Do You Have Vision? Get a 2-Bedroom House for the Price of a Condo: 2500 W. Berteau in North Center
This 2-bedroom brick bungalow at 2500 W. Berteau in North Center recently came on the market.
Built in 1921 on a 30×125 corner lot, it is being sold “as-is.”
Yes, there are hardwood floors under the green shag carpet.
The listing says it has a full unfinished basement and a walk-up attic.
The house has no central air but it does have a 2-car garage.
Yes, it is west of Western but it is near the Riverfront Nature Trail.
For someone willing to do a rehab, is this a deal for the location?
Pamela Pekoc at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
2500 W. Berteau: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed
- Sold in June 1990 (no price available)
- Currently listed at $369,000
- Taxes of $866
- No central air
- Bedroom #1: 12×10
- Bedroom #2: 11×9
I like it in terms of location. I don’t have an inkling on price
Near the brown line.
Near to Lane
How primary schools?
So North Center is the new “it” location? Future Green Zone?
Where is the great defender of North Center?
I need a better nickname for him for the wiki 🙂
“Near the brown line.
Near to Lane
How primary schools?”
It’s Waters per redfin. I haven’t investigated Waters too much, but it’s good or promising or something like that. If I were picking around here, might take 2446 Byron instead, which is in Bell.
At the risk of being mocked, it’s a little farther from brown line than I’d like. And is proximity to lane a plus/minus?
“Where is the great defender of North Center?”
Thought william wallace was pretty good. Don’t know if his dominion extends w of w.
Wrong school, wrong side of Western, too far from the Brown Line.
You wouldn’t even notice Lane Tech from here.
“At the risk of being mocked, it’s a little farther from brown line than I’d like.”
According to the agent’s map interface, each nearby brown line station (rockwell, western, irving park) is roughly 1 mile away. I believe the CC standard is 1/3 of a mile is optimal, 1/2 mile is acceptible if there are other benefits that offset it.
“And is proximity to lane a plus/minus?
No but proximity to Hero’s submarine is 😀
You’re right of course. I’m at less than .25 mi to a CTA stop. I should try walking .75 mi before saying its close to either brown line stop.
2446 looks like it needs less work.
Wow. Lots of parks around here.
I’d just think that it nice if the the youngsters can walk home. Gordon Tech is close too if one wants to go that route
I live right by this location. The primary school is Waters, which is not in the same class as say Bell or Blaine, but is rapidly gaining reputation. The new alderman in the 47th Ward, Ald. Pawar has created a GROW47 campaign which helps reroute a lot of TIF money towards local schools. I’d think that for a young family who won’t need to worry about schools for a little while, or for investment opportunities, the 47th Ward would have to be a top choice (if it’s not already). Plus, if you’e like me and absolutely abhor public education, Queen of Angels is just up Western and St. Andrew’s is also pretty convenient.
I would think distance from the Brown Line would be fine for just about anyone. I basically make the walk from this location to the Rockwell stop on the Brown Line everyday, it takes maybe 5 minutes. And it’s not that close to Lane where you’d feel any affect from the school. It’s not like I have hundreds of Lane kids running around my place.
” If I were picking around here, might take 2446 Byron instead”
2.
“it’s a little farther from brown line than I’d like”
2.
“Wow. Lots of parks around here.”
You are clearly wrong. I’ve read again and again about the lack of parks in this area.
“2446 looks like it needs less work.”
This one, even if the floors underneath are trashed, would *look* like it needs less work if they just tore out the carpet. Groove and I will do it for them for a case of (good) beer and two jibaritos each.
That said, I’d guess that 2446 has real stairs up to the attic space, where this one may not. Big plus for 2446.
“So North Center is the new “it” location? Future Green Zone?”
It’s greener than most of the area in the broader GZ defintions. If western portions of LP and LV (nevermind more than about 8 blocks of BT and WP, most of the WL and SL, Aville, etc) are GZ, then so is NC. If you adopt anonny’s view, then no, but why would *you* of all people, Icarus, do that?
One of many areas I have lived in; love how CC keeps following my moves. I spent 2 years renting on Pensacola two blocks away. My friend lived nearby, and after a few years of Cubs parking hell, I was ready for easier street parking. This is my take on the neighborhood, keeping in mind I was single at the time.
Very quiet, very family-friendly. Yes, you can walk to Montrose, with Lutz’s, Aldi, etc. A few restaurants on Western were ok (at the time, 2001-2003 if memory serves correct). But not much else around. Lots of street parking, the riverwalk is nice, but short, Overall, not much to recommend about this area. The park on the other side of the river is ok; it gets very crowded in the summer with bbq’ers, kids/sports things. I about died of boredom living here, I do confess.
TWO JIBARITOS? That’s like 1500 calories right there…
Better I eat the jibarito after ripping out the carpet or I’ll be passed out from the food coma
West of western, not Bell, North of Irving? FAIL. This may as well be scumberg.
sorry, scumburg. No E in schaumburg.
Ha, you’re an idiot, HD.
“One of many areas I have lived in; love how CC keeps following my moves. I spent 2 years renting on Pensacola two blocks away. My friend lived nearby, and after a few years of Cubs parking hell, I was ready for easier street parking.”
I had been wondering where NC is, but didn’t want to look foolish asking. Knowing that it’s impacted by Cubs parking at least gives me a general sense. Thanks.
“TWO JIBARITOS? That’s like 1500 calories right there…”
Gives us something to feed the kids we’d find to actually do the work …
“Knowing that it’s impacted by Cubs parking at least gives me a general sense.”
Never seen an issue this far west. Or anything close to this far west. People actually choose to *park* basically 2 miles from Wrigley, and not at DeVry ($6, including the shuttle bus, and even that is meaningfully closer than this)?
Honestly, parking in LP-OZ would be just as close. Parking in Andersonville (and taking the redline) would make more sense.
to clarify, this area in not impacted by cubs parking. Sorry for the confusion. Prior to this neighborhood, I lived at Roscoe and Henderson. An area GREATLY impacted by Cubs games.
“TWO JIBARITOS? That’s like 1500 calories right there…”
Screw the jibaritos. Where do I find some picadillo in the loop?
I can’t imagine a family in 2012 tolerating just one bathroom. At the very least a home of this size should have a powder room in addition. The point about the school seems moot when there aren’t enough bathrooms for a family. I just can’t imagine having just one toilet in a house. What if two people both have food poisoning?
“to clarify, this area in not impacted by cubs parking. Sorry for the confusion.”
Shazbot; I’m right back where I started.
Jenny by induction having 2 bathrooms as you suggested is not enough either. What if parents and the kid all 3 have food poisoning? ; )
“What if two people both have food poisoning?”
They got what they deserved for ordering turtle soup?
“having 2 bathrooms as you suggested is not enough either. What if parents and the kid all 3 have food poisoning?”
If food poisoning + bathroom access is your primary housing-related issue, I have a suggestion:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2216-W-Grace-St-60618/home/13388728
At least two bathrooms are a must. I love my husband dearly, but I believe in his and hers separate bathrooms.
This is my list of minimum # toilets per person in the household necessary for comfort:
1 person – 1 toilet
2 people – 2 toilets
3 people – 2 toilets (you can probably squeak by)
4 people – 3 toilets
5 people – 3 toilets
6 people – 4 toilets
7 people – 5 toilets
I think there should never been less than two fewer toilets in the house than people.
” Where do I find some picadillo in the loop?”
I thought we didn’t have to put up with picadillo in the GZ? Or has the Loop lost GZ status?
“I thought we didn’t have to put up with picadillo in the GZ?”
Perhaps that’s why I’m having so much trouble. Icarus, for the wiki, please overlay the census maps with picadillo density.
” Icarus, for the wiki, please overlay the census maps with picadillo density.”
this is becoming a bigger project than I budgeted for. Might have to offshore it, except I cannot remember if I’m for or against that.
“What if two people both have food poisoning?”
well, I’d then suggest grabbing a shovel and heading to your beautiful back yard?
Also I hope they keep the puke green shag carpeting in this house, imagine the possiblities!
I think you can put another bathroom in this place
What if you put two toilets in the same bathroom (for food poison emergencies)?
Okay, then why not just buy this one:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2446-W-Byron-St-60618/home/13452688
Or do you know a contractor that would build out *two* brand new bathrooms for under $20,000? If so, please send me his contact info.
Just limit your shopping to goddess and grocer or Fox and obel or whole food in a pinch
I don’t think I’d want to hire the contractor would could build me *two* new bathrooms for $20,000.
“What if you put two toilets in the same bathroom (for food poison emergencies)?”
Doesn’t HD just poop his kid in the sink? (Yeah, that doesn’t sound like something an attorney would do. Maybe paralegal makes more sense.)
The whole point of this house is not what it is but what it could be.
So ceiling height in attic and basement are far more important than number of bathrooms. Looks from the outside like attic is to short to just dormer and buildout two good size beds and full bath.
“The whole point of this house is not what it is but what it could be.”
A set for the next season of “Shameless”?
“A set for the next season of “Shameless”?”
I had been wondering what “Shameless” is, but didn’t want to look foolish asking. Knowing that it’s something anonny watches at least gives me a general sense. Thanks.
This house isn’t priced well enough to make it a deal considering how much work it needs. Plus, I still think this is a dull neighborhood. The entire neighborhood just seems drab.
Jenny. I agree the house is overpriced considering size , location , condition.
“Plus, I still think this is a dull neighborhood. The entire neighborhood just seems drab.”
Last time I was in U-Village, it seemed overrun with stolen goods, housing projects and drunk kids. Wouldn’t want to live sandwiched between a flea market and a bunch of college kids, living next door to a housing project.
anon, I only live in UV because it’s close to downtown. I don’t sing its praises. I don’t see what this neighborhood has going for it. It’s drab and dull and not close to downtown.
This model is asymptotically same as having one toilet per person as n-2/n goes to 1. This is a wasteful model as unless the members of the household always dine together (not likely for large households), it makes sense to reduce the number of bathrooms to keep the rate fixed say at half two thirds or something : )
“I think there should never been less than two fewer toilets in the house than people.”
” I don’t see what this neighborhood has going for it.”
You’ve admitted that you wouldn’t know, not having been there in several years, never having been on the side streets, and disliking things and people in general, everywhere. I don’t know why I even discuss it, as your dislike is entirely predictable.
ps: If the damn wiki were even started, I’d just link to it once and be done.
“anon, I only live in UV because it’s close to downtown. I don’t sing its praises. I don’t see what this neighborhood has going for it. It’s drab and dull and not close to downtown.”
Remind me again why you don’t live in a studio in river north? I mean that somewhat seriously and not as an insult.
“This model is asymptotically same as having one toilet per person as n-2/n goes to 1.”
Asymptotically, so does (n+1000000)/n, so I don’t know that’s the right way to look at it. Agree it doesn’t make sense though. Why would you not need to add a toilet going from 2 to 3 people, or 4 to 5, but you would for e.g. 20 to 21, when you already have 18 toilets.
For the record, I wasn’t knocking all of NC (though I still must confess that I’m not certain of its location), only the subject property.
yes, but my asymptotics kicks in much faster than yours : )
For the record, I understood that, I was just making a subtle(ish) “just google it if you want to know and don’t want to ask–you’re obviously connected to tehgoogle” point.
annony – think lincoln/damen/irving is pretty much the center of north center
Icarus a/k/a Wiki wizard – how did you cope with the Wiki protest “down day” last week?
Did life lose all meaning for you (except for the presence of Mrs. I of course)?
I do agree with most of you in that the location is not that exciting. If it was a few blocks north, closer to Wilson, that would be a different story. I’m also not sure how you would squeeze any more square footage out of it. As some of you already mentioned, the roof doesn’t seem tall enough to add anything up there and seems impossible to dormer. Also, I’d be surprised if the basement would be much higher than 6′ plus a few inches.
I expect the price will keep dropping on this one.
P.S. I thought this was in Coonley not Waters
“sorry, scumburg. No E in schaumburg.”
Scumberg is a worse connotation: as it implies it’s Schaumburg if the hebes moved in. Hey you guys were the ones who thought Schaumburg couldn’t get any worse, not me.
“P.S. I thought this was in Coonley not Waters”
West of Western, north side of Berteau is Waters, south is Coonley.
“P.S. I thought this was in Coonley not Waters”
Looks like south side of the street is Coonley and north is Waters.
http://www.cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Elem_North.pdf
“I basically make the walk from this location to the Rockwell stop on the Brown Line everyday, it takes maybe 5 minutes.”
We’re going get you into a footrace with miumiu.
“West of Western, north side of Berteau is Waters, south is Coonley.”
Dammit, I just spent 1 minute (or 25 seconds in matt time) looking that up. Always seems odd to me to divide down the middle of the street.
Great looking house that can be restored and made into a place with great craftsman character. I think building out the basement is the best option to expand. Probably perfect for a couple with no kids, single parent or small family. I think you will need to spend 100K to make it really nice.
This is actually in Coonley and not Waters.
This area is very much connected to Lincoln Square and NorthCenter and a short walk will get you to great restaurant and bars.
Also, access to the river and 3 parks is a big plus.
One last thing… the closest train station is .6 miles away (Not 1 mile mentioned above).
If you don’t mind playing landlord, then you could buy 3932 Claremont in Bell for about the same monthly payment, though you would need to come up with some extra cash for the down payment.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3932-N-Claremont-Ave-60618/home/13389297
“sorry, scumburg. No E in schaumburg.”
Scumberg is a worse connotation: as it implies it’s Schaumburg if the hebes moved in. Hey you guys were the ones who thought Schaumburg couldn’t get any worse, not me.
LOL, totally right. -burg is far more preferable to -berg.
For the record i my ‘e’ was a typo instead of a ‘u’ and the only anti-semectic connotation comes from the minds of bob and dan.
“We’re going get you into a footrace with miumiu.”
I think that does give us a new fastest cc’er. Sorry miu.
Looks like a decent solidly-constructed handyman-special bungalow for a $300,000 purchase price, so long as there aren’t roof, structural, or MEP problems not shown in photos. A young architect would love this place and location. $50,000 and an owner acting as GC/labor would go along way here. Offer $290,000. (Isn’t this about five walkable blocks from El?)
“Isn’t this about five walkable blocks from El”
Yes, just over five full chicago blocks–a little under 2/3 of a mile. A distance which has been well established on cc as entirely unwalkable for most people, as it would take them 25-35 minutes, cause frostbite in the winter, heat stroke in the summer, and muggings year round.
Of course we do have a few who walk at a decent (ie, not *quite* Boston qualifying) marathon pace, so for them, its almost too close. I would call it a comfortable 10-12 minute walk to either Rockwell or Western stop, but hate walking the “wrong” way.
And my historical misspelling, duly noted by the resident spell checker on a previous post, was due to my having zero interest in that suburb since my days as a teenaged mall rat. I rarely see its name in print, and forgot/didn’t care/need an editor. Unlike some fascists, I try hard not to let stereotypes cloud my vision.
“For the record i my ‘e’ was a typo instead of a ‘u’ and the only anti-semectic connotation comes from the minds of bob and dan.”
For the last time, this is in Waters, not Coonley.
http://schoollocator.cps.k12.il.us/viewer.htm
“my historical misspelling, duly noted by the resident spell checker on a previous post”
Who’s the spell checker? Sure ain’t me–I never know if it u or e.
“my historical misspelling, duly noted by the resident spell checker on a previous post”
“Who’s the spell checker? Sure ain’t me–I never know if it u or e.”
Bob’s descends to namecalling about spelling/grammar/typos stuff when he’s arguing sometimes. But “historical”?
West of Western is the real city with solid working people.
Looks like under contract. Not surprised as this is a charming place in nice location. With some renovation this can look amazing…
Closed at $329K per redfin.
Good deal for the buyer.
Just wanted to note that I bought this place! My husband and I are prior residents of this area as well as Ravenswood Manor and Northcenter. Big fan of the location, the neighbors, and the connection to the parks and the neighborhoods. The refinished floors look amazing. 🙂 The house is very charming and cozy, albeit with a lot of work to do. We are a small, young family so it’s a nice project for us.
Congrats Jessica! I hope you enjoy your new home. It has good bones.
Just an fyi for everyone else: it closed for $329,000 on February 29.
Seems like a nice place Jessica, enjoy!