Dreaming of an East Lakeview Greystone: 657 W. Roscoe
For many buyers, the Chicago greystone is their dream property.
This 3-bedroom greystone at 657 W. Roscoe in East Lakeview was built in 1901.
It has vintage features such as a fireplace and wood trim as well as modern amenities like an updated kitchen and central air.
The lot is an extra long 134 feet and it shows in the lush backyard.
The only thing it is missing is parking. But do you even need a car in this neighborhood?
Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and virtual tour here.
See the floorplan here.
See the property website here.
657 W. Roscoe: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed
- Sold in September 2000 for $565,000
- Sold in October 2002 for $925,000
- Currently listed for $999,000
- Taxes of $11,297
- Central Air
- No parking
- Living room: 17×12
- Dining room: 16×11
- Family room: 16×12
- Bedroom #1: 15×13
- Bedroom #2: 12×9
- Bedroom #3: 11×9
- There is a basement-but it appears from the listing to be unfinished.
If I were still in the market I’d be eager to take a look. From the photos it looks like it may be lacking in authentic vintage feel, especially once the current owners take their furniture with them. For $1M it seems like you could spend a little more and get a lot more vintage character. Also, the backyard would only be useful to me if I could somehow landscape to block the views of the surrounding 3-flats.
Nice but not at $482 per square foot and no on-site parking. The 638 West Oakdale Greystone is a much better property in value for finishes.
I’ve said it before – no parking is a total dealbreaker. Maybe not for those in the market for a modest condo who may be content renting parking or dealing without a car, but not in this bracket. If I’m looking at paying anywhere near a million, I expect parking – 1 space minimum.
A Million dollar SFH with not even one parking space? Good luck to the seller, that’s all I’m going to say…
ed, now that we agree, is somebody actually going to buy that place?
This is a nice house, with high-quality kitchen and bath renovations. Looking at the floor plans and the photos, however, it’s evident that the rooms are difficult to furnish due to odd configurations and multiple door locations. Master bedroon isn’t really functional for a king or even queen bed, unless bed is oddly angled; livingroom seems to have same problem.
Someone may buy this home, and discover it’s difficult to actual “live” in the house, particularly if family has children.
Yes, there’s absolutely no need for a car in this neighborhood (I live carfree in a 3/3 on Aldine). I stumbled across this on Sunday and I literally stopped in my tracks while walking home. This building is just GORGEOUS in person. It’s the closest I’ve found to my dream home: decent size, good layout, plenty of outdoor space, sunlit rooms, vintage charm, gorgeous exterior, ideal location (I love my current location, I just wish my own home had a bit more character and a lot more sunlight). The only problem: I’m currently unemployed, which would make acquiring this property a bit… difficult.
“Yes, there’s absolutely no need for a car in this neighborhood.”
There are people like me who wouldn’t live in ANY neighborhood without a car. I think that especially applies to people with kids.
Architect – I noticed that as well. It is especially evident in the bedroom photo with the bizarre angle of the bed. Kind of an ineffective use of space, but the room doesn’t give much of an option.
I dont know how anybody with kids (or even no kids) can live without a car. I realize tons of people do it but thats a luxury I can’t live without.
11×9 = bedroom fail
this place will sell near ask
From the pictures it looks vintage outside but not so inside. its pitures so maybe i am not seeing the vintage details.
parking in LP, GC, Loops, Lakeview, Rodgers park should be a non issue. cars dont belong there, good pair of shoes you need, car ya dont.
but Jon brings up good points,
“If I’m looking at paying anywhere near a million, I expect parking – 1 space minimum”
“There are people like me who wouldn’t live in ANY neighborhood without a car. I think that especially applies to people with kids.”
“I dont know how anybody with kids (or even no kids) can live without a car. I realize tons of people do it but thats a luxury I can’t live without.”
I don’t have kids and I don’t have a car, its pretty easy and saves a crapload of money in the process once you get used to it. You just have to live in a walk friendly hood.
If I did have kids, i would certainly have a car, no questions asked! The hell with pushing or carrying these little brats everywhere… I wouldn’t have the time or patience for that shit!
“11×9 = bedroom fail”
Not really – you have that larger 12×9 bedroom…
Max will probably beat out Stella for the additional 9 square feet. I hope they don’t have to travel anywhere far because there’s NO CAR!
I live in a walkable Chicago neighborhood, but I do have a car. I almost never use the car to go places within a couple miles of home, except for big shopping trips. Mostly I walk or take the bus. The reason I keep a car here, and I suspect this is true for many who live along the lakefront, is because I frequently travel outside the city. Public transit is non-existent outside of Crook County.
Sonies,
What about the noise issues in this particular neighborhood?
“If I did have kids, i would certainly have a car, no questions asked! The hell with pushing or carrying these little brats everywhere… I wouldn’t have the time or patience for that shit!”
bro it actually easier without the car, for us. if i didnt live and work where you need a car the groove family would be car free. it will save a bunch of money and wouldnt need car seats for the mini grooves.
the best part of no car I wouldnt need to brave my life to go jogging at night.
as for the odd shaped Master bedroom,
easy fix, that walk in closet door might be able to be moved. and wonder if that bed is like that to stage the picture?
“Sonies,
What about the noise issues in this particular neighborhood?”
Noise issues for this property? None really, unless you can’t stand the white noise of lake shore drive a block and a half away.
Of course you need a car, to get out of the cramped, loud, dirty, inconvenient, aggravating urban hellhole once in a while.
I’d take my $1M to Wilmette or Barrington or Naperville and get a bigger house, on more land, in a neighborhood where armed muggers are nonexistent and corrupt, inefficient Chicago government can’t touch me.
“11×9 = bedroom fail”
“Not really – you have that larger 12×9 bedroom…”
Not really – Sabrina actually rounded up in her description. Take a look at the floor plan. Room sizes are 11’6″ x 8’6″ and 10’6 x 8’6″
Nice….but sorry about off topic. How has 340 On The Park and The Heritage been holding up? Been awhile since any updated posts. I really like those two buildings. Thanks.
Seem like a deal to me! It’ll sell quick!
“11×9 = bedroom fail”
while it’s hardly spacious i’ve seen many smaller “bedrooms” than this. my favorites are the 8×8 rooms in 2930 n sheridan. hell they might even be 7’6″ and rounded up
“Of course you need a car, to get out of the cramped, loud, dirty, inconvenient, aggravating urban hellhole once in a while.”
wow pretty biased aint ya mr. anonymous?
but seriuolsy charlie’s used to have some good specials there, its been two years but back then during the week there was some good deals.
This house is ugly on the inside (the outside is fairly standard Chicago greystone) and the layout is clearly made for people who lived a hundred years ago. And the percentage of people who can afford a million dollar house but dont want a car is probably close to, if not at, 0. The percentage of people who can afford a million dollar house and choose to live somewhere without a parking space is only slightly higher than 0.I bet the owners of this house have a car and park it nearby or on the street. For those who dont own cars, I dont believe that if you could truly afford one with no financial impact on your life that you wouldnt get one. People who dont buy cars do so because they dont want to spend the money.
There are plenty of people who CHOOSE to be carfree–I don’t understand why that is so hard to comprehend. Personally, I like cars, I just don’t like taking care of them and I don’t like being stuck with just one or two kinds of cars. So one reason why I adore this location is the transit options: express buses, 3 train lines, car rentals (Hertz is at Belmont and Halsted), and car sharing (there’s a plethora of Zipcars and I-Go cars).
That said, Mario is not a fan of selling without a parking space and I’m surprised he didn’t get the owners to nab a rental spot for marketing purposes.
Like Sonies said, east of Halsted is pretty quiet and anyway without an alley behind this house there’s not likely a problem of nighttime extracurricular activities nearby. Not sure why LSD noise was mentioned though: the block between the inner drive and Broadway pretty much buffers any noise from LSD.
Silly buyer, are you the potential buyer who can afford a million dollar home that pete9441 referred to? He said that if you have that much money you probably also have a car and require a parking spot.
A lack of parking spot kills this place. Is there any way they could park the car in the back yard? Classy, I know.
Most couples who can afford a $1MM house own at least one car and have enough clothes to fill two of those walk in closets, I mean bedrooms.
So if you love the place and you require a parking spot, rent one. If I’m paying $6,000 a month in mortgage and taxes I’m not going to bitch about a parking cost that rivals my cable bill. Somebody bought this place in ’00 and ’02 without parking, and somebody will buy it again without parking. I’m sorry but if you have kids and absolutely need to be within a soccer ball’s kick of your Honda Oddyssey, maybe it’s time for the ‘burbs.
“I’m sorry but if you have kids and absolutely need to be within a soccer ball’s kick of your Honda Oddyssey”
…and a $1mm housing budget, this isn’t the place you’d pick, for a *lot* of reasons that go beyond the parking issue.
Yes, I’ve been in a position to spend $1M on a house. (Sigh–not now, unfortunately.) Even when we were totally flush, we didn’t have a car–just saw no point to own in this neighborhood. Plus, our carbon footprint was, heck still is, awful even without a car due to all our air travel.
That said, if I got a new gig tomorrow, I’d be serious about this house in a heartbeat. (Ugh–except the prospect of selling now would make me pause.) The elementary school is decent, the location is ideal, the building is gorgeous (the pic doesn’t do it justice), and there’s tons of potential here.
Here’s what I don’t get: this blog is full of iconoclastic posters who are quite smug about their lack of house ownership. Why is the idea of being quite content without a car in a neighborhood blessed with great alternatives so alien? I’m not saying that the lack of parking is a drawback for most people. I’m just saying that there are eco-minded people, even wealthy ones, who don’t want a car and do want a gorgeous place to live in a neighborhood that makes carfree living very easy. Once upon a time, I was one of them… and by most yardsticks, I still am (I couldn’t easily swing $1M anymore, but we could still afford something not too far off that mark and even now I’m still looking for perfection).
Silly, I agree with most of your points. For myself I find it much cheaper to use the Zipcars parked in front of my building on occasions when I need a car than to own the car and rent the parking. But no parking on a SFH is a hot potato. Sure, maybe you don’t mind, or think it’s virtuous even, but what about your prospective buyers when you’re transferred to another town? Or you down the road? If you’re contemplating buying a SFH you’re in it for the long haul — is there no room for a Prius in your life six years out?
There are several rental parking options on Broadway. We have them identified.
Honest question – wouldn’t it be feasible to own a car and either rent a nearby spot or do (permit?) street-parking? I know neither is ideal, but it seems that most commenters are implying that if you own a car, this house is out of the question.
On a separate note, if I had this kind of money to spend this place would be on my short list. My wife would probably veto me because of the parking, though.
Silly Buyer,
You crack me up. Your disassociation from what essential elements higher end properties should have, and even reality in general, really gives me a good laugh.
Keep livin’ the dream, man. And on these here interwebs we’re all in a position to buy million dollar homes. In fact I just had my valet park my Bently! LMAO!
Nobody believes your BS but you. You’re likely a shill for the industry and I doubt you even know or are even acquaintances with anybody who could reasonably afford a million dollar place.
“this blog is full of iconoclastic posters who are quite smug about their lack of house ownership.”
No genius I don’t tear down or am opposed to religious symbols generally. But I am quite smug in that while I may not use as many fancy words as you, when I do use them I understand what they mean and I know a thing about personal finance.
Neither can be said for you, can it?
Bob, did missing this huge rally cause you any consternation? Or is that why you went to the bar tonight in the first place?
“I’m sorry but if you have kids and absolutely need to be within a soccer ball’s kick of your Honda Oddyssey, maybe it’s time for the ‘burbs”
thats some funny stuff there, funny stuff. thank you bryce for the morning laugh 🙂
“this blog is full of iconoclastic posters who are quite smug about their lack of house ownership”
i think Bob and HD are the only ones renting! HD is just waiting for an insane deal and bob is extra frugal until some woman locks him down 🙂
so i think most people who post here are not “smug about thier lack of home ownership”. we are smug at our lack of insane disposable income to buy a 3br Vintage outside, blahhhh newness inside, creative (read challenging) floor plan, without parking 1mil home.
off to go get some earl grey, darn it where are my key to my aston martin?
!!!!!!!!LEAVE BOB ALONE!!!!!!!!
I am strongly on the ‘you must have at least one car regardless of where you live side’. The CTA does not even come close to being the sole mode of transportation for those who have the $$ to purchase a million dollar home.
Having lived in NYC for the major portion of my life where to have a car is a negative, I have never been without at least one. Presently I have two cars at that location. Both are stored in my home’s garage and my work vehicle is stored in a month by month garage a few blocks away. Same in Florida…two in my garage.
While I do taxis most of the time in NYC, the ability to jump in your car to drive out of the city is essential. Here in Chicago I drive everywhere unless it is a dinner out in the Randolph district where parking (without damage to your car) is horrendous.
Back to this property. Nothing real special about it for the price. And to have an unfinished basement on a million dollar house just does not cut it in these times. Even if it is not used by the owners, it does have to be finished. Come back in 6 months with a finished space and it just might make sense then.
“I just had my valet park my Bently”
The lack of the second “e” makes this car affordable on a budget.
“I am quite smug in that while I may not use as many fancy words as you, when I do use them I understand what they mean”
Now I’ll be on the lookout, Bob, better watch your word choice. (haha!)
The only thing insane was the bubble pricing this decade. I’m merely waiting for home prices to return to affordable levels that don’t force record numbers of homedebtors into foreclosure. I assure you the market is getting closer every day and more and more affordable home are on the market, but the MLS mostly underwater homedebtors looking for me to bail them out of their bubble purchase.
“HD is just waiting for an insane deal “
What’s the commotion? Having living on the block, there’s secured, leased parking available right across the street, at about $160 per month. There’s garage parking at the corner for $200 per month. And if someone really wants it, a buyer can pursue a curb cut as did the neighboring property down the block. The location is great. It’s still zoned R4.5, allowing someone to build up. And compared to other SF available, you can get a garage but live under the L, you can get a frame house thats very modern inside, or you can go up another $150k and get a similar house with parking. And there’s one that’s gutted inside, for $1M. Or you can go condo and save some bucks. Solutions exist to address the challenges you raise – you only need to move up in price, down to a condo, or opt for frame or less desirable location. Of course, I think that Mario factored all of that into the price. Is it a unique property and are there challenges? Sure. But someone’s lived in this place continually for more than 100 years – I’m pretty sure that will keep happening. Just takes the right buyer. But I love reading some of you guys talk! Obviously, some of you enjoy yourselves as well 🙂
May I ask what the hell the ’02 sellers did to sell the place at a 63% premium in just two years? Were massive improvements made or did they trick some Manhattan/San Fransisco rube?
Just sold yesterday. Closing in October. Unbelievably, they didn’t care about parking…
Hope they got a deal!
And amazingly sqftge never came up… 😉
“And amazingly sqftge never came up…”
And amazingly MG brought up square footage. Shameless.
Mario lives by the adage “there’s a sucker born every minute”
Time to go jog past this million dollar wonder.
Saw yesterday that it was already under contract… I’m just sorry I didn’t get a chance to peek at its interior.
Sonies, there’s a reason why MG is moving properties in this economy. If he was just relying on suckers, every realtor could do what he does.
You know what the hardest part of being a realtor is?
Flipping all those light switches leads to a medical condition known as “flippy finger”.
Sold for 900k mid November 2009.