Are the Views Better on the South Side? 1201 S. Prairie in Museum Park
This 2-bedroom in The Grant at 1201 S. Prairie in the Museum Park neighborhood of the South Loop came on the market in September 2017.
Built in 2008, The Grant has 298 units and is a full amenity building with an indoor pool, gym and parking garage.
Some of you may recall that this building was one of three high rises that went bust in the Museum Park development during the Great Recession.
Related Midwest was brought in to renovate and sell the remaining units, which they did as the condo market improved from 2013 to 2015.
This unit has south and east city views from floor to ceiling windows on the 29th floor.
The kitchen is one of the kitchens that Related renovated using Snaidero modern gray and white cabinets, quartz counter tops and Subzero and Wolf appliances.
There’s a master suite with an organized closet and spa-like en suite bath with dual vanities.
The listing also describes a 8×6 den/office which is in what looks like a hallway off the kitchen.
This building is next to the One Museum Park high rise (on the east side) but it’s also next to the under construction mega-tower apartment building that will be at the corner of Michigan and Roosevelt Road (on the west side).
This unit was listed for $750,000 in September 2017 and was reduced to $700,000 plus $40,000 for parking.
If you love high rise views, is this unit a deal?
Leigh Marcus at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #2905: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1639 square feet
- Sold in February 2014 for $689,000 (included the parking)
- Originally listed in September 2017 for $750,000 (not sure if it included the parking)
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $700,000 (plus $40,000 for parking)
- Assessments of $654 a month (includes doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, concierge, indoor pool, gym, sundeck, lounge with pool table, playroom, theater, dog run and grooming room)
- Taxes of $11344
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 14×13
- Bedroom #2: 12×11
- Den: 8×6
Not a bad place but man is there a lot of wasted space in this unit.
Who wants/needs an en suite bath bigger than their bedroom?
The “den” is more wasted space
The terrace should have been enclosed, other than for a smoke pit, it’s useless
Target market – DINKs that smoke
Probably will move for under 700 w/ parking
Nice views. I like the layout and would make use of both the terrace and the den. Obviously both are smaller than ideal. On the downside some of those finishes look like my last short term rental and there’s way too little storage space. Also, I doubt the window treatments in the MBR block out enough light for decent sleep.
Oh, the Related Realty connection totally explains the finishes, yuk.
I would have designed the unit differently to make corner the master BR rather than the guest room. With those views, a door to the balcony and a few more square feet, it could have been an exceptional master suite.
I like the building—Related did a nice job with the Amenities floors (everything you could want including dog washing station, bike repair room, fire pit, movie screening room, very nice workout room, firepit area, etc., etc.) I looked at a larger unit here a couple years ago, but wasn’t ready to move forward. The views are awesome in almost every direction, but mainly the north ones over the park looking at Skyline (this one faces south east, but still nice views).
With everyone’s obsession about wood floors yesterday, I’ll point out that the wood floors here are the high-quality vinyl ones, though they looked great.
I think the layout is reasonable and you definitely save a bit of money by being at south end of loop.
“With everyone’s obsession about wood floors yesterday, I’ll point out that the wood floors here are the high-quality vinyl ones”
Hmm, listing says this…”Richly Stained Hardwood Floors”
Do agents have no idea of flooring materials used?
Adding to the flooring confusion – in the “interior features” section of the listing, the flooring is described as laminate.
I’m not sure these are the vinyl floors, my friend installed some of those in his basement and they actually look pretty good and real and you probably couldn’t tell the difference if you were wearing shoes other than the sound you make when you walk on it
I think JAH was confusing vinyl with laminate. These are most likely laminate floors. Previous listing also mentions laminate.
I wouldn’t sacrifice location for views.
“I think JAH was confusing vinyl with laminate. These are most likely laminate floors. Previous listing also mentions laminate.”
You may be right. At the time I looked, there were 2 levels of finishes. One included laminate floors (and that’s probably this one); the other included an Italian commercial grade “composite” product. Both looked very nice.
But, it’s definitely not “Richly Stained Hardwood” that the Realtor states in the description!
Next they’ll be hyping Rich Corinthian Leather…
Seems like you get a lot of amenities for the amount of assessment (includes doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, concierge, indoor pool, gym, sundeck, lounge with pool table, playroom, theater, dog run and grooming room).
Other buildings charge about the same for a lot less.
THIS PLACE IS FANTASTIC….
FOR JAN TERRI TO POOP ON LOLZ!!!!!!!
GO BEARS!!!!!!!!
I like this building and the assessments are very reasonable for the level of amenities. I hate the kitchen and think I would like try to find a unit with the older kitchen still installed and redo it to my taste instead.
“Seems like you get a lot of amenities for the amount of assessment”
I thought the same vb. So I wonder how they can do it. Are the reserves really low in the building? It’s a new building so expenses WOULD be lower, but there are 1-bedroom units with assessments at this level in other high rises.
“Related did a nice job with the Amenities floors (everything you could want including dog washing station, bike repair room, fire pit, movie screening room, very nice workout room, firepit area, etc., etc.)”
JAH- the dog washing station seems amazing to me. I know some people who would move to this building just for that.
“Oh, the Related Realty connection totally explains the finishes, yuk.”
You’re not a fan of Snaidero?
Because that’s a really upscale brand that we rarely see. It was used in Helmut Jahn’s 600 N. Fairbanks though. You can find a showroom in the merchandise mart.
The appliances are wolf and subzero, so it can’t be that.
What is it? The quartz counter tops?
Someone didn’t like the granite on the other unit because that is out. Are you not supposed to use quartz either?
Not a fan of the Snaidero, or anything that looks like it, or the quartz or the bathrooms for that matter. Appliances are fine. I just find it all so dreary, sterile and lacking in character.
I really dislike the south loop. Hate the vibe, people seem weird, it seems crowded and concretely to me. Pass.
“Seems like you get a lot of amenities for the amount of assessment”
2 of my concerns when considering a purchase in the building: 1) I assumed the assessments would have to go up considerably once the association was turned over to the owners (doesn’t seem to have happened); 2) the Taxes were “new” at the time, and I was fearful of how high they’d be (I was looking at a 3000 sq. ft unit for $1.25MM, and thought the price was reasonable for a great unit w/ skyline views, but didn’t want to pay $24,000/year or more in taxes or $2000 in assessments). As it turns out, I bought a considerably cheaper unit elsewhere w/ far fewer amenities and still ended up where I feared on taxes & assessments!
How do you pay $24k in taxes on something worth considerably less than $1.25M?
Looking at some other units in this building, I think the owner of this unit remodeled the kitchen. The original kitchen likely looked more like the one in this unit: https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1201-S-Prairie-Ave-60605/unit-4005/home/21725646
Regarding Snaidero, They are probably the most used “upscale” kitchen manufacturer for new developments. Check out the Developments section for a complete list. The reason for this is that they offer several lines of cabinetry, with some lower cost, developer grade cabinets that appeal to builders.
http://snaiderochicago.com
“How do you pay $24k in taxes on something worth considerably less than $1.25M?”
I’m trying to figure that out right now. I’ve filed several appeals. Anyone have a good attorney to recommend in Cook County? The big issue is that my unit has the highest ownership share in a 200+ unit condo, and was priced above $1.2MM when the unit sold originally in 2008. I paid in the low 700’s, but the condo ownership percentage is hard to argue with! The high assessments also go with the original ownership percentage.
clarification–I paid in low 700’s just a couple years ago, so no way I should be assessed the way I am!
“I’m trying to figure that out right now. I’ve filed several appeals. ”
It’s really hard to win an appeal in a condo unless the association does the appeal for all.
Then there are buildings like 340 E Randolph, where *everything* has an AV that’s ~20%+ below true market values.
“Anyone have a good attorney to recommend in Cook County?”
Madigan and Getzendanner?
“Looking at some other units in this building, I think the owner of this unit remodeled the kitchen. The original kitchen likely looked more like the one in this unit:”
After the building went into foreclosure in the housing bust, Related took over selling the units on behalf of Bank of America. It “upgraded” the units with new kitchens. All the “new” kitchens have these same finishes (cabinets, countertops etc.)
“After the building went into foreclosure in the housing bust, Related took over selling the units on behalf of Bank of America. It “upgraded” the units with new kitchens. All the “new” kitchens have these same finishes (cabinets, countertops etc.)”
Wow. I disdain the kitchen featured in this house. It looks like something a child playing The Sims would build.
Having looked at a few units there, Sabrina is partially right. Related upgraded many/most of the units, but offered 2 different “levels” or styles. IIRC, this was the more expensive of the 2, called the “signature package” or something like that, but the other package was the one we preferred—though both were quite nice. We weren’t big fans of this particular 2-tone look, but it was definitely of very nice quality (definitely at least equivalent to most “luxury” new condo buildings except for the really premium/ultra-high-end ones)
closed at $732,500, Dec-17