2-Bedroom Gutted Down to the Studs in 680 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville
This 2-bedroom in the South Residences at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville first came on the market in September 2019.
This is a unique building as, according to Wikipedia, it was designed by two architects in two different phases.
Completed in 1926, it was originally called the American Furniture Mart and was the largest building in the world when finished.
It has a total of 415 units in 3 different condo associations: The Tower, The Lake and the South Residences.
The South Residences has 120 units and access to the 7-story parking garage.
This is a full amenity building with a pool and 24-hour doorman.
There is commercial space in the building as well as a shopping concourse with a coffee shop, Walgreens, a bank and other amenities.
According to the listing, this is an architect-designed top floor unit which was gutted down to the studs.
It now has double-wall insulated construction to the adjacent units.
It’s interiors are done in unique modern styling with natural ash wood paneling and ceilings.
The unit has real bleached maple wood flooring.
It has custom door and cabinet hardware.
There’s also a sound system with built-in Sonance speakers throughout.
The kitchen has wood cabinets and new Samsun “Smart” appliances along with a Subzero refrigerator.
The second bedroom is being used as a library with a built-in sofa which also converts to 2 twin beds. It doesn’t appear to have a window.
The primary suite, which has a window and appears to not have full walls, has a custom bath and closet with millwork.
This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking is available for $65,000.
Originally listed in September 2019 for $925,000 it was reduced and withdrawn in June of 2020.
It came back on reduced again in July 2020 and is now listed for $675,000.
At this price, is this apartment a deal?
Julie Harron and Marlene St. George at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1616: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1550 square feet
- Sold in December 1988 for $154,000
- Sold in January 1990 for $380,000 (not sure this is the correct price in the CCRD though. Seems likely it was $180,000)
- Originally listed in September 2019 for $925,000
- Reduced
- Withdrawn in June 2020
- Re-listed in July 2020 for $695,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $675,000 (garage parking at $65,000 extra)
- Assessments of $1229 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
- Taxes of $6,113
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 17×13
- Bedroom #2: 13×10
- Kitchen: 10×9
- Living/dining combo: 29×16
- Laundry room: 12×8
- Utility room: 6×8
Interesting design decisions.
Big haircut, and it’s still not moving. I can feel the sizzle
beautiful Renovations but no outdoor space. Who is the ideal buyer for this place? Seems like this would be best as a pied-à-terre.
Beautiful renovation. It is too bad they put so much $ into a place with smaller windows and no views — no getting around that.
Location / price probably best suited for a physician at NWM.
680 N LSD
160 units
20 for sale
Pandemic driven, or is something else going on in this building?
Like it. No idea if the design will stand the test of time but at least its not the usual.
I like it. Beautiful finishes with a sleek enclosed kitchen, all the wood beautifully matched throughout. The place has a sleek, highly finished and fitted look to it.
As for standing the test of time, I believe this style already has stood that test.
Looks great. Sure beats the cookie cutter crap. The building is a little depressing on 1st floor though and I’m not sure what happens to all that retail space or how they get quality tenants.
@KK, there is a stretch on my street where there are three of those cookie cutter condos with six units each (the ones with a 3-bed duplex down on either side, 2/bed sandwich unit, 3-bed duplex up on top. At least four were for sale last time I walked past – – a much higher percentage than units for sale in this building. I think it is the pandemic. The units I walk out all have private outdoor space but the occupants all have kids so the ‘burbs or a SFH have lured them away. Here, I think it is still pandemic but clearly that isn’t why this particular unit is on the market.
This is a super pricey (and super lux) 1-bed. You cannot live in this as a two bed unless you were to enclose the master….and even then how would the second bedroom occupant take a shower? They traipse through the master. No outdoor space. Awesome yet arguably taste specific reno (I dig it. They did it for themselves and not as a flip). Probably a doctor who is retiring and no longer needs it. A perfect wealthy person pied a terre. As for the price…..I don’t see it selling for over $550K but then again I would never be in the market for such a unique unit so I don’t really know how to value this one.
Taxed like a $380K home. FML.
“Pandemic driven, or is something else going on in this building?”
I’m sure the joys of CTU fat asses marching and shouting every other year, BLM ripping up the neighborhood with mostly peaceful protests and random CPS students smashing your neighbors’ faces with some diversity eventually wear off. So Hawt you can feelz it burn.
This one appears to have a the same fundamental floorplan, is reasonably up to date, and $125k less:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/680-N-Lake-Shore-Dr-60611/unit-1508/home/14098400
You have to really think 1616 is perfect to pay that increment.
And $925k was crazy when the tower 2/2s are apparently ~$1.2m:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/680-N-Lake-Shore-Dr-60611/unit-2800/home/14097713
Or a lakeside corner 3/2.5, that’s over twice the size, is $1.1m:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/680-N-Lake-Shore-Dr-60611/unit-1502/home/14097948
The buyer who thinks the finishings are perfect might value this around $600k, otherwise more like $525k.
Deal, in regards to size and finishes. Unhappy condo association situation, high parking and assessment costs for unit owners.
Logged a lot of miles in the lobby of this building pushing a stroller or chasing a toddler around (our pediatrician’s office was there). We usually valeted next door at the W – was waiting for our car and exchanged greetings with Jakob Dylan. Life in a big city.
I love this place and agree with Laura: “As for standing the test of time, I believe this style already has stood that test.” Given how unique it is, would have to do a walk-through to get a feel for livability. It’s a great pied a terre, but if you’re coming in for the weekend from outside the city, you definitely want parking – but at an extra $65K? Nutso.
“KK: 680 N LSD
160 units
20 for sale”
Actually, the building has about 415 units as pointed out by Sabrina. So 20 isn’t too surprising.
I have toured a few units in this building and love some things about it, dislike others. It’s built like a fortress and units are very spacious, but have a lot of interior space. This one may have been originally called a 1BR + den (bcs of the interior bedroom); but the square footage is the size of many 3 bedroom units elsewhere. Because of the ceiling heights and caliber of the building, many of the original owners did high-end architect/decorator buildouts, though some of the ones I’ve seen seem rather dated due to when the building was repurposed as condos.
This is not my style at all, but I kind of love it anyway. The only drawback is the lack of outdoor space.
BTW, Realtors® who don’t include a floorplan in their listings are worse than Hitler.
Ultimate golden prison location. You’re stuck. Where is there to go living here? Nothing proves that more than today’s weather. Trapped.
I’ve never loved this building, and this unit has a lot of strikes against it (no views, looks like some rooms have no windows, etc.). But it is a striking renovation. At least judging from the photos.
The only units I’d be interested in here are the tower ones. Those are pretty dramatic, full-floor residences like no where else. If I could ever get one for $1 mln, I might actually bite, but I agree, the location is pretty awful. It’s a pretty long walk to any interesting stores or restaurants.
gym and pool look sad. A good cleaning of the pool floor and some new carpet and updating lighting in the gym would help a lot.
how much is parking and can you get more than one spot?
“Taxed like a $380K home. FML.”
Senior exemption?
“Big haircut, and it’s still not moving. I can feel the sizzle”
See Gary’s data from January. Condo sales much bigger than single family homes. January sales, over all, highest in 14 years.
It’s CONDOS that drove January.
Yes, the Chicago housing market is healthy and hot.
And the spring selling season starts this week.
“January sales, over all, highest in 14 years”
Yes, the 2d slowest month is up. If April or May is highest in 14 years–that will be something.
“Yes, the 2d slowest month is up. If April or May is highest in 14 years–that will be something.”
December was also the highest in 14 years.
I’m detecting a trend.
Yeah- it’s normal to have all of this activity in the deep, dark winter months.
Nothing to see there.
LMFAO.
“December was also the highest in 14 years.
I’m detecting a trend.
Yeah- it’s normal to have all of this activity in the deep, dark winter months.”
Is the trend that sales were pushed out due to Covid?
“Nothing to see there.”
Great job describing 99.76% of your posts!
“Is the trend that sales were pushed out due to Covid?”
… and the election.
“Is the trend that sales were pushed out due to Covid?”
Um..no. Because COVID wasn’t impacting housing buying/selling at all by October and November of 2020.
“ Um..no. Because COVID wasn’t impacting housing buying/selling at all by October and November of 2020.”
So all of the sales since October are organic, and none were due to being pushed out from the markets being closed/limited earlier in the year?