A Family Home in the Sky Across from the Zoo: 2130 N. Lincoln Park West
This 3-bedroom vintage unit at 2130 N. Lincoln Park West in East Lincoln Park came on the market in January 2015.
The building was built in 1928 and has 33 units.
It’s a half-floor residence with views of the park, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the lake with multiple exposures.
The kitchen has been updated with maple cabinets and Subzero, Bosch and Viking appliances.
It has a 35×7 gallery as well as a decorative fireplace.
The unit comes with features that are rare with vintage units such as garage parking in the building, washer/dryer in the unit and space pak cooling.
The listing says it’s in the Lincoln school district.
At 2400 square feet, it’s as large as many townhouses.
It was last listed in 2011 but withdrawn without a sale.
The unit has now come on the market $255,000 above the 2006 purchase price, at $1.2 million.
When people think about living in the city with children, is this the dream?
Landon Harper at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #8S: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2400 square feet
- Sold in July 2005 for $870,000
- Sold in July 2006 for $945,000
- Currently listed for $1.2 million (1 car garage parking included)
- Assessments of $1387 a month (includes water, exercise room)
- Taxes of $12607
- Space pak
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 16×15
- Bedroom #2: 18×11
- Bedroom #3: 10×10
- Gallery: 35×7
- Dining room: 18×15
“When people think about living in the city with children, is this the dream?”
No.
This is a great building, but as with other “3 beds” from the building (discussed on here), the bedroom layout is not optimal for a family with even one kid, let alone two, especially not when the place costs $1.2 and has monthly taxes/fees of $3k. (And, while this particular unit is better updated and has better views than the second and third floor units we’ve seen, these folks are asking quite a bit more than those units.) We considered one of these a couple years back (maybe the one with the huge private outdoor space?), but for how stretched we would have been, the bedrooms made it a nonstarter.
The “bedroom” off of the living room is best suited to a family/tv room, allowing for the elegant living room to be tv-free. The tiny bedroom on the west side of the unit is good for a guest/office room. The “master” location right off the gallery/dining area is not ideal, but it’s not horrible. This, as with the other standard “3 beds” in the building, is ideal for affluent empty nesters or kidless folks.
Now, if one were to combine units, then yes, it’s a “dream” for a city family. It’s a matter of having both units on a floor come on the market, both of which need updating, and picking both up for not much more than what this seller is asking for the subject property. Put a couple hundred k into the combo and rehab, and you’ve got a “dream” family home in the city (albeit with $6k/mo taxes/fees, which isn’t so dreamy).
Agree with the prior poster. We looked at this building, and a unit with this specific floorplan, when I was pregnant with my first. I’m so glad we did not buy this. This location is ideal for a family – close to park and children’s amenities and I believe its zoned into Lincoln ES — but the layout is not functional. No parent would want their young child sleeping a few feet away from the kitchen. A young child could enter the kitchen without the parent ever hearing them. This room was once a servant’s quarters and there is something ridiculous about paying a premium to have a child sleep there.
This post illustrates what Chicago lacks most — true family-sized apartments that are 3000+ square feet and are laid out with a family in mind. Not everyone wants to live vertically with young children. I do not, and I have been saying this for years. Chicago needs to get out of the mentality that condos are a stage of life, not way of life. The related buildings in the South Loop are close to what is need. The building has a great gym, pool, and children’s playrooms. But, the units max out at 3000 square feet and don’t have larger kitchens, laundry rooms and storage (i.e. for a stroller) that is needed when you have a family. Related does a better job in NYC where the apartments can be larger and have these extra storage options, including the option of a 4 bedroom. The biggest problem with the Related buildings are that they are not in the most family friendly location. South Loop elementary is overcrowded, St. Mary’s is full, and British is expensive. Most children’s activities are on the north side. There is a new building being developed on Huron will all big units, large enough for a family, but it lacks amenities that that families would want such as extra storage, pool, children’s playroom. I do believe that many families would give up the SFH in the far northside (North Center, Lakeview, etc…) and the 45 minute commute to the loop, if there were better condo offerings for families with amenities that you can’t get in a SFH – pool, gym, playroom, etc…
“the far northside (North Center, Lakeview)”
There’s a reason that North Center got such an anodyne name–it’s in the ‘center’ of the Northside.
Still, agreed that there are many who would give up the SFHs, if there were 4,000 sf condos available for about the same price–they’re the people who don’t f’ing shovel (or pay someone else!!) their sidewalks.
” A young child could enter the kitchen without the parent ever hearing them. ”
I’ve never had a problem with my kids going into the kitchen at any age.
“true family-sized apartments that are 3000+ square feet and are laid out with a family in mind.”
Yeah but 3,000 sq feet of living space at $300 psf prices in lakefront Chicago ‘hoods is $900,000 which is why families move.
Give me a legitimate 2,100 sq ft 3bed, 2 full bath with storage in the basement, 2 car parking, an outdoor area for some fresh air and a decent public school for $200-250 psf….and then the city can compete with the ‘burbs and transform condo living from a phase of life to a way of life.
“I’ve never had a problem with my kids going into the kitchen at any age.”
You’re the biggest proponent I ‘know’ of “ALL kids destroy stuff in their homes always”, so I have to assume this means you keep them restrained in some fashion.
“Give me a legitimate 2,100 sq ft 3bed, 2 full bath with storage in the basement, 2 car parking, an outdoor area for some fresh air and a decent public school for $200-250 psf”
Here you go. 2d thing I looked at:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/4110-N-Western-Ave-60618/unit-3S/home/12618266
“Give me a legitimate 2,100 sq ft 3bed, 2 full bath with storage in the basement, 2 car parking, an outdoor area for some fresh air and a decent public school for $200-250 psf….and then the city can compete with the ‘burbs and transform condo living from a phase of life to a way of life.”
My home is about 3100SF with 4BDs and 3BAs on a double city lot, two car garage (detached thank god) all for $250PSF. My kids go to a school that is better than Park Ridge schools.
Oh, and my train ride is 30 minutes ; )
This unit is a little TOO updated, and has been clean-walled almost to death. While at least the gallery ceiling has been preserved, far too much of the vintage millwork has been stripped away, and most of the place looks like a modern tract house. What a shame- the original units in this building are gorgeous, if there are any left.
The taxes are reasonable for price, and the HOA is what you would expect for a vintage high rise, and pretty much in line with that of similar buildings.
I agree about the layout, although condo living in the city with kids is ideal. My family was in a SFH with two kids for about five years. It was too much trouble, especially with two parents working full-time. We’re much happier in a condo now, plus at 3,000 sf we have more livable space than a house considering that we rarely used the basement. There are some beautiful vintage buildings in Lincoln Park with family friendly layouts: 399 W. Fullerton and 2440 N. Lakeview.
“My home is about 3100SF with 4BDs and 3BAs on a double city lot, two car garage (detached thank god) all for $250PSF. My kids go to a school that is better than Park Ridge schools.”
Where do you live?
In the city.
“This unit is a little TOO updated, and has been clean-walled almost to death. While at least the gallery ceiling has been preserved, far too much of the vintage millwork has been stripped away, and most of the place looks like a modern tract house.”
Agreed. The unit that was on here a year of so ago, the one with the huge terrace was much better then this unit and it went for much less. Yes, I know it was on the second floor but it had the outdoor terrace and it was not as updated. For the same space (actually more with the outdoor terrace) it was much less and looked like vintage condo not a tract house in Burbank..with too much Ikea in it.
“Vlajos on February 14th, 2015 at 10:57 am
In the city.”
You live outside the GZ then.
“You live outside the GZ then.”
He lives along the Brown line at or beyond Western. Where within those parameters can you get a 3100sqft SFH and a decent schools for $775k ?
Even though I’ve never been a parent, I appreciate Urban Mommy’s concerns. It’s hard enough to supervise kids in a high rise building, and where there are no amenities for children such as playrooms and pools, they will find other ways to entertain themselves that are unsafe for them and disruptive to other residents. As children, my sis and I drove the other tenants in my granddad’s glossy high rise building plum crazy playing tag on the two elevators and in the 5 level parking garage. And YES, you want to be able to hear kids when they get out of bed at night. A kid sleeping at the opposite end of the place from the parents can not only raid the fridge undetected,but can also sneak out of the apartment, which is a very scary thought, but kids will do this.
Oh hi Laura –
I have 3 kids and I can promise you that we have no earthly idea what are kids are up to when they wake up in the middle of the night. The reason is because we are sleeping at this time. It does not matter if their bedroom was next to ours or 60 ft down a long hallway. When you are asleep you will not hear a 30lb person walk by your room.
Hope this helps.
Steve, YOU won’t hear the kid walking right by your room because you are the Dad. However, if you are MOM, you can hear the kid cough clear across town, and you will go from deep sleep to wide awake on high alert at the sound of little feet padding down the hall in the middle of the night. Mothers never really sleep. I swear my mother had one eye open while asleep and would instantly wake up if we even stirred in our beds.
“My home is about 3100SF with 4BDs and 3BAs on a double city lot, two car garage (detached thank god) all for $250PSF. My kids go to a school that is better than Park Ridge schools.”
jealous
“Where do you live?”
come on, you can be more specific than that without giving up your anonymity. Otherwise we are not inviting you to the Crib Chatter picnic this summer
I lived in a south unit when the building was converted in 1970. Paid $45,000 for it. My how times have changed! But, there is no better built building on the planet and the view is spectacular!
“My kids go to a school that is better than Park Ridge schools.”
That’s because you live next door to Park Ridge in either Edison Park or Edgebrook. What do you do for a high school there?
The high school is the problem in ALL of the city.
I’m on vacation this week and most of next week. My condolences on the latest polar blast.
However, I’ll be putting up a few posts while I’m away. They just won’t be as frequent.
There IS more coming on the market now, especially a lot of larger, family friendly type units. I’ll be posting on some of those to close out the month.
Mortgage applications are still trending lower than last year, nationally. But last year at this time 2/3rds of the country was in horrible weather. This year, its mostly confined just to the Northeast.
“Otherwise we are not inviting you to the Crib Chatter picnic this summer”
Please. He gets an invite. The location he gets invited to is “In Chicago”.
I tried, valiantly, to find a 3+ bedroom condo in a school district of choice (pretty much east of Western, north of North) with some limitations on distance to el or bus, parking, assessment, even outdoor space. I ended up being infatuated with a few of the units at the Shakespeare, going so far as to obtain written approval from a co-op underwriter. Result? moved to Lincoln Square, couldn’t find the units I was hoping for.
The ‘new’ building in Lincoln Park by Lagrange had me interested but the price point was out of my range. Shoveling this winter, or really maintenance of any kind make me second guess my decision.
Now if I could get that family sized condo up in LS I’d seriously consider the swap.
“There are some beautiful vintage buildings in Lincoln Park with family friendly layouts: 399 W. Fullerton and 2440 N. Lakeview.”
The problem with these buildings is that you pay high assessments for not great amenities. I don’t mind high assessments if they come with amenities. The trade off to high-rise is not worth it if there is not a gym, pool, playroom etc… I don’t want to have to schlep my kids to EBC, Midtown, LAC etc… just to get a quick work out.
Moreover, when the kids are older and are playing sports, it would be nice if they could work out on their own.
The new Lucien Lagrange building is decent but cheaply finished. It’s faux look pales in comparison to a vintage or NYC family buildings (i.e,. 20 East End). It’s overpriced for what you get (mostly bad floor plans).
“The problem with these buildings is that you pay high assessments for not great amenities. I don’t mind high assessments if they come with amenities. The trade off to high-rise is not worth it if there is not a gym, pool, playroom etc…”
We lived in a building with these sorts of amenities and we didn’t use them nearly as often as we used our health club, parks, etc. In terms of assessments, people make a lot of the expense, but owning a SFH was pretty expensive too in all sorts of ways, especially in terms of my time – waiting for the plumber, arranging for the landscaping (not cheap), dealing with our stupid garage door when it was stuck and I was late for work. Or, my favorite, someone ringing the doorbell late at night when my husband was traveling. Don’t get me wrong, high-rise living isn’t for everyone and it requires lots of research about the building. But for working city moms, it can be so freeing.
There’s a unit in 2400 N. Lakeview right now that is a four-bedroom. It looks huge and a good layout.
“Please. He gets an invite. The location he gets invited to is “In Chicago”.”
Reminds me of the time we tricked HD to fly out to Gstaad for the first CC reunion.
Just a few observations:
Vlajos is full of it and can’t afford to live in Park Ridge;
Laura Loudzader continues to amaze with her constant restating of the obvious;
No one cares about New York City. NO ONE.
“Please. He gets an invite. The location he gets invited to is “In Chicago”.”
I don’t think he cares bc he’s got a better party to go to, w superior food, more attractive guests, cooler all the way around. And cheaper too.
“Reminds me of the time we tricked HD to fly out to Gstaad for the first CC reunion.”
? I have no idea what you’re talking about. It wasn’t me.
“Reminds me of the time we tricked HD to fly out to Gstaad for the first CC reunion.”
Or the time HD waited at Neo for hours thinking Jenny was gonna show up
“No one cares about New York City. NO ONE.”
Whether or not anyone cares about it, the cited building–20 East End–starts at $4.5m for a *two* bedroom. And the 4 bed family homes are $8m.
Also, I have to believe that whatever anyone thinks is a high assessment *here* will less than 1/2 of what 20 East End will collect psf.
“Or the time HD waited at Neo for hours thinking Jenny was gonna show up”
Or the time I brought 75 cents to Joe’s to get Bobbo drunk.
And, HD: You’d remember Gstaad if you hadn’t hocked your watch for fifty bucks.
“Whether or not anyone cares about it, the cited building–20 East End–starts at $4.5m for a *two* bedroom. And the 4 bed family homes are $8m.”
Yeah, but it’s in a real city.
Inventory is really shitty. Couple things came on after the superbowl and little since then. Maybe the weather?
Hey @fo, what explains the pattern of the red/blue colors on teh time stamps?
Not sure, mine are orange and blue
Yeah more like orange. But the pattern?
once you’ve viewed the email with the link to the comment, it turns orange. The blue ones are unread or your own.
“the red/blue colors on teh time stamps”
Playing around a little (in Chrome), it looks like the blue are ones that have been the comment number appearing in the URL upon a pageload/refresh.
I don’t have notifications via e-mail turned on though… very strange and random pattern
“Playing around a little (in Chrome), it looks like the blue are ones that have been the comment number appearing in the URL upon a pageload/refresh.”
After some playing around I finally understood what you were saying and agree.
“I don’t have notifications via e-mail turned on though”
Yes, if you are relying on email notifications, you’re not giving CC the full attention it is owed. (Except for @fo who I am guessing may rely on on email notifications for comments on old thread threads to make really sure he hasn’t missed anything. Or maybe he’s got a crawler to take care of that.)
“Inventory is really shitty. Couple things came on after the superbowl and little since then. Maybe the weather?”
In Chicago?
The inventory has been coming back on in a pretty steady clip the last few weeks. It’s not a deluge, but it’s much better than what has been coming on in the prior 3 or 4 months.
“In Chicago?”
Yeah but only in certain areas etc. Certainly more than in prior months.
Oh DZ are you looking? 8)
Must have had some kids amirite?
“Must have had some kids amirite?”
yeah but all previously disclosed. it’s the sonies progeny i am less clear about.
” it’s the sonies progeny i am less clear about.”
none
none
none
none
Teenagers! And you jags who talk about schools and stuff *clearly* have never so much as seen a kid.
I have dogs, they are great!
“I have dogs, they are great!”
You know, for a moment there, I couldn’t remem if jenny liked buildings that prohibited dogs or not. at some fundamental jennyness level, in some rawlsian veil of ignorance sense (where everyone is jennylike in phlosophy wo having her specific outcomes, if that makes any sense), i could see her railing for and against dogs in buildings. but of course actual jenny hates discrim against dogs.
That is to say, to quote @fo, [sniff].
Wasn’t it turles? Or religious stuff on peoples’ walls?
I actually thought of DZ when we got our 2.5 year old a Strider bike last summer (DZ having praised the Strider’s impact on his kid’s indoor riding skills).
“Wasn’t it turles? Or religious stuff on peoples’ walls?”
good: dogs, turtles (or is it tortoises), peterson park, pre cut fruit, driving to work, lab school, gadgets, eurocations
bad: kids, bouncing bballs, hobos, hipsters, bikes, hipsters on bikes, dates w hipsters on bikes, flashers in peterson park, food other than pre cut fruit, nortcenter backwaters, public trans, renters, religious stuff on walls, animal heads on walls, working, other people
“turtles (or is it tortoises)”
specifically, giant land tortoises.
Also good: bleeding edge tech, (some?) video games
Also bad: shrubs/trees that hipsters/flashers/creepers/kids/balls can jump out from behind of.
“I actually thought of DZ when we got our 2.5 year old a Strider bike last summer (DZ having praised the Strider’s impact on his kid’s indoor riding skills).
Once, I put my kid on a strider bike and insane crying ensured.
So I bought my kid a higher end 16” bike with training wheels and by the end of summer my kid was riding without the training wheels. Age 3.
“I have dogs, they are great!”
The bestest and most lovin buddies in the world.
“The bestest and most lovin buddies in the world.”
The GZ guys just wish the girls they are trying to bang would not allow them to sleep in the bed every night.
“The GZ guys just wish the girls they are trying to bang would not allow them to sleep in the bed every night.”
ROFLMAO… Just tell Rachael to get the peanut butter and the thing in her drawer that looks like a small Kong toy.
“homedelete on February 20th, 2015 at 10:35 am
…
Rating: -2 (from 12 votes)”
Is it really possible that 5 people gave hd a thumb up?
“Is it really possible that 5 people gave hd a thumb up?”
sure: his paralegal, his wife and his kids. and of course himself