Contemporary Masterpiece Comes on the Market in Lincoln Park: 838 W. Webster
Contemporary lovers know the outside of this 5-bedroom house at 838 W. Webster in Lincoln Park well as it’s hard to miss on a block filled with vintage brownstones.
An AIA design interior architecture award winner, the house was built in 2004 and sits on a 48×115 lot.
The living room has 20 foot high ceilings and a wall of windows which opens onto the 22×40 courtyard.
In all, the house has 2400 square feet of outdoor space in 7 locations.
The finishes are what you would expect from a luxury home.
There is a Poliform kitchen with stainless steel appliances and black granite counter tops.
The house also has a rare attached 3-car garage which is accessed through the kitchen.
Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
838 W. Webster: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage, no square footage listed
- Sold in October 2001 for $1.615 million (the prior house)
- Currently listed for $4.95 million
- Taxes of $39896
- Central Air through 4 HVAC units
- Basement rec room
please excuse me for a few, I need to go clean my pants
I slip on my drool everytime I walk by that house. Definitely my kind of place.
I wish I wish I wish… I wish I wish I wish.
This place is awesome. I sometimes take longer routes to and from my house just I can drive by this place. It has a very understated presence from the street, appropriate scale for the neighborhood. I wonder what it would cost to reproduce this building… anyone have any idea? I mean, given they had to pay $1.6MM just for the land, would this building cost $3MM to build (including soft costs)?
I doubt it cost that much to build, but who knows. I have seen very similar properties in much cheaper areas (not in chicago) that aren’t even $800k.
If I could build this house in Oak Park I would be a happy camper.
that place is unreal.
they’ve got to be in the place for $3MM easy. and it would be worth every penny and then some there.
$4-$5MM seems like it’s where it should be. that place is stunning.
“I have seen very similar properties in much cheaper areas (not in chicago) that aren’t even $800k.”
not as big, tho, probably and w/o as high end of materials.
I’d speculate on build costs of ~$2mm, including all the soft costs. Would be somewhat cheaper to build outside the city.
What do you think it costs just to “live here” annually? Electric, Heat, A/C, Water, etc.?
Shitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
“What do you think it costs just to “live here” annually? Electric, Heat, A/C, Water, etc.?”
Everything else–utilities, insurance, but not gardening/maintenance–costs less than the taxes.
Wicked
Wicked
Wicked house
did I say Wicked?
I don’t really like it and I do like modern. The finishes don’t look all that unique to me for over 4 million…
That place is sick.
“I don’t really like it and I do like modern. The finishes don’t look all that unique to me for over 4 million…”
I like modern and I’m not head over heels about all the finishes either (not at $5MM). I do really love the layout of the house, at least in my imaginary world where I live in this house. In the real world with my toddler, there could be challenges.
‘Hey everybody, look at me… it’s the early 2000’s and I’m full of cash and myself; I’ve give those modest townhouses that have been standing gracefully for 130 years and are the very reason I love this neighborhood a big what-for’!
I’ve always enjoyed the outside of that house as I drove or walked by. And it’s right by Oz park. However, there are some definite things about it I don’t like. What’s with the kitchen table separating the range from the sink? Seems a little awkward. Also not a fan of the glass divider by the stairs or the slatted divider between the stairs. It also seems weird that there are no windows on the entire length of the living room on one side of the house (probably because of the neighbors being close or something) Otherwise it’s really nice. I’m sure that’s nit-picking, but they just seemed to stand out when I was browsing through the pictures.
First, I love this home and it would be a dream. But 5 million dollars is a ton of money. Now maybe it is because I don’t 30 million dollars needed to afford this, but really who buys this? ANybody this wealthy already has there dream home and I don’t see a lot of movie stars selling their LA Hills pad to move to Chicago. Are athletes into modern homes that draw so much attention? Love the home.
That’s a pretty amazing house. Though I do agree with Jay, it seems a bit of slap in the face to all the beautiful townhouses in the hood.
Also, is the master bedroom on Webster? That seems like a bad design choice, especially when they had a double lot to work with. I would not pay $5m and have my bedroom on a busy street. It’s not like sleeping on Western, but there’s quite a bit of traffic on Webster here.
@ Jay
‘Hey everybody, look at me… it’s the early 2000’s and I’m full of cash and myself; I’ve give those modest townhouses that have been standing gracefully for 130 years and are the very reason I love this neighborhood a big what-for’!
Agreed
however
every wealthy hood has this person and this situation,
at least the architecture used is up to par for there mission.
Beautiful house inside and out, but a prime example of why I’m glad that designated historic areas like Old Town Triangle have zoning restrictions.
$4.9 Million? But you just go a mere 40 blocks west of there and the neighborhood starts getting scary!!
OK–just kidding.
It’s a gorgeous house in a fabulous location. And, “worth” that amount. The only issue I see is that there are a lot of options out there right now for someone w/ that amount to spend. Including houses marked down from $8 and $9 MM, the option of building exactly what you want, etc. And probably twice as much supply as demand.
“a prime example of why I’m glad that designated historic areas like Old Town Triangle have zoning restrictions”
Were a lot this size in the OTT to be available for construction due to a fire or b/c a non-historic building had been built before restrictions were in place–the 4+1 on North Park, for example–this house would be *completely* permissible in the OTT, barring a height restriction issue (which may not exist–just a possible problem).
Every time I’ve walked by this place (evenings) I’ve never seen any activity or anything indicating it was occupied. Just some rich person’s museum piece, if you will. Sort of like Cameron’s parent’s car from Ferris Bueller. Shame.
If anyone on here buys it – invite me over.
I’ll be the very best houseguest who never left.
This place is stunning.
I think price is irrelevant on this one. If you love it and have to have it and have the money – it’s just a number.
@ James
‘every wealthy hood has this person and this situation…’
You are so so right. It isn’t that I don’t like the looks of the house – I think it would look pretty cool in an industrial neighborhood as it’s void of any traditional ornamentation/conformity/human scale that makes the neighborhood so attractive to them in the first place. Find the perfect established neighborhood, tear out a part of that neighborhood, build your ego, move on; it actually disgusts me -profiting form your neighbor’s hard earned aesthetics by contributing nothing to it.
Hey clio buy this place so we can have an appropriate venue for our first Crib Chatter meetup
place is modertastic
but anyone else think they either got sleepy or just gave up by the time they got to the 2nd and 3rd bathroom?
if you paid 4mil woulndt you feel a tad bamboozled when you walk into those poopers?
“I think price is irrelevant on this one. If you love it and have to have it and have the money – it’s just a number.”
I suspect that people who think like this, and have the money to back it up, don’t want to buy someone else’s dream. They’d rather look for some other townhoses to tear down so they can build their own.
Unique place.
Don’t see the structure/build out being $2MM. They will make a killing if it goes anywhere near $5MM
Interior has a Pelli vibe
Being a block off Halsted, I would think that the would be some noise/bar issues?
“What’s with the kitchen table separating the range from the sink? Seems a little awkward. ”
Looks like there’s 2 sinks.
Westloopelo – what are build costs per sqf on something like this? $300-$500?
Russ, Bob…
I drool too… I like contemporary/ modern (Dwell Magazine stuff especially for a little less monied). I used this home for a quick post on my blog… how it’s tough to find contemporary modern design in Lincoln Park for under $2M. Seems to be the break point.
http://chicagorealestatelocal.blogspot.com/2010/03/modern-single-family-home-design-rare.html
Bob,
I agree, have never seen any life form here. The lonely chair on the terrace has never moved.
I love the house, but 5 million? Surely you could buy land and build this for a lot less. I mean they paid 1.6 million for the original in 2000, then paid to tear that place down. That’s a lot of extra juice to pay before you even get to the cost of building this structure.
“I agree, have never seen any life form here. The lonely chair on the terrace has never moved.”
If not-lived-in, they did an amazing job with the staging–the stuff in the BRs especially makes it appear lived in.
BTW–Architect owned.
“if you paid 4mil woulndt you feel a tad bamboozled when you walk into those poopers?”
hate to recycle material, but hell no! i’d be all like “I’m rich beyotch!!!” and then do my bidness
I have loved this house since the day it was being built when I lived right up the road.
I also have a friend who was afforded the opportunity to tour this home a few years ago. She said that supposedly the architect is some Japanese guy who has a 5-year waiting list of clients who want houses around the world and when you commission him to design a house you have virtually no say in the process….he builds you a house, and you take it.
Amazing…my dream house
“but anyone else think they either got sleepy or just gave up by the time they got to the 2nd and 3rd bathroom?
if you paid 4mil woulndt you feel a tad bamboozled when you walk into those poopers?”
The master bath doesn’t look that amazing either. Fine but not $5MM fine for me. It’s the layout, afforded by the large lot, that I really like.
Also, is this house really that out of scale for the street? What was in place before? Not close to as bad as some places in Bucktown/Wicker that are next to a tiny cottage.
There is a video linked on the B&W website that shows the owner/architect giving a walkthrough of the home. Awesome place but he said that in the summer the living space doubles. Does that mean there is approximately 2400 square feet of indoor space? That can’t be right unless the home is something like $2,000/s.f. Of course the land, garage, basement & outdoor space are worth something but still seems overpriced if it is really less than 3000 s.f. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1745089117?bctid=26087410001
“Were a lot this size in the OTT to be available for construction due to a fire or b/c a non-historic building had been built before restrictions were in place–the 4+1 on North Park, for example–this house would be *completely* permissible”
This may be true, but I doubt there was a non-historic building at this location prior to the current one.
“She said that supposedly the architect is some Japanese guy who has a 5-year waiting list of clients who want houses around the world and when you commission him to design a house you have virtually no say in the process….he builds you a house, and you take it.”
Then said Japanese architect is letting someone else steal credit for the design–the architect of record (and winner of AIA awards for interior *and* exterior design for this house in 2006) is teh owner of the house. And lets just say that neither is first nor his last name are particularly Japanese.
Also, I want to know how an architect can afford to build and own a house like this. I remember reading in the Chicago mag article that he was with DeStefano? Last I heard, they were not paying multi-million dollar salaries there. Of course, his partner might be a hedge fund manager or there might be family money, or who knows what.
I am completely shocked for 2 reasons:
1. the price of this horrible piece of junk
2. the fact that everyone here seems to think it is so beautiful
When I looked at the picture, I thought it was a tear-down. WTF?!!!!!!!!! Seriosly, this has got to be one of the ugliest ugliest buildings I have ever seen. I fail to see any beauty in it? Obviously, this is some type of joke and I am not understanding the sarcasm in people’s comments….
Just what I heard.
you should be proud of this design, lamboclio. the architect is one of your own, a harvard grad.
Sonies,
“i’d be all like “I’m rich beyotch!!!” and then do my bidness”.
I’d come over for our weekly parties and high five you cuz this is awesome.
I love the scale of this home on the block and and the volume, light of the interior. Looks great on the street when walking by. Just enough statement made. One issue I have is all that red brick material. Not sure the quality of it.
This speaks a bit more to my $5M investment. Lake Front Baby! Lake Front!
3 CANTERBURY Ct WILMETTE, IL 60091
Plus it is walking distance from the Purple Line.
Clio,
“When I looked at the picture, I thought it was a tear-down.”
Your mom is a tear-down.
Stunning! This is really modern done right. I’d absolutely pony up if I had the cash. love it.
“Just what I heard.”
Understood.
“Obviously, this is some type of joke”
no you sir are the joke and your trolling is getting old… yeah you see some crapshack and say what an amazing place, they should be happy blah blah blah… then a nice property is posted and you bash it.
cue the Beatles “so tired” song
“you see some crapshack and say what an amazing place, they should be happy blah blah blah… then a nice property is posted and you bash it.”
But where’s the pool? And how do you park 6 cars, let alone 9? And where would you keep the horses? And how can you keep the gardener (who just bought a house) busy?
This is pretty awesome, but there are other properties in the city that I’d prefer for $5 million (for that matter, there are properties in the city for $3 million that I’d take over this place, leaving me with $1.7 million for a decent vacation home and $300k for a car worthy of Clio’s respect).
Regarding what was there, I find this in an article about the house:
“During the first year the couple spent looking at real estate, they passed over the lot they currently occupy, which Lothan deemed perfect because the owners had already torn down a decrepit old farmhouse it held, due to its expensive price tag.”
Fits with the little else I can readily find about the prop, and my (extremely vague) recollection from the 90s.
“Fits with the little else I can readily find about the prop, and my (extremely vague) recollection from the 90s.”
Hell of a decade, wasn’t it
“Hell of a decade, wasn’t it”
G.O.
Well, it’s a nice neighborhood, but it’s no Rogers Park…
OK – everyone, stop making this about me again. In my opinion, this house is EXTREMELY ugle. I have lived in a “modern house” and I can tell you that it is not easy. Every piece of furniture and every decoration has to be in the perfect place. There is NO room for junk or mess. NOBODY (except in the movies) can live like that. I am not kidding – it looks great now, but put yourself in there for a week and it will look like crap. That is not a functional house at all – and I DO think the outside looks ugly (remember people once thought marina city was absolutely stunning and beautiful). Furthermore, all of you hypocrits, read and re-read all of the postings on other threads on this site. The ridiculously negative things said about other properties is unbelievable – yet none of those people get bearated/bashed. Be fair w/ your criticism.
I still just could NOT get over the number of positive comments on this listing – but then I realized that people are likely not looking at the price or seriously considering this place for themselves. This is just a dream/fantasy and now I understand. However, if you look at the price, there are SO MANY BETTER properties out there for 5 million – you also could build a much better place than this.
Furthermore, 5million itself is a ridiculous amount of money (I now it is obvious) but people tend to forget this once properties get over 2 million (they begin thinking the difference between 2 and 3 million is not that much – but think about the impact of the difference between 300k and 1.3 million – much greater – point being it is the same amount). Now extrapolate that to 5 million and you can understand my shock and disgust!!
Side note to AK-49, be careful what you post- you are not as anonymous as you would like to think. Seriously, stop the personal attack – it WILL absolutely 100% get you in more trouble than you can imagine.
“they begin thinking the difference between 2 and 3 million is not that much – but think about the impact of the difference between 300k and 1.3 million – much greater – point being it is the same amount”
Think about how much easier it was going from $5mm in assets to $10mm than it was getting the first $1mm.
The difference b/t a $2 and $3 (or $5) million is in your allocation to real estate; the difference b/t $300k and $1.3mm (around Chicago) is *mainly* in your income and size of mortgage.
Who has a mortgage on a 5 million dollar home?
Thats what she said. lololololololol
“Side note to AK-49, be careful what you post- you are not as anonymous as you would like to think. Seriously, stop the personal attack – it WILL absolutely 100% get you in more trouble than you can imagine.”
Nevermind..I misread.
going to have to agree with what clio says here…looks to me like a cross between a doctors office waiting area and a suburban libray atrium.nice area,though.
They current owners have to be trying to pull a million dollar profit out of this…at least.
It’s boxes within a box within a box. Meh from an artistic stand point. Doesn’t take much originality to come up with that. Kind of reminds me of Main St in Evanston, west of Ridge, where there are Victorians or Edwardians on large lots and then there’s an ultra-modernity that didn’t age well.
I’m surprised no one’s caught the fact that the building on the right has a brick facade circa late 70’s.
Not my taste at all, but I think it’s beautifully done. One thing I appreciate is that the footprint of this house doesn’t dwarf its neighbors. The setback is the same, and it does’t occupy every square inch of the lot, or tower over the buildings on either side. They actually picked up the red brick/black trim color palette of many of the homes on the street. I think it looks much MUCH better than most of the new construction SFHs in the city (for comparison, check out the place next door to the east).
That being said, if I was rolling in the dough, I’d buy this house instead: http://www.bairdwarner.com/real-estate/il/chicago/07558028.cfm?
Sheesh! Color me panting!!
Marble is so done. Tile is where it’s at!!
Not to my taste, but still a beautiful, gem-like modern house. It’s just that places like this are nice places to visit but I wouldn’t want to live in them.
But Clio is right- you can’t really LIVE in a place like this. There is no room for your personal quirks and tastes- just imagine displaying your collection of hand-built model vintage cars, or your teapot collection or your own quirky art in this place. I’ll bet if you did and the architect got wind of it, he’d pay you a personal visit just so he could flip all your corrupt personal stuff in the dumpster.
Something about modern Starchictects that I absolutely detest is their arrogant way of imposing not only their aesthetic but their extremely demanding notion of how people should live in their houses,on their clients. Frank Lloyd Wright (just TRY living in one of Frank the Great’s houses), Mies, and Corbusier were the role models for the moralistic, fascistic Starchitect with his idea that he knows better how you should live than you do. Wright designed all the ugly furniture for his leaky mold-trap houses, and you’d better not change it. Mies designed furniture fixed in place for some of his buildings, and for his office buildings, blinds that could be opened to only three positions- closed, all the way open, or half open.
I want a home with room for my personality, instead of one that is so much about the architect and his quirks that I feel like I’m a caretaker in his house instead of an owner in my own. Is that what clients pay mega $$$ for- to be some arrogant architect’s curator and conservator? I guess so, because a lot of well-healed people out there will not only pay major bucks for a Wright that needs hundreds of thousands in restoration and will still always be moldy, and will also agree to preserve the place as it was designed and make no alterations that might injure the integrity of the architecture.
This is why I get such a kick out of the place where Mies was living when he died, which was not one of his pure, severe, geometric buildings but a 1910 vintage apartment full of all the trim and millwork and covings he considered so corrupt. Even HE couldn’t live with his architecture.
I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Thanks folks!
I realize not everyone runs to the mailbox when their new issue of Dwell arrives.
This is the first time in 10 years I’ve lived in a building less than 100 years old (mice free for awhile, thank you very much)!
I love vintage details, beautiful woodwork, etc.
But, they didn’t stop training architects in 1890. There are beautiful houses from all eras. This is a prime example of really great modern architecture. Not all modern architecture is good, but from the photos, this indeed looks truly lovely. And, I’ve read Dwell cover-to-cover. They don’t all turn out so well.
I hate to cite a “my cousin” story. But, she lives in a minimalist environment with a recent, modern renovation. They’ve found places for their stuff. It’s not quite as stressful as you might think. And, she’s lived there more than a week!
I think the house is nice. I lived right around the corner and always thought that this was a slap in the face to the neighborhood. It does not respect the classic homes that it borders. It’s a weird look for such a nice classic street like Webster. I love the house, but maybe it should be in Bucktown on Wolcott next to “Urban Sandbox”
Can’t “live” in a modern house? Where would you put your stuff? These comments are absudly ridiculous. How about freeing yourself from a bunch of junk? This home has a good amount of built-in cabinetry and closet space where appropriate. Even in these photos you can see the storage space in dining, kitchen and office.
We have two kids yet our living room resembles this one (minus the 20 foot ceilings, gigantic-ness and really, really expensive furniture)…large low profile sectional (check), one end table (check), one low coffee table (check), two 1964 Norwegian canvass back loungers (check), flat screen on low profile TV bench (check) stack of design books, (check). NO clutter. It gets messy with kids toys, throw pillows etc in everday use, but easily cleaned up for company if necessary. Its much better not to have a lot of stuff around particularly with kids.
No need for a ton of useless dusty objects, papers, junk on every surface and wall. One or two great art pieces will do in most rooms, and you can switch them out. This same no clutter rule goes for every room.
It’s habit… mail gets sorted right away, clothes are minimal and hung/folded, household goods are minimal and stored away. Good modern homes usually have storage that makes sense, rather than the opposite. But, some stuff laying around in this home would be no big deal. It’s huge. There’s no restrictions on how someone would choose to live in it.
“Westloopelo – what are build costs per sqf on something like this? $300-$500?”
Hard to say without a RL tour and chat with the architect/owner/builder. As ashamed as I am to admit, a home of this level is out of my league!
Based on the spectacular pics, info available and also on places I have been fortunate enough to have been invited to here in the city, I would guesstimate at very least $500-750… easily. This would be only the materials used with trained labor man hours a good deal extra.
I was a guest of a guest at a high end design Industry gathering in Florida a few months ago in a place that was very similar to this….extremely modern and blindingly stark, but it held such beauty in it’s simplicity.
We simply could not stop gawking at the extraordinary finishes…rare for even that level of construction. That 10,000 sq ft building was purchased by the first buyer during the first few months of the RE disaster for $25 mil. From the educated chatter that was being whispered, the build cost was $1200 / sq ft and it was plain to see how and why.
Back to this place though, given the rarity of the materials used and the evident craftsmanship involved, it appears to be priced at a very reasonable rate.
It is great to see that the CC regulars do appreciate the home for what it is and there is no discernable bashing of the home itself, nor no negativity/speculation of the owner(s) and their decision to make such a bold statement in an area not at all accustomed to such dramatic buildings.
To build in an area surrounded by older, established homes the owner took such a great risk, and for them it seems to be paying off big time. I wish them only the best in finding a buyer who is able to appreciate such a dramatic home. It could easily have been rejected for going so heartily against the grain, but even the die hard fans of period homes seem to enjoy the uniqueness it brings to the streets surrounding it.
I am glad to see that even though most of us could not afford to buy AND maintain such a museum quality home, there is little viable criticism of it. And this is exactly how it should be. Even though it might not be to everyone’s liking, the fact that is has gained such praise shows that regardless of the style and location, there is still respect for this level of creativity in a home.
As far as actually living in it and feeling totally comfortable doing so, I would compare it to being totally fine with drinking J&B Scotch then one day being given the opportunity to drink only a very rare, 25 year old single malt, limited production and prized scotch.
Getting used to it and truly appreciating it for what it is would take some time, but once one would come to terms with the severity of such a change, it would be extremely difficult to go back to your old drinking habits.
While I am extremely fortunate. blessed, overjoyed and 125% happy and satisfied with the two outstanding and beautiful customized homes I have built for myself over the past 10 years, I could easily become acclimated to these surroundings and could see myself living here well into my retirement years with no regrets.
I would be more than happy to give it a go and see how long it would take for me to make that change in lifestyle to the point that I would only want everything in my life to be of the same rare quality.
This is not to say I am not totally at peace and comfortable with my current, hard earned lifestyle and homes, but even I would feel out of place for a few months before I could allow myself to wear my work boots to walk across those floors and not worry that I was creating some sort of minute damage to the materials. Can’t say I would allow my dog free run of the home though…and he is the most valued member of my family!
So yes even we (my Frazer and myself) would still walk gently over these fantastic floors for awhile, but in the end it would be viewed as nothing more than a place to rest your head after a long hard day bringing life back into neglected and abused homes.
And I can guarantee each and everyone of you is capable nd more than willing to be given such an opportunity to do so.
One suggestion for our Sabrina….how about featuring these types of unattainable to the masses homes to let us see what is absent from our lives?
There is always that dream of hitting a $200,000,0000 power balls lottery that would allow us to experience this rarified lifestyle while totally appreciating it for what it really is….just a different and better way of living.
thanks westloopelo,
but I obviously have a bit more attitude and spunk than you. AK49 and anyone else who personally blasts someone else really should watch it. I have no problem getting him/her fired or arrested – these threatening and provocative posts are absolutely against the law. If Sabrina had any sense at all, she would realize this and stop the nonsense before the website gets shut down.
“We have two kids yet our living room resembles this one”
yes but you have a nanny/help to help keep it clean. i have one little guy and i come home and its a Cheerio and Thomas the train disaster zone, i have called FEMA a few times.
to roll minimal modertastic with kids will take great determination and anal-fortitude or extra help.
“just imagine displaying your collection of hand-built model vintage cars, or your teapot collection or your own quirky art in this place.”
LMAO!
dummy, us modern minimalists only collect peacock feathers, humadors, foul shag carpets and grecian vases
“I have no problem getting him/her fired or arrested – these threatening and provocative posts are absolutely against the law.”
LMAO! Again! I’m sure the CPD would love to arrest AK-49 for violation of criminal code 37-K “use of “your mom” jokes on the internet”
Sonies:
Your mom is a tear-down.
Cheers!
The soon-to-be felon in aisle 3–I can hear the sirens now.
clio,
You are pushing this whole thing a bit too far.
Please do not threaten our Miss Sabrina with having her blog shut down because another poster stated some things about you in response to your boasts of how fabulous your life is.
This is an anonymous internet forum and nothing more. You can’t really take these things that seriously!
I too have been on the receiving end of the same sort of responses because my comments provoke the not-so-nice in my fellow posters. But at the end of the day, I do not know them nor do they know me…they don’t pay my bills or write my check so their words are simply that…harmless words. Let ’em slide off your back and just chill out. It is not at all worth the stress and frustration you seem to be feeling because of your posting.
Above you say you have more attitude and spunk than I do. Fine, if that is how you see it, more power to you. But along with all of this ‘attitude and spunk’, I am sure you also have grown a very thick and resilient skin. That is essential to your own survival, both on the internet and in real life.
People call you a DB (a term I detest) because you act as though your shit doesn’t stink. You tell us, in a very arrogant way that you drive a lambo, have servents, look down at others who don’t have your supposed wealth or education, blah blah blah. If you really want to be taken seriously without all the negative comments then you need to cut out this kind of talk and keep it real.
Sorry, but you have no one to blame for your reputation here on CC. Threatening others with lawsuits, arrests and ruining their reputations along with suggesting the owner of this blog will have her great site shut down is just going too far.
Chill dude, chill!!
something about it reminds me of the lobby of the Aon building.
“something about it reminds me of the lobby of the Aon building.”
Probably the two level LR, facing a “sunken” outdoor space, with the railing around the “mezzanine”. Hadn’t thought of that, but I do see it.
Fun fact about Stan/Amoco/Aon: The marble for the outside (since removed) was from the same quarry Michelangelo used for his statuary. The construction of the building completely depleted the quarry. 2d fun fact: replacing the marble cladding cost more than the original construction of the entire building.
Man its been a while since I have been in the lobby of the Aon building, but yeah I can see the resemblance.
If clio opens its mouth before presenting its bling it gets no respect
“If you really want to be taken seriously without all the negative comments then you need to cut out this kind of talk and keep it real.”
Has anyone seen the modern house on corner of mohawk and wisconsin? I think it blows this one out of the water in terms of curb appeal. It’s on a double lot (no house to north of it). If I was gonna spend this type of money I like the look of this one better (no its not for sale). here is street view link, check it out
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=mohawk+and+wisconsin+st&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=N+Mohawk+St+%26+W+Wisconsin+St,+Chicago,+IL+60614&gl=us&ei=nxSBTMf5DoW8lQeD4sC8Dg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA
Third fun fact: Stan/Amoco/Aon was designed by the same architect as the WTC, using the same structural engineering (ie, the integrity of the exterior wall is critical to the building remaining standing).
“the modern house on corner of mohawk and wisconsin?”
Certainly blows it out of the water for looking like a suburban office building.
But, other than the public housing (and parking lot) across the alley, it’s in a *much* better location than the Webster house. Which is prob. part of why it appears to have no ground-level outdoor space.
“2d fun fact: replacing the marble cladding cost more than the original construction of the entire building.”
Really? Real dollars?
“it’s in a *much* better location than the Webster house. ”
Nope…this house is right near McGee’s with $1 beers twice a week and awesome wristband deals weekend nights. Then again talk about a useless amenity for the owners of a $3mm place (no way this is worth 5mm).
“Really? Real dollars?”
Not in real dollars. Nominal. And it was from 73 to ~90, so there was a lot of cumulative inflation.
$120mm original cost, publicly-admitted minimum of $80mm to replace, but I’ve heard (2d-hand) from Amoco people (Amoco owned the building until ’98) that is was more than $120mm.
“Nope…this house is right near McGee’s”
as you knew, I was talking about for a multi-mill SFH, not a $650/mo studio. And your point, of course, is another note in favor of the OTT location.
“Certainly blows it out of the water for looking like a suburban office building.”
Must be some nice suburbs out there. I actually think this place looks really cool, esp. at night when the whole side lights up and smoke is coming out of the fence. (true)
“But, other than the public housing (and parking lot) across the alley”
Fair point, I missed that. I guess the trade off is having a nice family park in front of the house and less traffic on the street.
“Must be some nice suburbs out there.”
Just in the proportions of the building and the windows on the front. Not materials or size or anything else. Pretty standard mid-century small office block proportions, sans the sea of parking.
@westloopelo –
‘To build in an area surrounded by older, established homes the owner took such a great risk, and for them it seems to be paying off big time…. It could easily have been rejected for going so heartily against the grain, but even the die hard fans of period homes seem to enjoy the uniqueness it brings to the streets surrounding it.’
Oh lord, you’re just not getting it. People who actually *live* in the area hate the home and everything it and the owner’s stand for; I’m sure they’re are sick of hearing their neighbors slam the place every time one walks by, or it being used as yet another example at the Sheffield Neighborhood Association meetings of why they need landmarking. Don’t you live in NY? Imagine this sitting on Bleecker, and tell me the neighbors (again, those that actually *live* there) wouldn’t be pissed.
Misplaced architecture (like this) is dependent on deeply rooted / established neighborhoods (like this) to display it’s contrarian self. I have yet to see a house like this sprout up in a non-established neighborhood and the hordes follow. It’s like a like a hipster: hate everything about the conforming establishment, display that hate, but yet allow the establishment to provide you with a platform for your clueless existence – ‘my shaggy facial hair sure looks a lot nicer thanks to teenage braces… thanks working class dad for sitting in Edens traffic 5 days a week to pay for the grill… guess I’m glad I don’t actually look like I came from the streets’.
I’m with clio on the outside, it looks awkward. But the inside is cool. I’m sure with all that space, light and patios one could make due no matter how much they preferred older, warmer environments.
You seem to be making a lot of assumptions. Most people on here who walk by it actually love it. I also think it integrates well with the neighborhood and I always loved it from the outside. Inside is even better.
“Oh lord, you’re just not getting it. People who actually *live* in the area hate the home and everything it and the owner’s stand for; I’m sure they’re are sick of hearing their neighbors slam the place every time one walks by, or it being used as yet another example at the Sheffield Neighborhood Association meetings of why they need landmarking. Don’t you live in NY? Imagine this sitting on Bleecker, and tell me the neighbors (again, those that actually *live* there) wouldn’t be pissed. “
“I’m with clio on the outside, it looks awkward. But the inside is cool. I’m sure with all that space, light and patios one could make due no matter how much they preferred older, warmer environments.”
The interior space/light/layout is what I really like about this place. Granted, it’s on a close to double lot. In one of the interviews about the place, I did see the architect’s wife say he had sketched out designs for single, double and triple lots. Would be interested to see the single lot design.
Clio – You wrote that this five million dollar property looks like a tear-down, and I’m the one with a ridiculous post???? Are you insane?
You’ll have me “Fired/arrested” for saying, “Your mom is a tear-down.” Again, are you insane?
Throwing your money and obnoxious lifestyle in everyone’s face is one thing IU can tolerate, but THREATENING people to “watch it”, that’s going WAAAAYYYY to far.
Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable.
“Throwing your money and obnoxious lifestyle in everyone’s face is one thing IU can tolerate, but THREATENING people to “watch it”, that’s going WAAAAYYYY to far. ”
Dude, you’re from Alaska. No one cares what you think, unless it relates to salmon, moose chili or oil.
“Dude, you’re from Alaska. No one cares what you think, unless it relates to salmon, moose chili or oil.”
I also have a lovely recipe for homemade reindeer sausage if anyone’s interested.
Oh no! – That comment might get me fired or arrested.
“Oh no! – That comment might get me fired or arrested.”
I was hoping you’d threaten to have *me* arrested.
Oh wait–even people from *Alaska* realize that’s an empty threat.
Wow, clio’s waaaaaay off the reservation.
LOL at this one:
“It’s like a hipster: hate everything about the conforming establishment, display that hate, but yet allow the establishment to provide you with a platform for your clueless existence – ‘my shaggy facial hair sure looks a lot nicer thanks to teenage braces… thanks working class dad for sitting in Edens traffic 5 days a week to pay for the grill… guess I’m glad I don’t actually look like I came from the streets’.”
Warning, hilarious, but this site is not for people with heart conditions:
http://www.latfh.com/
anon – “Wow, clio’s waaaaaay off the reservation.”
It’s okay. The recession affects people in different ways. Clio’s probably just upset because he found out his case of ’86 Chateau Haut Brion is no longer pooring well…..
“upset because he found out his case of ‘86 Chateau Haut Brion”
How dare you!! Someone with the refinement of clio wouldn’t stoop to owning, much less drinking such plonk while the ’82 Haut Brion still exists.
Make another disparaging remark like that, and it won’t just be your career and freedom at jeopardy, but your life–pistols at dawn, buddy.
that staircase alone is worth the price of admission. i’m in loooooooove.
remember people once thought marina city was absolutely stunning and beautiful
I still do! Sure it has aged and the concrete is wearing but the form and curve on the river make for a spectacular texture as you drive down Wacker. what is not to like about MC. Now River City in the south loop has never been my favorite but that is another story.
This place is cool but not 5M cool. The red bathroom reminds me of an old old Mc Donald’s tile from the 70’s era. Anyone else recall that design?
I honestly think the same person is posting all the koolaid comments for this place. It’s already looking dated. The chrome in the kitchen? Um, No.
The finished are OK, but 5 million? No. The floors suck also.
Also, at most, they spent 1.5 million to build that house. They used the same foundation. And like I said before, the finishes are good, but get real, it did not cost 3 million to build. Pls. refrain from making completly insane commentary about construction costs when you have no basis whatsoever. I toured it also, and yes it really is looking dated.
Yes, stainless steel is so yesterday. Somehow I think these trends are not going to be as important as the condo market implodes. I doubt we’ll see a lot of “new” look beyond granite & stainless. And for this place, IMO the stainless is a classic and will never look dated.
From the reaction on this thread, your opinions are in the minority.
alex:”It’s already looking dated. The chrome in the kitchen? Um, No.”
“They used the same foundation.”
The same foundation as … what? The lot was vacant when they purchased it, and a frame farmhouse was there before that.
For $4.9, I’ll take this one. At least you get an in-ground pool with it (which I didn’t think you can have in Chicago…)
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1744-W-Cortland-St-60622/home/13354992
“I didn’t think you can have [an in-ground pool] in Chicago”
From a zoning or engineering perspective? The above-ground pools that are so common are about mostly (1) lot size and (2) cost.
This property was delisted on January 10th.