Can This 4-Bedroom Greystone Command $1.249 Million in Bowmanville? 1944 W. Farragut
This 4-bedroom greystone at 1944 W. Farragut in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Lincoln Square has been on the market since May 2011.
The listing indicates it was formerly a two flat that was converted into a single family home.
The house has 3 fireplaces, crown molding and a box ceiling in the living and dining room.
Four of the six bedrooms are on the second level, with the remaining two in the lower level where there is also a recreation room.
The rear of the house has also been updated to have a wall of windows, which the listing indicates is from the basement to the second floor.
There are also $23,000 in custom window treatments included with the house.
It has an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a large island and stone counter tops.
The house is on a 125×29 lot, has a 2-car garage and 2 decks, including one on the roof of the house and one on the roof of the garage.
Originally listed in May 2011 for $1.349 million, it has been reduced $100,000 in that time.
It is currently the most expensive single family home on the market in the immediate neighborhood.
Can a single family home command this price in this neighborhood?
Mary Foley at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.
You can also see a video presentation here.
1944 W. Farragut: 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 4500 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in March 1995 for $168,000
- Sold in December 2001 for $417,000
- Originally listed in May 2011 for $1.349 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $1.249 million
- Taxes of $9800
- Central Air
- 3 fireplaces
- Bedroom #1: 14×23 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 11×13 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×13 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 9×7 (second floor)
- Bedroom #5: 13×13 (lower level)
- Bedroom #6: 12×11 (lower level)
- Family room: 23×15 (main level)
- Recreation room: 21×23 (lower level)
“Can a single family home command this price in this neighborhood?”
Nice enough and maybe not a crazy price in terms of costs if they were willing to take something like $1.0MM. But has an SFH ever sold over $1MM in Bowmanville? Doesn’t seem like it from a quick look at redfin.
Kinda like how it prob costs more than $1MM to put this place together, but who the hell is going to buy it? (I’d bet the Bowmanville place has a better shot.)
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2632-N-Talman-Ave-60647/home/13450822
So that’s where Bowmanville is, yesterday I read: “Former Ch. 5 anchor Paula Faris sells Bowmanville condo”
If I’m going to spend over $1 million on a house, I would not want to be on a block of identical houses were the old farts living in them only spent $100 and some thousand dollars when they purchased theirs.
If you have that kind of cash for a home purchase, what would make you say “let’s live in Bowmanville”?
The house looks really well done, better than what I was expecting. That being said, what a horrible idea to put that kind of money into a house in this neighborhood.
1. The place two doors west, while under contract, is an issue when considering the value of this place:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1948-W-Farragut-Ave-60640/unit-I/home/13404645
2. “a block of identical houses”–only four greystones on this block.
3. $5 Jack’n’Cokes and $2 Points at the tavern on the corner.
4. what would make you say “let’s live in Bowmanville”? Love of Cemetaries and Amundsen HS?
“Can a single family home command this price in this neighborhood?”
Hell no.
Agree with both points above. Redfin doesn’t show any sales of even 800k — although it only goes back 3 years. Someone want to take a gander at the highest-priced sale in Bowmanville history?
Glad you chose this place Sabrina!
I visited a few months ago. While it is not my taste, it is an exceptionally nice, well done and clearly expensive rehab. Yes, I do think it is overpriced for the neighborhood. A half mile or so South and it could fetch ask.
A few price points in neighborhood. last year, someone bought a small ugly bungalow on the southeast corner of Farragut and Wolcott. Somewhat large lot. They went on tho build an enormous custom single family home. I’m pretty sure I saw moving trucks a few weeks ago so they must have built it for themselves. Looks like a million+ house.
Also there is a greystone in somewhat sorry shape just a few lots west of subject property. It is under contract for 380k ( shortsale or REO) and would need 400-500k to bring it up to the level of this house.
Is that second kitchen, second family room, second TV over the fireplace, second couch and chair, and second wood floor in the basement? What’s the point of the duplication?
PS re: wood floor, what if it floods down there?
Sabrina should have turned around and taken a picture of what’s across the street from the million dollar home.
“what would make you say “let’s live in Bowmanville”?”
You want to be walking distance to lincoln sq, aville, *and* korean “bbq” with live coals?
They prob should get this listing forwarded to the rogers park montessori parents group.
Absolutely love the look of this house. I cant comment on the neighborhood, but well done on the renovations. Good mix of modern and traditional. Very tastefull.
I live down the street from this house. I don’t know many people here who actually walk to any of the “destinations” around here. Judging by the tight street parking, I’d say a majority of people drive to get to where they’re going as opposed to walking. Oh wait. I used to regularly see one set of neighbors walking home down the alleyway after they got their drink on. Then she got preggo and they sold their condo.
I’ve lived here for 11 years. It’s more akin to being in a suburban neighborhood than anything else. Very little to do around here in terms of excitement (unless you count the Berwyn/Hoyne gang association that was lighting up the area last fall (don’t believe me? Google it.)). Bowmanville is a place to live in the city with the biggest worry being petty crime. Always has been, even before the pickup truck contractors came in and “gentrified” the area, which it was never in want of.
Two minuses to the neighborhood I can think of offhand. One is the fact that it’s one block north of Foster and comes with all of the attendant street noise, including the ambulance/fire engines from the station further west on Foster. There’s also Tempel steel nearby, which runs 24/7 and comes with a LOT of truck noise from all of the hauling that goes on. I regularly hear the sound of the trucks stopping short at Foster/Damen and can sometimes feel the building shake.
Anonemoose, What do you think of the new house on Wolcott/Farragut. I kinda liked it when they were building it, but now think it is way to big for he location and dwarfs the other houses.
groove loves him some greystones mmmm mmm good.
but dang it while did they have to go an Napervillize the interior, WTF you should get a 500k discount for the abomination they did to the interior.
and for that price you have MANY MANY options below are a few;
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3825-N-Alta-Vista-Ter-60613/home/13383822
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/437-W-Arlington-Pl-60614/home/13366380
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1718-N-Crilly-Ct-60614/home/13343070
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1718-N-Crilly-Ct-60614/home/13343070
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2117-N-Dayton-St-60614/home/13351947
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/50-E-Schiller-St-60610/home/14125120
“the abomination they did to the interior”
I cannot figure out the layout. From the aerial, there is a “reverse bay”; then trying to figure out how the living room wall with the fireplace fits with the dining room, fits with the kitchen is making my head hurt.
Anyone have a floorplan?
darn forgot about multi link moderation…. for those who dont want to wait but will do the leg work.
and for that price you have MANY MANY options below are a few;
MLS# 07911414
MLS# 07905840
MLS# 07949708
MLS# 07984794
MLS# 07923154
“I cannot figure out the layout. From the aerial, there is a “reverse bay”; then trying to figure out how the living room wall with the fireplace fits with the dining room,”
dining room (pic with table seems to be before the staircase going back to the kitchen? or string theory is true?
either is close enough without getting into the nuances of the details
Just down the street: http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2153-W-Farragut-Ave-60625/home/13404760
Dahlia – I live west of the property in question and haven’t seen the house on Wolcott/Farragut. The fact that they overbuilt doesn’t surprise me. O’Connor is a rubber stamper of an Alderman when it comes to permits for this area and doesn’t really pay too much attention to this section of his ward. If it’s legal, he’ll sign it, regardless of the impact on the surrounding architecture. Only good thing he did was to downzone from R-3 to R-2 in order to keep the condo building heights from towering over the rest of the buildings. It’s probably why the homes on Foster stopped being bought for tear down.
Also relevant – http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-zoning-bd01jun01,0,2786123.story
Anonemoose,
look into Sergio & Banks and thier connection the head of the Zoning committee during the boom, Aldermen and precinct captains usually only get to see one of my finger when i wave to them.
agree with Groove the “Napervillization” of the interior makes it pretty bland. 850?
“look into […] and thier connection ”
Dooode, that’s one of the Candyman phrases!
“but dang it while did they have to go an Napervillize the interior”
It’s pretty nice inside. Look the bright side, they could’ve HP/Hybernia-ized it instead.
“Dooode, that’s one of the Candyman phrases!”
just spit my water all over a 1099 on my desk.
By comparison
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3821-N-Hamlin-Ave-60618/home/13456759
I’ve always wanted a $1 million home within walking distance to Amundsen High. Now that’s a great selling point!
21st century Amundsen High has metal detectors.
“I’ve always wanted a $1 million home within walking distance to Amundsen High”
back when i played saturday morning pick up games there, couldnt even imagine a 1mil home being anywhere near there.
“back when i played saturday morning pick up games there, couldnt even imagine a 1mil home being anywhere near there.”
I played there too, isn’t the gym on the 2nd floor?
“I played there too, isn’t the gym on the 2nd floor?”
yep two really large gyms at that, IIRC that you could get 4 full court games in the bigger one and one full court in the other with a half court off to the side.
really ridiculous interior: people should move to Burr Ridge if they want that type of house. Way over the top in all the wrong ways
Trib headline, Top Breaking News: Empire Carpet buys Luna
“I cannot figure out the layout. From the aerial, there is a “reverse bay”; then trying to figure out how the living room wall with the fireplace fits with the dining room, fits with the kitchen is making my head hurt.”
Anon,
as you enter house, Living room is largish and to the right ( east) as you walk back, Dining room is smallish and the the west. The shot of built in ovens and pantry cabinets is looking from kitchen toward the front of the house ( looking south). Staircase to second floor is behind those cabinets ( west )
Hope that helps…..
The Viking range looks like it has enough oven space, and placing an additional oven and the microwave in a hallway is weird. Probably would be easier to use a small counter-top micro.
“Hope that helps…..”
It does! And makes me dislike the whoel layout rather a lot.
I’d missed the oven/micro in the rear-facing living room pic before. Probably becasue I couldnt imagine that they’d put it there.
I think this looks like a nice renovation and while I’d prefer it to be more true vintage inside, I have seen far worse attempts to recreate a vintage look.
Bowmanville always seemed like a nice area to me. Yes, there isn’t a ton happening there, but some people like quiet nieghborhoods. I’d prefer living in Edgewater or Bowmanville over Lakeview myself.
However, I think this will end up selling for just under $1M. Hard to be the first person to pay over that much in a neighborhood, at least on record. Others may be spending that much in purchase price and rehab/constuction but it doesn’t show up on the record which hurts this place.
The word that comes to mind when I (and other Realtors) hear “Bowmanville” is “Charming.” (I suppose less-charitable persons would label it “twee.”). It’s close enough to major commercial activity to be “urban” while retaining a residential-with-small-businesses ambience. Check out te bar/grills and chocolate/coffee shop on Damen and you’ll get what I mean.
Like the expression “making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”, this working-class two-flat’s conversion into McMansion isn’t upscale living even if the finishes are Highland Park Hybernia-like. That dual-income professional couple, with their Volvo/Audi/BMWs and urban “Green Zone” attitude are in for a surprise when they find their blue-collar neighbors curbside tinkering w/their vehicles, playing their music outside loud, and not maintaining their landscaping to professional standards. The urban gentrifier stance gets old quickly, Bowmanville is quiet but amenity-free. Regarding Rogers Park Montessori, note that enrollment steadily drops as the grades progress; most people still move before the kids reach late middle-school age because of the high school issue.
Some NBC news anchor just sold her bomanville condo…
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-31/business/chi-former-ch-5-anchor-paula-faris-sells-bowmanville-condo-20120131_1_condo-unit-master-bath-anchor
the nicest home in a dumpier neighborhood to me always screams “come steal my stuff when I’m not home!”
The green zone needs to expand, but now that the boom is over and the volume of sales is a snail’s pace, it’s going to take a long time.
“That dual-income professional couple, with their Volvo/Audi/BMWs and urban “Green Zone” attitude are in for a surprise when they find their blue-collar neighbors curbside tinkering w/their vehicles, playing their music outside loud, and not maintaining their landscaping to professional standards. The urban gentrifier stance gets old quickly, Bowmanville is quiet but amenity-free.”
No need to write all of that out, unless you enjoy it. Just say picadillos and we’ll understand, even w/o the wiki.
Mmmm, picadillos.
“the nicest home in a dumpier neighborhood to me always screams “come steal my stuff when I’m not home!” ”
but this is not a dumpy hood by any means
also, whats with the no love for the six comparable and better links above?
“Like the expression “making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”, this working-class two-flat’s conversion into McMansion isn’t upscale living even if the finishes are Highland Park Hybernia-like.”
So if you put too much money into something, you’ve overbuilt for the neighborood. But if you try to go cheap, you are putting lipstick on a pig. — got it.
” That dual-income professional couple, with their Volvo/Audi/BMWs and urban “Green Zone” attitude are in for a surprise when they find their blue-collar neighbors curbside tinkering w/their vehicles,”
Because all blue-collar neighbors are vandals? Got it.
” playing their music outside loud, and not maintaining their landscaping to professional standards. ” Cue Dan or helmthead or whomever to make a racial comment about very nice lawns if they are mexican.
“blue-collar neighbors curbside tinkering w/their vehicles, playing their music outside loud, and not maintaining their landscaping to professional standards”
I’m just curious if its okay if the tinkerers are white collar professionals, the loud music is from “rich” kids garage bands and I’m the one with the crummy lawn.
Isn’t Amundson getting some magnet programs, etc. so as to accommodate the expected upsurge in middle-class teens growing up in the nearby townhouse and condo developments in Bowmanville and surrounding nabes?
There are quite a few large rental complexes here that are home to blue collar types. Architect’s partially right about the car repairs, except they go on in the alleyway. One building has inhabitants that like to stand outside to smoke and drink in the warmer weather. I can hear them from half a block away. Then there’s the families who have their kids play in the gangway of one large building instead of the park. Lots of noise during the warmer season from them. Very little in the way of music blasting in general.
Anon – yeah, the lawns are crummy. The trees have matured to the point where it’s impossible to get grass to grow with any regularity on some stretches. The condo next door to us tried everything, including sod, to get their grass to grow. They gave up some time ago and planted hosta in the parkway.
ChiTownGal – the majority of condos around here are 2/2s. The old three flats that have been converted into four flats don’t have enough floorspace to get a third bedroom. Last year, out of five condos that went up for sale on my street, three of them had cribs in their pictures. Another unit with a baby toting couple just sold in the last month or so.
There’s a group that’s trying to get Damen Ave. to look ritzy and tony, but they’re up against landlords who don’t care if their storefront units rent or not.
Don’t get me wrong — I enjoy living in this area very much. It’s just a city neighborhood that’s nothing special and isn’t exactly worth paying a premium for.
Anonemoose:
Except the large rental buildings, the smoking, and the blue collars, sounds like my neighborhood.
I meant metaphorical culture clash, but it seems my Bowmanville description was still fairly accurate. We lived in Senn’s neighborhood when its gentrification was in its infancy, and the neighbors’ lifestyle differences remind me of that definition: “pornography: you know it when you see it”.
White collar people are buying and fixing up houses in this neighborhood. It will never be a chic exclusive neighborhood but I think long term prospects are good as people get priced out of Andersonville and Lincoln Square.
“Cue helmthead or whomever to make a racial comment about very nice lawns if they are mexican.”
It’s helmethofer. You have it totally backwards. Although they work as landscapers on nice homes, work as cleaning ladies, and as cooks in many great restaurants, so they have been taught the advanced skills…you’d be pressed to find that any of these skills manifest themselves in their home environments! It’s bizarre, most of the time their homes are untidy, inside and out, it’s not hard to see across vast swaths of the city.
This property will never sell priced over a million in the Bowmanville neighborhood. Especially when there are two abandoned houses almost directly across the street that have been in complete disrepair for the past 4+ years I have lived in the area. It’s great that they’ve improved their property, but if they really wanted to put that much money into it they should have gotten a house a mile south or so in Ravenswood- then there would be no question on selling it at this price.