Crib Chatter

There is just something about the 1920s that evokes glamour in Chicago architecture.  Check out Casa Bonita, at 7350 N. Ridge Blvd., in Rogers Park.  Built in 1928, it is a terra cotta masterpiece of 66 units, complete with an indoor pool, billard room, and library.   Unit #21B: 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1200 square […]

  Several new construction buildings are either just starting to close on units or are slated to close in early 2008.  Suddenly, there are lots of investors who may want to sell who realize they are going to be in competition with many other sellers (and not just in their own building.) Recently, sellers have […]

There has been an interesting discussion in the comments about one of my 340 on the Park posts about the fantastic views at that building.  And they are spectacular, with views of the harbor, the Lake, Millennium and Grant Park and the downtown skyline, including the Sears Tower. Only, you could have found out they […]

  I have already discussed how The Sterling, at 345 N. LaSalle, in River North, is the #1 Foreclosure Building in Chicago, a title one would not want to be holding, that’s for sure. But things in the building seem to get worse by the month.  Yet again, owners in the building appear to be in […]

    The slowing market is hitting some of the smaller developers. I have discussed the slow sales at 334 W. Menomonee before. Units at the historic conversion at 334 W. Menomonee in Old Town were recently reduced after only 4 of the 18 units have sold.  The developer also has many of the unsold […]

Both Crain’s and the Chicago Tribune are reporting that Neumann Homes, the fourth largest home developer in the Chicago area, is about to file for bankruptcy protection.  They rank 59th nationally among the homebuilders. The company has already laid off most of its employees. From Crain’s: The “significant downturn in the Detroit, Chicago and Denver […]

  As I discussed in a prior post on 340 on the Park, which is in the midst of closings on the units, many are being listed for re-sale or for rent. A tipster was kind enough to send me some data (at least the data that is currently being reported on the MLS) about […]

    The Printers Row Loft Walk is a great selling strategy for loft owners to get their product seen by about a thousand people.  Did you fall in love with some of the lofts on the walk?  Some of them were on the market.  And in some buildings, there are other units that are […]

      This year’s loft walk tour in the South Loop only had 6 loft buildings represented (with numerous lofts in several of the buildings).  Only two of those was in Printers Row, which is where, in my opinion, the most authentic of the lofts in the South Loop are located.  Printers Row was converted […]

The Vetro, the new 31 story high rise in the South Loop at 611 S.  Wells (at Harrison) is about to start closings.  It has 233 units. The building looks good from the street.  It looks a lot like its original renderings, with its glass dominated facade.  It will be a nice addition to the […]