Is This Vintage 1-Bedroom the Perfect Gold Coast Home? 1450 N. Dearborn Parkway
This 1-bedroom in 1450 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.
Built in 1874, it has 6 units.
The unit has some of its vintage features including millwork and high ceilings (other units in the building said they were 12 feet) along with oversized windows.
There are hardwood floors throughout the entire unit and a wood burning fireplace.
The kitchen has been newly renovated and expanded and now has blue and brown cabinets with stainless steel appliances.
Can you tell where the refrigerator is?
The bedroom has a renovated master bath with a steam shower and a walk-in closet.
The unit has new central air and in-unit washer/dryer but there’s no deeded parking. There’s rental parking available in the neighborhood though.
But the big selling point is the private 19×13 terrace off the kitchen that appears to have an outdoor television. It’s big enough for a table and chairs plus a grill.
Is this the type of condo people think of when they dream about living in one of the old vintage buildings in the Gold Coast?
Is this the Gold Coast dream?
Zane Jacobs at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.
You can also see it at the Open Houses this weekend on Saturday, April 7 from 2-4 PM and Sunday, April 8 from 2-4 PM.
Unit #3B: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed but assessor square footage says 850.
- Sold in August 2001 for $290,000
- Sold in November 2006 for $347,500
- Sold in August 2012 for $285,000
- Currently listed at $425,000
- Assessments of $410 a month (includes heat, gas, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $5708
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- No parking- but there’s rental in the neighborhood
- Bedroom: 17×15
- Living room: 16×19
- Kitchen: 11×9
- Terrace: 19×13
I kind of like this place. I like the kitchen too. Sick of the grey/white. The fridge is one of those narrow ones. It is behind the wood panel next to deck door.
I love those blue cabinets! Finally, a unique kitchen. I’m with Russ, it’s so refreshing to see someone do something interesting with a kitchen.
If this place had two full bathrooms at the same price, I would seriously consider moving.
I really like this place, the living room a bit tight but that deck is a real selling point. Agree about the kitchen being unique, I would cook there for sure ha. Price seems right although w/o parking I think this sale price needs to start with a ‘3’.
Great place…with that deck it looks like the Lois Lane apartment in the original Superman..(yes, I am a dork.) It has everything, fireplace, deck, top floor. That kitchen is great…but only 6 years ago this sold for 285,000? Unless the place was crapped up those people got a great deal.
but only 6 years ago this sold for 285,000? Unless the place was crapped up those people got a great deal
You can see the old pictures in the August 13 2012 link in the property history. Kitchen was old and no pics of baths (which tells me they were old, too). Looks like they covered up a gorgeous old marble mantel (mantle?) in the living room. I wonder why?
Still a pretty good deal – Aug 2012 was pretty much the absolute bottom of the market.
This kitchen re-do alone was at least $50-$60K. Amazing job. Love it.
One need not own a car at this location.
I like it, would be a perfect summer pied-a-terre
I like it a lot as well. This has to be some kind of record on CC for positive opinions.
“I like it a lot as well. This has to be some kind of record on CC for positive opinions.”
I like it too but, not to go full jenny, this place really could use at least another half bath (okay, I only went half jenny). It can really only work as a p-a-t, and an inadequately bath’d one at that.
We have a couple families we know that live in a bungalow type place w only one bath on the main floor and I hate having to go into their bathroom. I’m too old to be looking at other people toothbrushes and toiletries and nonsense.
“I like it a lot as well. This has to be some kind of record on CC for positive opinions.”
While I like a lot of its features it seems overpriced imo. How about 1460 N Sandburg #902A asking $399,900, a renovated 3 bedrm 2 bath w/ parking, amenities (pool, exercise facility, tennis) & lake & park views from balcony located 1/2 block west?:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1460-N-Sandburg-Ter-60610/unit-902A/home/143091890
speaking of bathrooms, A friend thrice removed de-converted a 3 flat and took advantage the series of small powder rooms in the very back corner of the building, all stacked up on each other in perfect alignment. She had a natural elevator shaft (or hoistway, as the elevator companies call them) just waiting for the interiors to be demoed and the floors to be removed to create 40 feet of elevator housing!
Her thought was:
We are already middle-aged people with wonky ankles, bad knees, and backs that occasionally slip out of alignment. We have a house that is a total of four living levels, with 18 steps to get from level to level. That means when I’m in the basement to workout, it is 54 stairs to get to my bedroom. This is fine right now, but won’t be in 20 years. And you had better believe I intend to be here in 20 years!
When we were first designing the house I said we would need an elevator. And we would need the elevator to do a few unusual things. One, it would have to be able to open not only on each of the four floors, but also out the back in our parking pad at ground level. That means it would have to open on two contiguous sides, the front side and the left side. It would then also have to have some security features since one door is external to the building. And we would need it to be large enough to accommodate a wheelchair with a caregiver.
Very nice-looking unit. Possibly a good deal if you like the location. The exterior is also attractive, though I fail to see any vintage on the interior.
Southbound,
Agree Sandburg Terrace is the better deal but the unit leaves me cold.
Sandburg Terrace is a glorified project.
I LIKE IT
Some other contrarian points: I really like the bath and suspended sink. I am surprised no one has mentioned the lack of a bathtub. Also I would like to see a floor plan.
Are all the units in this building one bedroom units?
On another not specific to this property note
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-exodus-population-taxes-20180328-story.html
Can’t tell the make up of the units in the building
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1450-N-Dearborn-St-60610/unit-1ABC/home/111703779
Total side point but I have been noticing this in nicer places… where do you sit to watch the TV if the seating is pointed across? It’s mind boggling to me that you would have a setup like that. I get conversing with people, but I can do that just adjusting my seating potion on a sectional. I may be in the minority, but I also have a 5.2.4 system in a highrise…
what is above the empty toilet roll?
“Sandburg is a glorified project”…
It sure is. What is it with these oddball comparisons? A grey stone on tree lined Dearborn that has unique features. Then someone always throws out something completely opposite, like a high rise on Clark street and because it has a pool or tennis courts, it’s supposed to be better. It’s not comparable, or better.
Not everyone cares about a pool or courts or whatever. Not everyone wants a big high rise.
I hope something in the Carlyle goes on the market soon so I can post a listing of 1400 LSD and say “just a few blocks north and you get twice the space and a quarter of the price”. Eyeroll.
I’m looking at the floor plan in the 3D tour. Can’t see where there are any closets! Also, I assume most of the windows are on the SIDE of the building – the north side given the high rises you can see out the windows. That means the living room is at the back of the building. But where are the windows that are in the front of the building (facing Dearborn)? These should be in the bedroom, but the bedroom only shows windows on the north side. I also assume that because this is on the top floor, which looks almost like an attic floor, the ceilings are not going to be as high as the units on the lower floors.
Upon further examination, it looks like the exposure is west, so this entire unit runs along the back of the building, so no windows looking onto Dearborn. Also found two closet doors among the pics, so that mystery solved. Is it usual to leave the closet space out of a floor plan? Given only two closets in the entire place, and no mention of any additional storage unit, seems to me the size of the bedroom closet is critical to know if this is a place suitable for anything other than a pied-a-terre.
sid V posted “Sandburg Terrace is a glorified project.”
Let me try to fix that for you Sid to reflect history/reality: “The development of Sandburg Village prevented any projects or low income dev’ts being located between Division-North Avenue, Dearborn-Wells which unltimately saved Gold Coast from becoming a ghetto.”
I understand mid-century modern condos aren’t for everyone. But imo given SV’s price range calling Sandburg Village a project reminds me of a delusional idiot who posted buying on E. Schiller is buying in the ghetto. (SV’s 1 bedrms run $200k-$300k, 2 bedrms are $320k-$520K, & townhomes are $500k-$1mil+). To each their own.
It’s a glorified project, whatever its alleged historical role is in your mind. Not all projects are in the “ghetto”, e.g. Edith Spurlock Sampson, Hattie Callner, and I did not mean to imply it’s surrounded by hood. Rather, its physical composition, appearance and small, utilitarian units are very project-like-let’s get real, you are championing the sow’s ear here.
“On another not specific to this property note”
What a dumb article. Illinoisans have been moving to Texas for the past 10 years. The RedEye did an article 4-5 years ago discussing how something like 1,000 Chicagoans (not just Illinoisans) were moving to Austin every year.
So?
Good for them. I’ve said over and over that the country is big. If you hate the weather, the cost, the people, the food, the taxes or whatever else it is, then there are plenty of places you can go. Nothing is stopping you. Nothing.
The third example in that op-ed is even dumber. It says they left Bolingbrook in the 1990s!!!
WTF.
Couldn’t they find a recent expat like the first two examples? But maybe they couldn’t.
Maybe the Tribune should do something constructive and post an op-ed about people moving IN to the Chicagoland area. We’ve built over 10,000 new apartments in just the last few years. Apparently, they are mostly rented. By who?
Which states are they moving from? Why did they choose Chicago?
You know- something that actually shows some of the truth about what is going on here.
And oh, by the way, if I lived in Homer Glen, Carpentersville or Bolingbrook (where these three lived), I’d move to another state too.
Lol.
@vissi – Unit has both Dearborn and West exposure. Toured
Huge walk in closet w/W/D in it plus a Coat closet in entry.
Many many people at open houses plus at least 1 offer maybe more.
Lovely unit, great updates (kitchen, bath, windows, central A/C) a bit tight overall, marvelous outdoor space
“What a dumb article.”
Yeah, there are some serious fools in there trying to make political points while basically showing off how foolish they are. Like the family that is jazzed about all the money (only $52k total!!) they are saving by sending their kid to engineering school at the University of South Carolina – a school best known for its frat boy hat-friendly mascot – instead of the University of Illinois, one of the best engineering schools in the world.
Also, this always annoys me, but people have a very poor understanding of where Illinois income taxes stand in comparison to other states. There are five states with no income tax. There are 7 more with a lower highest income tax rate than Illinois. So the other 37 states have a higher peak income tax rate than Illinois. Because others have a progressive tax system, there are a few more states where you will pay more income tax in Illinois even with the lower rate, and the exemptions and deductions matter, too. But generally the higher rates start pretty early and in the majority of states your state income tax liability is higher than Illinois.
“Unit has both Dearborn and West exposure.”
David – examined floor plan in the 3D tour of unit again. Can’t figure it out. All the windows save for one look to be looking out onto the BACK of the building – west. There is only one small additional window in the living room across from the two big windows. Can’t imagine that is the one looking out east towards Dearborn, unless I’m mistaken about all the other windows looking out to back of building. Can you enlighten me? Also, how was taking the stairs to get up to the unit?
“mantel (mantle?)”
They put a mantle on the mantel to form a new wooden mantel.
And to fit the new (gas??) firebox.
“Can’t imagine that is the one looking out east towards Dearborn”
It is. Out over the fire escape, down the gangway on the south side of the building.
sid v (who imo poses as ‘almost a 1%’r’) abhors the conditions the riff raff who buy Sandburg V’s million dollar townhouses apparently gratefully accept – he posted re SV: “It’s a glorified project, whatever its alleged historical role is in your mind….”
An summary re “its alleged historical role” from YoChicago (who’s got no client to shill for afaik) explains what sidv doesn’t really care to know:
“If you’re a North Sider it’s hard to imagine Chicago without Carl Sandburg Village – and even harder to imagine what Chicago’s Near North Side might be like today had it never been built.
Travel back in time to the 1950s. The Old Town site that would become Sandburg Village was the eastern edge of what, reported the Tribune’s Linn Allen, was an “area of blight, brothels and banditry, all pressing in on Chicago’s exclusive Gold Coast.” Just to the north, Lincoln Park was a virtual slum. To the south, the North Michigan Avenue shops worried that they’d fall victim to the encroaching urban decay that was devastating cities throughout the country.
Visionary city planners, spurred by the then-North Michigan Avenue Association and larger-than-life diminutive-in-height developer Arthur Rubloff, initiated a plan for the acquisition and redevelopment of a 16-acre site bounded on the east and west by Clark St (100 W) and LaSalle St (140 W), and on the south and north by Division St (1200 N) and North Ave (1600 N).
Mayor Richard M. Daley, set the redevelopment in motion by overriding the opposition of Alderman Paddy (“Chicago ain’t ready for reform”) Bauler, an early anti-gentrifier who feared the loss of his low-income voters and an influx of “silk-stockinged Republicans.” The City relocated more than 1,000 residents and demolished the existing structures….
Many aspects of the building of Sandburg Village were – and remain – the subject of intense controversy, but few doubt the project’s success at achieving its primary goals. It stabilized the Near North Side and encouraged investment in surrounding areas.
Passersby, who see only Sandburg Village’s exterior, might think of it as a dense concrete jungle. It’s not. In keeping with the original plans, the majority of the site is open space focused on a landscaped north – south concourse – a village center – with benches and interior shops and offices.”
Imo sid v would be much happier in Oak Brook or Napperville (sp intended).
“It is. Out over the fire escape, down the gangway on the south side of the building.”
I see! It is a “tunnel vision” view of Dearborn. Better than nothing, I suppose. Perhaps it even lets in east light in the morning. It’s always nice to have opposite exposure, no matter how little, if you have a east or west facing condo, to alleviate the effect of having direct sun one part of the day, and no sun at all the other part.
I toured it. No one on this blog would want to walk those stairs. That being said, it’s a beautiful unit with plenty of light.
David toured subject unit & posted:
“.. Many many people at open houses plus at least 1 offer maybe more.
Lovely unit, great updates (kitchen, bath, windows, central A/C) a bit tight overall, marvelous outdoor space”
Repeating myself “”While I like a lot of its features it seems overpriced imo.” I don’t doubt someone will pay up – that doesn’t make it a good decision imo.
While to each their own but talk about a sow’s ear -let’s call a spade a a former maid’s quarters spade. While 1450 Dearborn’s lower floor units are spectacular w/ 12′ ceilings, 3B is a redone “chambre de bonne” – w/low ceiling in what was the 3rd floor+ walkup attic. 1450’s other units have sold for psf prices reflective of 3B’s ask but were worth what they sold for imo. It’s located next door to a $995-$1275/mo. 4+1 rental apt bldg which is type of bldg more characteristic of 1400-1600 Dearborn. Nothing deluxe about living on this ‘tree lined boulevard’ where every day you’d be impacted by courteous drivers lining up & dropping/picking up precious students @ Latin. I love GC but living on Dearborn is only a small notch above Clark or LaSalle imo
“Nothing deluxe about living on this ‘tree lined boulevard’ where every day you’d be impacted by courteous drivers lining up & dropping/picking up precious students @ Latin. I love GC but living on Dearborn is only a small notch above Clark or LaSalle imo”
Hmm. That block of Dearborn isn’t as nice as State or Astor, but to rank it just above Clark or LaSalle sort of undercuts all of your other otherwise sound points, no? In terms of school drop off/pick up, I lived on the Parker equivalent (including while they had the whole playing field torn up). Really wasn’t too negative of an impact to have a parade of fancy cars idling outside for 30 minutes twice a day three quarters of the year. Having a constant stream of buses, cabs, delivery trucks, emergency vehicles, general traffic, revelers and vagrants (like on Clark or LaSalle) would presumably be more than a tad worse.
annony “…That block of Dearborn isn’t as nice as State or Astor, but to rank it just above Clark or LaSalle sort of undercuts all of your other otherwise sound points, no?”
My opinion re Dearborn’s based on facts & experience. Ime for 1/2 hr 5 days/wk Burton @ Dearborn is lined ‘w/fancy cars idling’ making it impassable for 2 way traffic. If you turn east from Dearborn & encounter westbound traffic you both play ‘chicken’ before backing up onto Dearborn. More importantly look at % of entry level rental units like 1430 or 1504 & entry priced condo units – much much higher than State or Astor.
If 1400-1600 Dearborn’s the equivalent of Astor or State why did Ann Lurie’s spectacular 18k sq ft home on 1/2 acre remain unsold for 4.5 yrs before doing a sale/gift deal w/Latin School? Why did 1440 Dearborn sell @ 70% of ask after 18 mos on mkt? There’s a cachet to owning/living on Astor or State Pkwy that only exists for Dearborn in gonef’n’s imagination & gf’n’s not backing up that delusion w/any purchasing (apparently focusing his illusory purchasing on Madison west of Wood & in the Carlyle)
Who said it’s the equivalent of Astor or State?
You live close by? Because the alleys seem to work fine when the streets are jammed, be it for drop-off/pick up (which I’ve done at Latin – you?; never struck me as any sort of misery inducing, neighborhood-ruining nightmare), Air Show, packed North Ave beach days, or whatever.
Yes, there are crappy apartment buildings there – but there’s a few of those that got pushed through on plenty of nicer blocks at various low points in history – and in this particular case, that’s partly why it’s NOT an equivalent block to the northern-most blocks of Astor or State.
Have you considered yoga or mediation or…? It’s one thing when you fly off the handle at helmet/bad-Dan for his latest MAGA screed, but jeez man, breathe.
SB, you know nothing about me, that suburb comment was as far off-base as one can get. If anyone here is a poseur it’s you with your absurdly nuanced block-by-block critique of the cachet of Gold Coast areas.
I also get the sense you are reading things into what I’m saying that aren’t even there, but whatever, you’re in your own little world. I’ve also seen that article before, nothing new. Gentrification would have likely occurred with or without SV, and without it would have had the benefit of all of that demolished architectural stock.
I think SB is going after me as well. Ignore the troll in he basement in Harvey.
“Many many people at open houses plus at least 1 offer maybe more.”
Thanks for the update David. It seems pretty unique for the Gold Coast. Not that many $400,000 units with a big outdoor terrace. But it’s still just 850 square feet. Yikes!
This one closed again the other day for 470K
This closed for $45,000 above ask?
Wow.
Sizzle.
LOL
Look at the history
-$30k from list and -$5k from the 22 sale
Fizzle
Only took 5 years! And an intervening sale.
Jun-18 (which was $5k over list) + CPI = $524k
Jun-18 + C-S condo = $505k.
Sorry. I didn’t realize this was a 2018 crib. I didn’t crib on it in 2022 nor this time in 2023.
I see it was listed at $499,000 this go-around and sold for $470,000. Lol. So, no, it didn’t sell for over the list after all.