Forget California- You Can Buy a Spanish Revival Home in Norwood Park: 5232 N. New England
Spanish revival architecture is rare, but does exist within the Chicago city limits. Patterned after a mix of Spanish and Latin American architectural styles, it is usually characterized by arched doors, beamed ceilings, columns and tiled roofs.
This 4-bedroom Spanish revival home at 5232 N. New England in Norwood Park is a good example of the period.
Built in 1927, it has a juliette balcony and a deck with iron railings.
It also has the arched doors as well as the beamed ceilings in the living room.
The house has two fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom.
It only has a 1-car garage, however. And it does not have central air. But it’s on a 45×123 lot.
Arthur Gregg at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
5232 N. New England: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 car garage
- Sold in October 2001 for $347,000
- Originally listed in March 2009
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $399,900
- Taxes of $4222
- No central air
- Bedroom #1: 20×12 (second level)
- Bedroom #2: 13×10 (main level)
- Bedroom #3: 13×10 (main level)
- Bedroom #4: 12×10 (main level)
“it’s on a 45×123 lot”
And appears to take up most of it.
I dig the place, but the rooms appear fairly small in the pix (illusion? or reality?). This seems like a reasonable price for a big-ish house in this ‘hood.
But it’s on the wrong side of all the attendance area lines, isn’t it?
What was the original list price?
Kinda cool but not my style. It could sell me thinks.
“But it’s on the wrong side of all the attendance area lines, isn’t it?”
i think its garvy school here.
plus i dont think this is Norwood Park. more like…hold your ears anon and skeptic…South Norwood Park or Norwood park Area?
This house appears to have a very large footprint but doesn’t seem to be that large on the inside from the pics and description. I do agree that the rooms look small.
The garage is in front so behind the house is all backyard. It looks to be a good amount of space for the kids to graze.
I’d like to see this one in person, this is a property that could use a floorplan in the listing.
Assuming the 2001 price was not overpaid, the ask seems reasonable. Lack of A/C is probably the biggest issue. There is a basement so vents could be run underneath. Only 1 car garage is a deal breaker for some in this area.
“i think its garvy school here.
plus i dont think this is Norwood Park. more like…hold your ears anon and skeptic…South Norwood Park or Norwood park Area?”
Must be garvy, as it’s two blocks away.
It’s soldly in the NP “community area”. Seems to be in “Union Ridge”, whatever that is.
“Only 1 car garage is a deal breaker for some in this area.”
but the funny thing about NW areas is there is always parking and 90% right in front of your house.
“this is a property that could use a floorplan in the listing.”
Ditto!!!!!!!!! it takes up most of the lot but the tv room and oddly the dinning room look small????
“Union Ridge”
never heard that one? wouldn’t this be considered dunning area? From what i can recall in 2002 when i was looking at houses we looked at a house towards harlem ave between higgins and 90, it was close to the on ramp and for the price it was too much noise for the price. plus to far north for my comforability. the realtor said it was dunning area
It’s not in the Norwood Park people think of when you say Norwood Park.
Eh…for this price I would rather be in ‘central’ Edison Park right around Northwest Highway….You can surely find a comparable sized house and it is more “urban” then where this house is located.
“the realtor said it was dunning area”
Dunning is south of Norridge. IPR south to Belmont, Austin west to Cumberland.
(I looked that up)
>
Yup, misses both OP & NP.
By the way, parents, prospective parents, and pretty much all homebuyers should keep a close eye on the new magnet/SE policy for CPS, if they can understand it and keep up with the changing plans!
above should have quoted:
‘
But it’s on the wrong side of all the attendance area lines, isn’t it?
‘
“Dunning is south of Norridge. IPR south to Belmont, Austin west to Cumberland. (I looked that up)”
So union ridge it is. I have buddy i played ball with who bought around here. I should give hm a call and see if he likes it. He quit playing when he moved that far NW.
“keep a close eye on the new magnet/SE policy for CPS, if they can understand it and keep up with the changing plans!”
nobody could understand the previous polices either. (unless you greased the wheel if you know what i mean)
I would never count on magnet enrollment, i will shoot for it, but i have two back plans in place and the third back up is to move.
Oriole Park Elementary (which this is not) has to be one of the best school quality per dollar areas around, doesn’t it? Granted it won’t be luxurious or large, but you can get a house and yard for mid $300s and a very good neighborhood school.
Anything else comparable?
Anyone have thoughts on this area vs. Jefferson Park vs. Portage Park? I don’t really know much about them other than what I’ve read on wikipedia.
“Oriole Park Elementary (which this is not) has to be one of the best school quality per dollar areas around, doesn’t it?”
Also have to have kids that won’t get lost in large classes. Which is a legit issue.
I like this house, though not as much its neighborhood setting. Aerial photo shows what looks to be a two-car garage in backyard, yet listing didn’t appear to mention it. There is some 20′ x 20′ structure w/roof back in the yard at the alley.
I like houses with character; this house has character. Sabrina, there is an equally interesting house in North Park on Victoria, designed by Chicago architect Andrew Rebori, also for sale at this price range.
“Also have to have kids that won’t get lost in large classes. Which is a legit issue.”
Are the competitive enrollment schools any better on class size? Or are you just screwed on that in CPS?
“Are the competitive enrollment schools any better on class size? Or are you just screwed on that in CPS?”
I may be mistaken, but I thought Oriole Park had the largest class sizes in CPS, and perhaps in the state. Like 38 or something–>out of the 1950s.
ps:
Most “better” CPS are right about 30-32.
3252 W. Victoria is sweet, though kind of cramped on its N side against a multifamily building. It’s been under KT for a few days at least. Redfin shows the current listing as 164 days old, and list price $380.
“I may be mistaken, but I thought Oriole Park had the largest class sizes in CPS, and perhaps in the state. Like 38 or something–>out of the 1950s.”
last i read its 41 per class.
this has me scratching my head every year when they are in the tops statewide.
I always will believe that the smaller the class size the better. Oriole disproves me each year.
“I may be mistaken, but I thought Oriole Park had the largest class sizes in CPS, and perhaps in the state. Like 38 or something–>out of the 1950s.”
I wasn’t questioning the statement about Oriorle Park. I was just wondering if this is an overall issue in CPS, including for testing schools like Edison/Decatur (or good neighborhood schools), or something that is particularly bad for Oriole Park.
“last i read its 41 per class.
this has me scratching my head every year when they are in the tops statewide.
I always will believe that the smaller the class size the better. Oriole disproves me each year.”
I have to think that parental influence (time/resources/etc) trumps class size at this level. Yes, all else equal, class size matters, but the reason most CPS schools are bad is not class size. You could probably half the class size and not change things much at most places.
If you are a parent that cares about your kid’s education and can afford the still non-trivial amount to live in Oriole Park boundaries, well that’s where you’ll go. And you kids are probably going to be much better students no matter where they go.
“I always will believe that the smaller the class size the better. ”
Depends on the goal and the kids. Oriole does something right w/r/t test scores and the kids whose paretns choose that ‘hood.
Wow, the Victoria house is very cool, and seems like a pretty good deal, too, assuming K price is 5-10% under list. Didn’t know Rebori did more ‘downscale’ things out in the neighborhoods, too. I’d only seen the mansions and GC stuff.
Architect: You got other suggestions on interestingly designed, modestly-priced homes?
Groove:
There’s a large literature on class size. Quick summary: it’s complicated 🙂
Many think teacher load (how many unique students a teacher has in all their classes) is a better indicator than class size.
roma,
the whole cps issue is complicated. I barely made it through the CPS system myself and if wasnt for good parents i wouldnt have made it at all.
anon,
“Depends on the goal and the kids. Oriole does something right w/r/t test scores and the kids whose paretns choose that ‘hood”
how long do you think before the class size take a toll on oriole’s system and teachers? if at all?
DZ,
“but the reason most CPS schools are bad is not class size”
true its only one of the factors and some schools no matter how small the class size will underperform.
sorry sabrina,
i love this spanish house, dont know if it fits the hood, and no C/A is a deal breaker for me
Architect, good eye for those gems.
I’ve been in Victoria. It’s ridiculously small and a bit ramshackle, especially the wood porch and carport. The layout is less than ideal as the house doubled as an office at one point with an 8X5 waiting room and a 9X8 examining room. (I think it was a dentist’s office, I wasn’t really listening by the time it came up). The outdoor space is amazing and would be even more amazing if properly cared for. The asking price was 429 when I looked at it but given the size and location (on a corner with a police light, next to a rundown apartment building in a boring neighborhood that might as well be a suburb) I wouldn’t have lived there for 229.
“how long do you think before the class size take a toll on oriole’s system and teachers? if at all?”
class sizes all over the country (not *every* district, but districts in all parts of the country) were that big and bigger for most of the 50s and 60s. I don’t have anything more than anecdotes, but it doesn’t seem that it was too detrimental to the education of the early boomers.
But it’s definitely a source of stress for all involved, and some kids will get lost in a bigger class–but that’s about the kids’ personality and parental support. Other kids will do better in a bigger setting. It’s about knowing your kid.
anon,
It is about knowing your kid and being a good parent. But i think the avreage CPS parent thats having a kid get lost in in bigger classes, dont have the financial ability to send them to a different school (i.e. moving or private) to remedy the situation.
also with teaching (straight from a friend who is a grade school teacher) most teachers “teach” to the slightly below average kids in the class. so the smart kids get a lessor education and the troubled or lost kids get missed.
today im just to lazy to type.
Fyodor on December 17th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I’ve been in Victoria. It’s ridiculously small and a bit ramshackle, especially the wood porch and carport. The layout is less than ideal as the house doubled as an office at one point with an 8X5 waiting room and a 9X8 examining room. (I think it was a dentist’s office, I wasn’t really listening by the time it came up). The outdoor space is amazing and would be even more amazing if properly cared for. The asking price was 429 when I looked at it but given the size and location (on a corner with a police light, next to a rundown apartment building in a boring neighborhood that might as well be a suburb) I wouldn’t have lived there for 229.”
I google mapped it and I dont’ see it being next to an apt bldg or on a corner. Agreed though that hood has nothing to offer really offer.
Nice, but you should really check out the Old Norwood property at 6839 W. Thorndale…..a steal at the price!! And talk about a garden!!