Completely Redone Vintage 2-Bedroom in East Lakeview for $590,000: 405 W. Briar
This 2-bedroom vintage unit in 405 W. Briar in East Lakeview came on the market in March 2023.
Built in 1912, this building has 15 units. There’s no parking or amenities but it does have private storage units.
The listing says this unit has been “completely redone in 2021” and now has a modern, contemporary layout and finishes.
It has a dramatic gallery entrance with barreled ceilings, hardwood floors and extensive moldings.
The listing says the “sellers have completely changed the previous floorplan.”
The kitchen is now in the former dining room and is open to the extra wide living/dining room which has a wood burning fireplace and built-ins.
The kitchen is “single family home sized” with white cabinets, upscale finishes including stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and matching backsplash and a black contrasting island with a farmhouse sink and seating for 3.
The unit has a jumbo primary suite with a spa caliber bath complete with a separate shower and soaking tub along with a walk-in-closet.
There’s a second full bath and an office separated by sliding pocket doors.
The unit has the features buyers look for in 2023 including space pak cooling, all new electric and in-unit washer/dryer. There’s no parking with the building but there is rental parking in the neighborhood.
This unit has a private 10×20 storage unit in the building as well.
The building is near Belmont Harbor, the Lakefront Trail, the shops and restaurants of East Lakeview, and several bus lines.
Buyers love “new.”
Listed at $590,000 for 1600 square feet and the unit “completely redone,” will they get their asking price?
Emily Moore at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Or see it at the Open House this Saturday, April 1, from 10 am to 1 pm.
Unit #C1: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet
- Sold in May 1989 for $117,500
- Sold in August 1998 for $201,000
- Sold in June 1999 for $275,000
- Sold in October 2005 for $365,000
- Sold in November 2007 for $343,500
- Sold in November 2016 for $274,000
- Sold in October 2020 for $301,500
- Currently listed at $590,000
- Assessments of $954 a month (includes heat, gas cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
- Taxes of $4826
- Space pak cooling
- In-unit washer/dryer
- No parking
- Wood burning fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 16×15
- Bedroom #2: 12×9
- Office: 12×9
- Living/dining combo: 18×12
- Kitchen: 16×12
- Walk-in-closet: 15×9
Living/Dining/Kitchen area seems small and crowded. I would probably use the office as a dining room (which could double as an office).
Interesting story in the WSJ yesterday about home prices falling in the west and rising in the east.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-prices-housing-market-trends-east-west-83c9eb56
Beautiful unit. That nearly 1K/ mo assessment in a no amenity building is a bummer.
Taxes are surprisingly low however — any idea why?
The huge primary en-suite with a double sink, plus a hall bath with a double sink seems like over kill in a modestly sized 2 bedroom that will probably only house 2 adults and a young child.
They could have made the hallway bath the primary, done a more modest 3 piece bath where the current primary bath is, and fit another bedroom in the space that is the walk in closet.
Agree with M that the current office space would function better as a dining space, and not a walled off windowless room.
“Taxes are surprisingly low however — any idea why?”
Only up 43% in 20 years! They kept winning appeals thru 2018, when AV was $285k, got the pandemic reduction in ’20, and then re-assessed *lower* in ’21 (no appeal). Should expect a significant increase next re-ass.
“current office space would function better as a dining space”
Yes, but–wonder how easy to open up the wall into the LR, with electric panel there. Might limit options.
As re-imagined, it’s best as a 1+den/infant room, which the current owner have plainly realized.
“the space that is the walk in closet”
Barely warrants the description–it is shockingly under-fixtured for the SF dedicated to it. But I’d guess they didn’t want to spend the extra $7-12k to do it right.
“Yes, but–wonder how easy to open up the wall into the LR, with electric panel there. Might limit options.”
Like the way the cut the door trim to fit. Kwality is job 1
Very on trend reno, however the layout is just weird. I have a feeling this reno is good from far, far from good.
” But I’d guess they didn’t want to spend the extra $7-12k to do it right.”
Probably 2 at least PT WFH.
What’s doing it right these days for a WIC?
“What’s doing it right these days for a WIC?”
I’d say that it starts with having the cabinet going all the way to the corner, rather than having the dead space, apprently on *both* ends.
I don’t share the hate of many for Ikea, but that looks like an off-the-shelf Ikea solution, that should have at least been semi-customized.
And, with it open to the bedroom, don’t think the dead space at the top is the right choice, either–too much work to use it effectively and keep it looking ok. Again, I don’t hate an open shelf, but come on.
“Kwality is job 1”
Should have boxed in the duct in the laundry, too. I get it, but I also hate it.
“I’d say that it starts with having the cabinet going all the way to the corner, rather than having the dead space, apprently on *both* ends.
I don’t share the hate of many for Ikea, but that looks like an off-the-shelf Ikea solution, that should have at least been semi-customized.”
I cant tell whats going on with the 3rd cabinet – No handle and the door looks horribly misaligned
If they’re using it for WFH video conferencing, I probably wouldnt want open Cali Closets, but agreed there are more elegant solutions
“I cant tell whats going on with the 3rd cabinet”
I think there is another cabinet next to that one, and I would guess it’s a sliding door.
Not a fan of squeezing an “open” floor plan into a vintage unit. These units are often small in the first place, and opening it can make it seem smaller, with even less privacy.
Price seems high considering no parking or amenities and being right on Sheridan.
“The huge primary en-suite with a double sink, plus a hall bath with a double sink seems like over kill in a modestly sized 2 bedroom that will probably only house 2 adults and a young child.”
You are actually arguing that a vintage unit with 2 double vanities is somehow a NEGATIVE selling point?
Oh my.
Who wouldn’t want that in ANY 2/2?
“Interesting story in the WSJ yesterday about home prices falling in the west and rising in the east.”
A lot of cities in the east are still affordable. You can’t even buy a $500k house in most of the LA area but you certainly can in Chicagoland.
“Not a fan of squeezing an “open” floor plan into a vintage unit. These units are often small in the first place, and opening it can make it seem smaller, with even less privacy.”
So, Dan #2, you would have kept the small kitchen in the back of the unit but just put in some new cabinets and finishes but kept the big dining room up in the front of the unit.
So many people live in their kitchens now. I like that they decided to move it completely and put in a big island. Most don’t use a dining room anyway.
Is that pink tile in the primary bathroom?
I’m liking it. Looks lovely.
I appreciate your opinion, Sabrina. It’ just not my taste.
The t.v. situation in this place is mildly enraging.