Are There Too Many New Million Dollar Houses in Roscoe Village? 2024 W. Melrose
This new construction 5 bedroom single family home at 2024 W. Melrose in Roscoe Village came on the market in May 2016.
Built on a standard 25×125 lot, it has the features that buyers have come to expect from new builds at this price point.
The kitchen has custom white and walnut cabinets with Calcutta quartz counter tops and Subzero and Thermador appliances.
Three of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the other two in the lower level, which also has radiant heated floors.
The master bathroom is marble.
It has a 2-car garage.
The listing says it is in the Audubon school district.
According to Redfin, there are at least 10 new construction single family homes in this price range within 0.7 miles of this house.
And there are many more being built in the entire North Center area.
Are developers overbuilding the million dollar mansions in this neighborhood?
Jamie Connor at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.
2024 W. Melrose: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half baths, no square footage listed
- New construction
- Was listed in May 2016 for $1.569 million
- Currently still listed at $1.569 million
- Taxes are “new”
- Central Air
- 2-car garage
- Bedroom #1: 18×15 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 14×11 (lower level)
- Bedroom #5: 13×11 (lower level)
Yes, too many. That is too much money for a standard lot in this location. It wasn’t long ago this would have been barely over a million or so.
Do these rich upper middle class families in North Center actually have enough children to fill 5 bedrooms? Or are they using them as guest bedrooms/Playrooms/etc.
I’ve always been amazed at the demand for the million dollars homes on the Northside. Where are all these buyers coming from and what do they all do for a living?
Its brand new though, I bet it sells within a few months
GOOD BAND SPACE IN BASEMENT!!!
This place is so far west. I can’t imagine spending this much money to be so far west.
On the other hand, if it and others sell for this price, then there aren’t too many million dollar homes apparently.
“Do these rich upper middle class families in North Center actually have enough children to fill 5 bedrooms?”
One of the bedrooms is inevitably in the basement, sometimes (as is the case here) two are. They aren’t using the basement bedrooms for their kids, until the kids are teens.
The (non-blended) families with 4 kids are rare. There are quite a few families of 3 kids, tho.
“This place is so far west.”
It is the same distance from the lakefront park as Racine is in your hood. Is 15th and Racine “so far west”??
Prices in North Center are high. However, I don’t understand the reason why this area is desirable? Just b/c of the school district?
It’s too far from downtown, far from the Lake, and other cheaper hoods are nearby. Anyone know why this area is “desirable”?
“other cheaper hoods are nearby”
What are the cheaper hoods that are ‘nearby’ NC?
Avondale? First, that is worse on your points about NC; 2d other than Skeptic, its not a neighborhood of choice for those who can afford more.
NoCoCo? (aka, south of Roscoe Village, but still technically NC) Not much cheaper, slightly closer to Loop, slightly worse transit access.
Lake View ain’t cheaper, Lincoln Sq isn’t really cheaper for comparable sized houses, ditto the nice part of Uptown (SW).
But yes, it is primarily about the schools. For attendance area schools in Chicago, and excluding the far NW-side, the top half dozen or so is something like this (not in rank order):
Lincoln & Alcott, in LP, where a SFH is generally more expensive than NC
Blaine & Burley, in LV, where a SFH is generally more expensive than NC
Bell & Coonley, in NC
So, if you want an SFH, in the city, and have kids you want to send to a CPS neighborhood school, NC is actually (generally) cheaper than the ‘competition’.
Note: This house is in the Audubon a-a, and Audubon is a close 3d to Bell & Coonley in NC, and its quite a bit smaller, which some parents prefer.
Anon – for this price it’s too far west. I would say the same thing about the million dollar single family homes in my neighborhood. If I had a million plus to spend, I would not live in my current neighborhood.
It’s also mind boggling to me that parents with the means to send their kids to a private school, would choose CPS.
“It’s also mind boggling to me that parents with the means to send their kids to a private school, would choose CPS.”
You are such an unbelievable snob (unless you are just a brilliant parody).
How is it snobbery to want the best education possible for your kids? Or is it that you are one of those people who thinks the mere presence of your precious kids will help the disadvantaged ones?
hahaha
“It’s also mind boggling to me that parents with the means to send their kids to a private school, would choose CPS”
Because I’d rather spend my money on my house then throw it away in tuition for 12 years.
Tuition for two kids is the difference between living in a $400k place or a $1.2M place.
Personally at this price point the front door should never open directly into the living room. There should be a vestibule. The basement bedrooms should also have something other than carpet. Kudos for them extending the kitchen cabs to the ceiling, but a swoosh of ice cold polar vortex air directly into your living room, or having any stranger that rings your bell be able to see your main living space, is a lower end feature IMHO.
“one of those people who thinks the mere presence of your precious kids will help the disadvantaged ones?”
Hell no. We’re hardly martyrs; nor is *anyone* who sends their kids to those six schools–the *highest* percentage of low income kids is 23.74 at Coonley, and the other 5 are among the 6 lowest Low-Income % of attendance area schools in CPS, the other begin Edgebrook.
Frankly, your beloved Lab School is more of a feel good social experiment than any of those 6 schools, with those who can pay subsidizing the poor kids.
“the best education possible”
I don’t believe that the private schools in/near Chicago provide that. And you have no current, relevant knowledge that they do, just a 20 year old bias from your personal experience.
“There should be a vestibule.”
I don’t disagree with you, but… it is hard to manage with the typical floor plan and a 25′ lot. You can turn the stairs into the ‘square’ with landings, but that chews up a *ton* of living space compared to the straight stairs.
“Anon – for this price it’s too far west. I would say the same thing about the million dollar single family homes in my neighborhood. If I had a million plus to spend, I would not live in my current neighborhood.
It’s also mind boggling to me that parents with the means to send their kids to a private school, would choose CPS.”
Some minds boggle easier than others.
Tub and shower surround tile should go to the ceiling and have a more finished look. Bathrooms are meh.
The people that choose CPS over private school are mostly sending their kids to CPS selective enrollment programs. Those CPS programs are much closer to a private school experience than a regular CPS class, even if the program is located in a neighborhood CPS school.
Lab school still provides opportunities to me that other schools don’t provide – career opportunities, mentorship opportunities, networking opportunities, educational opportunities, etc.
In the alumni magazine, I see stories about current students getting internships and travel opportunities that are only available because parents of students are connected to the U of C.
I spent time at a Catholic school before going to Lab. There is simply no comparison between a top private school and the average Catholic school. I feel like I can safely say that there also is no comparison between Chicago Public Schools and top private schools.
If I had kids, I would more readily pay for a top K-12 school than pay for college.
“The people that choose CPS over private school are mostly sending their kids to CPS selective enrollment programs.”
I’m not sure that’s true, many families are choosing the top AA elementaries over private school and could afford otherwise.
““The people that choose CPS over private school are mostly sending their kids to CPS selective enrollment programs.”
I’m not sure that’s true, many families are choosing the top AA elementaries over private school and could afford otherwise.”
Exactly, if your kid can get into Bell or Coonley RGC, there’s no reason to live in the boundaries. You can even be pretty close to those schools by buying in McPherson or Ravenswood for less money.
The people who can afford private schools are not interested in buying in McPherson or Ravenswood to save money. They want a nice neighborhood, like the Bell neighborhood, for example. Even if they could live out of the Bell neighborhood because their kid got into the RGC.
I agree that some families are choosing the top AA elementaries over private school and could afford otherwise. I mostly see the many that are sending their kids to CPS selective enrollment programs and could afford otherwise.
“They want a nice neighborhood, like the Bell neighborhood”
It’s too far from downtown, the lake, anything of interest, and the elite private schools to actually be considered “nice”. And the cheaper hoods nearby–also with poor access to desirable things–just makes it worse; who would want to live that close to a cheaper hood??
Also: Graceland West is a “nice” neighborhood, as is much of the eastern-ish portion of Lincoln Square (Ashland to Leavitt, north of Montrose), especially on the blocks with the deeper lots. Depends a bit on personal preference–I would want to avoid driving to drop off every day.
“I feel like I can safely say that there also is no comparison between Chicago Public Schools and top private schools.”
Taken as a group, or on average, of course not. But you also have very different pools of inherent ability and familial support.
The best CPS schools (both K-8 and 9-12) are most certainly comparable to “top” private schools.
“(unless you are just a brilliant parody).”
I’ve been pondering this myself. Seems to be overly too much of a stereotypical BB (basic b*tch) to be real.
As far as the schools go, I think this whole attempt for families to stay settled in Chicago and send their kids to CPS is a joke. Until is gets privatized (which is a real possibility), I don’t understand how it is worth the inconveniences.
“It’s too far from downtown, the lake, anything of interest, and the elite private schools to actually be considered “nice”.”
Explain all that to the many families in Roscoe Village and the Bell neighborhood living in homes valued at over $1 million. The market does not agree with you.
vb:
I was mocking the anti-NC viewpoint. Guess I should have been more clear.
Luis:
“I don’t understand how [sending kids to CPS] is worth the inconveniences.”
What inconveniences, specifically? I find mostly conveniences, personally.
And every school/community has annoyances of one kind or another.
Sorry, anon, I have a low sarcasm setting today.
“And every school/community has annoyances of one kind or another.”
There are no annoyances in Long Grove.
I’m very curious to see enrollment figures for the AA neighborhood schools this fall. Ogden may be a special case, but there are a large number of families going private. I know of at least 10 families leaving for GEMS at $30k a pop. Also a fair number headed to Catherine Cook and FXW.
“Ogden may be a special case”
It certainly is, but it will still be interesting at a number of schools.
Why is Ogden a special case?
Possible merger with one of lowest performing schools in CPS and the associated b.s.
they are pushing the prices and without an extra lot people will start moving farther north and get more green space for the same price. Every block in RV has 1 or 2 tear downs under construction. Few mega houses though like LP, all standard single lot new construction. They don’t use brick for them either! The hood is great, quiet but walkable to coffee, etc. Plus the big Whole Foods is coming and that will make a big difference, especially to that area of Lincoln which is a bit run down, but not for long. Will spill over and make the place even more attractive , walkable. Not all the riff faff taking the Red Line into Lakeview either!
“There are no annoyances in Long Grove.”
Where’d *you* move to HD?
in all honestly I live in Kildeer even though I say Long Grove.
“Anyone know why this area is “desirable”?”
I’ll take a stab at it.
A ton of Blackhawk players and their families live in Roscoe Village. (so that adds prestige???)
It has some cute neighborhood restaurants. It’s kind of isolated so you don’t get tourists or such wandering around which some people like.
The other thing about Ogden is the principal, the 5th in 5 years, is cray cray. Ex military, probably dishonorably discharged, many parents are leaving just because of him. He sends out wacky emails, real control freak. Lots of staff are leaving. Assistant Principal, case manager all left for other schools. CPS, from Claypool all the way down know he is a hot mess, but they have bigger fish to fry then worry about this little runt.
“I spent time at a Catholic school before going to Lab. There is simply no comparison between a top private school and the average Catholic school. I feel like I can safely say that there also is no comparison between Chicago Public Schools and top private schools.”
SMH. Did they not teach logical reasoning at Lab?
Cray cray principal indeed. CPS has a huge problem keeping quality experienced principals in the system. We are stuck with these weak 30-somethings who pad their resume for a few years then run off to the burbs.
“Ex military, probably dishonorably discharged, many parents are leaving just because of him. He sends out wacky emails, real control freak”
Can you guys elaborate? What exactly is crazy about the principal? what is s/he trying to do?
“in all honestly I live in Kildeer even though I say Long Groove.”
are you coming to my bbq? I think groove will come if you will.
DZ, do you have a kid at Ogden?
“do you have a kid at Ogden?”
I don’t. Just curious. I have read about the expenses issues from one of the past principals and the anti semitic stuff.
Oh, ok. The issue is there have been 5 principals in 5 years so CPS needs stabilization at that campus. So Mr. Cray Cray can pretty much do whatever he wants. Claypool, along with CPS lawyers, sent him a reprimand to quit being an idiot. He antagonizes parents, fights, etc. he is very negative. He thinks parents are always up to something sinister. He doesn’t understand that parents and teachers all had relationships before he got there and we all share information with each other. Once he had an idea to take over Wells high school on Ashland. Well, nobody wanted to send their kids there and he called all the parents a bunch of offensive racists. The LSC was ready to fire him but then the president of the Lsc left Ogden and now there is a new LSC, mainly made up of cray Crays stool pigeons. So the election was a sham and some parents knew it was a sham so took the whole tainted election to court. I’m not sure where it stands now.
The principal is extremely political and never misses an opportunity to remind parents of their elitist “white privilege” and racial bias – while he sends his kids to private school.
“probably dishonorably discharged”
That sounds like wild ass speculation unless you have some concrete evidence of such. That’s how rumors start.
Gary, shut up. You don’t even know what you are talking about. And, for the record, that is where “probably” comes in. Bugger off.
“The LSC was ready to fire him but then the president of the Lsc left Ogden and now there is a new LSC, mainly made up of cray Crays stool pigeons.”
Is the president of lsc leaving related to fact that there is a new lsc? Can you fire (or not retain) a principal before the end of the (I think four year if standard) contract?
I been living on the 3400 N Oakley block since February 2015 and the house next door has been on the market dam near 11 months now… It started at $1.56 mil and has dropped to $1.4 mil…. Still no buyer. Directly across the street another is goong up should be ready by end of Summer and that also will be a million dollar home. It’s ridiculous to build so may homes with no prospective buyers. But developers wont stop. They just keep building em or taking 2 flats and converting them to songle family homes killing the renter’s market in the area.
No, the President of the LSC was leaving anyway because cray cray was so difficult to work with. Plus one of her kids got into Whitney young and she sent the younger one private just to get out of Ogden. Yes, they could have gotten rid of him for cause. There were a lot of “causes”. But it was a balance between getting yet another principal at Ogden, or trying to get cray cray to shape up. And, after all these principals coming and going, no good qualified principal wanted the job. he also went to the PTA meetings trying to control the events. Two campuses, his job on the line, all the CPS budget issues and Cray Cray shows up at the PTA meetings trying to control the bake sales or whatever.
“There were a lot of “causes”.”
I really am just curious, but what causes? What’s the biggest one? I’m just not sure it’s that easy for an lsc to get rid of a principal for cause, short of something plainly unethical.
“while he sends his kids to private school”
Where does he live? I assume not in Ogden attendance area.
I hope that Ogden merger happens so I can watch the limousine liberals heads explode, oh my the crying on comments sections of dnainfo and various sites will be frickin glorious
“are you coming to my bbq? I think groove will come if you will.”
Sure!
What, no shout-outs for St. Benedict elementary and high school? Or are there no Catholics living in Roscoe Village any more?
“no Catholics living in Roscoe Village”
I think most of the catholic school kids in RV go to St Andrews.
I’ve got a kid in the RGC at Bell but don’t live in the neighborhood. The school (both neighborhood & RGC programs) are great and the parents are very invested with their $$$ and time. It’s a pretty tight community with a fair bit of snobbery directed to us “outsiders”. Nice hood & housing stock but too long of a commute downtown and too far from the expressway (imo).
As for enrolling in private schools…easier said than done. I know several families who’ve been denied at Latin, Parker, FXW, Sacred Heart, etc. Lots of people with lots of money for relatively few seats at the top private schools.
OK, I figured that RV people can have a choice of Andy’s or Ben’s, depending on where the ‘rents enroll as parishioners.
Now, how about what I feel is the major “problem” with RV – very awkward public-trans situation? The Addison Brown Line stop is at the northernmost boundary of the ‘hood. To get downtown without your car, you can walk (not bad in good weather I guess) to the Addison stop, or you can do the bus/L combo, or drive to either the Clybourn or Ravenswood Metra stop. Hobson’s Choices all around inmho.
“No annoyances in Long Grove?”
Again…lousy commuter-trans options, also the business district, where they have the Apple Fest, ain’t what it used to be.
“you can walk … to the Addison stop”
Why walk to Addison, when one can walk to Paulina? Live north of Cornelia, or going to train after drop off at Audubon? Sure. Otherwise, Paulina likely better.
But from SW of Leavitt/Roscoe? Probably better off with 49 bus and Blue Line, at least once the viaduct demo/reconstruction are done. For now, it really sux.
“Hobson’s Choices all around inmho.”
Not sure they’re really hobsons choices, maybe v first world sophies choices.
“Sure!”
no, hd, for real. to sweeten the pot I’ll try to get jenny to come.
“The issue is there have been 5 principals in 5 years so CPS needs stabilization at that campus. So Mr. Cray Cray can pretty much do whatever he wants.”
Did the “good” lsc hire mr cray cray or was he appointed by cps? Why?
Cray cray sends his offspring to near north Montessori. The good LSC hired him because he was the only person that applied that had principal experience. There were 5 applicants total, 4 had no teaching or principal experience. The third graders don’t have any math books, he insists the teachers just Xerox pages. Then he tried to combine classroom grades and turn Ogden into his own little Montessori. That fell flat. And as far as the Ogden/Jenner merger, the Jenner parents don’t want it. And, Ogden is an IB school, and If Ogden takes over Jenner, Jenner has to be an IB which means all the Jenner teachers have to go back and get certification to teach IB but they don’t want to. So it’s not as easy as just combined schools. So now, Ogden has two campuses, and adding Jenner would be three campuses.
The “good” LSC hired him last summer. He then felt it was a great idea to make merging with Jenner his top priority before tackling any of the longstanding academic issues. LSC members and parents who did not agree with the plan were labeled as racists and its been all downhill since. Drop in test scores, families and well liked staff leaving. Fun times!
“There were 5 applicants total, 4 had no teaching or principal experience.”
Are you including asst principal experience under “principal experience” or you mean truly as principal. Often the AP is a plausible candidate unless the school is really off the rails.
I’m not sure the skinner n principal, who seems well regarded, had much experience beforehand.
“The third graders don’t have any math books”
What’s a math book?
You mean the workbooks? I sometimes feel they’d be better off without them.
sonies, should I be buying some puts on something?
“You mean the workbooks? I sometimes feel they’d be better off without them.”
I make my own worksheets for my kid. Doesn’t everyone?
“the Jenner parents don’t want it”
The Jenner parents want a lot of wholly unreasonable and possibly irresponsible things. The Jenner parents’ desires should be about 5th place on the top 3 considerations of what to do about a seriously under-enrolled, and quite new, building.
That said, I don’t think that an Ogden-Jenner merger is the *best* solution.
“And as far as the Ogden/Jenner merger, the Jenner parents don’t want it.”
pretty sure you mean the ogden parents didn’t want it as I have seen no evidence of the jenner parents against this merger, as why would they be
either way, its some pretty hilarious drama and I’m gonna grab the popcorn as I watch it all unfold
DZ- I’ll tell you only if I’m invited to the BBQ
AP’s would have been fine. But there was a cosmetic marketing executive that applied, a textbook salesperson, etc. The Ogden AP did not want the job and she has since taken a Principal job elsewhere. So cray cray was the only candidate. His resume was good, not great but it was the best out of a bad lot. Oh he put up a sign in the east campus (housing the young kids) that parents can’t bring anything to school if the kid forgets it. Because these children MUST learn responsibility! Yes, let’s start punishing our 5 year olds when they forget their lunch. That’ll show them. Oh, the mass email went out to parents that no more taking our children out of school for vacations was a doozy.
Sonics, do you read English? I just explained why the Jenner teachers don’t want it. Also, Jenner only wants it called “Jenner/Ogden” and cray cray wants it called Ogden at the Jenner campus.
“I have seen no evidence of the jenner parents against this merger”
Srsly? What would such evidence take the form of? You spend your leisure time talking to Jenner parents?
The Jenner parents like the short trip to school, a school filled entirely by folks like themselves, etc etc. I would, too.
They’re being asked to trade a 1 block walk for the 3/4 mile walk, and join a school community that is quite clearly not-so-warm to them. I’d be opposed, too.
“AP’s would have been fine. But there was a cosmetic marketing executive that applied, a textbook salesperson, etc.”
[After some googling] You guys were hiring somewhat off cycle. The good people would have been gone probably. Maybe would have been better to have had someone interim, or make cps give you someone good (though that was prob the thinking behind s smith) though I can understand wanting some stability at that point.
“I’ll tell you only if I’m invited to the BBQ”
You’re on the shortlist! I need a big “get” though. Like hd/groove/jenny or sabrina! with all due respect, you are just a modest step up from ick in terms of marquee value.
Anon, yes I don’t think the Ogden-Jenner merger is the best idea either. Personally, I think half should be a neighborhood school, and then the other half a magnet. Like how some of the schools do half neighborhood, half RGC.
“I think half should be a neighborhood school, and then the other half a magnet”
Or even an options program.
I think that there are 5 buildings in play to re-jigger things in the broader neighborhood: Jenner, Manierre, Franklin, LaSalle and Newberry. With Ogden and Lincoln potentially involved in some boundary redrawing. Everybody would at least be temporarily upset, but there’s a lot of room for longer term gain.
“no, hd, for real.”
He should bring the inflatable swimming pool, right?
The Jenner LSC’s vote on the merger showed lukewarm support. This was never reported in the media circus last fall.
Ogden’s enrollment dropped last fall & will drop even further this year. CPS laughs at us when we cry overcrowding.
But the reason why Ogdens enrollment dropped was address verification began in earnest to stop the over crowding.
no respect at all I tells ya
The address audit was only a threat. I’ve heard of one kid who commutes downtown daily with his parents from NW Indiana to attend Ogden.
Anyone who is traveling out of state to come to Ogden is wacky. It’s a shit sandwich school. But it wasn’t a threat, they check addresses, most likely these Indiana folks are using someone else’s address. Like gramma or uncle bob. All they need is a utility bill.
They verify address when you enroll, but if you move out of the boundary thereafter they have no way of knowing. Ogden’s location makes it easy for cheaters to bring their kids along when they commute downtown.
CPS has billed people for out of state tuition if they are caught. But, last year, when cray cray sent out an email about cracking down on this practice, enrollment dropped all on its own. Parents knew the jig was up so some bowed out gracefully. But then, cray cray had to give back money to CPS on day 20 because enrollment dropped so significantly.
“…should I be buying some puts on something?”
Exactly, if you can’t pick a few dogs out of this pound you aren’t really trying.
All the schools in the GZ are the same: private$$$, Catholic$$, or yuppie CP$.
They are all leftist indoctrination centers, it doesn’t surprise me one bit the principal is a “white privilege” moron and also sends his kids to private schools. Lol. Liberals are so full of it, bashing Trump while living in white areas like the GZ. Hypocritical in the extreme.
Liberals usually only like “diversity” when they are tokens, if the diversity reaches 40%, then it’s game over and they will rationalize a way out. FXW is the most most pathetic “catholic” school anywhere in the country. They have 1/2 the kids opting out of Catholic curriculum and religion classes. It’s literally Schizophrenia. How Holy Name cathedral could even associate with that comprises its basic mission, duh?
If you ever meet any Oz park baseball families, they attend EVERY and ALL various and myriad different GZ schools, public, catholic or private, but you can easily see these people are identical.
typo, meant: How Holy Name cathedral could even rationally associate with “FXW”, that comprises its basic and Christ/apostolic mission. Dumb ass FXW people don’t even know or believe their own creed. Why spend money for that situation? It’s be like Rahm sending his kids to his north side Jewish school that let kids opt out to believe in atheism or Islam.
Ogden has a large number of foreign born parents – Asia & Eastern Europe. When they hear this talk of “white privilege” and “restorative justice” at an elementary school, they must think they’ve landed on Mars.
And the funny thing is, the foreign born parents were the ones that were most against the Jenner merger.
Shame on them for their focus on academics and test scores! That’s “coded language” you know.