Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom duplex loft in the Ludwig Drum Factory at 1728 N. Damen in Bucktown came on the market in September 2020.

Built in 1967, the Ludwig Drum Factory has 43 lofts. I’m not sure if it has a garage but the listing says there is 1 heated garage space “connected to the building” also for sale.

Yet, it has 1 exterior parking in a secure off-street lot also included.

This unit has some authentic loft features including tall ceilings, exposed brick and ductwork.

The main floor includes the living room, dining room, kitchen and one of the bedrooms.

The listing says the kitchen is “updated.”

It has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops with a breakfast bar and a tile backsplash.

There are French doors that lead to a balcony.

The main floor bedroom has the washer/dryer included and a large bath with a soaker tub and walk-in shower.

The second floor bedroom has blue carpet and a sitting room/office along with its own large bath with a large walk-in shower.

There are French doors that lead to the roof and the listing says the unit has roof rights.

It has central air.

The listing also says:

“Building’s roof has just recently been refinished and private roof decks and emergency exit walkways costs are currently being negotiated. Special Assessment cost can be discussed with Agent.”

Listed at $628,000, with 1800 square feet, this unit was also listed for rent over the summer.

What price will it take to get this loft sold?

Michael Vanderpoel at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry- no floor plan).

Unit #314: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet, duplex up

• Sold in March 1995 for $214,500
• Sold in April 1996 for $130,500 (included a parking space)
• Sold in February 1998 for $275,000 (included a parking space)
• Originally listed in September 2020 for $628,000
• Currently still listed at $628,000
• Assessments of $717 a month (includes gas, parking, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,993
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1 exterior parking in secure off-street lot included
• 1 heated garage space connected to the building is also for sale
• Was also available to rent listed in July 2020 for $4500 a month (per Zillow)
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2020 for $3495 a month (per Zillow)
• Rental Withdrawn
• Fireplace
• Balcony
• Has roof rights
• Bedroom #1: 15×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×18 (main floor)
• Living room: 17×19 (main floor)
• Dining room: 8×17 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 10×14 (main floor)
• Office: 10×12 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom at 3823 N. Ashland in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview came on the market in April 2020.

Built in 2007, it is an elevator building with 22 units and heated garage parking.

This unit is on the Northeast side of the building, so it doesn’t overlook Ashland.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The primary suite has an organized walk-in-closet and an en suite bathroom with an oversized steam shower with double vanity.

The kitchen has been updated with grey cabinets, Viking appliances, a marble backsplash and white quartz counter tops with a waterfall edge on the breakfast bar. The cabinets have black hardware.

It has a 8×15 balcony off the living room.

The unit also has the features buyers are looking for including central air, side-by-side washer/dryer and a rare 2-car heated garage parking.

The listing says it’s in the Blaine school district.

But the listing also includes pictures of the “old” kitchen, which had the 2007-bubble era wood cabinets and granite counter tops so you can see the contrast.

Listed since April 2020 at $650,000, and now also, according to the listing, vacant, was the old kitchen holding back a sale of this property?

If your kitchen doesn’t have white quartz countertops, do you have to do renovations to sell?

Ken Jungwirth at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #404: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in March 2008 for $562,500
• Sold in June 2013 for $565,000
• Originally listed in April 2020 for $650,000
• Currently still listed at $650,000 (includes 2-heated garage parking spaces)
• Assessments of $429 a month (includes parking, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,588
• Central Air
• Side-by-side washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 14×10
• Living room: 20×12
• Dining room: 16×12
• Kitchen: 11×11
• Foyer: 15×5
• Laundry room: 7×3
• Balcony: 8×15

This 6-bedroom Italian villa at 1862 N. Dayton in Lincoln Park came on the market in September 2020.

This is a custom built home constructed on 2 lots in 2001-2003 by owners who loved Italy.

Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s recently interviewed the owners:

Most rooms are well lit by the sun, because while this house is, like many in Chicago, long and slender on its lot, it’s essentially turned sideways, with the broadest face of the house facing a similarly long and narrow side yard. The Curcios bought two neighboring houses, one in 2001 and the other in 2003, tore one down to make the side yard and renovated the other into the villa they have today.

The house has a 3-in-1 great room with a double-sized chef’s kitchen with breakfast bar and a billards room with an imported double sided stone fireplace.

Four of the six bedrooms are on the second floor, the fifth bedroom is on the third floor and the sixth in the lower level.

The primary suite has a fireplace, tiled balcony, 2 walk-in-closets and a Hydrology spa bath.

The lower level also has a media room and large exercise room.

Like a villa would have in Tuscany, there are several outdoor areas including a private front entry, a side yard with gardens, a covered stone patio off the main floor family room with a built-in gas grill, and a tiled balcony off the primary suite on the second floor.

But the piece de resistance has to be the rooftop patio which has an Italian inspired outdoor fireplace, perennial gardens and trees, a built-in grill, a steel pergola and a secondary kitchen all with skyline views.

The house has a heated 3-car garage and a carport.

According to Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s, with August seeing 10 sales of properties over $4 million in the Chicago metro area, above the average of 4 over the last 3 years, will this Italian-style home find a buyer quickly?

Anne Rossley at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

1862 N. Dayton: 6 bedrooms, 7 baths, 8231 square feet, single family home

• Lot #1 sold in May 2000 for $1.28 million
• Lot #2 sold in June 2003 for $900,000
• Currently listed at $4.9 million
• Taxes of $45,812
• Central Air
• 3 fireplaces
• 2 built-in grills
• Double lot of 50×125
• 3-car heated garage
• Bedroom #1: 19×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×21 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 16×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 22×17 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 16×11 (lower level)
• Living room: 19×17 (main floor)
• Dining room: 19×17 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 28×16 (main floor)
• Family room: 23×23 (main floor)
• Media room: 20×19 (lower level)
• Exercise room: 32×18 (lower level)
• Game room: 19×15 (main floor)
• Balcony: 22×7 (second floor)
• Roof top deck: 61×19 (third floor)

This 4-bedroom single family home at 1445 W. Cullom in the Graceland West neighborhood of Lakeview came on the market in February 2020.

We chattered about it in March 2020 just as the pandemic lockdown hit.

You might recall that it was built in 1901, on a wider than standard Chicago lot measuring 30×125.

But back in March, it had a basketball court in the backyard, and no garage. The sellers were offering a $10,000 credit in lieu of the garage.

We chattered about whether or not a garage would get the sale done.

See our chatter here.

The home has not sold and now it has been re-listed with a new 2.5-car garage.

According to the new listing it also has a new roof, new windows, 2 new furnaces and 2 new A/C compressors.

If you recall, it has had an addition added to the back which allows for 4 bedrooms on the second floor, including a primary suite with an attached bathroom and walk-in-closet which wasn’t, obviously, a common feature in homes in 1901.

The house still has what looks like some of the original woodwork on the main level and a wood burning fireplace with a gas starter.

But some of the pictures show virtual pictures with the woodwork painted white.

Does white trim make the home seem more modern?

The kitchen has white cabinets, what looks like granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, along with an attached family room/eating area.

There’s also a recreation room in the lower level along with an office and, the listing says, a Martha Stewart quality laundry room.

It has central air and a patio off the back of the house along with a fenced in back yard.

Originally listed at $1,149,000, it has now been reduced $124,000 to $1,025,000.

The listing says its just a 1 1/2 block walk to the Sacred Heart bus pick-up and a “short walk” to the Lab school bus pick-up.

Will the garage now make the sale?

Marlene Granacki at Re/Max 10 Lincoln Park still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1445 W. Cullom: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1989 for $193,500
• Originally listed in February 2020 for $1,149,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1,025,000
• Taxes are now $19,963 (they were $21,197 in June 2020)
• Central Air
• Wood burning fireplace
• New 2.5 car garage
• Bedroom #1: 21×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×9 (second floor)
• Living room: 17×12 (main floor)
• Dining room: 14×11 (main floor)
• Family room: 21×15 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 17×12 (main floor)
• Office: 14×9 (lower level)
• Library: 12×10 (main level)
• Recreation room: 18×16 (lower level)
• Walk-in-closet: 10×7 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom in the City Centre Club at 212 W. Washington in the Loop came on the market in September 2020.

Built in 1913, this building was originally the home of the Illinois Bell Telephone Company.

It was converted into 183 condo units in 2000. It’s a full service building with a doorman, fitness center, sundeck and parking garage.

This unit is a corner unit with South and West exposures.

The listing says it was “completely renovated” in 2019.

It has a new “Chef’s kitchen” with what look like gray cabinets, a pantry and wine bar, an island with quartz counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

All 3 bedrooms are fully enclosed. Two of them have windows but the third doesn’t appear to.

The primary bedroom has a walk-in closet and a spa-like en suite bathroom with white Carrera marble, an RH double vanity, brushed gold plumbing fixtures and a walk-in shower.

The second bathroom has black, white and wood farmhouse finishes.

The second bedroom has a built-in Murphy bed.

There’s a balcony off the living/dining room.

The unit has the finishes buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 side-by-side parking for $35,000 extra.

This property was last sold in January 2019. According to the listing:

“Built as a ‘forever home’ seller is being transferred–rare opportunity for a NEW home w high end finishes and w the potential to be fully furnished.”

Listed for $585,000 with the 2 parking spaces, is this a deal for a completely renovated 3-bedroom in this location?

Ann Bauer at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here and floor plan here.

Unit #2004: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1450 square feet

• Sold in January 2000 for $347,500
• Sold in April 2001 for $401,000
• Sold in September 2009 for $409,000
• Sold in June 2015 for $495,000
• Sold in January 2019 for $420,000 (included parking)
• Currently listed at $550,000 (2-car side-by-side parking for $35,000 extra)
• Assessments of $1100 a month (includes heat, gas, parking, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal
• Taxes of $7382
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Balcony
• Bedroom #1: 12×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×14
• Bedroom #3: 10×13
• Living room: 24×18
• Kitchen: 19×8
• Foyer: 4×6
• Laundry: 4×6

This 2-bedroom loft in 22 N. Morgan in the West Loop came on the market in September 2020.

22 N. Morgan has somewhere between 22 and 26 lofts (as each of my posts has a different number. Lol) and outdoor parking with a central courtyard.

Although this listing says it has 1 garage parking space included so there may be some garage parking as well.

This is a second floor authentic loft with timber ceilings, exposed brick walls and exposed ductwork.

It has big industrial windows with east, west and south exposures.

The listing says it has designer lighting and ceiling fans.

It also says there is an “upgraded” kitchen with dark cabinets, an oversized island that seats 5, Subzero and Wolf appliances, and a wine cooler.

The loft has 2 wood burning fireplaces.

Both bedrooms have windows and full walls, which is rare for lofts.

If you’re looking for outdoor space, this loft has a large 30×31 private rooftop deck with several seating areas.

The loft has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1 garage parking space.

If you recall, we chattered about another large loft in this building in June 2020 with a similar rooftop deck which even had a hot tub.

It was listed at that time for $715,000.

I can’t find any sales price and it isn’t currently listed but you can read our chatter here.

Listed at $975,000, does the pandemic work-from-home phenomena change everything for the West Loop?

Owen Duffy at Fulton Grace Realty has the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan).

Unit #212: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, loft, 2400 square feet

• Sold in May 2000 for $401,000 (no parking listed)
• Sold in October 2007 for $555,000 (two parking spaces listed)
• Sold in July 2009 for $575,000 (one parking space listed)
• Currently listed for $975,000 (one car garage parking included)
• Assessments of $834 a month (includes parking, exterior maintenances, scavenger)
• Taxes of $15,658
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 wood burning fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 12×14
• Bedroom #2: 17×14
• Living/dining: 20×23
• Family room: 14×20
• Kitchen: 10×13
• Sitting Room: 14×20
• Pantry: 3×10
• Storage: 15×6 (second floor)
• Deck: 30×31 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom top floor condo at 3320 N. Clifton in Southport came on the market in August 2020.

Built in 2012, this building has 4 units and garage parking.

This unit has luxury custom features including coffered ceilings in the living/dining room, wainscoting, crown moldings and a gas fireplace.

The kitchen has 42″ espresso cabinets, a Viking refrigerator, a Viking 4-burner gas stove and Bosch dishwasher.

The primary suite has tray ceilings, 2 walk-in closets and heated marble floors and a marble steam shower in the en suite bathroom.

This property has two outside spaces including a front balcony and a private rooftop deck with a pergola, a wet bar, a gas grill. It’s also wired for sound.

This unit has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1-car garage parking.

The listing says it’s in the Nettlehorst school district.

It’s just a quick stroll over to the shops and restaurants of Southport, which has become one of the hottest neighborhoods over the last 10 years.

Listed in August 2020 at $900,000, is it a choice between Southport and a single family home in Winnetka for buyers in 2020?

Lyn Harvie at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1815 square feet

• Sold in January 2013 for $720,000
• Sold in August 2018 for $878,500
• Originally listed in August 2020 for $900,000
• Currently still listed at $900,000 (includes 1-car garage parking)
• Assessments of $191 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $13,789
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Living/dining room: 22×20
• Kitchen: 13×11
• Laundry room: 4×4
• Balcony: 9×20
• Deck: 28×72

This 3-bedroom condo in 1625 N. Burling in East Lincoln Park came on the market in July 2020.

Built in 2017, this building has 13 units, an elevator, and attached heated garage parking.

If you rode on the Brown Line to downtown in 2017, you saw this building being constructed from the subway window right near the curve between the Armitage and Sedgwick stops.

This is a re-sale of a second floor corner unit with floor to ceiling windows with south and east exposures.

It has the new construction luxury finishes including what the listing calls a “Chef’s kitchen” with white Archisesto cabinetry, a 6-burner Wolf stove, Subzero refrigerator/freezer, a wine cooler, quartz counter tops with a waterfall finish on the large kitchen island and a Culligan water filtration system.

The primary suite (as the realtors are no longer using “master” as the designation but are now using “primary”- I will be changing my lingo on this site as well) has a walk-in closet, and an en suite bath with a double vanity and a walk-in steam shower.

The outdoor space includes a 30×8 covered terrace with a gas line and a Savant audio system for TV, surround sound both inside and on the terrace.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, a full-size washer/dryer and 2 attached heated garage spaces.

Listed at $1.245 million in July 2020, that’s $161,000 above the 2017 sales price of $1.084 million.

If you’re priced out of a single family home in East Lincoln Park, is this a good alternative?

Susie Pearson at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #204: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 2017 for $1,084,000
• Originally listed in July 2020 for $1.245 million
• Currently still listed at $1.245 million (includes 2 attached heated garage parking spaces)
• Assessments of $614 a month (includes security system, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $19,580
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Living room: 18×11
• Dining room: 15×9
• Kitchen: 10×16
• Laundry room: 6×5
• Walk-in-closet: 7×5
• Terrace: 30×8

We’ve been waiting to get the updated data to see what is happening in the downtown apartment and condo markets.

As we’ve been chattering about for several months, residents of New York City and San Francisco have been flocking out of the city center to the suburbs, and other states, to escape the city after COVID and due to new work-from-home options.

But what about Chicago?

Crain’s provides an update on the downtown second quarter apartment market.

Remember the second quarter was April through June, or the height of the pandemic.

According to Integra Realty Resources, a consulting firm, occupancy fell to 89.2%, the lowest since 2002.

From Crain’s:

Net rents at the most-expensive Class A downtown buildings fell 12.4 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, while Class B rents dropped 14.9 percent.

Suburban landlords, meanwhile, are faring surprisingly well. The suburban occupancy rate has edged lower, to 95.1 percent from 95.3 percent in second-quarter 2019, but the median net rent has risen 1.6 percent, according to Integra.

“Everything’s moving against living in the city right now,” says Maurice Ortiz, director of operations at the Apartment People, a Chicago-based brokerage. “It’s going to come back, but I think we are in for a year or two of difficulties.”

That’s bad if you own a multifamily building in the city, but not if you are in the hunt for a new apartment. Ortiz found an apartment in the neighborhood near DePaul University for about $1,600 per month, down from $2,000 before. To fill their buildings, some landlords are offering two months rent-free, concessions that would have been unheard of at the beginning of the year.

“If you are a renter right now, the bargains are everywhere,” Ortiz says.

First you had COVID, then you had layoffs, now the $600 a week unemployment has expired, and then you had the protests and looting.

Add onto that, that many of the big downtown companies including Facebook, Google and Salesforce, are allowing employees to work-from-home until at least August of 2021, why renew your lease in downtown Chicago?

Putting more pressure on landlords is the continued construction of new apartment high rises that are expected to come on the market with hundreds of more units.

How low will occupancy go before it stabilizes?

New figures show downtown is being drained of apartment dwellers [Crain’s Chicago Business, by Alby Gallun, September 4, 2020]

This 3-bedroom new construction condo at 2939 N. Clark in East Lakeview came on the market in August 2020.

This development consists of 2 buildings with 6 units and indoor heated garage parking.

There is private elevator access into each unit.

The top floor units have rooftop decks. The second floor units have a big deck off the back of the building (over the parking garage?).

This is a third floor unit with a front balcony.

The pictures show wide plank wood floors.

It also has a modern gray and wood kitchen with a breakfast bar.

The master bathroom has a walk-in shower and the on trend black faucets (the formerly trending gold faucets seemed to have faded quickly.)

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

New construction is rare for this neighborhood as it’s mostly filled in.

Restaurants, shops and public transportation are right outside your door.

Is this a rare chance to buy “new” in this popular location?

Boris Lehtman and Connor Dragel at Fulton Grace Realty have the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3N: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1737 square feet

• New construction
• Currently listed at $749,000
• Includes a  heated garage parking space
• Assessments of $400 a month (includes security system, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×17
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Living room: 19×15
• Kitchen: 11×10