Buy a Piece of Chicago History With This 4-Bedroom Landmarked Mansion: 1048 W. Oakdale in Lakeview
The historic Henry Rohkam mansion and coach house at 1048 W. Oakdale in Lakeview has come back on the market.
Built in 1887 for Henry Rohkam, the Vice President of Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, it is part of the landmarked Terra Cotta Row district which consists of 2 single family homes and a 2 multi-flat buildings as well as terra cotta fencing lining the street.
When granting the landmark designation, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks remarked on the terra cotta row’s ornate style:
“The buildings’ lavish, terra cotta decoration suggest their distinction. Such displays of ornament are unusual in neighborhoods of working class origins. They were usually limited to mansion on the lakefront or other affluent areas.”
In the 1880s, Lakeview was a German-American neighborhood. Rohkam and his architect, Theodore Karls, were both of German ancenstry. Karls was born in Berlin and came to Chicago in 1868.
The style of the house reflects both German and Austrian architecture and the gables and facade were similar to the high-style of merchant homes in Germany.
The main house is brick and terra cotta and has a raised basement.
The fence is red terra cotta.
The 3-bedroom, 2 bath 3-level coach house was built in 1912 (replacing a wood stable) and is pressed brick and terra cotta.
The house is located on 3 1/2 Chicago lots- measusring 87.5×125.
The gardens consist of a gazebo, winding brick sidewalks and a decorative garden urn which depicts ancient warriors in combat.
The Interior
The main house has been refurbished to reflect its historic heritage.
It has the original stained glass and woodwork.
There are now silk-screened wallpapers, antique lighting and imported tiles.
The kitchen has a Wolf stove and oven, a wine cooler and a Northland refrigerator alongside white cabinets and sandstone counter tops.
The house has central air.
There is 2-car garage parking plus 2 extra parking outdoor parking spaces.
Originally listed just before the recession, in May 2008, for $3.9 million, it has been off and on the market since then.
It has been reduced $1.15 million.
Is this a deal for the craftsmanship, size and location?
Rudy Zavala at Keller Williams has the listing. You can see a slide show and information about Terra Cotta Row here.
1048 W. Oakdale: 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths in main house
- Sold in Janury 1996 for $1.195 million
- Originally listed in May 2008 for $3.9 million
- Reduced to $3.15 million by March 2009
- Withdrawn in 2009
- Recently re-listed at $2.75 million
- Taxes of aCentral Air
- Coach House has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on 3 levels
- 2-car garage plus 2 other outdoor parking spots
- Bedroom #1: 20×18 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 21×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 9×13 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 13×18 (lower level)
- Family room: 26×16 (main level)
Too much flair. I got a headache looking at all the various wallpapers and color schemes. And then there’s the bathroom. They went way to far decorating this pretty old house.
While this place is lovely, I find it too busy. It will be great bed & breakfast to stay for a weekend, but I think it is a bit too much for every day living.
That said, it is special enough that someone might just fall in love with it.
lol…TB we thought the same and posted at the same time!
Yes, urbanists, before 1889 Lakeview was a suburb, egads!
I have to respect what they did to it, but I wouldn’t want to live in this thing.
I’m sure they spent a lot of money doing all of this. I just couldn’t live with it. That said, I don’t think I’d want to see it all ripped out either. Hmm.
I’d love to live in that coach house.
I called it victorian modernized. I love it.
Way too colorful for me, too.. especially that bath.
That’s the problem with spending a fortune on top decoration like wallpapers, bath tile, paint, carpeting… the next owner is going to want to undo it all and isn’t going to give you a dime for it. You do this stuff strictly for your own enjoyment.
Dear Seller,
I have noticed your property at XYZ Main Street, Somewhere USA and would like to submit my offer. This offer is based not only on what I can afford to pay for your property but what I feel is fair market value for your property, which has been on the market for 150+ days.
I therefore submit an offer of $xxxK. Contingent upon inspection and bank approval.
please let me know within 5 business days, after which, this offer becomes revoked.
Icarus
I would feel as if I were living in a real-life version of Suspiria, which had a 1970’s neo-Victorian thing going on. Good times.
Way too colorful for the suburban pottery barn blando lovers
I find it interesting, well appointed, historic and unique too but there is no way in hell I could “live” in a place like this… I’d be afraid to do anything for fear I would break, or rip or bump or tear some of the ornate details.
This place needs to be turned into a museum or something
this is the exact opposite of the china town place (what ever happened to it?).
this place is bay far and easily the in the top 5 cribchatter listings. which does include the chinatown place.
i owned this home i would install a fake hand next to the front door so i can high five this awesome house every time i came home.
Nice to look at – a nightmare to own…..
“Way too colorful for the suburban pottery barn blando lovers”
I have suburbs and have never lived in one, but I like minimalist decor. The two are not the same. Not everyone wants to live in a khatam box, and if you don’t know what that is, take a look at:
http://icaosu.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/255353027_o.jpg
I wonder if this looks better in person. It seems over done in the pictures, but maybe the pictures don’t do it justice.
wow Groove, I think i walked past that chinatown place this past saturday. you look down an alley behind some townhomes and there it is! check it,
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1908+S.+Louie+Parkway&hl=en&ll=41.856249,-87.633111&spn=0.005817,0.015385&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=41.856351,-87.633119&panoid=h7agS2M78ou7a1b42rGCgw&cbp=12,89.84,,0,2.72
I wasnt sure at the time but that is def it
Is the Chinatown place still for sale? Did anyone buy it?
Is that hand-tooled leather on the stair wall? The 3 BR coach house is a bonus–two houses for one! Chris can live in the coach house and rent out B&B rooms to miu miu.
according to trulia, chinatown place has not sold since 05
“Is the Chinatown place still for sale? Did anyone buy it?”
Delisted Aug 2010 (you can enter any address into redfin, doesn’t have to be currently on market).
is this the china town palace? lol
http://www.trulia.com/homes/Illinois/Chicago/sold/20792043-1908-S-Louie-Pkwy-Chicago-IL-60616
i think its awesome. its like stepping back into time.
Part of the problem with this Oakdale house is the over the top furniture. If you take away the furniture, the house isn’t as insane. And as far as that Chinatown house, if you buy Versace, or are Versace, you would love this house.
True story: I was walking by the chinatown house lad weekend with my kid. Without any prompting, my kids said ” that is the coolest house we have ever seen.”. I just showed them the inside pictures and they loved it.
If only twelve year olds could get mortgages . . .
I think this place is great. But, I like pattern. And, lots of it. And color, too. And, no, I don’t think every place should come straight out of Pottery Barn. If 90% of the market wants that, it’s available in about that percentage. This property is for the rest of us.
Endora, did you and your kid see it down the alley or from a different view?
I would take this as-is and live here forever. Except that I second groove’s idea of adding a fake hand for high-fiving the house.
Endora, I think I would have loved it when I was 12 too. Unfortunately, I have become much less exuberant since : )
No, before 1889 Lake View was a suburb.
I am still waiting for someone to explain exactly how Lakeview is distinct from the larger community area, Lake View, and the one the YMCA and the high school and the older community associations refer to.
I know people think this is much ado about nothing, but clearly a decision was made at some point to “rebrand” Lake View, and I’m curious as to when and why that is.
The Chicago Sun-Times refers to it as Lake View. The Booster-Lerner papers refer to it as Lake View. The Tribune always says Lakeview, as does the Reader.
I’m fine with the idea there’s a neighborhood called Lakeview that resides within Lake View the Community Area – if someone can please just tell me what the heck the borders are. Because otherwise, it just continues to look pretentious and like a typo, like Northcenter or Northalsted (god, do I hate that second one).
“Yes, urbanists, before 1889 Lakeview was a suburb, egads!”
I always thought Lake View was mistakenly referred to as Lakeview but just about everyone. but being born and raised in the area, my stance is that there is Lake View the area, with neighborhoods within it (Wrigleyville, East Lake View, West Lake View, Southport Corridor, etc.).
Skeptic, that is indeed thought provoking. Once you get that all sorted out, I need your help getting to the bottom of the name Russian Tea Time on Adams. They don’t even serve tea at that place plus Russians don’t even really drink tea at all.
The living room can stand to be toned down a little but the rest of the house is beautiful. BEAUTIFUL. Would I like to live in it? Of course, I would that is why I am going to play the lottery this weekend and if I win, I do not have to go looking for another house. I have seen the one I will buy.
Ah BettyBoop, almost clever but still not quite there, because that’s really not what I’m talking about – had I made a dumb quip about not being able to see the lake from Lake View, you would have (almost) made a funny.
Is it a trifling issue? Maybe. Does it seem to have real world ramifications? Yes:
You don’t go and change the spelling of century+ old institutions, and I’ve seen the Reader, Tribune, and Cribchatterers all refer to a nonexistent entity called “Lakeview High School.”
Sorry, but as the Jesuits at Saintignatius (looks stupid, right?) would have said: FAIL.
Yep, fully agreed. I’m sure BettyBoop would love it if we all started mangling the spelling of her hometown.
“I always thought Lake View was mistakenly referred to as Lakeview but just about everyone. but being born and raised in the area, my stance is that there is Lake View the area, with neighborhoods within it (Wrigleyville, East Lake View, West Lake View, Southport Corridor, etc.).”
And you know why I bring this up? Because the irony that CC is listing a property as “historical” while getting the historical name & context wrong is just a little too glaring for my Jesuit-educated sensibilities to not point out.
“The historic Henry Rohkam mansion and coach house at 1048 W. Oakdale in Lakeview has come back on the market.”
Skeptic, I save my really good stuff for open mic night at the lakeview zanies club. or is it lake view zanies club?
I’m pretty sure they probably did give some 12 year olds mortgages in 2005/6. Would not surprise me in the least.
“ussians don’t even really drink tea at all.”
You are kidding, right? Haven’t you heard of “samovar”?
“They don’t even serve tea at that place”
Also, pretty sure my wife went to a low tea service thing there (or at least that’s what she told me).
“Russian Tea Time”
Isnt that supposed to be sort of like “Irish Coffee”?
And, to whiff in the same fashiion as miu, they do, indeed, serve tea.
Down the alley. And showed them inside pics on red fin.
sweet jesus this place is awesome. too bad i lost those 3 mil on the brazilian stock exchange the last couple days.
for those with more modest means, an interesting house in JP Highlands which just sold at auction for 107k and is now mls-listed for 200:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/6955-S-Euclid-Ave-60649/home/13927050
Haters to the left.
I need to go buy me some winning lotto tix so I can buy this place, furniture and all, and be in heaven.
This house has made me a complete wallpaper convert. So fab.
My ONLY critiques are some of the tile floors, like the kitchen and some of the rooms (not the hex, tho!). Otherwise? Dazzling vintage perfection.
““Russian Tea Time””
I remember as a kid thinking if I walked into the Russian Tea Room, that would make me a commie.
They most certainly serve tea at the Russian Tea Time. Put the sugar cube between your teeth and sup down the yummy drink.
Lake View’s original boundries, per ‘Forgotten Chicago’ site.
Fullerton, Western, Howard, and the lakeshore.
In 1889, Evanston almost became part of city. Imagine if…
What a wonderfully exuberant interior that is true to the love of patterns that Victorians had.
I’m going to guess that the countertops in the kitchen are soapstone and not sandstone…
we now have a new saying..female version of a “tool”=bettyboop…use in a sentence;
“hey look at that doode in the full on lance armstrong gear walking his bike across the street, what a tool”
“hey look at that chick in the full on Anika Sorenstam gear carrying her clubs on the train, what a bettyboop”
BTW skeptic i still type lakeview at times even though i read the sun not the trib. Sorry 🙁
What a beautiful place! I would move right in. I actually love the way the seller restored the home close to period, and integrated the subtle modern luxuries of today. If I remember correctly, historic designation applies to the exterior only and the new owner(s) may change the interior of the home.
LOL. It’s not like it keeps me up at night, it’s just one of those things that makes me scratch my head, much like a few houses in my hood that look that they *should* be literally tipping over as they’re so crooked.
“BTW skeptic i still type lakeview at times even though i read the sun not the trib. Sorry :(”
Ha, well played. I’m gonna give Zanies to the Lakeviewians. Or Lakeviewites?
“lakeview zanies club. or is it lake view zanies club?”