Forget Trump Tower- How About The Hancock Instead?
We haven’t chattered much about The John Hancock Building at 175 E. Delaware in Streeterville/Gold Coast but now that Trump Tower is trying to steal its thunder (and views), maybe it’s time to re-visit it.
Why spend $700,000 for a 1-bedroom when you can have a 2/2 with better views instead?
Current stats on the building (out of 705 units):
- 31 for sale
- 14 for rent
Some units may be both for sale AND for rent.
Here’s the listing for Unit #6111, a 2-bedroom unit which has been on the market since March 2008:
Full East Facing City&Lake Views!No DIAG!Recent rehab feat: maple wideplank flrs thruout, 1.25’granite,highgloss 42′ cab, Jenn-Air,Thermador,undrmount sink,wine cooler,island w/overhang,natr’l st baths,tons of closets.
Rehab is like new construction.Common hall completed on this flr! Common feat:sauna,fitness, indoor pool,rest.,grocery & more!Live in heart of Mag Mile!Bldg filters air&water!Flat panel TV&furniture inc
@Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.
Unit #6111: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1310 square feet
- Sold in July 2001 for $410,000
- Sold in February 2004 for $369,000
- Sold in April 2006 for $575,000
- Originally listed in March 2008 for $624,900
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $599,900
- Assessments of $700 a month
- Taxes of $4656
- Leased parking
- Washer/Dryers are now allowed in the units (though it looks like this unit was renovated before they started allowing for it)
ITs funny you posted this. This morning I was going past the building, and for some reason I stopped to take a long look up at it!
The lack of washers/dryers are one of the reasons certain buildings I would like to live in are not on my list (Marina City being one of them), I’m glad to see I can put the Hancock back on. Now if I could only come up with the 600k+ to move in. Plus I would prefer a SW corner…
SSDD
That asking price seems pretty reasonable. Im still partial to living in a place with at least a balcony for outdoor space though.
I do find it interesting how many of the older A-list buildings look like relative bargains compared to the new construction — especially when one looks past the most basic stats, i.e. 2BR/2BA and look at aspects like room dimensions, closet space, etc. My parents came to this conclusion a couple years ago when looking for a weekend place downtown near Michigan Ave. After checking out some of the new stuff in Streeterville and Lakeshore east, they ended up with a nicer unit for a lot less money at Olympia Centre.
The Hancock is truly a class act building… I did my due diligence there a couple of years back when looking at a unit. The association is well funded, and well run, and the common areas are kept in top notch shape. I was outbid on the unit I wanted and ended up elsewhere, but this is still a place I will always have on my list. The only downside, it lack of real outdoor space, the screened in rooms don’t quite cut it for me (not that I want a balcony on the 75th floor.)
“No DIAG!”
Looks like the master BR has a “DIAG”, but then who am I supposed to believe, the Realtor or my lying eyes?
Any idea if the current owner did the reno? I’d speculate it was the prior owner, but curious.
If they’ll throw in the coffee center in the kitchen they’ve got a sale!
I agree with Benjy. In my opinion, Olympia Center is a very nice building. I’ve not been there in several years, but from what I recall it had incredible views, the units I saw were very nice and I like the location. Same goes for the Hancock. Again, in my opinion, great views and incredible location. I wasn’t crazy about the hallways (it’s been awhile since I’ve been there, but I’m assuming they’ve been updated) or having to take two elevators to get to your unit, but the location is unbeatable.
Another good option is 100 E. Huron. Although you have the same issue with regard to taking two elevators to get to your home. The cool thing, however, with this building is that some units have private outdoor space. Once the commercial portion of the building turns around, this building will only be enhanced.
There was a time when 950 N. Michigan had some reasonable deals, and some of them had private outdoor space too. Lastly, 180 E. Pearson had some okay deals too, but I think those days are gone.
Why is it so hard for condo buildings to allow owners to put in their own washing machines? It seems only certain buildings allow for it. Does it have something to do with available water pressure?
The fire-proofing on the steel contains asbestos, so special care needs to be taken on any renovation work.
It’s more hot water, vibration and drainage. Many buildings only allow washers which heat the water without using common hot water, that use low sudsing detergent – regular detergent can clog plumbing which wasn’t sized for the volume of water a washing machine puts out and can be mounted on a vibration reducing pad.
Another nice thing about the Hancock, unlike nearly all other highrise buildings of that period, the ceilings are higher than 8′. They vary from 9′ on the lower floors all the way to 11 feet on the upper floors. That gives a space a much bigger feel.
Hancock redid the halls about 3 years ago… my aunt & uncle live there, and I remember them re-doing the halls about the time they moved in.
Washers and Dryers are now allowed in the Hancock, I was reading somewhere. In fact there are several listings, e.g. for unit 9002 that claim this. I also read that they were making aesthetic changes to the halls/common areas.
Any building residents can confirm this?
If you’ve ever seen the swimming pool in the sky, though, thats a sight to behold.
I can’t speak for the Hancock, but I live in a high-rise built around the same time. As ND pointed out, the problem with a washer in an “older” building is drainage. Low sudsing detergent is definitely a good idea. We had some residents who ended up with suds in their toilets as a result of machines draining and they freaked out. For awhile after that, our building had a moratorium on adding washers. It’s not the end of the world. I have a washer, but never use it. It’s a whole lot easier to take advantage of a laundry room that has a bunch of machines in it. Before you know it you’re finished. At least that’s what the cleaning lady tells me.
In addition to running multiple loads at once (laundry done much faster), common laundry facilities can also give the benefit of having high quality, commercial grade, efficient, high-capacity machines. Plus, it’s one less hulking piece of machinery that requires calls to repairmen, warranty claims, periodic replacement, etc. In-unit laundry is a nice convenience until the junk breaks and you have to take time off work waiting for a repair guy to come.
It’s a tradeoff that each person weighs, but suffice it to say it’s not the end of the world to use superior equipment and save time even if it means deigning to put on some pants and slippers to leave the home and go down the hall 3 times in a 2 hour span.
Loopersays:
Another nice thing about the Hancock, unlike nearly all other highrise buildings of that period, the ceilings are higher than 8?. They vary from 9? on the lower floors all the way to 11 feet on the upper floors. That gives a space a much bigger feel.
Most floors have the standard (of the era) heights, more likely 8″6″, not 9′. The hallways seem to have even lower heights. Only a few floors have higher ceilings. The higher ceiling floors have concrete elements that are at the standard ceiling heights.
Loopersays:
Another nice thing about the Hancock, unlike nearly all other highrise buildings of that period, the ceilings are higher than 8?. They vary from 9? on the lower floors all the way to 11 feet on the upper floors. That gives a space a much bigger feel.
Most floors have the standard (of the era) heights, more likely 8’6″, not 9′. The hallways seem to have even lower heights. Only a few floors have higher ceilings. The higher ceiling floors have concrete elements that are at the standard ceiling heights.
I live and own in Marina Towers and want to correct one of the first comments. W/D are allowed in the units. Some residents have installed them when rehabbing their units. The guidelines on installation were added to condo rules & regs a few years ago.
Did anyone mention No Dogs allowed?
Kenworthey, this could be The building for you!
I lived in a W/D unit in Marina City.
Streeterville Realtor–it’s on the list of buildings I’m paying attention to. 😉 In fact, like Jason, I was just looking at it a couple of days before Sabrina posted this. But like Looper, I’d prefer outdoor space. And a fireplace. But given that this is only a couple of blocks from work, the Hancock is high on my list!
As a resident, I can verify that the hallway and common areas renovation project is currently ongoing, but almost complete. The maintenance is top-notch and continuous. The place is remarkably well run. The Hancock’s amenities simply cannot be matched by any other building in the Midwest.
Show me another building in Chicago with a private grocery store on the 44th floor. Show me another building in the Midwest with an indoor heated pool half way up the tower. You don’t even have to go downstairs to vote! It is truly ivory tower living.
The prices for some of the units are very reasonable compared to others in the city. For what you’d pay for a small townhouse in Bucktown you can get a 2/2 with view of Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana with no worries about maintenance, security, or transportation. I’ve been here three years and the location and conveniences are fantastic.
Way more than you ever wanted to know about the Hancock is here: http://chicagoarchitecture.info/Building/1006/The_John_Hancock_Center.php
I looked at this unit back in the spring. They did a great job on the remodel (the kitchen is great) but the problem is that this is the smaller of the 2/2 and even though the buidling now allows w/d in unit, there is just no room for it in this unit. The building started updating the hallways late last year and this floor was updated when I saw it in the spring. It’s a bit of a hassle to take two elevators but the views make up for all of that.
I’ve always wondered about this “private” grocery store. Do the profits go to the building association? Are the prices reasonable/selection good? It’s just such a weird amenity–one I would hate to pay extra for. (This is a small point and not a complaint; I think the Hancock is great.)
re: Kenworthey’s Grocery Question
“I’ve always wondered about this “private” grocery store. Do the profits go to the building association? Are the prices reasonable/selection good? It’s just such a weird amenity–one I would hate to pay extra for. (This is a small point and not a complaint; I think the Hancock is great.)”
I don’t live in the Hancock, but I used to live in the heart of Boston around the block from a small grocery store. Not only is city living addictive, but you become addicted to walking down the block to pick up “that one thing” or a couple of things that you need and you start doing it on a regular basis.
When visiting a larger store becomes a big production… …walking or driving there, double parking in front of your townhouse/apartment hoping the cops don’t arrive before you’re finished unloading (locking and relocking your car as you grab more of your purchased items), dealing with your Masshole neighbor who decides that they want to remind you that you’re blocking them in, carrying multiple bags into your home, circling around for 20 minutes to find a new parking spot (yes I know Hancock has parking)… …and then realizing that you forgot this or that…
I would say that having a store in your own building would be a city dweller’s dream come true even if you’re not getting a rock bottom price.
* I would think that Hancock residents don’t worry about paying an extra $1-$3 for the things they need. When you consider that the alternative is driving or walking to a store outside the building, it’s probably a no-brainer for Hancock dwellers.
* I would think that many Hancock dwellers don’t even cook that often to begin with (the pricier the kitchen, the less they cook).
* I would think that Hancock residents can get their groceries delivered from one of the big chains.
Being from “the suburban Midwest,” I know very well the strongly ingrained idea that every food shopping trip has to be “a $160 production.” Once you start living in the city, you begin to pay more to buy less, but then when you work the numbers on the alternative of driving to a store (time, gas, etc)… …it typically works out to the same amount of money. Instead of getting a great price on massive amounts of produce and tossing a third of it out when it spoils, you pay the city price for less but end up actually using what you buy.
Things I’ve always wondered about the Hancock:
* What is the air quality like inside the units ??? I’m always suspicious of air-tight buildings built in the 60’s / 70’s; They always seem to be sick buildings.
* If a neighbor smokes, do you breathe the side stream smoke?
* Can you open the windows in the units ? I realize that you might not want to being up so high.
powell/kleinschmidt did the hallways. one of the top interiors firms in the country. they also did the hallways and lobby of 2800 lake shore recently which look very classy (also a great well run building) so many times you have building with great apts and old bombed-out hallways, so its nice to have the common areas kicked up a notch
http://www.powellkleinschmidt.com/work/main.asp?p=HNCK&t=RSL&v=HNCK-001