Forget the Townhouse, Get a 3-Bedroom SFH in Bell for Under $550K: 1911 W. Berenice
This 3-bedroom single family home at 1911 W. Berenice in North Center recently came on the market.
It might not attract any notice in other neighborhoods but at $545,000 it is a rare single family home listed under $550,000 in the Bell school district.
Built in 1896 on a standard Chicago lot of 25×125, it has 1704 square feet on two levels. There doesn’t appear to be any basement or lower level.
All 3 bedrooms are on the second level. The house also has an “updated” kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The listing also says there is a new 2-car garage.
The gate in the picture above is for the property next door.
This house is listed $19,500 over the 2004 purchase price.
Will it get the premium simply because there are few properties on the market like it in the neighborhood?
Kevin Sullivan at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.
1911 W. Berenice: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1704 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold before 1991 (no price listed)
- Sold in December 2004 for $525,500
- Currently listed for $545,000
- Taxes of $8618
- Space pak air conditioning
- Bedroom #1: 16×14 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×9 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 17×8 (second floor)
$550k for a home with only one full bath in a mediocre neighborhood? No thanks.
Has the garage and building immediately to the east been torn down? Streetview shows a garage and a building but the picture above shows a wrought iron fence.
That being said, a little bit of fancy paint and some shake siding could make this into a very attractive home.
There has to be a basement, it’s just probably unfinished.
The interior looks nicer than I had imagined.
$500,000.
a little TLC and love this can be a great home in a great hood. if a 2/2 condos are going for 400k in the area then this is WAYYYYYYYY better value.
People are RABID for SFHs in the Bell school district. It doesn’t matter if there’s 3 inches of sewage in the basement, this house will sell for 525k. Personally, I think this is a solid deal anywhere in the 4’s, sans sewage.
$500,000 for a bonafide SFH home in the GZ, furthermore, in a neighborhood with a decent elementary school is a bonafide good deal these days. It’s not perfect but at $500,000 with 10% down it is just a few hundred bucks more a month than a conforming mortgage.
I always thought of this area as being run down. It’s so close to Lane. Meh. I would rather live in Sauganash for the price or even the suburbs.
“I paid half a million for this and all I got was one full bath”
This 3/3 townhouse in Blaine was the better buy. http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3618-N-Lakewood-Ave-60613/home/13383518
$450k for the subject
“There has to be a basement, it’s just probably unfinished.”
Yeah, redfin says unfinished basement.
“The interior looks nicer than I had imagined.”
Besides the kitchen, most of that is just paint and furniture, no? And no photos of the bathrooms.
It’s the v specific location obviously that would give me some pause. If this were my target budget and neighborhood, I’d think about maybe a 2 flat in Bell west of Damen and maybe converting/fixing that up over time.
Blaine is not Bell. Bell is the ‘bankers’ school district. Everyone there seems to be a VP or a middle manager in the stolid finance or banking industry, including this owner. Blaine doesn’t have quite the cache.
“I always thought of this area as being run down. It’s so close to Lane.”
They’re building $2.x million neo palladian megamansions there these days (even closer to Lane than this place).
“Bell is the ‘bankers’ school district. Everyone there seems to be a VP or a middle manager in the stolid finance or banking industry.”
Is that what you learned, among other things, from your ex Bell GF?
DZ the fact that it’s still intact on the inside and livable is good. So many of these dumpy looking old victorians are disasters on the inside so for this to be intact and livable I found to be surprising. Upon seeing Sabrina’s picture I thought this was an estate sale.
That girlfriend was a long, long time ago. We’re talking the late 1990’s. Things were changing at the time and the transformation is almost complete these days.
DZ (November 15, 2011, 11:39 am)
“Bell is the ‘bankers’ school district. Everyone there seems to be a VP or a middle manager in the stolid finance or banking industry.”
Is that what you learned, among other things, from your ex Bell GF?”
“the fact that it’s still intact on the inside and livable is good”
I’m with you. I had the same initial reaction to the photos, but then started to think it was mostly that the inside (at least the parts shown) was much nicer than the outside, and that what looked nice about the inside was (kitchen aside) pretty cosmetic.
But agree it seems like a pretty livable, move in ready SFH, if you are willing to accept the compromises, in the low to mid $500K range in Bell (east of western) is not bad.
Surprisingly nice on the inside. New siding and you have a nice home. Another full bath too.
Mediocre neighborhood? You can’t be serious. It’s one of the most livable and vibrant neighborhoods in the city. No offense Jenny but I am beginning to wonder more and more whether you actually live in the city. Between this comment and your continual low balling on places I am not certain you understand the market much.
The thing holding this one back is that there is a new pizza joint opening up next door to this so the lot directly next door is going to be a beer garden. Don’t think people will like the noise too much. Personally I am excited for the place (Brick’s) to finally open!
“$550k for a home with only one full bath in a mediocre neighborhood? No thanks”.
“Blaine is not Bell. Bell is the ‘bankers’ school district. Everyone there seems to be a VP or a middle manager in the stolid finance or banking industry, including this owner. Blaine doesn’t have quite the cache.”
So what, this is still a dumpy Victorian in North Center with only one bath. Meanwhile the 3/3 TH buyers in SoPo I referenced are probably taking their kids the 1.5 blocks to Blaine this weekend to play on the playground and then hosting a nice rooftop party afterwards. My neighborhood preferences aside, that TH is a much much better buy.
“Mediocre neighborhood? You can’t be serious. It’s one of the most livable and vibrant neighborhoods in the city.”
Yes, Mediocre. Just like Bricks pizza. Go up to Spacca Napoli for a decent pie.
I am not sure if I want my kid to grow up in the ugliest and cheapest house in an affluent neighborhood. I’d rather be in a hood were my family is a typical resident, not the richest or the poorest.
“Blaine is not Bell. Bell is the ‘bankers’ school district. Everyone there seems to be a VP or a middle manager in the stolid finance or banking industry, including this owner. Blaine doesn’t have quite the cache.”
BTW, it reminds me a bit of the burrow, the Weasley family home from Harry Potter : )
Don’t know who recommended SN, but it is a pretty good find in Chicago. My husband’s favorite pizza place in the city.
“Yes, Mediocre. Just like Bricks pizza. Go up to Spacca Napoli for a decent pie.”
I have never driven down the side streets in this area. The main thoroughfares always seemed dumpy to me… not cute like Lincoln Park or big boxy like the Clybourn area. Driving near Lane with the overpass and the dumpy grocery stores makes me feel depressed. I would much prefer someplace like Sauganash, likely for a bit less money.
I also don’t understand the obsession with schools. Go private and live where you want.
“Go private and live where you want.”
That will cost you $20K/kid/year
OT: A solution to the housing crisis and high cost of college!
http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/14/mcmansion-cul-de-sacs-become-college-student-ghettos/
Qu’ils mangent de la brioche
“also don’t understand the obsession with schools. Go private and live where you want.”
“Yes, Mediocre. Just like Bricks pizza. Go up to Spacca Napoli for a decent pie.”
SN is walkable from this house (and closer than your townhouse that you keep trying to interest everyone in).
“Don’t know who recommended SN, but it is a pretty good find in Chicago. My husband’s favorite pizza place in the city.”
I will claim credit.
“I also don’t understand the obsession with schools. Go private and live where you want.”
Which private school would you recommend for someone who is a likely buyer of this house?
I don’t know why but every time I see the street Berenice, I think of Borat saying ‘very nice’ and pronounce it that way…
anyhoo, 500k isn’t out of this world crazy for a SFH in Bell, right? A mere 3-5 years ago this would have sold for a cool 650k at least!
definitely not an outrageous price and I suspect they will get decently close to asking. Just have to be okay withe beer garden neighbor four months a year.
FWIW….the five families that I know with kids at Bell are neither bankers,nor weathy. Ironically out of the 10 or so families at Blaine, four of them are among the mega rich (or at least I would consider them to be)
I’m glad I am not as excited about Bell as everyone else is. I’d rather them go to a less hyped school such as Blaine or elsewhere and not have to raise my family with only one bathroom. Many people say this is a good price and it only needs another full bath, but how many people will have the $$ to put in a second bath after putting down $100k for this house? My guess is after this sale, the next time this house is put on the market it will still have only one full bath or someone will have totally redone it and paid well less than $500k to start.
“Driving near Lane with the overpass and the dumpy grocery stores makes me feel depressed.”
So, the last time you drove there was before they rebuilt da Jewel? Like 10 years ago?
Also, viaduct will be torn down somewhat soon. And the bridge over the river resurfaced at the same time, I expect.
denigrating the thoroughfares of north center awakens the sleeping tfo
“FWIW….the five families that I know with kids at Bell are neither bankers,nor weathy. Ironically out of the 10 or so families at Blaine, four of them are among the mega rich (or at least I would consider them to be)”
Well, I think anon offered to introduce HD to some non-rich Bell kids but it doesn’t sound like HD took him up. I haven’t looked much at places in Blaine, but my impression is it’s more heterogeneous. That there are more $1.25 and above as well as more under $750K SFHs than in Bell (if you leave the unreno’d 2 flats out of it).
I’d also ask if the Bell families you know live in the neighborhood versus testing in.
“I’d rather them go to a less hyped school such as Blaine ”
Like saying Hinsdale Central is less hyped than New Trier. Comparing Honeycrisps to Pink Ladies.
“the five families that I know with kids at Bell are neither bankers,nor weathy. Ironically out of the 10 or so families at Blaine, four of them are among the mega rich”
Of course, Blaine had their field turf paid for by the Cubs and Bell had theirs paid for by an “anonymous” (no, that’s not implying that it was me) parent donor.
i am missing the irony
@ DZ, credit well deserved.
“denigrating the thoroughfares of north center”
No, knocking the formerly dumpy grocery stores of Western/Roscoe can’t go without comment, especially given the source. But really just because its a dated complaint, not that it wasn’t true sometime. But we could also complain about all the damn kids at Riverview, too, in exactly the same spot.
And, for the record, I hatehatehate Western, but still prefer it over Ashland from the Kennedy to ~Foster at least.
ashland used to fly in the mid 90s. you defended its honor when sonies said it was sketch.
“And, for the record, I hatehatehate Western, but still prefer it over Ashland from the Kennedy to ~Foster at least.”
Well sure, Ashland is really sketchy, in parts, and dangerous too. A man can get shot there.
Oh, and this:
“I am not sure if I want my kid to grow up in the ugliest and cheapest house in an affluent neighborhood.”
1. Still lots of renters.
2. Still many condos.
3. Tho easy to argue not “in the neighborhood”, west of Western is still in Bell, and this ( http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2446-W-Byron-St-60618/home/13452688 ) is available for $380, with 3 baths, 5 bedrooms, no beer garden (don’t forget the ‘Que, trudi, which will lend the year-round scent of smoked meat, which I’m sure would–alone–be enough to take this place off jenny’s list) next door and a 30’ lot.
4. You could easily dispute the “ugliest” by reference to the most expensive current listing.
This house is so Archie Bunker. The neighborhood is rather dull and not that pretty. The only draw to me would be Bell.
Miumiu…just because you live in the cheapest & ugliest house in the neighborhood does not mean you’re the poorest. Perhaps you’re the smartest.
“you defended its honor when sonies said it was sketch.”
I defended IPR/Ashland against a comparison to Archer Avenue. And noted my general distaste for Ashland then, too. Parallel parking chowderheads and the Lincoln and Clybourn and Elston intersections on Ashland make me mental. Also hate the removal of so much commercial property in favor of mccrapbox condos.
“ashland used to fly in the mid 90s. you defended its honor when sonies said it was sketch.”
I could also have sworn that anon claimed western was better than ashland block for block on the northside.
“I could also have sworn that anon claimed western was better than ashland block for block on the northside.”
Meant to say he claimed ashland was better than western.
And, of topic, but whatever:
Definitely too much white space on the page now. Just not enough lines of text on the screen at one time.
clearly he is passionate about both streets
“I could also have sworn that anon claimed [ashland] was better than [western] block for block on the northside.”
From the perspective of *living* on it, yes. I wouldn’t live on either, so it doesn’t much matter. But that has a lot to do with Ashland being much more residential.
Found what you were thinking of:
“anon (tfo) (August 26, 2010, 10:06 am)
“““Ashland = worst street in the city to live directly on”
Very much doubt it.”
western is top 5?
That’s all you need to know–I can’t think of any block b/t Roosevelt and Evanston where Ashland is worse than Western (as a street to live on) at the same address number.”
http://cribchatter.com/?p=9178
“Definitely too much white space on the page now. Just not enough lines of text on the screen at one time.”
I agree. I said this a few times to Sabrina, but she did not reply. It is just too much scrolling down.
“Miumiu…just because you live in the cheapest & ugliest house in the neighborhood does not mean you’re the poorest. Perhaps you’re the smartest.”
agreed with the first part, but don’t see how you use it to imply you are the smartest. Perhaps you’re the one with questionable taste?…lol…but seriously I meant it for the kids. I think for grown ups it should not matter much.
“Definitely too much white space on the page now”
racist!
Whatever school district it may be in, there’s no way I’d pay $500,000 for a house this ugly next to a beer garden and with just one bathroom.
I understand that some people can’t bear the thought of leaving the city once they have kids, and they settle for overpaying for places like this just because the school is good. But is this really true city living? Maybe the neighborhood has changed for the better recently, but it’s still pretty much a backwater, and always will be. It’s not near good public transportation or the lake. I can’t think of any interesting local shopping or restaurants, or even a decent park. Like the suburbs, you basically have to drive everywhere. And here’s the kicker: Once the kids finish Bell, where do they go?
“From the perspective of *living* on it, yes. I wouldn’t live on either, so it doesn’t much matter.”
Yes, that was the comment. What perspective are you using now? Driving? Walking? Spectating? I generally prefer Ashland (or even Calif) over Western for N-S driving, especially if not going up much above Foster. Western through Lincoln Sq is terrible (especially northbound) and I don’t find the Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland intersection that bad. I never go south of Diversey though.
“I agree. I said this a few times to Sabrina, but she did not reply. It is just too much scrolling down.”
I’ve said this a few times too. Also, the link that used to be above each comment is gone so it’s difficult to link to a specific comment.
“It’s not near good public transportation”
Define “good”. I guess you are NOT counting the Brown Line as “good”. Or is ~2000 feet too far?
“I can’t think of any interesting local shopping or restaurants, or even a decent park.”
You know, I can say the same thing about Highland Park. No local shopping or interesting restaurants or even a park that I know anything about. Does that say more about Highland Park, or about my knowledge of Highland Park?
Two things I’ve learned about Jenny from this site:
1) She likes giant land tortioses
2) She does not know the north side at all
But seriously, I would not pay $550k for this house. But if I had 2 school aged kids I might consider it. I suspect someone will buy it soon.
BTW, besides the line spacing issue, if the like thing was after one’s name, it would save considerable space.
“Yes, that was the comment. What perspective are you using now? Driving? Walking? Spectating?”
Yes? North of IPR it’s tolerable to drive on, but there’s so little on most of Ashland that there’s little reason to walk unless you live right there anyway. I’ve had many more near accidents on Ashland than on Western and I’m on Western more, so it’s experiential bias.
“I generally prefer Ashland (or even Calif) over Western for N-S driving, especially if not going up much above Foster. Western through Lincoln Sq is terrible (especially northbound) and I don’t find the Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland intersection that bad.”
Western from Wilson to Lawrence *is* horrible, mainly bc the signals are soooo hideously timed. And stay away from Western just north of the viaduct in the second half of October, as the Party City backup is horrible.
Ashland is just too narrow in most places to have 4 lanes of traffic AND parking AND the planter median. Makes me nuts.
Anon,
Perhaps there are some good parks and restaurants around this area. As I said in my preface, I’m not too familiar with it. However, I’ve never been drawn to go to that neighborhood for any reason, and the business streets I’m familiar with over there are quite unattractive.
So the brown line is 2,000 feet away? OK – maybe I should have looked at a map before I wrote. Half a mile to public transportation is pretty good, though no fun in the winter walking down unshoveled sidewalks at night. But I guess I can’t complain too much.
“But is this really true city living? Maybe the neighborhood has changed for the better recently, but it’s still pretty much a backwater, and always will be. It’s not near good public transportation or the lake.”
Huh? Do you know anything about Chicago?
Dan #2, you’re high as hell.
You can walk the kids up to Welles park, where you can sign them up for swim lessons, football, t-ball or baseball. Or the park on Addison and Lincoln, or Lakeview HS park (and grab some Popeyes on the way home), or Hamlin park (which has a pretty nice jogging track), plenty more small parks too.
You can walk the kids to multiple locations that offer Art, Music, Gymnastics (on Ravenswood), and Martial Arts lessons. Also a YMCA right down the street. Schools too.
Two Brown line stops right there, and a Metra stop a short drive north of Montross.
After all that, you can walk to Spacca Napoli, then catch some blue grass at Old Town School of Folk or Martyr’s. Not bad for a “backwater” sh*thole in the city.
@Dan #2
RE It’s not near good public transportation or the lake. I can’t think of any interesting local shopping or restaurants, or even a decent park.
1) Several independant antique stores right here on Lincoln here. Trader Joe’s a block away, CVS two blocks away, Brownstone Bar. Martyrs Bar (great music), Silvo’s, Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro, Cafe 28, Snappy’s Shrimp, El Laano Columbian Steak joint, Orange Garden Chinese (been there since like 1920), walk to Southport.
Yeah, nothing to do at this location, and the Brown Line is 3 blocks away, which doesn’t go anywhere either.
“However, I’ve never been drawn to go to that neighborhood for any reason, and the business streets I’m familiar with over there are quite unattractive.”
Dan, I can say *exactly* the same thing about Highland Park. Funny co-ink-e-dink, no?
Vlajos,
Having grown up in Lakeview, I think I know the North Side pretty well. I’ve never been impressed with this area. The side streets are nice enough, but there’s really nowhere to walk to. And you can’t deny that this is far from the lake and there are no parks other than playlots nearby. I got the public transportation part wrong (though I’d still say half a mile isn’t that great). So sue me.
I think I’d better keep my thoughts about North Center to myself from now on.
“And you can’t deny that … there are no parks other than playlots nearby.”
What qualifies as “nearby”? Gotta have a park within 492.876 feet, or else it’s “too far”? 15-20 minute walk is too much?
“I think I’d better keep my thoughts about North Center to myself from now on”
But how do you feel about land tortoises, giant or otherwise? Tasty? Better if far enough away that one would consider driving to see them?
I grew up on the far northwest side of Chicago… I’m sorry, but I still think this house is a dump and the area is mediocre. You could buy a place where I grew up – in Peterson Park for $200,000 less. There isn’t much in the area of interest, but at least it doesn’t appear dumpy.
If people are so obsessed with schools, move to the suburbs or go private. There are several private school on the Northside for less than $15k a year… North Park comes to mind as does that weird French school.
Dan #2-
Funny, I grew up on the north shore, and now live in Lakeview. Are we some Trading Places experiment? Maybe there’s a $1 wager that i don’t know about?
*Homer Park and Montrose. Big oil spill today. Typing fast and off the top of my head.
screw the talk about western, ashland, jenny, what ever random suburb, archer, narragansett, and any other random street….
….did somebody mention that a beer garden is going to be in that fenced in part next door????????
if so i now change my vote from “this is a great place” to “are you f’ing kidding me not even for 400k”
@ Dan #2,
Sounds like you used to know the northside well.
“that weird French school”
What–exactly–is “weird” about Lycee Francais?
Also, tuition this year was $15,275, and I expect there will be substantial fundraising expectations, what with the coming construction of the new building.
I recall that there is a wine festival once a year in the public parking lot across the street from the property (big tent and all). Maybe that’s the beer garden reference?
“did somebody mention that a beer garden is going to be in that fenced in part next door????????”
Big Bricks, to be brought to you by the owners of Bricks and the Marquee Lounge.
Did we mention that it’s going to be a bbq place, too; all wood, supposedly, which I’m *sure* won’t create a noticeable odor next door.
“Maybe that’s the beer garden reference?”
Nah, the former Grizzly’s Lounge is going to be revived soon, and that brick area will be their summer outdoor seating area. Suspect it will be more like 6.5 months than 4.
If there’s one neighborhood that won’t take any unsubstantiated bashing on cribchatter, Nortcenter is it!
“if so i now change my vote from “this is a great place” to “are you f’ing kidding me not even for 400k””
“Did we mention that it’s going to be a bbq place, too; all wood, supposedly, which I’m *sure* won’t create a noticeable odor next door.”
Does change hte picture. They better sell before the full reality of the beer garden is evident. $400K or below seems too low though. Maybe $465K.
Thanks Anon (tfo) – did not know that. The Realtor must have accidentally forgotten to reference the new beer garden in the property description. That’s gonna suck for this house!
“Nah, the former Grizzly’s Lounge is going to be revived soon, and that brick area will be their summer outdoor seating area. Suspect it will be more like 6.5 months than 4.”
I think there’s about 10-20 stiffed vendors and bands waiting for ‘Grizzly’s Lounge’ to reopen. I believe that owner lives on the north shore also.
“North Park comes to mind”
Yeah, but say I spring for the $11K or whatev a year and then whatever lab school costs these days, plus college, and then my child refuses to do anything productive with his/her education. What do I do then? It would make me v sad. Can I get my money back?
TB,
I think we are Trading Places. I also think people like you and me are common. I meet a lot of North Shore people who grew up in the city and vice versa.
“What do I do then?”
Donate money to these folks? http://www.turtleconservationfund.org/
“Big Bricks, to be brought to you by the owners of Bricks and the Marquee Lounge. Did we mention that it’s going to be a bbq place, too; all wood, supposedly, which I’m *sure* won’t create a noticeable odor next door.”
sell NOW!!! get out while you can and get a sucker to live here fast before spring comes or the joint opens. IDK if i had to sell this i would drop it to 450k and take the first offer and run.
I think turtles and tortioses are different.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-turtle.html
Jenny, what say you? Do you like turtles too?
“What qualifies as “nearby”? Gotta have a park within 492.876 feet, or else it’s “too far”? 15-20 minute walk is too much?”
I would say that 500 ft is the max from a condo, and 1,000 is the max from a SFH, to a park, preferably the big one running along the lakefront from the GC up through just north of Foster Beach. A 15-20 minute walk from one point to another point *within* the park is just fine.
“Yeah, but say I spring for the $11K or whatev a year and then whatever lab school costs these days, plus college, and then my child refuses to do anything productive with his/her education. What do I do then? It would make me v sad. Can I get my money back?”
All the more reason then to just buy a house that you like and send the kid to the neighborhood school. Would you really want to live in this dumpy house next to a beer garden?
TB: I like turtles too, but like the way “tortoise” just rolls off the tongue…
Living very close to a park is great. You don’t have to worry about a sex offender moving next door.
Jenny if you believe because the law states sex offenders can’t live within x feet of a school or park that they don’t I have a bridge to sell you.
here is the question for you cc’ers
with speed cameras, liquor tax hike, parking hike, property tax hike (just the portion for the schools), income state tax hike, the looming pension thing, and so on.
why even pay 550k for this place next to a soon BBQ beer garden?
Groove is right. Just the other week I was considering buying & moving to a real nice place downtown in 2 yrs time.
Then I considered the impact on my social life when noone that drives would likely ever come visit me with parking at 5$/hr. Living downtown has enough of a social outcast stigma as it is already. Living downtown is F’d except for younger professionals who have no idea what social outcast status they are signing up for who probably move away in 1-2 years.
Would some of you folks please learn some basic facts about Chicago? It is LAKE. VIEW. High School. This is not a matter of my opinion, it’s just fact. Don’t be that guy/gal that can’t be bothered with these things, it’s like not knowing the difference between effect and affect, it’s and its, etc.
“Lakeview HS”
How about people who talk about neighborhoods they know nothing about?
” Don’t be that guy/gal that can’t be bothered with these things”
How about being that guy/gal who does it just to see how long it takes the Skeptic macro to engage?
“It is LAKE. VIEW. High School.”
Really, there’s supposed to be a period after Lake and View, AND they’re both to be capitalized? Thanks for clearing that up, I’ll try to spend more than fifteen seconds on my tiny phone next time I type a post.
Phil:
To avoid the wrath of skeptic, you can call it lvhs. Or LVHS, or maybe even LVhs.
But I wouldn’t try LvHS.
“All the more reason then to just buy a house that you like and send the kid to the neighborhood school.”
My fear is that my child would complain endlessly to the point where I’m willing to do or pay almost anything to shut him/her up and where I’d have no idea what my point was.
“Would you really want to live in this dumpy house next to a beer garden?”
As I said initially, before finding out about the beer garden, I don’t love this specific location, on a short block between lincoln/damen and so close to commercial stuff. The general neighborhood, however, is more than fine.
The more I think about it, the more horrendous the beer garden sounds. I don’t think I would live here for free, which is not to say someone won’t pay decent money for this place.
“I think turtles and tortioses are different.”
anon’s charity also help tortoises, as well as freshwater turtles. Marine turtles and (maybe) terrapins are out. After googling the hell out of it, apparently tortoises are turtles (land turtles that is).
“To avoid the wrath of skeptic, you can call it lvhs. Or LVHS, or maybe even LVhs.
But I wouldn’t try LvHS.”
LHS is prob out too. FWIW “Lake View” (but not “High School”) is in small caps on the school web site. But I don’t know that I’d take that as definitive let alone probative.
“After googling the hell out of it, apparently tortoises are turtles (land turtles that is).”
In this case, did you (1) look at the first page of results without clicking thru, (2) remember that from Junior High (NB: NOT at Lakeview High School; at least not in Chicago) science, or (3) just make it up bc it sounded good?
“After googling the hell out of it, apparently tortoises are turtles (land turtles that is).”
Quick, what’s the difference between a crocodile, an allegator and a gator deck? 😀
“To avoid the wrath of skeptic, you can call it lvhs. Or LVHS, or maybe even LVhs.
But I wouldn’t try LvHS.”
“Quick, what’s the difference between a crocodile, an allegator and a gator deck?”
comedy gold today!
“In this case, did you (1) look at the first page of results without clicking thru, (2) remember that from Junior High (NB: NOT at Lakeview High School; at least not in Chicago) science, or (3) just make it up bc it sounded good?”
Well, (a) I thought if I stated it authoritatively enough people would believe it, (b) it was all a little confusing as I somehow made it through life without taking junior high biology let alone high school biology, and (c) it seemed like there was enough stuff on wikipedia to support my claim although the discussion sounded circular to me (see (b)).
“I somehow made it through life without taking junior high biology let alone high school biology”
Not even “life science” in JHS? My only “biology” class ever.
“Not even “life science” in JHS?”
Nope.
I’d rather live in a motel than pay $550 for this place with a BBQ Beer garden moving in next door
What a train wreck
375k by 2014.
“Define “good”. I guess you are NOT counting the Brown Line as “good”. Or is ~2000 feet too far?”
I looked at several rental properties in North Center a few years ago. I decided against it because the brown line really isn’t accessible if you’re west of Damen and north of the Trader Joes. It’s simply too far (and this is someone who currently walks 6 blocks to the brown line in Lakeview.) You see this also reflected in apartment rental prices in the area. Landlords charge less and have a harder time renting because the units are just too far from the brown line anywhere over by Bell.
If you’re in the south part of North Center nearer Roscoe Village then you have Paulina- but that is not really accessible from this house.
And whomever said there wasn’t much to do in this neighborhood- I have to agree with him (sort of). Once you get, again, west of Damen and east of Western, you might as well be in a suburb. I much prefer Southport because it has a lot more restaurant/bar options. You can only go to Brownstone so many times, you know.
“Definitely too much white space on the page now. Just not enough lines of text on the screen at one time.”
“I agree. I said this a few times to Sabrina, but she did not reply. It is just too much scrolling down.”
It is the exact same layout as the old site. You just don’t remember. I even enlarged the font- as many of you requested. Bet you didn’t even notice.
“I looked at several rental properties in North Center a few years ago. I decided against it because the brown line really isn’t accessible if you’re west of Damen and north of the Trader Joes. It’s simply too far (and this is someone who currently walks 6 blocks to the brown line in Lakeview.)”
This place is w/in your 6 block radius, no? And other parts of Bell, west of Damen, are too. But I agree there are also large chunks that are not very walkable.
“It is the exact same layout as the old site. You just don’t remember.”
Contrast this http://cribchatter.com/?p=9925
with this http://web.archive.org/web/20110129170236/http://cribchatter.com/
The line spacing between lines in the same paragraph or between bulleted items is clearly different from before. See how much less text fits on a page (margins are also wider now, which would allow you to fit more, while the larger font would allow you to fit less). And I think even setting aside the rating buttons which take up room, the spacing between comments is greater now (but I don’t see an archived page to verify).
“I even enlarged the font- as many of you requested. Bet you didn’t even notice.”
It’s not so much the font size (enlarging doesn’t really help and may make it worse), it’s the spacing between lines and comments.
I guess the link I posted to an archived page is awaiting moderation but if you look it up, the line spacing is different.
“I decided against it because the brown line really isn’t accessible if you’re west of Damen and north of the Trader Joes. It’s simply too far (and this is someone who currently walks 6 blocks to the brown line in Lakeview.)”
You’re being ironical- this is an attempt to be sarcastic, correct? I’m no rocket surgeon, but 6 blocks west of the Addison, Irving Park, and Montrose stops takes you all the way to Western. The Western stop covers some of the area east of the river within a 6 block radius.
“I much prefer Southport because it has a lot more restaurant/bar options. You can only go to Brownstone so many times, you know.”
Isn’t that why that area is generally more expensive? Do we have crappy 3 bedrooms houses in the Southport corridor to compare to this home? And if Brownstone is “someone’s” idea of a good time then NC is definitely not for “them”, right?
“You can only go to Brownstone so many times, you know.”
Yeah, like *once*. Brownstone rates below Western *and* Ashland. Its like (Western x Ashland). Dont get the appeal at all.
And DZ hit my (repeated) point exactly. How is 2.5 blocks (Seeley and IPR, which is west of Damen and north of TJs) “simply too far”?
If you mean 6 real Chicago blocks, that’s .75 miles, which covers most of the Bell hood that is east of Western–Except Claremont, 3700 and 3800 Oakley and Bell. The rest of it is a “6 block” walk from either the Addison or the IPR Brown line stop.
Maybe it just feels farther because it’s no man’s land once you get past Damen. There isn’t any retail or restaurants or anything so it’s quiet and creepy (coming from a woman’s perspective.) I just didn’t want to walk any of that in the dark months. No way.
It is NOT conducive to public transportation like other neighborhoods. Sorry. It’s not.
All I’m saying Phil is that everyone is acting like this part of North Center (where the Bell school district) is is the end all and be all of city living. When Jenny is right- that many suburbs are probably pretty similar (and some are 10x better in terms of restaurants and heck, even metra/El access.) Many parts of Oak Park are more accessible to downtown than living in North Center are with Whole Foods, a movie theater and plenty of restaurants.
If you walk around the neighborhood- many of the older working class residents still live there (slowly dying/leaving though.) It was never meant to be a trendy sophisticated neighborhood. It has working class housing- except for some of the new construction that has been added in the last 10 years. The greystones, as I’ve said before, were built for the working class. Same with the multi-unit buildings. It’s also not restaurant row- by any stretch.
It’s just interesting that there’s such a premium for this area when you aren’t really getting all the benefits of true city living. After all, I bet most of the people that live there get in their car and actually drive to the Trader Joes on Lincoln. You could just as easily do that in the burbs.
“You’re being ironical- this is an attempt to be sarcastic, correct? I’m no rocket surgeon, but 6 blocks west of the Addison, Irving Park, and Montrose stops takes you all the way to Western. The Western stop covers some of the area east of the river within a 6 block radius.”
By the way- unless you live directly west on some main road from those El stops- you’re pretty much going two or three or four looooong blocks over and two or three or four blocks south or north from there. It’s WAY further than you think. Some of the North Center apartments would actually say 15 minutes to the El (and that was being kind.) At least they didn’t sugar coat it. With snow drifts and unshoveled sidewalks? Forget it.
“I guess the link I posted to an archived page is awaiting moderation but if you look it up, the line spacing is different.”
I’ll try and fix the line spacing. I noticed it on the bullet points. It looks to be like 1.5 spacing or something.
I can say with authority, because I lived there, that one of the worst part of living in Bell is the traffic during rush hours and all weekend, and during cubs games. I can sometimes take 15 minutes to make it down Addison between Damen and Western in the evening. I know there are people out there who will be like “HD, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about” but congestion of the bad sort was one main reasons I moved out of the neighborhood. Running errands on a saturday afternoon took the entire afternoon because of the amount of time it took to get anywhere.
Sabrina,
I noticed something weird w/ the new site… or maybe it’s just my browser (firefox) or maybe it’s just me? I used to be able to press the “Home” key and get to the top of the page, or “end” and get to the bottom, but with the new site it doesn’t work for me. I could use the spacebar to scroll down page by page as well. dunno why that is, but it’s annoying as hell to have to clickity click on the scroll bar now.
“I’ll try and fix the line spacing. I noticed it on the bullet points. It looks to be like 1.5 spacing or something.”
Thanks. If there’s some easy way to shrink down the spacing between comments, that would help too. Also, if we could get back the links to specific comments (the timestamp or something used to have an embedded link) that would be great too.
“maybe it’s just my browser (firefox) or maybe it’s just me?”
Works fine in Chrome and IE for me. Doesn’t seem like something that is web site dependent. Does it work on other sites in FF for you?
1. “it’s quiet and creepy (coming from a woman’s perspective.)”
This is a different issue, and has (almost) NOTHING to do with proximity.
2. “two or three or four blocks south or north ”
If you are going more than 2 (full–I don’t count 275′ (that is, two lots+an alley) blocks as “blocks” bc I’m not 8) blocks north or south–from Belmont, all the way to Lawrence–you’re just doing it wrong–there is an el stop at 3400N, 3600N, 4000N, 4400N and 4650N.
3. “It’s WAY further than you think.”
It most certainly is NOT way further (or, even three steps further) than *I* think. I know *exactly* how far it is. But then, I’m someone who will walk the extra mile (note: max 20 minutes, and good for you, too, subject to #1 above) from the Red Line rather than wait 15 minutes at Belmont for a Brown Line train.
“I bet most of the people that live there get in their car and actually drive to the Trader Joes on Lincoln”
I bet the same is true of “Tru East Lincoln Parkers” and Whole Foods and Trader Joes.
“all the benefits of true city living”
What are these, exactly? We need a list.
“that one of the worst part of living in Bell is the traffic during rush hours and all weekend, and during cubs games. I can sometimes take 15 minutes to make it down Addison between Damen and Western in the evening. I know there are people out there who will be like “HD, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about””
You know exactly what you’re talking about, but I didn’t think anyone who actually lived in the hood was foolish enough to try to drive down Addison, *especially* right after a Cubs game.
The worst is being on Lake Shore and realizing that the Cubs game just ended. You’re just f’d then. If you remember before you leave [wherever] then you can do something about it.
“Running errands on a saturday afternoon took the entire afternoon because of the amount of time it took to get anywhere.”
You really never took the side streets and back routes? Huh.
The side streets and back streets save some time but its not great.
“If you walk around the neighborhood- many of the older working class residents still live there (slowly dying/leaving though.) It was never meant to be a trendy sophisticated neighborhood. It has working class housing- except for some of the new construction that has been added in the last 10 years. The greystones, as I’ve said before, were built for the working class. Same with the multi-unit buildings. It’s also not restaurant row- by any stretch.”
Things change. Most of LP was working class at one point as well.
“The side streets and back streets save some time but its not great.”
*NOW* I will say “HD, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about”.
Can you cover as much distance in X minutes as you could anywhere in Kane County? Of course not. Is it *dramatically* better than slogging thru the worst of the arterial traffic? You betcha.
“I understand that some people can’t bear the thought of leaving the city once they have kids, and they settle for overpaying for places like this just because the school is good. But is this really true city living? Maybe the neighborhood has changed for the better recently, but it’s still pretty much a backwater, and always will be. It’s not near good public transportation or the lake. I can’t think of any interesting local shopping or restaurants, or even a decent park. Like the suburbs, you basically have to drive everywhere. And here’s the kicker: Once the kids finish Bell, where do they go?”
The Irving Park Brown Line is three short blocks away. A TON of bars and restaurants on Lincoln up by Lincoln Square, and as for parks – uh, there’s WELLES PARK a few blocks away that even has a swimming pool. As for shopping, again, Lincoln Square is up the street. Not at all a backwater.
“all the benefits of true city living”
“What are these, exactly? We need a list.”
your soul doesn’t wither and die, for one.
“your soul doesn’t wither and die, for one.”
That’s my wife’s line.
side streets provide a more pleasant view. but with the speed bumps and stop signs a horrible on your brakes.
but i would rather pay for new brakes/shocks sooner and more often and have a good mood than sit on IPR traffic or BELMONT and LINCOLN CLUSTERF*******************
” BELMONT and LINCOLN CLUSTERF*******************”
DZ sez he drives right thru there, so either you need to adopt his schedule, or buy the same kind of car, bc he has some magic stuff going on.
““What are these, exactly? We need a list.”
your soul doesn’t wither and die, for one.”
Wait–it has to be something that is applicable only to “TRU City Living” and that you don’t get living more than 463.763 feet from an el stop AND the beach AND something else that exists in LV, LP, BT but not in NortCentEr.
“DZ sez he drives right thru there, so either you need to adopt his schedule, or buy the same kind of car, bc he has some magic stuff going on.”
Driving through on Ashland on weekends going south. I can’t speak to being on Belmont/Lincoln or weekday driving or driving north. I’d say waiting one extra light cycle is normal for a regular busy kinda time.
Northbound I take California for a bit..
“I’ll try and fix the line spacing. I noticed it on the bullet points. It looks to be like 1.5 spacing or something.”
Hurrah! This also makes it much easier to distinguish quoted text that’s being replied to.
“Driving through on Ashland on weekends going south. I can’t speak to being on Belmont/Lincoln or weekday driving or driving north.”
i will concede that 70% of the time i am going E/W on belmont through that vortex of high blood pressure and uncalled for curse words.
but taking with anon’s sugestion what kind of car do you use to drive through said cluster****intersection. if that doesnt work i will just drive 463.763 feet from an el stop and take the train the rest of the way
Sabrina,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for backing me up and coming to my aid against the wrath of the North Center lovers! I’d been worrying that perhaps I’d been mistaken about this neighborhood when I said it was dull and far from public transportation. Nice to see you agree.
Dan
tfo is like the WIlliam Wallace of Nortcenter, he will battle your Nortcenter haters and to-the-el-walk-time exaggerators to the death!
” it was dull and far from public transportation”
Since you were going to keep your NortCenTer musing to yourself, I’ll assume that this relates to Highland Park. Seems a little harsh, but I don’t really have any recent experience to judge.
I find it amusing that people can’t walk more than two blocks to a train stop. No wonder americans are so fat.
“WIlliam Wallace of Nortcenter”
I hope it ends better for him: [from wiki] “Wallace was taken from the hall, stripped naked and dragged through the city at the heels of a horse to the Elms at Smithfield. He was hanged, drawn and quartered — strangled by hanging but released while he was still alive, castrated, eviscerated and his bowels burnt before him, beheaded, then cut into four parts.”
“all the benefits of true city living”…”What are these, exactly? We need a list.”
break dancers are near top my list, where’d they all go? groove?
“I’d been worrying that perhaps I’d been mistaken about this neighborhood when I said it was dull and far from public transportation”
Dan #deuce,
its not that it isnt somewhat a valid argument its that its coming from a person who purposely lives in Highland Park-the land sans sidewalks and real fun. ravinia is not year round, highwood doesnt count, clavey is not a real main street (fix your dang pot holes), the art studio/reception hall (off central or park ave?) is not that great.
“its not that it isnt somewhat a valid argument”
Though it’s a mostly invalid argument.
Missed “an” in that sentence, just to appease the spelling/grammar police here.
“Missed “an” in that sentence”
I don’t think you did.
ps: Thanks Groove for saying it the nice way.
Groove–I thought you were into Highland Park (and wouldn’t move there simply because the location doesn’t work for you)…
I’m not saying Highland Park is any better, people (though you’re wrong about it not being walkable). All I’m saying is, if you like city life, North Center may not be your best choice because it’s pretty much as dull and unwalkable as most suburbs. And as far as public transportation, I’m a lot closer to the Metra than this property is to the L, and I’m in the burbs.
The city is far more exciting and varied and has far more to offer culturally, food-wise and people-wise than any suburb, including mine. I’m not denying that. I’m just saying, not all neighborhoods in the city are equal, and I’m not sure it’s worth the extra money and inconvenience to live in North Center just to say you live in the city. It’s a very nice neighborhood and I like it, but is it worth paying $500,000 for a crummy house like this just to live in North Center? Not for me, but perhaps for someone else.
I don’t get it so because someone has a crappy car cannot say another car is crappy too?! Even if Dan2 lives somewhere unexciting, he is entitled to think NC is not happening.
“North Center may not be your best choice because it’s pretty much as dull and unwalkable as most suburbs”
Um, no. Just no. You really don’t know what you’re talking about.
“And as far as public transportation, I’m a lot closer to the Metra than this property is to the L”
A *lot* closer than 2000 feet? You live less than 500 feet from a Metra stop?
“Even if Dan2 lives somewhere unexciting, he is entitled to think NC is not happening.”
And I’m entitled to opine at length about things I admit I know little about, too. Doesn’t mean everyone else should just sit back and silently nod.
D2 is taking an v extreme position. Sure, I’d like some more retail and resto in nortcenterish. Although frankly I don’t know what is so compelling in LV/LP/SOPOCODO in that respect (the zoo/park I will grant). What destination dining and shopping is there that’s better than say Logan? And parts of Bell I find not viable for me for day to day public transit. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an attractive city neighborhood given all the various tradeoffs involved.
What I’d like to understand about highland park is how all the stores stay in business. It’s a nice enough downtown to walk around once a year, but the stores seem dead. I always find myself mystified that there are only 3 other customers in anthropologie (a store which mystifies me for many other reasons as well).
“nd I’m entitled to opine at length about things I admit I know little about, too. Doesn’t mean everyone else should just sit back and silently nod.”
absolutely, I just don’t think “your car is ugly too” is the response : )
“anthropologie (a store which mystifies me for many other reasons as well)”
I am with you on that. I always wonder who buys the overpriced, poorly made stuff that looks like a mix between an oriental carpet and a stuffed animal?!
” Although frankly I don’t know what is so compelling in LV/LP/SOPOCODO in that respect ”
Yeah, same question here. Someone pick any given location east of Ravenswood, south of IPR where one would seriously consider buying a SFH that is *also* less than 1500 feet from an el station (or express bus stop, I guess, but disagree personally) and explain what (non-lakefront park-related) amenities are so great. Not “so much greater than NC”, but simply desireable for that location. What makes for “TRU Ci-tay Livin'”?
And if anyone cites cupcakes, I will forever think of said person as “cupcake”.
“I just don’t think “your car is ugly too” is the response ”
Wasn’t my response; my response was (and is) “I know just as much about HP restos/booticks/etc”, which is nada.
“Groove–I thought you were into Highland Park (and wouldn’t move there simply because the location doesn’t work for you)”
dont get me wrong i like HP ( actually very much so) and with its current prices i think its the best value burb to live in.
that said i was just pointing out that the person calling the kettle black lives in a even more *boring area.
if price was not a concern i would choose the bell/coonley district over HP 11 out of ten times.
“Maybe it just feels farther because it’s no man’s land once you get past Damen. There isn’t any retail or restaurants or anything so it’s quiet and creepy.”
Yep, equally true east of LSD. It’s why I find the GZ creepy.
“not all neighborhoods in the city are equal, and I’m not sure it’s worth the extra money and inconvenience to live in North Center just to say you live in the city. ”
you dont live in NC to say you live in the city, you live there because of all the hoods east of western its the best hood for a young family to live and be close to everything without being *in everything and close to work(if in the loop and evanston) You ARE WALKING DISTANCE to roscoe village, Lincoln square, Brown line, wrigleyville, Lake View. and this is from hobbit leg groove.
“It’s a very nice neighborhood and I like it, but is it worth paying $500,000 for a crummy house like this just to live in North Center?”
now this is a huge valid point which i think you should have lead with.
“I always find myself mystified that there are only 3 other customers in anthropologie (a store which mystifies me for many other reasons as well)”
Anon, hit those stores in early afternoon weekday either just before nap or after nap and they are packed.
LOL on the anthropologie store, i laughed so hard i pee’d a little 😉
Sounds like this stretch of Lincoln is closely bordered by a captive audience of affluent homeowners who desperately need more great restaurants and shops. Sounds like a business opportunity to me.
PS No mention of Sola in all the prior posts???
“Yep, equally true east of LSD. It’s why I find the GZ creepy.”
ha! yes those residences in the GZ that are east of LSD are quite lonely, I wonder why?
“dont get me wrong i like HP ( actually very much so) and with its current prices i think its the best value burb to live in.”
Yeah, HP seems pretty nice. I’ve considered it, although it’s at least an hour commute to the city and the taxes are noticeably higher than the neighboring communities.
No burb is “exciting.” And who cares how walkable they are or are not. Sure, if one lives within a block or two of the “village” areas of the northshore burbs, great. But even those are limited. If one’s living in one of those burbs, most of the time one is hopping in the car to zip to dinner or the store. Much as one would do if living in a nice big SFH in Linc Square/NC/up around Old Irving, right? The richest person I know lives in HP – his home and immediate neighborhood seem quite livable, even if Ravinia isn’t open year round (maybe it has something to do with the sprawling home, in-ground pool, parking for a half dozen cars, all in a lushly wooded enclave, with a perfectly fine public K – 12 system). I also know a few people with big SFHs in the Linc Sq/NC/Irving areas…all of whom drive to work in the Loop (and I imagine they drive to dinner, the store, etc.).
I like the general location and am usually a fan of North Center
Im just bearish on this place due to the fact there is a Beer Garden that serves BBQ is going in next door.
You get hit on all senses – Ex. Smell of BBQ all day long, Noise from the Beer Garden til 2am,
Complete train wreck
“All I’m saying is, if you like city life, North Center may not be your best choice because it’s pretty much as dull and unwalkable as most suburbs.”
Just to be clear- we’re talking about the northern part of North Center just south of Irving Park Road. The Roscoe Village part of North Center has a very different vibe. There are a bunch of Blackhawk players who live in that part of North Center- so it can’t be all that bad!
I obviously struck a nerve by criticizing this neighborhood, but where I live should not have anything to do with how you respond to my comments about North Center.
I’d certainly welcome criticisms of HP if that was where the house in question was, but it isn’t, and my residing in HP is not the issue. I have a right to feel the way I do about certain neighborhoods even if I don’t live there. It doesn’t mean I’m right or wrong. Only that I have an opinion. And as someone who lived in the city of Chicago longer (more than 30 years) than many of the other people on this site, I think my opinion has some validity. I will say that it’s been a few years since I regularly spent time on the North Side, and I’ll allow that things may have changed in some neighborhoods and I’m not aware of it. If that’s the case, I don’t mind being corrected.
And yes, I live less than 2,000 feet from a Metra stop and a “village center” in HP, but I’ll admit that isn’t the case for most of the people on the North Shore. You end up doing a lot of driving living out here, there’s no doubt. It’s not perfect, but I never said it was.
Dan 2, you are a very polite person and from what I have read on this site have a very nice way of putting your opinion into words. It is nice to see people even when anonymous have manners.
Thanks, miumiu. I enjoy reading your thoughts on this site as well.
and a love connection is now made, cute!
dan2 i am not saying that you cant say anything about another hood, i was just pointing out why people took your opinion harshly due to the context of where you live and the semi harsh word “dull”. well and the walk ability part.
look at me i talk smack about every hood and i live in the worst one of anybody on this site.
Open house this sunday, 1-3. See y’all there. Maybe we can set up a temp beer garden for a CC happy hour to give buyers a sense of the real thing. Someone bring a smoker please.
” I live less than 2,000 feet from a Metra stop”
You said “a lot closer”. Because 2000 feet is “not near”. So, do you live less than 1000 feet? Or are you, too, “not near” a Metra stop, even tho it’s only ~1700 ft (or whatever) away?
“I obviously struck a nerve by criticizing this neighborhood, but where I live should not have anything to do with how you respond to my comments about North Center. ”
I don’t think that where you live has any bearing on it other than the fact that you don’t know WTH** you’re talking about regarding it, bc you’ve been to the hood exactly [zero, 1, five] times in the past decade. It’d be like me talking about how hard it is to get to [thing X] in HP–I have no idea.
Wanna criticize some portion of the hood for having poor transit access? That’s *genuinely* fair. But to go f’ing insane and claim that locations *2* blocks from the Brown Line are “too far”–while then asserting (this isn’t you, dan, but same point) that places in RV that are over twice as far from the el are fine? F’ing *INSANE* (in the membrane–that’s just to ruin groove’s day).
**no matter how you slice it, 2000 ft ain’t poor access to the el.
“PS No mention of Sola in all the prior posts???”
It’s too far from the el. And it’s only one place.
I think it’s valid criticism of me to say I haven’t spent a lot of time in that particular hood lately. Heck, maybe it’s a lot more exciting now. And I’ve always liked the side streets around there.
I lived at Byron/Hamilton for 2 years and took the Brown Line and had no trouble with getting to the train even in winter. The station was on the north side of IPR then–it’s more convenient now.
However I did find the Addison/Western/IPR/Damen hood to be pretty sleepy and also park-impaired. Yes Welles up Lincoln a ways, but there aren’t pocket parks there aside from the school playground… I guess that counts. It was before I had a kid.
If I had the dough for this kind of living I would go for Lakewood-Balmoral first though the school isn’t as prestigious… what is with so few of the CPS elementaries having BAND for chrissakes, I always thought of that as a basic school thing.
[spicy/mild]: “If I had the dough for this kind of living”
Must say that I think there is a consensus that no one here would want to buy this place to live in.
[spicy/mild]: “park-impaired. Yes Welles up Lincoln a ways, but there aren’t pocket parks there aside from the school playground”
Which is much nicer than when you left (assuming more than 18 months ago). And the Coonley playground is new(ish), too, and the playlot on Larchmont/Ravenswood is going to be re-built. And the playlot at Lincoln/Addison is new. And Revere Park has a new playground, too. And Horner and McFetridge right across the river.
I really don’t get the “no parks” complaint.
Dan: “Heck, maybe it’s a lot more exciting now.”
If “exciting” is your goal, then, no, not the right place. But then, if you’re buying a single family home, and intending to raise a family, AND want “exciting” as an important neighborhood component, then I don’t quite know what to say. But then, is the OTT “exciting”?
I would defintely *not* recommend the hood for buying a condo, especially not a smaller (2/1; 1/1) one, as a primary residence.
Resi’s is a pretty exciting spot. odonavans is ok too. wild goose, and martyrs i’ve had fun at. friend used to hook up with a waitress at one of them so that was exciting for him.
I’ve never understoon how NC became such a destination , homes in other areas are more impressive. must be Bell. but how did bell turn out so great. has it always been great? in 01, which is when I think tfo moved in, I dont think I had even heard of NC. it was totally off the radar. but places like LS, ravenswood, anderson, were not. but now NC has the highest prices, I think. it’s a headscratcher at least for me.
Yah Resi’s is a treasure, especially the back patio (green space!). Though on the north side of IPR.
Everyone moves to north center so they can see eric rojas speed by on his bicycle furiously pedaling and ignoring all traffic laws & signs so he can claim its only 5min from wrigley.
agreed, resi’s backyard is nice.
one of these days Rojos is going to get in a wreck, all the spectators are waiting for it
“but how did bell turn out so great. has it always been great?”
I bet the firecracker would know.
I was there in the middle part of the last decade and in general my lifestyle/priorities have changed since then. I was kinda surprised to even find myself living there, as like CH I hadn’t thought twice about the neighborhood before.
In the 2 yrs. I was there I noticed maybe a half-dozen of the 2-flats on my block being converted to SFH so you definitely got the sense that the place was on the move.
“in 01, which is when I think tfo moved in, I dont think I had even heard of NC. it was totally off the radar. but places like LS, ravenswood, anderson, were not. but now NC has the highest prices, I think. it’s a headscratcher at least for me.”
It’s all about me. Duh!
honestly I’m curious about what went into your decision to deign NC with your presence a decade ago
It’s a great area for families. Bell is a huge part of it.
“honestly I’m curious about what went into your decision to deign NC with your presence a decade ago”
Hit my email at anon_tfo at hotmail and I can talk in more detail, but we liked it better than other comparably (at the time) priced alternatives. We made a decision fairly quickly, so maybe would have found something elsewhere we liked as much or better, but family attention span for the search (at the time) was finite, and we found something we liked for a price we liked.
“I really don’t get the “no parks” complaint.”
i think he might be thinking parks with *fieldhouses for the CParkD events/classes and going by the premise that to get to the field house parks you have to brave two lane highways?
“Everyone moves to north center so they can see eric rojas speed by on his bicycle furiously pedaling and ignoring all traffic laws & signs so he can claim its only 5min from wrigley.”
and the winner is BOB.
thank you bob you have made my day complete 😉
DZ (November 17, 2011, 8:57 am)
Open house this sunday, 1-3. See y’all there. Maybe we can set up a temp beer garden for a CC happy hour to give buyers a sense of the real thing. Someone bring a smoker please.
Im in – I’ll bring a Weber and cook cheap burgers and brats to give the potential buyers not only the noise from rowdy drunks in a beer garden but also the cooking smell they will enjoy about 18hrs, 7 days a week.
“I bet the firecracker would know.”
good stuff. maybe hd is friends with her on facebook
“Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night
She’s a sight for sore eyes
Waiting for a factory girl”
“I really don’t get the “no parks” complaint.”
“i think he might be thinking parks with *fieldhouses for the CParkD events/classes and going by the premise that to get to the field house parks you have to brave two lane highways?”
Yeah, I dunno, I share this view to a degree. Not “no parks” but “significantly less than ideal park situation”. If welles were more like 0.4 rather than 0.75 or whatev I’d have little to gripe about. In logan or btown, you could choose to situate yourself as close as you want to a park, you don’t have that choice in bell (e of w). I guess there’s Revere, but I get the sense that doesn’t get used much by people east of western.
So, not a dealbreaker, not that I wouldn’t walk the 0.75, but a non-ideal factor. And it’s not nec for the classes/events, as having a little green space to play ball or whatnot. The playlots by the train tracks don’t quite cut it. I get spoiled by where I am at the moment, I’m sure. Parents let their 5+ year olds go to the local park with older kids. I can’t see doing that in bell except for the school lot. Does bell have (accessible) green space now with that turf purchase?
“if price was not a concern i would choose the bell/coonley district over HP 11 out of ten times.”
You’re not alone.
“If welles were more like 0.4 rather than 0.75 or whatev I’d have little to gripe about”
Just depends on where you are in the ‘hood. One can locate at .5 (plus 100’ or so) to both Welles and the el, in that dreaded “west of Damen, just south of IPR” area. But then you are noobpl.
“Does bell have (accessible) green space now with that turf purchase?”
Bell and Coonley both have over 20,000 sf of green (field turf) space that is open to use by whomever, tho technically limited to “outside of school hours”. Coonley has a backstop in one corner, amiking it a bit of a ball field, Bell’s backstop is still on the asphalt side.
On, and on this:
“In logan or btown, you could choose to situate yourself as close as you want to a park, you don’t have that choice in bell (e of w).”
restating the (I think) obvious counter: if park proximity is the primary issue, Coonley is currently a better school option than anything in BT or Logan, and you can live (basically) across the street from Welles.
“Just depends on where you are in the ‘hood.”
Sure, but I was taking 0.75 as a rough typical number. If I were going for the minimal number (and you know I gotta be more than 100ft from IPR), I’d be comparing to ~zero, which is feasible in logan, btown and coonley.
“Bell and Coonley both have over 20,000 sf of green (field turf) space that is open to use by whomever, tho technically limited to “outside of school hours”. Coonley has a backstop in one corner, amiking it a bit of a ball field, Bell’s backstop is still on the asphalt side.”
I suppose I should actually look at the schools sometime.
“restating the (I think) obvious counter: if park proximity is the primary issue, Coonley is currently a better school option than anything in BT or Logan, and you can live (basically) across the street from Welles.”
Agreed.
“I’d be comparing to ~zero, which is feasible in … btown .”
Any 125′ lots available across from Holstein?
“Any 125? lots available across from Holstein?”
anon, just down the block, a double lot! Zaskowski! Exciting!
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2329-W-Lyndale-St-60647/home/26829577
“if price was not a concern i would choose the bell/coonley district over HP 11 out of ten times.”
Except for the wealthiest person anonny knows (not sure how “knows” is defined, maybe has been in their house?).
“anon, just down the block, a double lot! Zaskowski! Exciting!”
I’m surging into the red zone right now!!!
How has he managed to go almost 3 months without a price change? Does he not care any more?
But that’s only 4800 sf, so it’s really a 1.5 lot. And it’s at least 250 feet away from the park, so that doesn’t qualify as “near” to some.
“But that’s only 4800 sf, so it’s really a 1.5 lot.”
Just wanted to hear you say it. Good to have you back.
“And it’s at least 250 feet away from the park, so that doesn’t qualify as “near” to some.”
Are you not paying attention? Under 2,000 is “near” everywhere except nortcenter.
“Are you not paying attention? Under 2,000 is “near” everywhere except nortcenter.”
Alright, how ’bout:
It’s closer to Western than the Park, and I hear that Western is “terrifying”.
or
That place is over half a mile from an el stop, and you’d have to walk on Western to keep it that short.
or
This place is practically across the street from what some people refer to as Humboldt Park.
or
It’s only 1000 feet (as the crow flies) from the freeway and, while that disqualifies it from consideration by HD, the air quality can’t be great.
Just read thru this entire thread. Good times. Hadn’t been checking in on CC as much recently, but it looks like things are kinda back to the way they was. Noted trolls also seem to be gone, hooray.
Oh yea, site looks nice, Sabrina! Any hopes of getting a “posts with recent comments” feature, to make sure updates on old threads aren’t buried by occasional avalanches of El-line proximity debates?
“That place is over half a mile from an el stop”
Is it really over a half mile?
“This place is practically across the street from what some people refer to as Humboldt Park.”
Only if by some people you mean Icarus, who believes Margie’s is in humboldt park. But I don’t think Icarus even knows who alex p keaton is, so hard to take him seriously.
“Is it really over a half mile?”
Well, it’s just under 2600 feet, so not quite.
welcome back roma!!!!!!!
how is all the white space treating your eye’s?
few considerations we forget and end up extrapolating across the board.
1. Not everyone works in the loop, so 463.1778564 feet from the EL/metra/rickshaw isnt material
2. not every has kids or will in the next 10 years, so Bell/Blaine/Norwood/fellger park/welles park arent factors
3. not every needs a zoo, the zoo gets old quick and the lake is just water deal with it
“not every needs a zoo, the zoo gets old quick and the lake is just water deal with it”
Two thoughts.
First, you’re right: the zoo can get old quick, especially if it starts to rain, or your kid suddenly wants/needs to leave, or it gets too hot, or it gets too cold, or it gets too crowded. Hence the value of living within a few blocks. If I had to drive and park, or take public trans, or walk for 30+ minutes to get there, I’d go to the zoo maybe twice a year (maybe 3 counting the zoo lights), and it would likely be the big, stressful hassle that it seems to be for so many parents. The zoo (including the conservation area and the adjacent lawn/garden/conservatory) is a very nice place, but it’s best enjoyed in semi-daily 20-60 minute doses. (Now, if your kids are over around 8 years old, give or take, that’s another story altogether. At that point, the zoo may start to pay diminishing returns. I’d personally prefer to overlook the north pond, or be in the northeastern GC, once my kid is past prime-zoo years.)
Second, if the lakefront holds little or no value for you, AND you don’t work in the Loop, why live in Chicago at all? I realize that the schools, taxes, crime, traffic, political culture, air quality, topography and long-term fiscal outlook for the area are all highly compelling reasons to make a life here, but it just seems that the lakefront/Loop are pretty significant draws as well.
“why live in Chicago at all?”
Groove’s 872 person immediate family all live in the metro. And what’s he gonna do? Follow thru on moving to Des Moines?
“How has he managed to go almost 3 months without a price change? Does he not care any more?”
Never question Anthony Zaskowski!
On an unrelated note, I noticed that Chopin elementary has undergone quite the transformation–from about 30% meets/exceeds to over 90%. I read a brief article on the school in the Reader a while back that gave some explanation into what has been going on there, but does anyone here have more insight on this school?
http://schools.chicagotribune.com/school/chopin-elementary-school_chicago
If by smoker he means a marijuana pipe? Cuz I’ve been known to take a hit in a beergarden or two when noones paying attention. Oh yeah and the lack of ashtrays doesnt prevent regular tobacco smokers from lighting up either. And i’ve not been known to care if the passing 2nd hand smoke interferes with your lil snotlings development either. For the same reason me and other drunks use profanity loudly as well.
I never even heard of Chopin. Whatever they’re doing, CPS should look into it.
Chopin was a great 19th Century composer known for his piano music. 🙂
“Second, if the lakefront holds little or no value for you, AND you don’t work in the Loop, why live in Chicago at all?”
things to ponder;
1. there are many jobs IN chicago that are not in the loop. from where i live it takes 30 minutes couch to office chair commute.
2. my #3 above was could have been just specifically for you 😉
3. zoo is overrated my son stops asking to go around june. can only see it so many times.
4. i still havent checked out des moines
5. i now enjoy writing in numbered bullet points
6. the world is round and you dont fall off after western ave.
7. “I realize that the schools, taxes, crime, traffic, political culture, air quality, topography and long-term fiscal outlook for the area are all highly compelling reasons to make a life here”
does not compute
I like
6. the world is round and you dont fall off after western ave.
a lot
@ Chris M,
In addition to the Reader article about declining enrollment and teacher weeding out, here’s an article from Rosalind Rossi in the Sun-Times about teacher/classroom looping at Chopin:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/8483268-418/chopin-beats-odds-with-classic-formula.html
Of course, since the practice (apparently) isn’t new at Chopin, it doesn’t address the question of increasing percentages of students scoring well on state tests.
Do take a look at their 4th grade (ie, first year after students begin taking the ISAT) value-added scores, with all the usual caveats.
“I read a brief article on the school in the Reader a while back that gave some explanation into what has been going on there, but does anyone here have more insight on this school?”
The principal at Chopin is an amazing person. She was my neighbor for many years. Any child that has her for a school principal is a VERY lucky kid.
Thanks for sharing the article, Roma.
How was the bbq?
I wanted to stop by, but I tried HD’s “arterials are just as fast as side streets” theory, and spent the whole 2 hour window stuck in traffic.