert on Chicago sewers? maybe Southbound….
ha ha …
no, but seriously, there are two sewer systems: Storm (drain) sewer, and Sanitary (toilets). The storm drains go out to the streets right? and then they connect to Deep Tunnel and end up in the Mississippi River via the Illinois river. Correct?
So what happens to the sanitary sewer? Where does this go? How is it treated and then where does the treated water end up?
Ultimately, the question is during a massive flood do the two systems ever get mixed or combined? If there is a “back-up” does sanitary sewage end up in a basement?
I know that when there are massive floods, don’t they announce on TV that they sometimes release sewage into Lake Michigan? and then following, beaches are closed for a few days because of E coli?
What’s the deal here? any civil engineers out there?
“no, but seriously, there are two sewer systems: Storm (drain) sewer, and Sanitary (toilets). The storm drains go out to the streets right? and then they connect to Deep Tunnel and end up in the Mississippi River via the Illinois river. Correct?”
Sorry HH wrong again……… “To avoid flooding, Chicago built a stormwater conveyance system in 1856. Like most cities in this area, Chicago built one underground system that combines both wastewater and stormwater and moves them away from people toward treatment plants. This combined system is large enough to easily handle the city and suburban wastewater that needs to be treated. In fact, the volume of wastewater is so small compared to the stormwater, it is not even considered in designing the size of our sewer system. When there is too much stormwater, the combined sewers overflow and release untreated waste and stormwater into the Chicago River. “
An overhead sewer system is the most expensive way to prevent sewer backup, but the only way to prevent it all together. You are effectively changing the physics of your home’s plumbing system. I’ve heard the cost is in the 20k range which is why it’s usually only done with new construction homes or with a complete rehab where they pour a new basement floor… google it… lots of good info out there!
“but clear water which came in through the shower drain after heavy rains and flooded the basement.”
This seems to be quite common in Chicago. My question is why don’t people have a custom block put in on this and remove it when the drain is being used? Thought is block the drain & it can’t come up through the drain.
Bob, block the drain and one of two things can happen. First, water will come up through the next lowest point in the basement. Such as toilets, other floor drains, sinks,shower drains etc. secondly, if you block all of the floor drains, pressure will build and could burst the old pipes under the foundation which will then continue the flooding and damage the foundation. That’s why the drain check valves are 1/100th the price of overhead sewers or check valves in an outside sewer basin. Because they’re not a good solution.
Chicago and the suburbs have a combined sewer system. Note the signs along the Chicago river and the des plaines river. At least we send our waste downstream for the most part. Milwaukee releases sewage in overflow situations directly into Lake Michigan. I’m not sure if they’ve fixed that situation iirc they were supposed to.
oilc is correct. Chicago has a combined sewer system so whether you pee in the toilet, the shower, or the sewer grate in the street, it all ends up the same place. The whole deep tunnel project wouldn’t be necessary if the street sewers just drained directly into the river.
I suggest you get your own plumber in there to do an inspection. You may have to install and ejector pit which can run 8k. overhead sewer is also a great option, but if the place is finished no telling what it will cost to put it all back together. I suggest you find out. either have them redo it or give you a huge credit. if they won’t, then walk.
The worst type of mold is the mold in the attic that travels from the basement or crawl space through the wall up to the attic. Then the entire attic is covered in nasty mold. I’ve heard of horror stories.
“I’ve heard the cost is in the 20k range which is why it’s usually only done with new construction homes or with a complete rehab where they pour a new basement floor”
Doesn’t have to be in conjunction with a new floor, but if you’re quoted much less than $20k, I’d be wary of work quality, unless you have *zero* basement-level water supplies (sink, laundry, toilet, shower), and already have a sump system. And even then, probably $20k plus. Which is why HD’s neighbors go for the front yard check valve–it’s a fraction of the cost of retrofitting an overhead drain, especially if you have below-grade bathroom/laundry.
“Bob, block the drain [=problems]”
Yep. The thing people do that works for minor backup events is a standpipe that you thread into any floor drains. But if it’s taller than the lowest non-regulated drain (eg, toilet, sink) then the water will just go up thru the toilet, and, if there’s a mjor flood, then you have to get in and unscrew the standpipe before aanything will drain.
On a lot of the home renovation shows I see them install one-way valves on sewer pipes that only allow crap to flow one direction and appear (relatively) easy to install. Why are they not more popular around here? Are they only available/legal in Canadia?
If the sewers are backing up through your drain pipe, that’s a major flood, and you’re going to get a lot of water. In my case, I took on a foot of water in my English basement because the neighbors with sub basements took on multiple feet of water. I heard horror stories of people with flooded basements that came up to the first floor. I don’t get minor backups.
I also have two floor drains and a third floor drain for the shower and a fourth outside in the stairwell off the basement.
Check valve is the most reliable option for the cost which is why so many homeowners have catch basins in their front yard. I think it’s about 10k, I have to talk to my neighbor about the cost, he’s getting it done right now. Looks like ill have to pull out the check book soon.
Fred see above, about pipes bursting. The flood April was shooting a 2.5″ stream of water 6″ high up from the floor drain. I was too scared to look at the other three floor drains. My sump couldn’t handle it and I don’t think 6 sumps could have handled the amount of water. Capping the drain probably would have burst my clay pipes under the house. It was a lot of water. Fortunately the water drained as quickly as it flooded. Except it flooded twice. The first time was clear water, then drained. The 2 hours later with the second round of sever weather it flooded again. I watched it rise up the pipe. I was stinky brown silt water. 12″. Then 2 hours later it suddenly all drained in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes but left a .5 to 1″ layer of dirty silt. Totally disgusting. Still haven’t managed to get all the dust up from the unfinished areas of the basement. At least it’s All concrete and not gravel like a lot of crawl spaces or unfinished basements.
The water wouldn’t have enough pressure to burst most pipes I’d suspect. Water follows the path of least resistance so it’ll just come up somewhere else.
“If the sewers are backing up through your drain pipe, that’s a major flood, and you’re going to get a lot of water.”
Not necessarily. Know several people who get an inch or two of backup water. If you have standpipes continuously installed, you may be able to avoid it, but it’s not much of a solution except in unfinished space.
My concern about a roof deck would be what it would cost to remove and replace it when it comes time to repair/replace the roof. And then there’s the question of whether the carpenters who put in the roof took care not to damage the roof.
Speaking of roofing, this Sunday the Hyde Park Historical Society is putting on a lecture/workshop about roofs and old houses and buildings. I went to their last presentation about masonry and pointing, and it was excellent. It was a chance to ask an expert (for free) everything you ever wanted to know about how fucked you are by your old building.
Details:
http://www.hydeparkhistory.org/
Oops, wrong thread.
With an ejector pit/overhead sewer, the floor drains become disconnected from the city sewer and then routed to the new pit. Thus, it’s impossible to have the backup discussed here.
Check valves fail all of the time. but it’s better than nothing. I have also seen manual check valves that you close by hand when you know a heavy rain event is coming, but you can’t flush you toilets until you open it again.
“I have also seen manual check valves that you close by hand when you know a heavy rain event is coming, but you can’t flush you toilets until you open it again.”
Can’t flush or put anything down a drain when the non-manual check valve is engaged, either. And if *any* of your down spouts or drain tile/sump are tied into the drain, you’ll flood, sltho with really clean water.
Problem with the manual is that you have to close it every time there’s a chance of rain when you won’t be home, and when you are home, you need to be totally on top of it.
“Chicago has a combined sewer system so whether you pee in the toilet, the shower, or the sewer grate in the street, it all ends up the same place.”
Where, at what point, do these pipes combine? Under the street?
If there is storm sewer backup into people’s basements, then how do we know raw sewage is not part of the composition of that water?
“It was a lot of water. Fortunately the water drained as quickly as it flooded. Except it flooded twice. The first time was clear water, then drained. The 2 hours later with the second round of sever weather it flooded again. I watched it rise up the pipe. I was stinky brown silt water. 12?.”
“Then 2 hours later it suddenly all drained in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes but left a .5 to 1? layer of dirty silt. Totally disgusting. Still haven’t managed to get all the dust up from the unfinished areas of the basement.”
Was the silt part shit?
Yes the silt was part shit. But very diluted. It was 4 am for the first flood, 6 am or so for the second event. Unrelated to the flood, my family member had a pipe break in their crawl space 1 month ago and that was all shit that collected down there until they realized what happened a few days later.
Anone have an opinion on residential lift stations. The plumber suggested a tramco system rather than a check valve. Anon?h
“an opinion on residential lift stations. The plumber suggested a tramco system ”
Bah, accidentally deleted long post. Short version: that’s basically the ‘overhead drain’ we talked about upthread. if you have specific ? either post or email me (use a throw away if you want) at anon_tfo at hotmail. Many thoughts, but not re-typing right now.
The NSA knows there’s no such thing as a throw away address!
“The NSA knows there’s no such thing as a throw away address!”
Or, since you know who I am, you can just hit my work address.
I know you don’t work anon. nice try at subterfuge.