West Town New Construction Single Family Home Still on the Market: 1214 N. Rockwell

We last chattered about this new construction 4-bedroom single family home at 1214 N. Rockwell in West Town in November 2010.

1214-n-rockwell-approved.jpg

See our prior chatter here.

It’s pretty unusual to see a completely new construction single family home selling for under $400,000 in the neighborhood.

Many of you thought it was too close to East Humboldt Park to sell at that price. But others thought it was gentrifying enough to support something close to the $369,000 list.

The house has “LEED appointments”.

It has flaxseed sealed oak hardwood floors and an Eco burning fireplace. They apparently used no VOC paint.

3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor with the fourth on the main floor.

It has a floating staircase and the bathrooms have vessel bowl sinks.

The kitchen is the modern asethetic with stainless steel appliances.

There is a 2-car garage on a 24×102 lot.

Prior to the house being built, there was an empty lot there.

Will this house finally sell in the spring buying market?

Karen Biazar at North Clybourn Group still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1214 N. Rockwell: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, 2400 square feet

  • Sold in June 2007 for $300,000
  • Lis pendens filed in December 2008
  • Bank owned in September 2009
  • Sold in September 2009 for $41,000
  • Was listed in November 2010 for $369,000
  • Still listed for $369,000
  • Taxes are “new”
  • Central Air
  • Bedroom #1: 15×12 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #2: 14×9 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #3: 10×10 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #4: 8×10 (main floor)

124 Responses to “West Town New Construction Single Family Home Still on the Market: 1214 N. Rockwell”

  1. “Many of you thought it was too close to East Humboldt Park to sell at that price.”

    It is in East Humboldt Park, not West Town.

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  2. I still like this house, just not on this particular lot

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  3. It is very hard to come by a decent modern home at these prices. While, it may not be the most beautiful sample of modern, I think this seems, at least from the surface, like a very decent home. The price is reasonable.
    Unfortunately, there are a lot of good homes out there who are not selling, not because of their price, but because the listing realtor is either lazy or incompetent and don’t know how to market/sell the home properly. And it is the most common realtor reaction to say that it is not selling because the price is too high.
    Sellers, need to make their due diligence properly when they are hiring a listing realtor, and avoid taking short cuts by negotiating commissions etc.
    I would also avoid “big shot” realtors who are very difficult to deal with…

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  4. “It is in East Humboldt Park, not West Town.”

    East Humboldt Park isn’t an official neighborhood. It is technically in West Town.

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  5. By that definition, Old Town isn’t a neighborhood, either.

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  6. Hoffman Estates Circa 1973

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  7. The core of the pricing is a reflection of the value of the land first and the square footage-mostly related to cost of construction. Neigborhood, while significant, is not on the top of the list.
    The city, despite the economy, is constantly growing and the land is naturally getting more scarce. The neighborhood you may not like today, see what it becomes in 10 years.

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  8. “The city, despite the economy, is constantly growing and the land is naturally getting more scarce. The neighborhood you may not like today, see what it becomes in 10 years.”

    C’mon. You’re trolling, right? Because that’s not based in facts.

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  9. Imagine if population could be fact checked, like with a census or something.

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  10. ““It is in East Humboldt Park, not West Town.”

    East Humboldt Park isn’t an official neighborhood. It is technically in West Town.”

    its neither its HUMBOLDT PARK no need to add the n,s,e,w to it as the maniac latin king could care less of where the compass is pointing during his latest drive by.

    its such a beautiful park, but even in the daytime my nerves are shaky. i couldnt park 350k here or feel good about dragging my family here for 350k

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  11. I was all set to admit error in my prediction from the last post — “Will go under contract very quickly (though not necessarily close very quickly)” since it’s still on the market. But the MLS says “reactivated” — was it canceled and now relisted or was it under K and fell out?

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  12. When people call a house “modern”, most of the time I find it synonymous with ugly.

    If I was Swiss and loved Ikea this might be the home for me, but alas, I am neither.

    It’s a shame they couldn’t have done something better with the yard too. Looks like such a waste.

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  13. Look how scare land is at Chicago/Pulaski.

    All those vacant lots are occupied by vagrants & garage.

    I truly think Chicago is running out of buildable land

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+IL&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.847644,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&ll=41.894459,-87.723089&spn=0.001941,0.006866&t=h&z=18

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  14. Contract dated 12/22/10
    listing cancelled 1/17/11
    new listing 1/18/11

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  15. groove, I hear ya about the “east.” It’s just my way to counter-fire for suffering through too many “West Ukie Village” and “West Bucktown” misnomers.

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  16. This 12 lot vacant piece of land, at Harding and Ontario (approximately 3900 W and 800 N) might be the very last piece of vacant and suitable land within the city limits. You might as well build a 12 story mid-rise here folks because we’re running out of land.

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+IL&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.847644,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&ll=41.892267,-87.724779&spn=0.000879,0.006866&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.892258,-87.724772&panoid=MzldBBgjZWKG-P1a4a_WPw&cbp=11,260.06,,0,0.99

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  17. “I truly think Chicago is running out of buildable land”

    cmom man lawyer up.

    see its all how you define “Buildable”.

    BAM! youve been lawyered

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  18. I’ll guess that in 5 years this house re-sells for $485,000. This year $340,000. Good return, I’m just not looking for new investments myself.

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  19. “its neither its HUMBOLDT PARK no need to add the n,s,e,w to it as the maniac latin king could care less of where the compass is pointing during his latest drive by.”

    That is either completely untrue, or it doesn’t matter to the real estate. Put up a map of sold properties on redfin focussed on the Eastern part of Humboldt Park surrounded by the park to Western, from Division to North and average list $345k, average sold $170k. Move that map to the Western side of the park and that data changes to average list $117k, average sold $55k.

    IT IS EAST HUMBOLDT PARK, at least for the seller and his agent!

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  20. “It’s just my way to counter-fire for suffering through too many “West Ukie Village” and “West Bucktown” misnomers.”

    hey i still got $200 burning a hole in pocket the check says pay to the order of Freinds of NorthCostCO, its waiting for a PO box and we can make a push for it to be official.

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  21. “its neither its HUMBOLDT PARK no need to add the n,s,e,w to it as the maniac latin king could care less of where the compass is pointing during his latest drive by.

    its such a beautiful park, but even in the daytime my nerves are shaky. i couldnt park 350k here or feel good about dragging my family here for 350k”

    Could not agree more. Such a shame that an entrenched element of a maybe several hundred people are literally ensuring this area never improves. I would love to live near the park and this home is nice for the price, but I would hate to feel unsafe on my block. Too bad.

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  22. “Contract dated 12/22/10
    listing cancelled 1/17/11
    new listing 1/18/11”

    Boo-ya!

    Please address winners checks to:

    Roma
    Cribchatter Hall of Fame
    Chicago IL 60666

    p.s. AndrewT–good one!

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  23. Humboldt Park has to significantly gentrify before a place like this will appreciate in value to $485,000; and given that gentrification generally happens slowly, and the housing bubble feeding the frenzy is over; I don’t see the area getting much better in the near term.

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  24. “That is either completely untrue, or it doesn’t matter to the real estate. Put up a map of sold properties on redfin focussed on the Eastern part of Humboldt Park surrounded by the park to Western, from Division to North and average list $345k,”

    Nope its true, like i said i will not move my family here even at the West Humboldts 117k price.

    to each is own, spin it any way you like but how about me and you hang out on the front stoop here on a humid august friday night around 10pm and we can discuss the merits of east, west, north, and south

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  25. Oh my goodness, look at all the scarce land, look at it, a continuous parcel of about 8 or 10 lots, directly across the street from the park at Kedzie and Division. Only 6 or 8 blocks away from the subject property. How can this be there are so many vacant lots in the area? They can’t be just giving the land away!

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+IL&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.847644,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Humboldt+Park,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&t=h&layer=c&cbll=41.903463,-87.706801&panoid=69mTBuh6MQdid8_iMzkSSw&cbp=11,276.04,,0,4.2&ll=41.903463,-87.706802&spn=0.000878,0.004823&z=18

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  26. Hahaha looks like the dumb white gentrifiers either disappeared or banks are no longer stupid enough to give them big loans to live out their urban pioneer fantasies.

    I would love to see a sitcom of a white gentrifier buying this place. Afterall they know that people are fundamentally good and a victim of their circumstances and they do have The Wire DVD set in their collection which should lend them some street cred. LMAO!

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  27. “When people call a house “modern”, most of the time I find it synonymous with ugly.

    If I was Swiss and loved Ikea this might be the home for me, but alas, I am neither.

    It’s a shame they couldn’t have done something better with the yard too. Looks like such a waste.”

    Wilson, you must not be from Chicago, because you are looking at a pretty standard outdoor space for the city there.
    Second, Ikea, is Swedish, not Swiss.
    Third, there are unfortunately few modern homes in the city. It is very expensive to build one, and pardon my french, a half-a** modern never works, whereas put couple of faux-greek columns and build a half-a** classic, you will make people like Wilson the happiest! 🙂
    This one is a decent and an acceptable example of modern.

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  28. Again, I’m strictly talking from the surface, and from what I see on the photo. I am not familar with the home, or its quality of construction, etc. Of course those are things that need to be looked into…

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  29. “I’ll guess that in 5 years this house re-sells for $485,000. This year $340,000. Good return, I’m just not looking for new investments myself.”

    Sure, because what RE investor wants more money? What are you stuck with there?

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  30. This house east of Western (anywhere between about 600N and 2400N) would sell fairly quickly for significantly more than it is listed at (maybe $600K). I’ve noticed a trend that families that buy nice houses west of Western generally sell within a couple of years. I wonder how much the HOUSE costs here? To me the land value is negligible – and I’m someone that jogs/plays tennis in Humboldt Park.

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  31. “The city, despite the economy, is constantly growing and the land is naturally getting more scarce. ”

    AndrewT is FUNNY.

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  32. “Wilson, you must not be from Chicago, because you are looking at a pretty standard outdoor space for the city there.”

    It’s a substandard lot at 24’x102′

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  33. Jon, the lot was bought as an REO in 9/09 for $41k.

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  34. HOLY MOLY THE VACANT LAND ACROSS FROM TEH PARK IS FOR SALE:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1210-N-Kedzie-Ave-60651/home/18961427

    “Attention invester/builders! vacant land 56x 125 with plans for 6 units OR 6 condo’s on oversize lot. across from park. very desirable location. call for details. plans and permits included. site is clear. condo’s in area should sell for $320-$400 each. opportunity knocks Offers subject to bank approval. “

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  35. “to each is own, spin it any way you like but how about me and you hang out on the front stoop here on a humid august friday night around 10pm and we can discuss the merits of east, west, north, and south”

    I live blocks from here, I know what goes on. For the most part I don’t really care, there are bad people everywhere. Point is (for this website anyway) the real estate in E HP is on a hugely different selling market than W HP. Real estate jargon is silly, but in this case necessary, once again for the seller and his agent.

    I will gladly take you up on your offer to chat about HP, we can even do it on my front porch;-)

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  36. @Bob,

    Please elaborate. I’ll be curious to hear your arguments against what I’ve said.

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  37. homedelete-

    Great links. Love the curb appeal of the 1220 Kedie per streetview. Oversized lot, unobstructed east/west views. haha.

    I love North Center even more now!

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  38. “HOLY MOLY THE VACANT LAND ACROSS FROM TEH PARK IS FOR SALE”

    Asking ~2x the $psf that this lot sold for.

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  39. uck! division and Kedzie… right on the park… talk about one of the last places i’d want to build a place in the city, unless they allowed motion sensor gun turrets and an electric fence…

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  40. “I live blocks from here” to the east, right?

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  41. “I will gladly take you up on your offer to chat about HP, we can even do it on my front porch;-)”

    i will bring the beer and the steaks you provide the grill.
    (i would say we can grab a jibarito to go, but old age has me “trying” to watch me health)

    “the real estate in E HP is on a hugely different selling market than W HP”
    I 100% agree with you there, totally diff concerning “market” but muncheechee, and lil pookie care less about east or west when doing what they do. and i rather not PAY to have that uncertainty driving past my front door in the summer.

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  42. E Highland Park is nicer than West but most people in HP don’t care these days.

    East of 41, East of Greenbay, and East of Sheridan (where I grew up).

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  43. Have you guys noticed that things coming on the market in the past couple of days in the GZ have been priced pretty high. I have a feeling that sellers are feeling more confident and I think, given the huge gains in the stock market and all indicators pointing to a stronger economy, that these sellers are not going to be as flexible about lowering their prices. They are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and probably will be able to convince themselves to “hold” on for a bit longer…

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  44. “I live blocks from here, I know what goes on. For the most part I don’t really care, there are bad people everywhere”

    tu boricua? other than that i cant see a reason to buy here unless you have ties to the community or work right there.

    are you raising a family there? and how many blocks east are you? if you are across western then please dont respond.

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  45. @David, how often did the Maniac Disciples of East highland Park rumble with the Latin Kings of West Highland Park at Ravina 🙂

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  46. “the light at the end of the tunnel”

    It’s just an oncoming train for sellers.

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  47. “It’s a substandard lot at 24?x102?”

    G, you are focusing on the response you want to give me before trying to understand the point I’m trying to make. We’d have a better conversation, if you try to at least make an effort.

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  48. Andrew – You’re right, I’m not originally from Chi, and my bad for swapping Swedish with Swiss.

    G – I caught the substandard lot, but why do that short front yard and not add it to the back, or is there something with zoning and having the houses line up?

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  49. “It’s a substandard lot at 24?x102?”

    G, you are focusing on the response you want to give me before trying to understand the point I’m trying to make. We’d have a better conversation, if you try to at least make an effort.

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  50. G – although I admit that was very funny, I wonder what made you so bitter about real estate. Are you a renter? Are you priced out of a house/neighborhood you want to move to? Seriously, I find it interesting ….

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  51. @Wilson,

    Although, I am not certain, it’s probably due to code, since most standard,or close to standard! (for people who are looking for litteral) SF’s are built that way.

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  52. Thanks Andrew… I figured as much… but considering they didn’t bother with a front door, a front yard seems kind of silly. Or maybe it’s just because i’m not originally from Chicago.

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  53. I am betting G is divorced and his wife took the house… lucky for him! lol

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  54. no sonies, that would be me….

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  55. @ sonies
    “I still like this house, just not on this particular lot”

    You’re in luck – they are building this same model on other various lots around the city.
    Case in point (already under contract):
    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1319-N-Artesian-Ave-60622/home/13289297

    I visited another open house by this particular agent (who I thought was a really knowledgable realtor) – and she told me to keep my eye out for this same model on other lots. Email her if you’re interested in getting in on one that’s not yet on market?

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  56. Off-Topic — wait, no. Here’s what you get EAST of Western — but worth a laugh:

    The listing for 2119 N. Damen #3 states: “Buyer’s bonus: free external hard drive with 30,000 songs”
    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2119-N-Damen-Ave-60647/unit-3/home/12698064

    WTF?

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  57. well hopefully the builders are still in business in 5-10 years when i’ll be looking for a house again

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  58. clio, I just enjoy calling ’em like I see ’em. Same as you. That does mean one of us is blind, of course.

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  59. “Buyer’s bonus: free external hard drive with 30,000 songs””

    wow that isn’t totally illegal or anything… sheesh! how stupid can a realtor be?

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  60. “well hopefully the builders are still in business in 5-10 years when i’ll be looking for a house again”

    It may well likely be out of your price range by then….

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  61. “It may well likely be out of your price range by then….”

    if that is the case that means that my current pad that I purchased in 2009 has likely appreciated a fair amount, and my 3.5% down FHA loan will have paid off big-time, but i’m not really counting on that at all to be perfectly honest

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  62. Am I the only one who cares that there is no front door?

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  63. Icarus

    You are cracking me up! Haha, made my day!

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  64. “You’re in luck – they are building this same model on other various lots around the city.
    Case in point (already under contract)”

    I see they’ve fine tuned their production technology so they’re building identical houses. I’m not sure I like the finishes and some of the design choices, but not a bad idea. There’s surely a market for cookie cutter modernish homes (not nec this particular place), just as there is for cookie cutter frame houses or red brick minimcmansions.

    WTF, indeed, Jon.

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  65. Wilson,

    That is absolutely hilarious. I really did not pay attention to that. You are absolutely right. There doesn’t seem to be a main entrance from the side either.

    I am not even sure that such a thing would be even allowed by the code.

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  66. “You’re in luck – they are building this same model on other various lots around the city.
    Case in point (already under contract):
    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1319-N-Artesian-Ave-60622/home/13289297

    Follow the dates. Vacant lot sold in August of 2010, house listed in December of 2010. Maybe a smart business plan. Buy up a bunch of cheap lots and fill them with the same prefab house. Keep it to a price that most two income hipster couples can afford. Efficient. Wouldn’t want to buy one, but I’m interested to see how it works out.

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  67. “is there something with zoning and having the houses line up?”

    Yes.

    “There doesn’t seem to be a main entrance from the side either.

    I am not even sure that such a thing would be even allowed by the code.”

    It’s on the other side (who would want their door facing the alley?) and, yes, side entrance is allowed by code.

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  68. Anon,

    Call me crazy, but based strictly on the photo, I don’t see a side entrance, I do see a fence though on both sides and I am also seeing another home 2 feet from the house, in which case, you would have to explain to me in what miraculous way you were able to incorporate an entrance there.

    In any case, I suggest you put up some additional photos to reflect what you are saying.

    Of course no one would want their entrance facing an alley, but maybe a door facing the street, could be an acceptable one, what do you think? Call me crazy, it is probably an outrageous idea to suggest a front entrance!

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  69. “In any case, I suggest you put up some additional photos to reflect what you are saying.”

    And I suggest you drive over there if you doubt me so much.

    The neighboring building isn’t “2 feet” away, the sidewalk is 3 feet wide, and then there is the fence on the property line. And the neighboring house is then 3 feet from the fence–the width of *their* sidewalk.

    I don’t like the side entrances, either, for a number of reasons, but if you’ve never seen a side entrance house in Chicago, I suggest you get out more. And they *absolutely* are permissible by code.

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  70. “I don’t like the side entrances, either, for a number of reasons, but if you’ve never seen a side entrance house in Chicago, I suggest you get out more. And they *absolutely* are permissible by code.”

    Yes, go to any neighborhood with bungalows. Side entrances are common.

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  71. “If I was Swiss and loved Ikea this might be the home for me, but alas, I am neither.”

    Hey Wilson, Ikea is Swedish. Sweden is a different country than Switzerland. Well, Ikea for sure looks better than Home Depot and Walmart to me which is what American design offers the world.

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  72. Wilson must like his home looking like a crackerbarrel

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  73. Side entrances can really make a difference in a homes layout. They often allow for a more formal entryway and central staircase giving you two seperate,complete spaces on the first floor – usually formal living/dining room and kitchen/great room.

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  74. lol…that was funny Sonies. Also point of Ikea is making affordable mass furniture which I think for the price point is quite nicely designed. No one ever claimed it was high end. Also “crackerbarrel” has some pretty ugly stuff albeit better woods in general.

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  75. ““If I was Swiss and loved Ikea this might be the home for me, but alas, I am neither.””

    Everyone is picking on this, but I took it as two separate digs–one on the Swiss for being, well, Swiss (what’s *known* for be exciting about Switzerland, at least design/housing-wise?) and one on Ikea for being, well, Ikea (which is a criticism I don’t really agree with, but whatever).

    Personally, I’m more bothered by the failure to use the subjunctive mood, as would have been correct, but was trying to avoid being the nitpicker.

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  76. anon- were you and english or linguistics major? you seem to know a lot about grammar, sentence structure and verbiage – no, actually that last word describes westloop……

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  77. “Am I the only one who cares that there is no front door?”

    Not my favorite type of entrance, unless on a corner, but the entrance at the middle of the house allows a wide room at the front and allows a very efficient floor plan.

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  78. The swiss are known for the chalet which is a look unto itself.

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  79. The frosted-glass euro-cabinet style needs to stop immediamente.

    I’ll never learn to get over it. NEVER!

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  80. “anon- were you and english or linguistics major? you seem to know a lot about grammar, sentence structure and verbiage – no, actually that last word describes westloop……”

    Nope. Just a hobby.

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  81. “I don’t like the side entrances, either, for a number of reasons, but if you’ve never seen a side entrance house in Chicago, I suggest you get out more”

    checkout the bungalow belt for side entrances and 60’s two flats apartment buildings.

    I have not yet been through a side entrance that wasnt cramped and claustrophobic on the staircase. x3 when you add access to the basement in that entrance.

    but when you think about it the back door is used the majority of the time nowadays and only guest come through the front.

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  82. Good lord people, I already said “my bad” on mixing up Switzerland and Sweden with Ikea.

    Sonies – I do love a good cracker barrel. They make an excellent sharp cheddar. A block of cheese, a sharp knife and a piece of wood to whittle while I sit on my porch swing and I’d be happy. It’s going to be tough with this place since it…does not have a front porch.

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  83. “but when you think about it the back door is used the majority of the time nowadays and only guest come through the front”

    Walkability! Then you’ll use the front, unless it’s winter and you have a mudroom.

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  84. “Walkability! Then you’ll use the front, unless it’s winter and you have a mudroom.”

    really you wife lets you through the front door? i tried that one week and had my azz handed to me.

    My car is usually at the front of the driveway and my junker (lowes/HD trip) is in front of the house.
    Wife still makes me go out the back and through the gate to get to my car.

    even if we walked everywhere then she still would make us use the back door.

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  85. “really you wife lets you through the front door? i tried that one week and had my azz handed to me.”

    If we had a true mud area, which we don’t, I’d use that exclusively in winter. As is, I step on the front mat and take my shoes off.

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  86. “It’s going to be tough with this place since it…does not have a front porch.”

    lol!

    Well it does look like theres plenty of space to build a deck out back, and on this block i’m fairly certain you wouldn’t want to sit on your front porch, even with a knife… maybe if you were cleaning your guns out or something

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  87. “If we had a true mud area”

    in the back door we have a rug, a small bench/stool and a rubber mat with a lip. I asked if we could buy the same for the front door, i was then given a look, i then shut up and proceeded to hide in the bathroom for as long as i felt it was safe to return to the common areas in the house.

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  88. “If we had a true mud area, which we don’t, I’d use that exclusively in winter. As is, I step on the front mat and take my shoes off.”

    One thing this side entrance probably give you–a mud area that’s as true as most of the stuff posted here (present company excluded, of course).

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  89. Crazy price for this house. But I would no way want to live in that neighborhood.

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  90. I want to know if roscoevillager still shaves at the sink like it is the 1950’s, or if he has gone the shower route like most modern men?

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  91. “I want to know if roscoevillager still shaves at the sink like it is the 1950’s, or if he has gone the shower route like most modern men?

    wait – people shave in the shower? How – where is the mirror?

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  92. we all don’t have servants to shave us clio, and its pretty simple… its called a “shower mirror” here

    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=shower+mirror

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  93. “wait – people shave in the shower? How – where is the mirror?”

    Mirror could be placed but 1) fogs up/not clear and 2) how do you keep the shaving cream on your face when it’s being pelted by water?

    Sonies lives on another planet.

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  94. omg you guys are dumb!

    1) shower mirrors run hot water through them so they don’t fog up

    2) keep your head out of the shower stream?

    it takes immensely less time to shave in the shower since its so easy to rinse off and lather up

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  95. “fogs up/not clear”

    How much do you really need to see? Just need to get the edges of your sideburns (for lack of better word) right.

    “how do you keep the shaving cream on your face when it’s being pelted by water?”

    Get a decent showerhead?

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  96. danny (lower case D) on January 25th, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    Waste of hot water. Plus it’s easier to clean the razor under sink water pressure than the shower head.

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  97. you’re already in the shower, how is it a waste of hot water? LOL it takes 60 seconds to shave in the shower unless you’re a sasquach

    and I don’t have any issues with water pressure on my shower head so I’m confused as to how much more difficult it is cleaning out compared to a sink

    anyhoo, I think this goes for dumbest thing to argue about on cribchatter, ever!

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  98. Gee, doesn’t anyone use electric razors here? NOT in the shower, of course!

    Regarding front porches in downscale nabes: Some urbanists opine that the LACK of front porches – hence, “eyes on the street” – is a factor in an area’s crime rate increasing. If no “good” people are visible, the bad guys feel free to “take over” the street.

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  99. danny (lower case D) on January 25th, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    I like inane discussions about shaving, fireplaces, and front porches.

    I asked earlier if people who have fireplaces actually use them. I’ll ask the same question about front porches: if you have one, do you actually use it?

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  100. “I’ll ask the same question about front porches you have one, do you actually use it?”

    as big as my back yard is (im on a double lot) i sit on the swing on the front porch way more than the back deck. on a awesome spring summer day all i need is my swing, a beer, and talking to my neighbors passing by to give the groove a warm fuzzy feeling.

    now if i am on my laptop doing work or surfing around it will be in the back yard. or early weekend mornings it will be back yard.

    there is nothing more chicago than sitting on your front stoop shooting the shyte with your neighbors.

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  101. Anyone see this new listing? Looks like they built another one.

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1634-W-Blackhawk-St-60622/home/14107612

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  102. “Anyone see this new listing? Looks like they built another one.”

    Well, that’s one way to keep the costs down. Also shows that they are pricing the finished places the same (almost exactly) amount over land cost. $336.5k v $328k, just under $130 psf.

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  103. they’re building these on cheap small lots in borderline desireable areas to keep costs down.

    smart idea

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  104. “smart idea”

    only if they can sell them quick

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  105. “only if they can sell them quick”

    I bet they’re plan, with duplicate plans and bulk buying, gets their cost down around $100 psf + land; they should have some room to make them go.

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  106. “I bet they’re plan, with duplicate plans and bulk buying, gets their cost down around $100 psf + land; they should have some room to make them go”

    sonies is right, a brilliant idea. take moderist, which is minimalist, and find cheap land on the fringe build the same thing simply with ease and get faster doing it as you go which cuts down cost more.

    if the quality is there its doing a service the the nabes they drop those in too.

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  107. “only if they can sell them quick”

    taxes aren’t much on the lots/teardowns they are buying

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  108. They could have chosen a more visually appealing exterior.

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  109. well they “could” hd, but that would cost more…

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  110. Next one up:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1429-N-Rockwell-St-60622/unit-1/home/13290577

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  111. and the logan entry:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3001-N-Christiana-Ave-60618/home/13449106

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  112. Wow — did they get a bulk discount on prefab homes?

    Pretty good deals though — if you’re brave enough for those ‘hoods. I actually like areas near those houses, but they’re all just far enough from the “good” sections to be a little…edgy.

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  113. They look kind of awesome for the money.

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  114. “West Patch” entry:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/826-N-Mozart-St-60622/home/13289141

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  115. ““West Patch” entry:”

    Is that location actually “worth” more than the Rockwells or the Logan spots? Or are they just doing some price exploration?

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  116. I’m glad they’re doing well. I think they should stick one of these in a slightly nicer area, where lot is mid to high $100Ks, sell for low $500K, which is a bit of a missing price point for new or newish construction in a decent (not perfect) neighborhood. But seems like they are getting by fine without my advice.

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  117. “Is that location actually “worth” more than the Rockwells or the Logan spots? Or are they just doing some price exploration?”

    They’re asking for $344K above lot. This one (haven’t looked closely at the individual houses for any diffs) sold for $338K above lot purchase.

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1319-N-Artesian-Ave-60622/home/13289297/mred-07696644

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  118. “They’re asking for $344K above lot.”

    But on Christiana, they’re asking $319.5 above lot, and 1429 Rockwell is asking $338k above lot, and each is $10k less than the West Patch one.

    Also not looking for differences in the build, as I’m assuming they are, at most, very marginal.

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  119. “But on Christiana, they’re asking $319.5 above lot, and 1429 Rockwell is asking $338k above lot, and each is $10k less than the West Patch one.”

    Fair enough, but the outlier looks to be Christiana, which was an empty lot in the last incarnation (and sold for $35K as a teardown, although I assume not to the current builder, but that would be a $344K delta from that price) while the Mozart and 1429 Rockwell were teardowns. 1214 Rockwell was empty lot, with $328K delta.

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  120. “the outlier looks to be Christiana”

    Didn’t double check redfin, so that may be the issue.

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  121. dunno. as far as mozart vs rockwell, i think it’s sort of a trade-off between (at least perceived) safety and amenities.

    is 5k price exploration?

    maybe they overpaid for the christiana lot?

    “Is that location actually “worth” more than the Rockwells or the Logan spots? Or are they just doing some price exploration?”

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  122. ah, didn’t realize some were teardowns and some were empty.

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  123. They’re going like hotcakes:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2026-N-Point-St-60647/home/18555392

    empty lot was 89k

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  124. “They’re going like hotcakes:”

    These things are all over the place. I simply MUST see one being built one day: or as I suspect trucked in and craned onto the site! Margins must be slim. I can’t tell if they are affiliated with this company or not…

    http://www.modularhomesindiana.com/

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