A Not-So-Little Piece of Privacy In the City: 1339 W. Webster
Built in 1896 but extensively renovated, 1339 W. Webster in Lincoln Park is a unique oasis in the city.
Surrounded by a masonry perimeter fence, it has a 40×40 courtyard not to mention a 10,000 square foot house with 6 bedrooms.
And if you need more land, the listing says an adjacent lot is also available for purchase.
Richard John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See more pictures and a guided tour here.
1339 W. Webster: 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 half baths, 10,143 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in November 1995 for $635,000
- Before you get all up in arms about appreciation, it was completely professionally renovated
- Originally listed in October 2008 for $4.2 million
- Currently still listed for $4.2 million
- Taxes of $13,183
- Central Air
We should have birthday parties for this listing each October.
Very nice space but those owners are tacky!
ss,
Like I always say…one man’s goose is another man’s gander.
The taxes don’t seem quite right.
well at least we know there is central air included in the asking price…. I’m curious if it has in unit laundry as well?
Jason R I think there is a laundromat nearby.
I love the mortgage calculator on this. To afford the monthly payment of $22,000 (with 20% down), you only have to make $816,000/yr.
But seriously beautiful. If only I could get an 800% or so raise.
Needs an entire re-do…
🙂
That decor belongs in a Wisconsin Dells luxury hotel, not a 10000 sqft mansion in LP. To each his own, I suppose.
I don’t think this counts as a SFH anymore, this has moved into ‘compound’ territory. Not surprising its sitting on the market. How many people can afford this, are lloking to move, are interested in this specific property: very few.
I like the fireplace that is also a flight of stairs. It looks fantastic, but without a railing its also a death trap.
This is one of my favorite houses in Chicago – the kind I dream about living in every time I pass it. It’s a great area too. The other one I love is just across the street on the northeast corner of that same intersection.
This would actually make a very interesting B&B. You would have to add a bathroom somewhere, but I think it would appeal to travelers as an alternative to the standard hotel in Chicago.
I better go run out and buy a new home today. Joey Z is telling me on his blog that sand is running out of the hourglass to qualify for the 8k tax credit! LMAO..
LOL! To be fair Joe Z didn’t say that, some tool from ReMax did. Hey i love me some tax credit, I bought a wonderful home theater speaker system with da money. Thanks Barack! You my homey!
I’m gonna get some spinnin’ rims on my Escalade with my government monies. A cool 15k total from cash for clunkas and buying a new home. Free money woot woot!
It would be hilarious if they weren’t bankrupting the treasury and losing all credibility in the process.
And it could be bigger. Listing states that adjacent lot is available as well.
Agreed – this has left SFH and entered Compound. I seriously doubt anyone would buy this on a 20% down 30-year mortgage.
Hells yeah Bob, I’m gonna turn in my 88 caprice for a fat escalade with 72 month financing and 0 down! Oh and i’ll rack up a bunch of credit card debt on top of that for much needed accessories like TV’s and playstations for every seat. And of course a bumpin sound system!
Also just a thought… while seeing extravagence like this can be fun, can’t we agree that the market is dead for homes at this price?
Why not really focus on chatting about homes that that entry-level home buyers can afford. Wouldn’t that up the site’s traffic and ad revenue?
Too far west for me.
Thanks guys. Was ordering some stuff to pick up in the states to accessorize my ride and didn’t even think of getting some 19″ doves. I am going to be the pimpingist gringo this side of the equator now.
And this place is definitely too limiting in its appeal. Tough tough sell.
Definitely smokin something on the price, given the market we are in.
I’d rather have a $2M sfh in am better location in lincoln park and a $2M home in Maui. But hey, thats just me.
Yeah if I had $4MM you can rest assured I would no longer be living in Chicago.
I agree w/ the $2M SFH in LP/GC, but i’d even go for 2 $1M properties… 1 in Europe and 1 in Costa Rica
also, hardly “premiere” lincoln park. can’t walk to the beach or the actual lincoln park,
“also, hardly “premiere” lincoln park. can’t walk to the beach or the actual lincoln park,”
Have your chauffeur drive you then!
No at the $4MM pricepoint we’re in the helicopter range. Have your pilot drop you off.
Before everyone blogs comments totally off the cuff you should really look at the home that is being discussed – this home was remodeled flawlessly in keeping with the original character of it’s prior use – it was the first romanian catholic church built in Chicago – no detail was overlooked and the materials were top notch – leather master bedroom flooring, media room, 360 windowed “turret” overlooking city, huge courtyard for entertaining. It is a short jaunt down webster to OZ park or down to the lake and far easier to access the kennedy or clybourn corridor from this location. I lived next door to this home and was on-site often during the redev and subsequent social events – yes it is listed at a price most of us cannot afford and yes it is not a style everyone can dig but it is truly a $4mm home without a doubt. If anyone visited or even researched further half of the properties posted on here before making a comment this site would be far more revealing (if less humorous) than reading a bunch unsubstantiated rants from arm-chair real estate experts looking at 2 photos and a few bullets.
I walk by this house almost every day – I don’t think the space is large enough to qualify as a compound at all, it’s just a large SFH that hasn’t had all the land built on and with a wall around it.
That house kitty-corner has been finished and empty for like two years, the reason is, this is a VERY busy intersection and therefore it’s noisy. On top of that this house is across the street from the loading dock to the Treasure Island!
$2.5MM max and that’s being generous.
FYI, the 8K soon to be 15K credit is not free money.
It’s you tax dollars. Love how the gov’t brainwashed us into thinking our own money was theirs to give away.
House is across from Treasure Island shopping center, and had a trucking company or some other heavy industrial use next door. Webster is congested here, serving as a short-cut to Kennedy, Ashland, and Elston.
I remember this house back in 1987, a little outpost of gentrification next to dormant Clybourn industrial strip. How things change; but not enough to merit a $4 million plus price tag. I venture $2 million, due to its size and interesting character, and a long selling period.
“$2.5MM max and that’s being generous.”
No way, this is like a 2 minute walk to Pequod’s pizza, so that’s gotta be worth at least +1MM
at $2 million this would be the cheapest house in Lincoln park per sq ft.
Hey Joe – The house kitty corner is under contract.
Reminds me of Bilbo Baggins house.
how long has that treasure island been there? cant see it from clybourn, i had no idea it was back there.
I like it…seems reasonable-New construction mcmansions in River North near 500 W Superior can run up to 4 million or so.
This seems more like a private estate in the city
Sabrina – Let’s see some comments on 1307 w Wrightwood. A unit just went under contract at $995k and the unit is 2200 sq ft. $444 per sq ft? Wow has my place appreciated!
Steve: Are you talking about Unit #104 that is listed for $595,000 and just went under contract? (NOT – $995,000?)
Otherwise- I don’t see any other contingent units at that address (but I’m not an agent so I don’t have access to all of the data as you do.)
You must look at “pending” units Sabrina. I was being a bit sarcastic with my comments. If you want to meet someone who will lose money on resale please stop by the closing table and introduce yourself to whoever is buying in this building.
That is interesting. A real estate blog written by someone without access to real estate data. 🙂
I’m not an agent Steve. How many times do I have to say that?
Steve is slow. It takes a few times for it to sink in.
HD – I am not slow… you can have your clerk look it up 🙂
Actully Steve you must not be a competent typer. It is a/i at $595k
VERY well said Valhalla!! I too find it disheartening to read the negative and uncalled for comments about higher dollar properties from posters who have not even toured the places. If they had done so, esp to this house, the negativity would be silenced and praise would be inserted.
It is very obvious the amount of craftsmanship and the high quality of materials used in this renovation just from the ad. See the house in person and it is very evident and the asking price is definately justified. The pictures do not do it justice at all. There are some very unique features that you rarely come across and those features are VERY expensive to achieve.
IMO, the asking price is justified and then some. Unfortunately in this market, they most likely will not recover an accpetable return on the large chunk of $$ it took to get the house to this level.
A few years ago there would have been a number of people who would have had the financial means to purchase it, but today is just not the time to market this house.
I would definately consider it if I were to stay in Chicago for a number of years as it will only retain it’s value and status for years to come. I just won’t be here long enough to justify spending this amount.
As much as I love seeing these high end renovations, unless the owner intends to build it for him/herself rather than reno and sell, it is probably not a good idea to invest this amount of $$$ in this level of housing.
Where else can you get this type of square footage so close to downtown?
If I had 4 million to spend, this is where I would buy. I love that it has quiet outdoors areas! You don’t need to go to the park and see hairy legged men on their bikes or hear crying babies and screaming kids.
A person can live a completely private life in this house, while still being in the city.
westloop, have you toured all the places you comment on? I’m gonna guess no.
Westloop are you saying that without seeing firsthand this house I can’t think the slate like floor juxtaposed to the brick fireplace with the puke orangey walls is not my thing? Or that kitchen that looks like one of those cave restaurants in Spain.
So I guess I can’t think Carla Bruni is hot as all hell either since I never met her vis a vis?
You’re just still upset you got trashed that one day. Since then you have been a snippy little bitch in every post. Get over it. No biggie!
CH,
Sorry, but your guess is not correct. I have in the past and still do tour many of the places that are featured on CC. It has turned into a hobby of sorts for me. I tour many properties that are listed and since I am now friends with a few agents and brokers here in Chicago, I get to see some that are not even listed yet. For me it is a great way to draw inspiration for future projects and to keep current on what is new on the scene, esp in NYC and Miami.
I am wondering why you ask? Would you like to join me for a day of running around the city? Are you hitting on me? LOL
Most of my days are open and in this rinky dink city, there is not a lot that keeps my attention, so I fill most of my days by looking at properties. Actually, whether I am here, in NYC or somewhere in Florida, I regularly attend open houses or properties that family or friends are showing. As I have mentioned here before, 95% of my extended family is in RE in some form or other…many are brokers and agents or they have their children host open houses. So in that way, it is more that I am visiting them than anything else.
Should I come across any property I am interested in, I have the resources to purchase them as a future renovation project. At present, I have 6 houses/condos that are waiting for their turn under the hammer.
Anything else I can help you with?
Hey did we make it to 50 comments without someone calling someone else a racist? Pat yourself on the back, crib chatter-ers!
I happen to like the off-the-cuff comments on here… even when they smack of total ignorance, they reflect the honesty in how people in Chicago are thinking about real estate. A welcome change from all the double/triple real-estate-speak…
Oh, and I like Jason’s idea… although I think I’d like it more if this place was closer to the El.
Ze.ze.ze…
Now you’re starting to sound like HD in reading or understanding only a small part of what I say, if you understand it at all.
What I meant is that when you see the pics of this house (or any house you like) you know that this house (or any house you like) is your style and fits your needs, irregardless of the price.
IF you chose to investigate further and schedule a showing of this house (or any house that is your style) then you must realize why the price is set as it is.
The level of craftsmanship is outstanding, the materials are top of the line and the minute details are carried out with precision. If you don’t see or understand why the price is set as it is, then it probably is not a house for you.
I am saying what I see and the energy expended on this beauty is why it is commanding a $4 mil price tag…and I agree and appreciate their efforts. I am not going to be the one to question ‘why so high’? To me, it is not a high price whatsoever. Places in NYC start at this amount, so the price doesn’t even raise an eyebrow or cause me to question it.
IMHO, to offer any less would be an insult to the architect/builder of this mansion. Will they get that amount? Maybe. Maybe there will be a bidding war over it. Maybe it will set a year. But that is the owner’s concern and should not be a reason we trash talk the place. You don’t like it or think it should be priced at that amount? Go on to the next listing. Simple.
I know on a couple of my more upscale, million dollar + renovations, I have been questioned (insulted) about how I came up with my asking price. I don’t bother responding to that question as only I know what we put into the place for it to command the price. If the potential buyer does not see it or has to question the price, the place is just not for him and pretty much any amount they offer will be refused at that point.
Re: Carla Bruni…eeeewwww!!
Now David Beckham…10+ and that is without a ‘vis a vis’. Just goes to show what one person sees beauty in, the next won’t. Simple, right?
As far as me being a ‘snippy little bitch’ because I was, as you say, ‘trashed’ one day…I don’t know what you are talking about and I really don’t give a shit about what you are referring to. As you say again, no biggie!
Look, as we all know this is merely an internet forum where anonymous posters say what they want without consequence. Nothing any member of this forum could say would bother me if said online. Now face to face, yes it might but I would not be the one hurting afterwards.
If you don’t like me or my comments..good for you. But don’t expect me to lose sleep over it.
not hitting on you. the tour sounds interesting. Are you saying you have personally seen every property that you’ve commented on?
Unique house for a rich and special buyer. The interior is a nice surprise, as the exterior is simple.
$4.2Million for a renovated church? Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner is DELUSIONAL to state this property is a “Sophisticated Urban Country Estate.” Please. It is FAR from that. Did I miss the legalization of weed in Chicago?
Google the address and look at the street view, if you want to see “$4.2Million” of awful.
CH,
Just joking about the ‘hitting on you’ line…a preview from ‘Bruno’ is sticking in my mind today…seems to be a hilarious film.
When I comment saying I have seen the place, then yes, I have indeed toured it and give my honest opinions on it. Like most on here though, I comment only on the pictures and info provided by the agent.
I agree with Like about the exterior of the house as it is in the wrong location…totally. But I do stand by my ‘well above average’ comments about it’s interior and the renovation in general.
Gosh, this place is gorgeous. I would want to know whether the trucks to the Treasure Island make a lot of noise, but other than that the location is great.