Landmarked Historic Mansion on Terra Cotta Row Reduces Again: 1048 W. Oakdale in Lakeview
We last chattered about this vintage 6-bedroom single family home and coach house on the landmarked Terra Cotta Row at 1048 W. Oakdale in Lakeview in August 2011.
See our prior chatter here.
Also known as the Henry Rohkam Mansion, 1048 W. Oakdale is a rare property for a neighborhood as dense as Lakeview as it is on over 3 city lots.
Built in 1887 for Henry Rohkam, the Vice President of Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, it is part of the landmarked Terra Cotta Row district which consists of 2 single family homes and a 2 multi-flat buildings as well as terra cotta fencing lining the street.
When granting the landmark designation, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks remarked on the terra cotta row’s ornate style:
“The buildings’ lavish, terra cotta decoration suggest their distinction. Such displays of ornament are unusual in neighborhoods of working class origins. They were usually limited to mansion on the lakefront or other affluent areas.”
In the 1880s, Lakeview was a German-American neighborhood. Rohkam and his architect, Theodore Karls, were both of German ancenstry. Karls was born in Berlin and came to Chicago in 1868.
The style of the house reflects both German and Austrian architecture and the gables and facade were similar to the high-style of merchant homes in Germany.
The main house is brick and terra cotta and has a raised basement.
The fence is red terra cotta.
The 3-bedroom, 2 bath 3-level coach house was built in 1912 (replacing a wood stable) and is pressed brick and terra cotta.
The house is located on 3 1/2 Chicago lots- measusring 87.5×125.
The gardens consist of a gazebo, winding brick sidewalks and a decorative garden urn which depicts ancient warriors in combat.
The Interior
The main house has been refurbished to reflect its historic heritage.
It has the original stained glass and woodwork.
There are now silk-screened wallpapers, antique lighting and imported tiles.
The kitchen has a Wolf stove and oven, a wine cooler and a Northland refrigerator alongside white cabinets and sandstone counter tops.
The house has central air. There is 2-car garage parking plus 2 extra parking outdoor parking spaces.
Originally listed just before the recession, in May 2008, for $3.9 million, (bad timing?) it has been off and on the market since then.
It has now been reduced $1.405 million to $2.495 million.
One thing that many of you complained about in the prior chatter was the vintage wallpaper in many of the rooms which you deemed too distracting.
The new listing agent actually has posted pictures showing the “before” (with the wallpaper) and what it would be like “after” (without the wallpaper.) (Perhaps she is a reader of Crib Chatter???)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Do the pictures change your mind?
Or is the Victorian-style interior too big of a distraction for buyers in today’s market?
Joanne Nemerovski at Prudential Rubloff now has the listing. See more pictures here.
1048 W. Oakdale: 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths in main house (the listing now says 6 bedrooms, 5.2 baths- not sure if this includes the coach house or not)
- Sold in Janury 1996 for $1.195 million
- Originally listed in May 2008 for $3.9 million
- Reduced to $3.15 million by March 2009
- Withdrawn in 2009
- Was listed in August 2011 at $2.75 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $2.495 million
- Taxes of $12,050
- Central Air
- Coach House has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on 3 levels
- 2-car garage plus 2 other outdoor parking spots
- Bedroom #1: 20×18 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 21×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 9×13 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 13×18 (lower level)
- Family room: 26×16 (main level)
I am a fan of the before, and would like to replicate that bathroom in ours, colors wallpaper and all.
this is groove’s #1 dream home and would love to install a fake arm by the door so i could high five the house everyday when i come home from work.
Ugh, the wallpaper was so much better than the beige. It is a fussy style and not to everyone’s taste but it was a beautifully appointed house as it was, exactly what you’d expect from outside. Apparently they’re making an effort to trade on the famous “psychological factors” and make it easier for Pottery Barn power couples to “imagine” themselves living here; problem as ever is more likely price.
“Ugh, the wallpaper was so much better than the beige.”
The wallpaper is still there, the “repainted rooms” is really just Photoshop’d to help people look past the wallpaper.
It is a very fair price – if someone could get this for 2 million, it would be a deal.
I doubt whoever buys this will keep the beige. However, the beige makes it much easier to get a grasp of room size and image one’s own unique design.
OH that is a relief, thanks dude.
“It is a fussy style and not to everyone’s taste but it was a beautifully appointed house as it was, exactly what you’d expect from outside.”
agreed and thanks dude : )
I’m just in shock that this isn’t worth at least twice the McMansion that’s a half-mile further west in a much worse part of Lake View. THREE lots+? Echoing Groovester, I’d like to come home every day and just roll around in the yard.
I’m a fan of the before as well. Which lot is bigger, this one or the one 4.4 miles northwest?
http://cribchatter.com/?p=13232
“THREE lots+? Echoing Groovester, I’d like to come home every day and just roll around in the yard.”
why not just move the burbs? You can have 10 (TEN) of these lots for 1/10th of the price!!!
you can also buy ten hyundais for the cost of a lambo whats your point besides being a dumb troll?
“you can also buy ten hyundais for the cost of a lambo whats your point besides being a dumb troll?”
The point is that if green space is what you desire and is your top priority, you should move to the suburbs. I apologize for not being clearer – I forgot I was in chicago – the land of the stupid, fat and ugly…
If I’m going outside the City limits I’m either going way outside and getting to a real old-school small town or I’m crossing the Cheddar Curtain and bailing on Illinois altogether.
“why not just move the burbs? You can have 10 (TEN) of these lots for 1/10th of the price!!!”
” I forgot I was in chicago – the land of the stupid, fat and ugly…”
You’re more native than [many? most?] here. *And* you left and came back. Must make you extra stupid (stooopid?), right?
Green space tucked into a thriving dense metro city is far different (scarcity + value) than green space in the burbs.
But the bigger green space issue is many burbs are just vast sprawling oceans of concrete. Terrible walking/biking options once you get off the City’s grid. I don’t want to live anywhere that not having a car makes you a shut-in.
“The point is that if green space is what you desire and is your top priority, you should move to the suburbs.”
Heartbreaking to see this house “depersonalized” to meet some sort of standard color palette dictated by a misguided realtor reading some 101 Sell Your House manual. This house is an extraordinary flamboyant “Gothic Revival meets German brewer”; its uniqueness was its magic.
“I’m just in shock that this isn’t worth at least twice the McMansion that’s a half-mile further west in a much worse part of Lake View. THREE lots+? Echoing Groovester, I’d like to come home every day and just roll around in the yard.”
if it was legal and socially acceptable i would hump the yard twice a week.
“I’m a fan of the before as well. Which lot is bigger, this one or the one 4.4 miles northwest?”
Icarus i would pay the extra 1.4 mil to live in this hood and deal with the historic annoyances than the blandness house in the villa.
“would love to install a fake arm by the door so i could high five the house everyday when i come home from work.”
Probably the funniest thing I have read on CC!!!
“why not just move the burbs? You can have 10 (TEN) of these lots for 1/10th of the price!!!”
i get your mindset asking this, but i think you are missing 100000 factors that come into play when considering.
find me a place this awesome this historic in a burb that is has this great of a locale and non-suburban neighbors. that is my challenge to you.
“Green space tucked into a thriving dense metro city is far different ”
Lake View had lots more green space and yards 100 some years ago. This house is a survivor and not “tucked in” was there long before Starbucks and other chains, but for how long? I’m sure some “power people” look at it and think, “could put in a few more new buildings in that big space”
“If I’m going outside the City limits I’m either going way outside and getting to a real old-school small town or I’m crossing the Cheddar Curtain and bailing on Illinois altogether”
yep if your going out of the city make sure its out of cook too. and if going that far why not another state altogether?
“I’m sure some “power people” look at it and think, “could put in a few more new buildings in that big space”
that statement makes me sad because its true. example it the childrens hospital its going to be tightly spaced townhomes and condos to maximize profit and property tax dollars. when it could be so great and a chance to change the norm.
“its uniqueness was its magic.”
It still is unique and the wallpaper is still there… just a lousy 5 minute photoshop “paint” job.
Confusing Photoshop job is now causing well-heeled vintage bric-a-brac lovers to cross this house off their lists (“oh dear, it’s been clean-walled on the inside, no doubt an expensive job to restore vintage fittings”).
“The point is that if green space is what you desire and is your top priority, you should move to the suburbs.”
Why can’t I want a yard AND be in the city? Green space by suburban standards is a joke. A vast expanse of grass at the end of a cul-de-sac in some middling, isolated neighborhood is not living and it surely is not living well.
You guys are delusional if you think you are going to come home everyday and appreciate the yard/house each and everyday. You are like 99.99999% of people out there- living in a fantasy land. I tell you this bc I was once one of you. Now that I live in my palace/shang-ri-la, I can tell you that, although I DO appreciate it, it is not all sunshine, butterflies, and happiness each and every day. A better approach would be to buy a large country house on a few acres in Elburn and also have a city place – you stay in your convenient city place during the week (when you don’t have time to enjoy) and then spend the weekends at the country place where you can REALLY enjoy the REAL country. There really is no good compromise in the city (unless you cut back on your desires or unless your budget is several million dollars).
“find me a place this awesome this historic in a burb that is has this great of a locale and non-suburban neighbors. that is my challenge to you.”
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/401-Forest-Ave-60302/home/13273037
AND 1.5 million dollars cheaper~!!!!
It’s like Groove is channeling my thoughts!
This house makes me droooooool. I love it. Some of the flooring I could do without, but the wallpaper is a MUST.
Clio, I’ve been in 401 Forest. The house is a NIGHTMARE inside! It used to be two units I believe that were converted into one house then reconverted into 3 units. The layout makes absolutely no sense (i.e. to get to the master bedroom you have to go through several other rooms but to get to the next bedroom you have to go back out through those rooms and down a hallway, even though they are next door to each other) and needs tons of work. Also, if one were to buy 401 Forest and put in all of that work, why would you want 2 other people living within your house? I understand renting out the carriage house, but that home has a carriage house and rentals within the main home. It isn’t a comparison to this home at all.
I do agree the photoshopped pictures are awful. If you are going to attempt to try to show how the place may look without the wallpaper, don’t simply wipe EVERYTHING out with biege, make it look decent.
Still seems to be a good deal, especially considering the mini-mansion of yesterday.
“It still is unique and the wallpaper is still there… just a lousy 5 minute photoshop “paint” job.”
It’s SO FUNNY that everyone is now ripping on the beige paint in the photoshopped pictures! After everyone ripped on the wallpaper in the prior chatter because they couldn’t take the style and how “busy” it was. So this realtor had VHT make up some pics without the wallpaper, just to give a buyer perspective, and you all go ballistic.
Which is it?
It IS very stylized. Many buyers probably can’t see their big sectional sofa in that living room with the historic wall paper. That’s why those photoshopped pictures are there.
“You guys are delusional if you think you are going to come home everyday and appreciate the yard/house each and everyday.”
you live a sad life my friend.
i live on a double lot and use each and every day. yep i was grilling outside yesterday, sunday after sledding at riis park we built a snowman in the front yard, and igloo a few days earlier which was followed by hot coco. and if it was april-september i would be typing this on my back deck with a cold one popped.
so my futile friend i do think your the delusional one in this area
“http://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/401-Forest-Ave-60302/home/13273037
AND 1.5 million dollars cheaper~!!!!”
funny its 1.5mil cheaper and yet the taxes are higher. the home looks good on redfin but check it in person and you will understand why it hasnt sold and wont at that price. add to that the tours and “walkers with cameras” that are constantly around this section. it isnt what you think it is.
but i tip my hat to the try, as it on face value hit every point i challenged you with. i should have said excluding oak park 🙂 as there are a few other homes that will hit my points.
“It’s like Groove is channeling my thoughts!
This house makes me droooooool. I love it. Some of the flooring I could do without, but the wallpaper is a MUST”
great minds think alike 🙂
but i love that kitchen floor, just not that and wallpaper, for that floor you need solid color wall. i am not digging the tile in a few bedrooms.
“I’ve been in 401 Forest. The house is a NIGHTMARE inside!”
benj9,
i dont know if it was the time of day or the partial overcast, but it felt way too dark in there for me. still a great house though
“I’ve been in 401 Forest. The house is a NIGHTMARE inside!”
“i dont know if it was the time of day or the partial overcast, but it felt way too dark in there for me. still a great house though”
Groove, are you shopping in this price range, or just seeing what is out there since you’re already in the area 😀
“Groove, are you shopping in this price range”
you should know the answer to that 😉 way way way out of my price range
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/401-Forest-Ave-60302/home/13273037
whoa, major porch-woody
“Lake View had lots more green space and yards 100 some years ago. This house is a survivor and not “tucked in” was there long before Starbucks and other chains, but for how long? I’m sure some “power people” look at it and think, “could put in a few more new buildings in that big space””
Does the landmark status preserve the house or the house *and* the bundled lots/open space? Architect?
And clio, you’re nuts or maybe just a couch potato. I have a double lot like Groove and we use/enjoy that space every day as well. From my daughter seeing the birds at the feeder while we have breakfast to making snow forts to BBQing to a 12′ pool to keggers to jam sessions to gardening to sitting on my ass listening to a Cubs game enjoying the sunshine (even if the Cubs’ performance is not enjoyable).
“i dont know if it was the time of day or the partial overcast, but it felt way too dark in there for me. still a great house though”
I’ll agree it is a great house. It is just sad that someone will have to probably put at least the current ask price into the house to rehab and reconfigure it. I agree it did seem dark inside too. I think the huge porches block some of the light coming in.
One oddity of the house I just remembered was that in the third floor apartment, there was only one bathroom. However, the bathroom did not have a shower or tub. If you walked part way down the hallway that the bathroom was in there was a curtain on the wall. When you moved the curtain aside, the shower was just in the hallway, up a step. Very odd!
“When you moved the curtain aside, the shower was just in the hallway, up a step. Very odd!”
when we bought our house the only shower was in the basement, it really just was a shower curtain with a hose connected to the utility sink and just used a random basement drain for the water. they did build up a “lip” area for water not to run.
check out the rodkin deal estate video of this place. yummmy
http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/January-2012/The-Queen-of-Terra-Cotta-Row/
We should have a fundraiser for you to buy this place Groove : )
I love this house! Thanks for the link Groove.
“We should have a fundraiser for you to buy this place Groove : )”
yeah Groove get a website and we’ll click through your ads too, 🙂
“yeah Groove get a website and we’ll click through your ads too”
hahahaa that would be the number one site on the internet, cant do it out of respect to all other websites other there?
if i did what should i call it?
“We should have a fundraiser for you to buy this place Groove : )”
there you go, how would we pitch it miu miu?
“I love this house! Thanks for the link Groove.”
the video makes the terra cotta look a bit dirty and run down. i walk buy it you will see thats not the case.
also the heavily overcast day made it look dark inside too.
this is a post becasue i forgot to click the followup check box
“yeah Groove get a website and we’ll click through your ads too”
“hahahaa that would be the number one site on the internet, cant do it out of respect to all other websites other there?”
okay send traffic my way and I’ll split the earnings with ya.
“if i did what should i call it?”
Groovy Tuesday
considering you have a real job and your blog it may take to long to raise the fund for this awesome place.
given my wife read a blog called “dooce” and she told me that the family lives off the blog income solely!
the interwebs are a strange place.
I read “dooce” too, though it’s blocked at this job site, either because of the mormon jokes or the boobie jokes.
Yeah it took that lady years of blogging to build up the readership plus her husband helped design the site and a lot of the backend widgets that separate it from a free blog site.
“Yeah it took that lady years of blogging to build up the readership plus her husband helped design the site and a lot of the backend widgets that separate it from a free blog site”
still havent read dooce and still not techie enough/at all to know what back end widgets are.
i think if i ever get to FU money and buy this house i will start a blog and hire you to run it.
This is FINALLY under contract. Currently listed at $2.195 million. Let’s see what it sells for.
Lets just hope it sells to someone who will respect its awesomeness.
I will personally kick the new owners in the nutz if they go and pottery barn it
I also hope they take my hand and high five idea.
Ze’s paint it yellow and play beatles submarine is still more fun though.
sold for $2,053,000 on Sep 20th 2012!!!!!!!
now of the buy a hand to high five
was by this house yesterday and its still as awesome as the last time i went past it.