Buy the Historic Claude Seymour House in Uptown for $4.5 Million: 817 W. Hutchinson
We’ve chattered about this historic 6-bedroom historic mansion at 817 W. Hutchinson in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown several times over the last 2 years.
See our October 2012 chatter here.
The Claude Seymour House is one of the many historic mansions that line Hutchinson on this landmarked block.
The Elite Street column in the Chicago Tribune recently highlighted it:
The asking price for the 16-room Claude Seymour House in Buena Park has been reduced to $4.995 million from $5.195 million.
Designed by Prairie-style architect George Washington Maher and completed in 1913 for jewelry wholesaler Seymour, the more than 12,000-square-foot mansion has six bedrooms, four full baths, two half baths, leaded stained-glass windows, a grand mahogany staircase, three fireplaces, mahogany millwork throughout, an eat-in kitchen and a coach house atop a two-car garage.
The property has 136 feet of frontage and a wraparound yard.
The mansion easily is the highest-priced listing in its area, with the next-most-expensive listing in its ZIP code clocking in at just under $3 million.
The house is “loaded with original details,” said listing agent Jennifer Ames, of Coldwell Banker.
“The sellers made it work for family living without tampering with the original integrity of the home.”
If you recall, the house is on 5 city lots measuring 136×140.
All 6 bedrooms are on the third level.
The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and what look like stone counter tops.
Since we last chattered about it, the house has been reduced $495,000 to $4.5 million.
The upper bracket housing market has seen some of the highest prices ever paid for properties in the city (and suburbs) this year.
Will this house be among them in 2013?
Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker still has the listing. See the pictures here.
817 W. Hutchinson: 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half baths, 12000 square feet, 2 car garage, studio
- Sold in November 1993 (no price listed)
- Originally listed in March 2011 for just 2 weeks at $5.195 million
- Re-listed in October 2011 for $4.995 million
- Was listed in October 2012 at $4.995 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $4.5 million
- Taxes are now $81,517 (they were $21,652 in October 2012)
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 19×19 (third floor)
- Bedroom #2: 16×14 (third floor)
- Bedroom #3: 17×12 (third floor)
- Bedroom #4: 14×11 (third floor)
- Bedroom #5: 10×15 (third floor)
- Bedroom #6: 12×20 (third floor)
Seems a little cramped, and what is with that crappy gym with pillars everywhere? Would love to see a nice condo building on this big lot! The government and its restrictions should get out of the housing market so that a condo building could be built on a lot like this one!
The load bearings in the basement must make for some extremely awkward (and hilarious), floor hockey games.
A beautiful place, undoubtedly. Unfortunately it’s in Uptown.
“The sellers made it work for family living ***without tampering with the original integrity of the home***”
-The basement is clear evidence of this.
Taxes went up almost $60,000 this year! Ouch.
However, the person who can afford this may also be able to afford the helicopter which would allow them to avoid the surrounding riff raff.
“A beautiful place, undoubtedly. Unfortunately it’s in Uptown”
I think whoever buys this house will be one lucky person. I wish I had the money, whether it is in Uptown or not!
I love it. It’s tempting to say I’d consider Uptown again for a place like this. In all honesty though, if i had 5 mil I’d retire and travel the world a bit.
“Taxes went up almost $60,000 this year! Ouch.”
AV is now 450,506–so right on ask. Had been 209,757, which really should have led to a ~$30k tax bill, rather than $20k.
For that price, I’d rather live in a place, with beachfront access, in a neighborhood without riff raff: http://www.estately.com/listings/info/381-sheridan-road
i’m with jenny on this one. for that much money and taxes…no thanks…
“For that price, I’d rather live in a place, with beachfront access, in a neighborhood without riff raff: http://www.estately.com/listings/info/381-sheridan-road”
I second that.
Also, who wants to step out of their house when everyone around you will know your’e the richest person in a multiblock area. It just screams, rob me. Wherever you go, people are going to point and say “that’s the person that lives in the mansion”
“Also, who wants to step out of their house when everyone around you will know your’e the richest person in a multiblock area. It just screams, rob me. Wherever you go, people are going to point and say “that’s the person that lives in the mansion””
It is possbile that it is the largest house on that *block* of Hutchinson, but if it is, it is not much bigger than the second largest.
Agree with Jenny. I’d want private lakefront access for $5 million, and there are numerous North Shore properties that have it at that price level or below.
Furthermore, I agree with the other poster who said they’d retire and travel the world with $5 mln rather than spend it on a home. Same here.
If I could rent out the studio apartment above the garage for 30k a month, i could totally afford this place!
house slays and uptown is getting better. 3.9 should do it.
“If I could rent out the studio apartment above the garage for 30k a month, i could totally afford this place!”
Remember it’s got 6 bedrooms, you could probably get a couple of roommates (maybe relatives you like) who could help chip in.
Come on, no one gets the joke?
I got it, i mean it had to be sarcasm right?
“It is possbile that it is the largest house on that *block* of Hutchinson, but if it is, it is not much bigger than the second largest.”
That’s right. Thanks for clearing this up anon (tfo). This whole block has spectacular houses on it. Obviously, some CribChatter readers need to take a trip up to Buena Park and walk around some of the historic streets and check it out.
Here’s a stunner for sale just east of this mansion with a 30 foot heated saltwater pool and a 13-seat theater. Wow. Great looking house. $2.895 million.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/654-W-Hutchinson-St-60613/home/13397408
“Wherever you go, people are going to point and say “that’s the person that lives in the mansion””
Because when you step out of this home and walk the five or so blocks to Sheridan and Wilson, everyone will know that you came from this particular house and are the person that lives in THE mansion, as if there are no others around. Also, if you live in this home, and pay any where near $4M, do you really think they will be walking to the Jewel at Montrose and Sheridan to do their weekly shopping? Perhaps to pick something up quickly on a gorgeous day, but otherwise even to go there quickly, they’ll be driving.
Lets be real. You are not going to be known as the owner of this house except if you walk out the front door and are immediately in front of your house, which will most likely not put you in front of the riff-raff Jenny or Lookingtobuy are thinking of, and if it does, oh well…I’m sure you could protect yourself…
Great home! It is not at all my style however the renovations over the years were done with care and great precision. It is rare when the renovated kitchen actually matches the rest of the house from this period and grand scale of homes.
If they were free I’d take this in a heartbeat. Since they cost money I would also look to lakefront in this price point. The listing that Jenny sent does not compare. How about this one at $2.7 million. Yes I know that it is only 4 bedrooms but with the money saved I could update the kitchen and other rooms as needed.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Winnetka/337-Sheridan-Rd-60093/home/13785763
Does former Gov. Thompson still live down the road a piece from here?
Seriously, I saw this at a brokers’ open house last year and it is truly old-school old-money magnificent. The current owner actually hosted a wedding here and I can see why – the main staircase is a bride’s grand-entrance dream!
Did they get rid of the “servants quarters apartment” on the top floor? It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath.