A 5-Bedroom Prairie-Style Home with a Front Driveway: 1526 N. Wieland in Old Town
This 5-bedroom Prairie-style single family home at 1526 N. Wieland in Old Town came on the market in September 2020.
Built in 1987 in the Prairie style, the listing says it was modeled on the Glessner House.
It’s on a wider than normal Chicago lot measuring 50×102 and has a rare front facing 2-car garage and driveway which also fits 2 more cars.
That makes for 4 car parking.
The listing says the side landscaped lot is available and sold separately.
This house has many of the Prairie-style features including exposed wood moldings and window frames.
The kitchen has wood cabinets, a large island, stone counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
It has 3 fireplaces.
The house has the layout that buyers look for including 4 of the 5 bedrooms on the second floor
Those 4 bedrooms are all en suite and the primary suite also has an en suite walk-in-closet.
The fifth bedroom is on the lower level and also is en suite.
The lower level also has a unique library with built-in bookcases.
There’s a family room on the main level and a recreation room in the lower level.
The house has an expansive rear deck.
It also has central air.
Originally listed at $3.3 million, it has been reduced $1 million to $2.3 million.
Is this a deal for an extra-wide home with 4-car parking?
Mary Quincannon at @Properties has the listing (the house is broker owned). See the pictures and floor plan here.
1526 N. Wieland: 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 5000 square feet
- I couldn’t find a prior sales price but it was built in 1987
- Originally listed in September 2020 for $3.3 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $2.3 million
- Taxes of $32,562
- Central Air
- 2-car attached garage with a front driveway
- 3 fireplaces
- Bedroom #1: 14×19 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 18×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 10×15 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 13×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #5: 18×10 (lower level)
- Den: 18×8 (second floor)
- Recreation Room: 19×19 (lower level)
- Family room: 30×15 (main floor)
- Dining room: 14×17 (main floor)
- Kitchen: 23×21 (main floor)
- Deck: 34×30
For a property they were looking for $3.3MM, they’re isn’t a lot of photos. Could be intentional
Why wouldn’t you highlight the side yard?
Not bad, the 2 sided fireplace between the MBR & MBA is dumb. Library is cool, but not cool enough to sell this place
There’s a lot to like, but also a lot to dislike here, unfortunately! Despite the Glessner house comparison (which I get), this looks like a suburban house plunked down in the middle of a somewhat odd street (narrow and dark). When this was built, the area was not prime, so I’m guessing the land was pretty cheap then), but it looks like an anachronism now (not ugly, just out of place).
The Prairie school interior seems pretty well done, but despite my love for the style generally, seems a bit much (and I think the segment of buyers that would really like that, is relatively small).
The layout has a lot of advantages (due to lot size), so that part is appealing. The kitchen and Master bath (sorry, Primary bath) look nicely updated, but I’m guessing most of the other baths not shown are 30 years old. And while the concept of the library is great, some of the panelling seems to remind me of boarded up windows.
Overall, the newly reduced price seems to be close to what someone will bite at, for the space, location, etc.
Not fond of the kitchen or bath choices- which look 20 yr old south barrington nor the slab doors and the bulk of the window trim thru out. Feels like the place needs a lot money thrown at it-not sure exactly how or why- but bad vibe at this price point.
Did not expect to like this so much. Really well done house.
Wow, 30% price slash overnight back in November. I smell lots of negotiating power on this one.
Some very nice wood craftsmanship here mixed with builder grade doors and window trims. Painting the more shotty / mismatched woodwork white would really clean up this place.
Love it. Wonder if there’s some sort of foundation/basement problem that’s killing interest/pushing the price down towards 2. If not, while it’s a bit of an odd bird, seems like a great place for a larger family. (Note to the stager: Don’t perch a cup of coffee on the bed like that and then instruct me to “Inhale” and “Exhale”; you’re making me anxious.)
This is about $1MM more than a new SFH in a GZ neighborhood but it’s much closer to downtown than those and the lot setup is street facing affording that parking situation. It also has an extra bathroom or two over those. Basically this looks like a suburban home in the shadows of downtown.
Not sure why it’s only $2.2MM given the location and rare features. Must be something going on that we don’t see. If there is nothing wrong with this property that we don’t see this is a canary in the coal mine data point of what outrageous taxes can do to the valuation of a property.
To RE bull/shills taxes are never an issue as only the poors worry about those but with this property you’re looking at nearly 400k/year just to fund a CPS superintendent’s lavish pension. The 2017 tax cut hit the target market for this doubly: only 750k mortgage interest exemption and only 10k of those 400k of property taxes are deductible.
But Sabrina says it’s “HAWT”.
390k/year in taxes of which only 10k can be deducted is 600k in household income per year if you run it through the tax grinder. That’s just for taxes you would need to cover the mortgage and all other costs of living on top of that.
But Sabrina says there are millions of C-level executives in Chicago waiting to snap these things up. Maybe her Morningstar founder friend who she went on dates with who disclosed all of his finances to her over dinners will buy it.
Yeah Sabrina people with money really divulge the specifics of their financial situation to people they are just dating. That is surely how one finds a quality spouse, am I right?
Bob: It’s not 390k/year in taxes. The $32K is per year, not per month.
this house always looked like shit, (check prior street views if you don’t believe me) glad they finally remodeled it but it was in bad shape for decades so who knows what else is wrong behind these walls
There’s a lot of buying uncertainty on this street. The O’Brien Hotel has been a pending project on Wells and backs up to this street. There have been revisions to the project numerous times, many over the objections of the people on this street. If the hotel goes up, I can totally imagine a situation where Wieland is the delivery street or the entrance for the parking for the hotel. Considering the narrowness of this street, it would be a disaster.
For the rare buyer who wants to live in Deerfield and Chicago simultaneously.
“Bob: It’s not 390k/year in taxes. The $32K is per year, not per month.”
Pre-coffee math blehh. Okay so either there is something wrong with this house or it’s a deal.
@Matt the Coffeeman – – I haven’t been following the O’Brien’s saga but can only hope once there is a hotel on that site that it is not the O’Brien’s running it. Their restaurant was filthy and disgusting. Apparently a lot of the who–ha related to the hotel is a plan for a bunch of “townhome” style “airbnb” type units facing Weiland – – e.g. party houses. I cannot blame the folks on this street for being furious about it. It was some kind of bait and switch that was pulled to get that change incorporated in the design. It is going to be non-stop obnoxious behavior from the renters of those units down the road…..guaranteed.
FLW just rolled over in his grave at the notion that this place was inspired by his work. LOL. That kitchen sucks as does having a garage door as the focal point for the front of your home. The only way I would buy this place is to also buy the side yard. If that gets into the hands of a developer who puts some soul-less 3-4 unit crapshack on the site, this home becomes a hell hole.
I believe the O’Brien family or someone from that family owns this house if I’m not mistaken.
The most direct competition:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1540-N-Wieland-St-60610/home/14117995
If you don’t pay the ~$1m for the side lot, you’ll end up in a canyon between two much taller buildings.
“If you don’t pay the ~$1m for the side lot, you’ll end up in a canyon between two much taller buildings.”
Just terrible w/o the sidelot, this place is pure junk
Thought this one looked familiar – http://cribchatter.com/?p=27271
Its still available, Sizzle!
” Apparently a lot of the who–ha related to the hotel is a plan for a bunch of “townhome” style “airbnb” type units facing Weiland – – e.g. party houses. I cannot blame the folks on this street for being furious about it.”
Sounds awfully racist.
@JohnbyU “Sounds awfully racist.”
And here I was, thinking drunken idiotic behavior transcended all races, religions and creeds. Silly me.
“And here I was, thinking drunken idiotic behavior transcended all races, religions and creeds. Silly me.”
While it may be a problem Its flat out a dog whistle
JohnnyU I guess it is easy these days to make such accusations but you are making stuff up….and I think it says a bit more about you than you realize. The “airbnb” style units will flat out be party houses. Happens all over the country and the people sponsoring the parties and the patrons of these parties come from all walks of life. The objections of the people living on this street to what I understand to have been some sleight of hand on the part of the O’Brien’s and/or their development team, are founded.
“The “airbnb” style units will flat out be party houses”
City Council passed an ordinance in September that went into effect in October to deal with this. You can’t rent out property for a single night anymore. I imagine AirBnB and other sites follow.
Further, residents are able to create Restricted Residential Zones in certain residential zoning districts outlawing the permitting of airbnb type operators.
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2020/09/09/chicago-targets-party-houses-in-new-str-ordinance/
“Yeah Sabrina people with money really divulge the specifics of their financial situation to people they are just dating. That is surely how one finds a quality spouse, am I right?”
Yes- they do when they are “retired” from work in their 30s because they were early in at a company that had a successful IPO.
You have to explain it on a date, right?
How you don’t go to a “job” because you are a millionaire thanks to your stock options.
His life was boring. He had nothing to do but walk his dog. He did some volunteer work.
It was the same problem as the Hugh Grant character in “About a Boy.”
Once people find out you don’t “do” anything, they aren’t interested. You have nothing to contribute to the conversation.
JohnnyU I guess it is easy these days to make such accusations but you are making stuff up….and I think it says a bit more about you than you realize. The “airbnb” style units will flat out be party houses. Happens all over the country and the people sponsoring the parties and the patrons of these parties come from all walks of life. The objections of the people living on this street to what I understand to have been some sleight of hand on the part of the O’Brien’s and/or their development team, are founded.
I don’t need you to white-splain to it to me
You need to check your privilege and quit being so fragile
Ooh look, faux outrage on the internet. Shocking.
Oh lookie we have a Mansplainer
Colonialism introduced patriarchy in order to subjugate Womxn and BIMPOC
This microaggression will not stand man
Unlike you JohnnyU, I live in this neighborhood. The problem people who act like they are living in a college town are the privileged white kids whose mommy and daddy are paying their living expenses just to get them out of the house during COVID. The rental a few doors down from me will have an obnoxious loud party every night the temperature is above 60 – – they don’t care that the neighbors are families with real jobs and children…they are all white, barely work and drive lux cars given to them by their parents…In five years they will start getting married and squeezing out offspring and move to the suburbs where they will create another generation just like themselves. In fact I have a hard time telling them a part. The lease rolls over, new people (I presume?) move in…cookie cutters of the prior tenants. Now the folks in the area who live in low income housing don’t behave the same way. Go check your privilege JohnnyU….thanks for attempting to both whitesplain AND mansplain to me though LOL.
“You have to explain it on a date, right?”
Hey Sabrina guess what, well this applies for ladies still on the market I suppose: when a guy tells you they are independently wealthy/retired from being an entrepreneur, they aren’t always telling the truth.
“residents are able to create Restricted Residential Zones in certain residential zoning districts outlawing the permitting of airbnb type operators”
O’Brien property isn’t in a residential zone, tho. All rezoned to B3-5 by the PD.
If you’re in the immediate area, you moved a block away from Wells & North and you were expecting what?
This is kinda like the Condo off Halstead & Webster and the douchnozzles that bought in the area complaining about the bars…
Also this went from AirBNB to folks that live here for 5 years. Thats a pretty big change
Always like the house. I get that it looks like a suburban house plunked down in the city but something about that appeals to me. I don’t mind the street because of the driveway. If given the option I would take this instead: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/720-S-May-St-Chicago-IL-60607/3874293_zpid/
Always was interested in this house as I would walk by every day. Something about these types of houses in the city is interesting to me for some reason. This is a pretty amazing house no matter where it it. The yard too!
“Hey Sabrina guess what, well this applies for ladies still on the market I suppose: when a guy tells you they are independently wealthy/retired from being an entrepreneur, they aren’t always telling the truth.”
Nah, he was. Very easy to check given how small Morningstar was at the time. He was well known in Chicago back in the day.
He did buy a 2-flat, rented one unit and lived in the other to generate some cash flow.
But otherwise, spent every day just walking his dog and being bored.
Awful.
The price just increased to $2,950,000!
Now THAT’S HAWT
They’re using Sabrina’s HAWT market ™ statergery.
Sizzle!
The $2.95m price includes the side lot:
“spaning [sic] three lots with 75 ft. of frontage”
So, that actually feels like a bit of a price cut.
Just walked by here today. Sold for $2.7 million and they tore the house down. Building something that either is Mega Mansion or multiple houses with a common underground garage.
Not sure this would be where I’d want to invest $6MM in a SFH
“Building something that either is Mega Mansion or multiple houses with a common underground garage.”
I’d bet on some sort of TH thing. RM-5 zoning, so can build ~15,000 sf at go 3.5 stories high. Sounds like 4 (maybe 5, maybe 3) “townhouses” on a podium to me. But they can put up to 18 units there, too.
No way it’s an SFH.
Bah! 8 units:
https://chicagoyimby.com/2021/08/permits-issued-for-1526-n-wieland-street-in-old-town.html