They Don’t Build Them Like This Anymore: A 2-Bedroom at 559 W. Surf in Lakeview
This 2-bedroom in The Green Brier at 559 W. Surf in East Lakeview came on the market in September 2015.
Built in 1903, the building has 78 units, a doorman and parking. Some listings say it is indoor and others say it is outdoors.
This unit on the 7th floor has north and south exposures.
Most of its original features remain, including pocket doors, thick crown molding and window moldings.
It has a decorative fireplace.
The unit also has a very unusual octagonal living room and an office.
It has all the other features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. Parking is included in the price.
This unit last sold 12 years ago.
Is this a rare opportunity to own a vintage beauty?
Helen Sobel at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #704: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1500 square feet
- Sold in September 1999 for $233,000
- Sold in September 2003 for $315,000
- Listed in September 2015 for $366,000 (parking included)
- Currently still listed at $366,000
- Assessments of $725 a month (includes water, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, snow removal, scavenger)
- This building had a special assessment earlier this year. Does anyone know anything?
- Taxes of $5086
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 17×13
- Bedroom #2: 14×14
- Office: 8×6
One of the most attractive units I have seen in this beautiful building. The two bed units in this building mostly have not been compromised, while the one bed units often look like they were split off from larger units, with walls in awkward places.
Does that monthly include the special assessment, or not? It is about what you would expect for unit this size, that includes heat, in an older elevator building.
most definitely vintage! Good lookin place and probably priced as such that it needs a little work, hopefully some shlocky flipper doesn’t come in and ruin this place
I think a lot of condo buyers are looking for “modern, really modern”, the Dwell magazine aesthetic, not interested in “traditional”, or “prairie vintage” units and buildings. Recently visited Baker Furniture store in Kohler (Kohler owns Baker), and noted no furniture that wasn’t “Architectural Digest contemporary”, not a stick of “traditional” furniture like shown in this condo on display. Baker had specialized in very expensive traditional “dark brown” furniture, their old-fashioned stuff still available in their exhaustive catalogue but no longer displayed. Sign of times; sign of market-trends.
Wow, that place has every shade of brown imaginable.
architect – more to your point…did you see that Restoration Hardware is coming out with RH Modern.
A lot of buyers think Dwell’s aesthetic is boring, lame, cheap-looking and devoid of personality. These buyers realize the replacement cost of a condo in this building would outstrip that of the typical “modern” place twice its size or more, and relish being surrounded by character and quality.
I’ll admit I like the Dwell aesthetic, but the reality is that modern looks better than it is functional.