A Full Gut 1-Bedroom Remodel in Benjamin Marshall’s 49 E. Cedar in the Gold Coast

This 1-bedroom in 49 E. Cedar in the Gold Coast came on the market in June 2023.

Built in 1909, this is a boutique building with 3 units that was designed by Benjamin Marshall. There’s a plaque on the front of the building.

We have never chattered about this building before. When I walked by it a few years ago, I snapped a picture after reading the plaque, but I thought it must be apartments.

Not many vintage features remain with this unit. The listing says it has had a “full gut remodel.”

It has hardwood floors throughout.

It had a full kitchen remodel in 2017 which has white cabinets, open shelving, stainless steel appliances, stone counter tops and a peninsula with seating for 3. The listing says the appliances are new as of 2022.

The unit also had a bath remodel in 2017 which has a walk-in-shower (no tub).

The other renovations include:

  • Electrical rewiring in 2017
  • Plumbing in 2018
  • W/D replacement in 2019
  • Custom walk-in-closet in 2020
  • New A/C in 2022

It has features buyers look for including space pac cooling and washer/dryer in the unit. There’s no parking but it’s available for lease next door at 33 Cedar.

This building is near the shops and restaurants of the Gold Coast, Rush Street, Mag Mile and Oak Street Beach.

Listed in June 2023 at $319,900, would this make a good in-town?

Grace Sergio and Meghan Luffred at @Properties Christie’s have the listing. See the pictures here. Sorry, no floor plan.

Unit #1: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 740 square feet

  • Sold in December 1991 for $70,000
  • Sold in September 2004 for $284,000
  • Sold in June 2014 for $319,000
  • Sold in January 2015 for $285,000
  • Currently listed at $319,900
  • Assessments of $351 a month (includes heat, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
  • Taxes of $1,710
  • Space pac cooling
  • Washer/dryer in the unit
  • No parking but rental available at 33 Cedar
  • Bedroom: 8×16
  • Living/dining room: 19×29
  • Kitchen: 9×9

21 Responses to “A Full Gut 1-Bedroom Remodel in Benjamin Marshall’s 49 E. Cedar in the Gold Coast”

  1. It’s a tony address and a gracious looking building that would probably be impressive to family and friends…until you walk them downstairs to your garden level former service apartment.

    8
    0
  2. Looks like a mini split, Not space pac. No unit in the bedroom, might get a little warm, same with the radiators

    LOL at Custom WIC

    Like the old kitchen better. The new tile is horrible

    Jesus is the current owner losing their ass

    That being said its a decent enough unit. The buyer is gambling that the GC doesnt continue to spiral down the toilet.

    3
    1
  3. “That being said its a decent enough unit. The buyer is gambling that the GC doesnt continue to spiral down the toilet.”

    It would be nice to have comments from someone who has actually been IN the Gold Coast in the last decade.

    If it’s spiraling down the toilet, someone forgot to tell all the restaurant owners who are investing big bucks to build just a few blocks from here.

    2
    0
  4. “It’s a tony address and a gracious looking building that would probably be impressive to family and friends…until you walk them downstairs to your garden level former service apartment.”

    Why would you walk downstairs? This looks to be in the first floor.

    In fact, this makes it perfect as an intown for anyone a bit older who can’t deal with stairs but who still wants a smaller building.

    The lack of any real vintage features is too bad. If I’m buying Benjamin Marshall, I want something to indicate that.

    1
    0
  5. “ In fact, this makes it perfect as an intown for anyone a bit older who can’t deal with stairs but who still wants a smaller building.”

    If said older couple can’t deal with stairs, they probably can’t deal lack of on-site parking.

    3
    1
  6. I could never live here–way too inconvenient to get downtown.

    3
    0
  7. “I could never live here–way too inconvenient to get downtown.”

    It’s awful. Terrible location unless you want to jam on the 151 every day and take an hour to get to the loop. No thanks.

    0
    4
  8. “If said older couple can’t deal with stairs, they probably can’t deal lack of on-site parking.”

    In an elevator building across the street? Really?

    My elderly parents can’t do stairs. They live in a single story house. But they take their dog for extensive walks on the trails behind their house. Stairs and being able to walk around are two different things. Heck, my dad even runs on the treadmill several times a week.

    1
    2
  9. “an hour”

    To go 1.2 miles?

    Really?

    Doesn’t sound like buses are really viable transportation options then.

    0
    0
  10. “I could never live here–way too inconvenient to get downtown.”

    “It’s awful. Terrible location unless you want to jam on the 151 every day and take an hour to get to the loop. No thanks.”

    Pretty sure anon was being facetious with the first comment. Sabrina contributed the second comment and is either majorly trolling this group or has never actually taken — or even Google mapped — this bus route.

    2
    0
  11. “Sabrina contributed the second comment and is either majorly trolling this group or has never actually taken — or even Google mapped — this bus route.”

    During rush hour, the 151 will take you 30 to 40 minutes to get “downtown” depending on if Adams street construction is going on when you are trying to drive by the Marriott hotel. Then, it might take you 50 minutes. But depends on where you get off. If you’re getting off at the Wrigley Building then maybe 15 minutes.

    It’s really terrible. Non-rush hour, not as bad, but still takes forever because of parkers on Michigan Avenue.

    0
    1
  12. “To go 1.2 miles?”

    What’s 1.2 miles? To go to the Wrigley Building? I said it stinks to go downtown. Wrigley isn’t even over the river. If you work at Willis Tower it could take you an hour from here during rush hour- if the construction is going on. I would recommend leaving at least an hour to get there, just to be safe. If you’re early, you’re early.

    0
    1
  13. Oh, and be careful taking the 151 on Saturdays in the spring and the fall when they open the bridges. You might be stuck on it for 15 to 20 extra minutes.

    0
    0
  14. “What’s 1.2 miles? ”

    From the 151 stop at Cedar, Lake/Michigan is 1.2 miles.

    The Art Institute is 1.6 miles–does *that* take an hour on the bus?

    Anyway, south of the river, all the “express” buses deal with the same stuff as the locals.

    0
    0
  15. “The Art Institute is 1.6 miles–does *that* take an hour on the bus?”

    Depends on how bad the traffic is and how many parkers there are. Could take 30 minutes during rush hour though. Nothing fast or fun about it. The commute sucks from that location if you work in the Loop.

    0
    0
  16. “Could take 30 minutes during rush hour though. Nothing fast or fun about it.”

    And the express buses miss the parkers and loop traffic by…???

    I’ve yet to see a flying bus in Chicago.

    0
    0
  17. “And the express buses miss the parkers and loop traffic by…???”

    A lot, actually. They take LSD all the way down and they don’t drive down Michigan Avenue to the Art Museum. The 151 stops nearly every block. Ugh.

    1
    2
  18. “They take LSD all the way down”

    Which express buses skip *Loop* traffic?

    Also, you set the marker as 15 minutes from Cedar to Wrigley, and then apparently 45 minutes from Wrigley to AIC.

    0
    0
  19. 143 and 148 are expresses, and do go down Michigan, so…”any” express bus wasn’t correct?

    0
    0
  20. Closed for 300K or just over ask

    0
    0
  21. “just over ask”

    Was reduced to $299k on July 7, had a contract in a week.

    1
    0

Leave a Reply