Crib Chatter

This 4-bedroom penthouse in the Manhattan Building at 431 S. Dearborn came on the market in June 2019.

Built in 1891, it has 105 condos and was converted into residential living in 1999.

The listing says this unit has been remodeled.

It now has an open concept and, apparently, one of the bedrooms was opened up so it’s no longer, technically, a 4-bedroom.

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

It has other features that buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

The listing seems to indicate that there are 2 garage parking spaces but I don’t think this building has a garage. It might be rental in the neighborhood.

Originally listed at $359,900, it has been reduced $10,000 to $349,900.

At 1800 square feet, is this a deal?

Nick Rendleman at Exit Strategy has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1604: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in November 1999 for $300,000
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $359,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $349,900
• Assessments of $1135 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, doorman)
• Taxes of $6892
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking??? Listing says it has 2 spots but I don’t think there is parking with this building
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 16×14
• Bedroom #4: 12×12
• Laundry room: 7×5
• Foyer: 19×6

This 3-bedroom in 444 W. Roslyn in East Lincoln Park came on the market in February 2019.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in February.

Back then, some of you thought it was overpriced.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, the building was built in 1930, has 15 units and was converted into condos during the condo boom in 2004-2005.

It is an elevator building where the elevator opens into a private foyer.

This unit faces south and has plantation shutters on all windows.

There are dark hardwood floors in the main living/dining room with carpet in the bedrooms.

The kitchen has custom dark wood cabinets, granite counter tops and luxury appliances including a new Bosch dishwasher, 2 Dacor ovens, a Dacor microwave and a Subzero refrigerator. There’s also a wine cooler.

The master bedroom has a marble master bath with separate shower and powder room.

The listing says there’s Restoration Hardware lighting throughout.

The unit has the features buyers also look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and it says there is a separate deeded garage space which is $20,000 extra (previously, it was included in the price.)

Since February, it has been reduced $86,000 to $799,000.

Additionally, if you look at the listing pictures, you’ll see that they have added a virtually “staged” kitchen photo which shows the kitchen with white cabinets. As it stands, they are a dark wood but they wanted to show you them in the white.

The white kitchen has been “in” across all types of properties for several years now.

Is the lack of a white kitchen holding this property back from selling?

And if so, why doesn’t the seller just have them painted?

Sharon Gillman at Compass still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3C: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1847 square feet

• Sold in June 2005 for $733,000
• Sold in July 2011 for $602,500
• Sold in December 2013 for $655,000
• Was listed in February 2019 for $885,000 (included deeded parking)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $799,000 (garage parking is $20,000 extra)
• Assessments of $550 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of are now $12,910 (they were $11,548 in February 2019)
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Walk-in-closet: 10×4

This 2-bedroom at 3730 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview came on the market in April 2019.

Built in 1923, there are two buildings in the association 3730 and 3740 N. Lake Shore Drive which have 60 units.

There are just 2 units per floor.

This unit has North, South and West exposures so it does not look over the Lake.

It has many of its vintage features including custom crown moldings and trim and the original oak floors with custom inlay.

The unit has 9 foot ceilings, new windows and risers.

There’s new designer lighting and a wet bar/entertainment center with Carrara quartz counter tops.

The listing says there’s a new chef’s kitchen with custom white Shaker cabinetry, white Carrara quartz counter tops and Fisher Paykel appliances.

It has other features buyers look for including space-pak cooling, in-unit washer/dryer and parking is available for $175 to $300 a month in the building.

Originally listed for $639,888, it has been reduced nearly $40,000 to $599,900.

Buyers love move-in ready properties.

Why isn’t this selling?

Ivona Kutermankiewicz at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2400 square feet

• Sold in October 2017 for $135,000
• Sold in March 2018 for $187,500
• Originally listed in April 2019 for $639,888
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $599,900
• Assessments of $1540 a month (includes heat, electric, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $8327
• Space pak cooling
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking is available to rent in the building for $175 to $300 a month
• Bedroom #1: 18×16
• Bedroom #2: 17×15
• Den: 12×7
• Laundry: 8×12
• Living room: 24×16
• Dining room: 17×14

These 4-bedroom new construction row homes in Menomonee Row at 509 W. Menomonee in Old Town recently came on the market.

Is this Old Town or just Lincoln Park? It’s located not far from St. Michael’s Church which is a mainstay of Old Town.

The listing says Menomonee Row is 5 brick and limestone single family row homes designed by Sullivan Goulette & Wilson in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

All the bedrooms are en suite.

It has luxury finishes like a custom kitchen by Bovelli with Wolf and Subzero appliances.

The house has many vintage touches including coffered ceilings, extensive moldings and wainscoting along with wide plank hardwood floors and large oversized Pella architectural windows.

Each row house has a fully attached underground 2 or 3 car garage.

These have been under construction for some time (the picture above is from 2018). The listing says there is 45-day delivery.

Are luxury row houses an unexpected choice for a developer in this neighborhood?

And with so many luxury properties on the market, are these going to be a hard sell?

Timothy Sheahan at Compass has the listings. You can see the listing with interior pictures here.

509 W. Menomonee: 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Currently listed at $2.225 million
• It doesn’t list an assessment (fee simple?)
• Built on a 23×75 lot
• Taxes are “new”
• 2 or 3 car underground garages
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×14 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom penthouse loft in 3201 N. Ravenswood in Lakeview came on the market in June 2019.

The building was constructed in 1918 and has 35 units and gated outdoor parking.

The listing says it was Chicago’s first historic loft conversion.

This loft has authentic loft features including exposed brick walls and a wall of industrial windows along with a 12 foot timber ceiling.

However, it also appears to have some kind of addition as the living room has normal drywall and regular, non-industrial windows.

While listed as a 3 bedroom, the third bedroom is currently being used as a formal dining room although the listing says they will give a $5,000 credit to rebuild the third bedroom.

Both bedrooms are en suite. The master bedroom also has a large walk-in-closet.

There is a private, fenced in terrace off the living room but that’s not the only outdoor space.

There’s a spiral staircase that leads to 2 private decks with city views including one with a large pergola.

The kitchen has custom wood cabinets, a large island and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has the features most buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and gated parking is $15,000 extra.

Originally listed at $649,900 in June 2019, it has been reduced $20,000 to $629,900.

Will the 3 outdoor spaces make the sale on this loft?

Anne Connolly Rief at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #401: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1456 square feet, penthouse

• Sold in December 1993 for $185,000
• Sold in February 1998 for $230,000
• Sold in September 2001 for $340,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $408,000
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $649,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $629,900 (plus $15,000 for gated parking)
• Assessments of $260 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7399
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 13×15
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (now a formal dining room)
• Deck: 15×16
• Deck #2: 15×13
• Terrace: 17×12
• Walk-in-closet: 9×12

This vintage 2-bedroom at 2231 N. Seminary in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it last October after it had already been on the market for 9 months.

The pictures with the listing, at that time, showed it empty. In the comments, several of you commented that furniture would help get an idea of room sizes and layout.

Your wish has been answered.

The unit has returned to the market with furniture.

See the October 2018 chatter here.

If you recall, this property is a middle unit in the building which has 6 units.

It has some vintage features including high ceilings, hardwood floors, crown molding and a wood burning fireplace.

There’s an office with track lighting.

The master bedroom has an en suite master bathroom.

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

The unit has the features that buyers look for including central air and side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit along with an exterior outdoor parking space (now included in the pictures).

The listing says it’s just a half a block to DePaul’s campus.

Originally listed in February 2018 for $595,900, it had been reduced $21,000 to $574,900 before it was pulled from the market in January 2019.

6 months later it has re-listed 4% higher than its last listing price, at $599,000.

Will it finally sell in 2019?

Robert Briant at Re/Max Action still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1995 for $249,000
• Sold in December 2001 for $369,000
• Originally listed in February 2018 for $595,900
• Reduced in July 2018 to $574,900
• Cancelled in January 2019 at $574,900
• Re-listed in July 2019 at $599,000
• Assessments are now $232 a month (they were $165 a month in October 2018) (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, snow removal)
• Taxes are now $9985 (they were $7768 in October 2018)
• Central Air
• Side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit
• Exterior parking space
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Office: 8×7
• Living room: 19×12
• Dining room: 13×11
• Kitchen: 17×12

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 642 N. Armour in West Town just came on the market.

Eagle-eyed chatterers might have recognized it from 2012-2013 because we chattered on it several times.

Originally a foreclosure, it was bought by a renovator who put in a luxury kitchen and baths.

That updated version finally sold for $420,000 in October 2013.

You can see our chatter here.

It has returned to the market with new paint and is now “magazine caliber.”

It has the same kitchen as the 2013 sale with dark cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The bathrooms also appear to be the same as the 2013 sale with one having a double vanity with granite counter tops.

Two of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the third one in the lower level (which appears to be an office in the listing pictures.)

The top floor features a family room.

The listing says there are “4 fabulous outdoor spaces.”

It has a 1-car attached garage and central air.

This complex, which was built in 1993, is fee simple.

Remember Crib Chatter poster Jenny?

You might recall, two years ago she was looking for a townhouse near downtown under $500,000.

It was slim pickings then and is even slimmer now.

This townhouse has come back on the market at $515,000.

Are you out of luck if you’re looking under $500,000 now?

Jacob Tasharski at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here.

642 N. Armour: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, townhouse

• Sold in May 1996 for $198,000
• Sold in September 2003 for $365,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in June 2011
• Fannie Mae Homepath property
• Sold in February 2013 for $250,000
• Was listed in June 2013 at $399,950
• Sold in October 2013 with new kitchen and baths for $420,000
• Currently listed at $515,000
• Taxes are now $8319 (they were $4488 in 2013)
• Fee simple (no assessments)
• Central Air
• 1 car attached garage
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×11 (lower level)
• Family room: 12×16 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom loft in the Alexander Lofts at 1121 Locust in downtown St. Louis came on the market in March 2019.

The Alexander Lofts were designed by John D. Paulus in 1906. It hosted a dozen companies over the years including General Motors Truck Company.

It was converted into 8 luxury lofts and a ground floor retail space in 2005.

The elevator opens directly into the unit.

This loft has 14 foot timber ceilings and exposed brick.

It has a high-end kitchen with custom cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a gas range.

From the pictures, it appears that, in true loft fashion, at least one bedroom doesn’t have full walls or doors.

There’s a balcony off of one of the bedrooms, but no pictures of it.

There also isn’t any pictures of the bathrooms (for some reason.)

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 car side-by-side garage parking.

Listed at $449,000, this is among the more expensive loft units in the downtown.

At the other end, you can get a studio loft in some buildings for as little as $70,000.

With this great housing stock, why isn’t the downtown booming?

Teresa Guempel at Coldwell Banker Gundaker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #502: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2429 square feet

• Sold in April 2014 for $388,500 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in March 2019 for $449,000
• Still listed at $449,000
• Assessments of $629 a month
• Taxes of $5617
• Elevator opens directly into the unit
• 2 car side-by-side garage parking included
• 2 bedrooms (sizes not listed- as maybe they aren’t walled off so no sizes?)

This 2-bedroom duplex up loft in the Bankers Loft building at 901 Washington in the downtown came on the market in July 2019.

Washington was the hub of St Louis’ industrial economy in the 1800s.

Dozens of industrial buildings, which are similar in size and character to those in Chicago’s Printers Row, were built on the blocks between the River and Jefferson which stretches for 24 blocks.

At one point there was a railroad line down the middle of Washington Street (much as there was a railroad station in Dearborn Station in Printers Row).

Commissioned by rich local businessman Edward Mallinckrodt as a dry-goods retail store and warehouse, the Bankers Lofts was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, who also designed the Chicago Public Library.

The building was completed in 1892.

By 1940, it had been taken over by several banks.

By 2003, it was bought for conversion and converted into loft condos by 2007.

It has 64 lofts and a parking garage.

Washington is now the main drag downtown for lofts and is called the downtown loft district as many of the buildings remain abandoned and are ripe for conversion.

But even with empty buildings, there are still a dozen or more on  Washington alone to choose from, including some that are apartments as well as others that went condo.

This loft is a 2-story penthouse with a rare feature for a loft: outdoor space. It has a private top floor terrace with city views.

One bedroom is on the main floor with the second one upstairs. It’s the second floor bedroom that has the terrace.

Both bedrooms are en suite.

The kitchen has maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has exposed brick and timber ceilings on the main level. The second bedroom was added on top of the building.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking.

This building is in a popular location as a movie theater which has a handful of restaurants is just two blocks away.

A full sized supermarket has also opened downtown as more than 3,000 apartments have been built in recent years.

But not many people actually work in downtown St Louis. The jobs moved to Clayton or other neighborhoods.

And there are a lot of parking lots.

Will the loft buildings, and Ballpark Village development, eventually lead to a residential renaissance downtown?

Robin Halterman at Dielmann Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #702: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1937 square feet, duplex

• Listed in July 2019 for $275,000
• Assessments of $435 a month (includes exercise room)
• Taxes of $4450
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×20 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 24×19 (second level)
• Private terrace

The luxury apartment building craze isn’t limited to Chicago.

The tallest residential building in St. Louis is under construction in the trendy Central West End neighborhood at 100 North Kingshighway.

If the design seems vaguely familiar that’s because it’s being designed by Jeanne Gang at the Studio Gang Architects, who also designed Aqua in Lakeshore East in Chicago.

Aqua has won architecture awards.

At 36 stories, it will be the tallest in the city but still a little shy of the tallest residential structure in the region as apparently there is a slightly taller condo building in Clayton. Several commercial buildings are also taller.

It will be just 65 feet taller than the new luxury tower being built at Ballpark Village.

But the design is what is unique.

Overlooking Forest Park, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the units are designed to have wide views east and west which would include the park and the downtown.

“In a climate with four distinct seasons, we wanted to make it possible for residents to enjoy the different views and natural changes in light over the course of the year,” Gang said. “By experimenting with the geometry of the facade and refining the apartment layouts, we were able to make every apartment into a corner unit perched above the park and city.”

Tiers of four stories will repeat over the height of the building, with the facade’s angles producing outdoor terraces for a fourth of the apartments. Working with opportunities provided by the site orientation and environmental forces, the building’s leaflike shape and tiered design will cut energy use and increase residents’ comfort, Gang said.

This is the Studio Gang’s first project in St. Louis.

The developer, Mac Properties, owns other apartment buildings nearby in the Central West End, in Chicago’s Hyde Park and in Midtown Kansas City.

There will be a luxury price for these apartments at around $3 per square foot.

Those are Chicago prices.

Eli Ungar, founder of Mac Properties, said about 40 percent of the apartments will have one bedroom. About 40 percent will have two bedrooms and the remainder will be divided equally between studio and three-bedroom units. Rents near $3 per square foot per month, high for St. Louis, are possible in a neighborhood as “exquisite” as the Central West End, he said.

One Hundred will be the growing neighborhood’s “newest and shiniest” development and will be “in line with the nicest stuff in Clayton,” Ungar said.

The building’s website is now active.

Move-ins are expected in summer 2020.

Is this building a sign that St Louis is turning a corner?

See the building’s website here.