Get a 2-Bedroom Townhouse Without the El in the Backyard: 1437 W. Altgeld in Lincoln Park

We were chattering about a Lincoln Park townhouse at 1814 N. Bissell with the El directly behind it and some were wondering where you could get a similar townhouse in Lincoln Park without the El.

Look no further than this 2-bedroom at 1437 W. Altgeld.

1437-w-altgeld-approved.jpg

It is priced nearly exactly the same as the Bissell townhouse: $449,000.

In fact, the floorplan and style of the townhouses are very similar.

The Altgeld property was apparently a 3-bedroom that was converted into a 2-bedroom with family room. The listing indicates that the bedrooms are now on the third floor and lower level, with the family room on the second floor.

It has 12-foot ceilings.

The kitchen has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

There is a small backyard and a third floor deck.

But no El to speak of and it has a third bath.

There is also an attached 1-car garage.

Is this the better deal?

See our chatter on 1814 N. Bissell here.

Monique Pieron at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

1437 N. Altgeld: 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1 car parking

  • Sold in May 1993 for $345,000
  • Sold in May 1999 for $325,000
  • Sold in August 2001 for $380,000
  • Originally listed in September 2010 for $449,000
  • Currently still listed for $449,000
  • Assessments of $125 a month
  • Taxes of $6417
  • Central Air
  • Bedroom #1: 15×15 (third level)
  • Bedroom #2: 14×10 (lower level)
  • Family room: 18×10 (second floor)

19 Responses to “Get a 2-Bedroom Townhouse Without the El in the Backyard: 1437 W. Altgeld in Lincoln Park”

  1. ha ouch, comp killer for that super overpriced place right on the tracks. This place is really nice too, i could see living there for sure

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  2. “and some were wondering where you could get a similar townhouse in Lincoln Park without the El.”

    These people that were wondering are curious to me as they are either too lazy to use the MLS or incapable of doing so.

    And yes it is a much better deal and will likely sell. That Bissell house was competing with a 3/2 condo right on the tracks going for 340k. So fat chance.

    Many people on here talk about properties in a vacuum/isolation which I find stupid as well. Properties in close proximity to one another COMPETE with OTHER LISTED PROPERTIES. This sounds simple but many on CC don’t get that either.

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  3. This isn’t really a comp killer, is it?
    This is a one bedroom townhouse, with a guest bedroom in the basement. Useless for anyone planning on having even one kid. It’s smaller, not as nice and has an odd layout.

    I didn’t love the Bissell one, but this isn’t really the same.

    But yes, it’s not on the tracks.
    (btw, the Bissell one is only on the Brown Line tracks, at their quietest point in the city. And doesn’t it stop running south of Belmont pretty early?)

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  4. I like the interior look of the other one but the train noise SUCKS

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  5. nice, but this place is so far west. is it really lincoln park? not in my mind.

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  6. Bummer about the second bed being in the basement, because the two level/living family room in this place looks pretty nice. And no tracks, plus a third bath.

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  7. East of Ashland = LP.

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  8. looking for places in Lincoln Park look no further than Koenigstrey.com

    Plenty avaialable!!!

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  9. Brown line stops running south of belmont at 12:30 on weekdays and Saturday, and midnight on sundays.

    Still is pretty late, but prior to those times it runs very infrequently and since its pretty old track it doesn’t run that fast south of armitage.

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  10. When I posted the following yesterday, this is exactly the type of non-comp I expected to see:

    “Annony, please post links of 3 BR townhomes scattered throughout LP… and I’m not talking about the deals that are in the far northwest “LP” near Clybourn.”

    I’ve lived in LP and Old Town for 5 years, and would never consider moving this far west… and I dont think this is a comp for people who would be interested in the Bissel property.

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  11. JP$, at the risk of subjecting myself to the usual scorn, I of course agree with you: I would never consider moving this far west. However, I’m not so sure that it’s a “non-comp” for the Bissel property, which I would submit is a few blocks too far west itself (i.e., a few blocks west of Halsted). Granted, this place is west of SoPo, so it’s practically at the Continental Divide. But given the similarity between the too dwellings, and in light of the Bissel listing’s proximity to the el, I don’t think it’s totally unreasonable to view them as comps (unless, of course, one is a “location, location, location” buyer, but in that case, Bissel should be too far west also).

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  12. Well here are my thoughts on it being a “non-comp”

    1 – You either really want to be in LP/border of Old Town, and are willing to sacrifice the fact that the el is running through your back yard in order to get to that location

    OR

    2 – You are more flexible on location, in which case you would consider the Altgeld place and would NEVER buy a place with the el running through your backyard.

    So, I dont think they are the same buyer. People who choose to live next to the el do so because they really care about being the immediate area, but just can’t afford the size/amenities they want a block from the el.

    I live a stone’s throw from the brown line (not in my backyard, but within 100 yards of my building) and I chose to live there because I love the area, and would never have looked as far west as the Altgeld property.

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  13. I’m definitely #2.

    El sucks. Bad.

    I have a high tolerance for loud noises but every time I’m under the tracks and it goes by that 115db screech makes me seethe.

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  14. A room with no windows is not a bedroom to me; it is a storage : )

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  15. I’m number #1, L isnt that bad in that area, but if you are between Armitage to belmont the red line can be awfully noisy and 24/7

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  16. Alternative opportunity? Yes. But, sub-par finish level, kitchens and baths… and sub-par location compared to 1814 N Bissell. So, people may look at the two places, but they will envy Bissell for the most part.
    Altgeld should sell for less, so price conscious will buy it.

    Again, two townhomes with sub par finish level to 1814 N Bissell sold for $418,500 and $440,000 adjacent to 1814 N Bissell, so, there’s a market. These prices and market times are better than the further west Altgeld and Wellington townhomes that are of the same vintage and design. So, it appears that location is more desirable despite train noise.

    I should be the agent for Bissell…geez. Someone call me, let’s buy it (ha).

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  17. Just checked on redfin and this place is actually 429 now (http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2454-N-Janssen-Ave-60614/home/13361659).

    Too far west. You would have to take the fullerton bus to get to the train. Otherwise could be priced higher.

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  18. Actually, a family with “one kid” might actually LIKE the bedroom arrangement – if the “kid” is a teenager with typical teenage tastes in music and DVDs! 🙂

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