From $138,000 to $849,000 Just 8 Months Later: 2334 W. Diversey in Logan Square
This 5-bedroom single family home at 2334 W. Diversey in Logan Square recently came on the market.
It is a “new gut rehab” of a house that was in short sale last year.
In 2010, the house was 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with a new roof put on in 2007.
Today, it is a 5 bedroom and 3.5 bath house with luxury finishes.
Built in 1915 on a standard 25×125 Chicago lot, it now has a “gourmet kitchen” with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, “extensive millwork” and “high-tech wiring.”
It sold last August for just $138,000.
It’s now listed for $849,000.
Can this neighborhood and location support this price point?
Lidia Albanese at Century 21 S.G.R. has the listing. See the pictures here.
Or see it in person at the Open House on Sunday, March 27 from 12 – 2 PM.
2334 W. Diversey: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed
- Sold in April 1993 for $65,147
- Sold in June 1993 for $126,000
- Originally listed in December 2009 for $209,000
- Reduced
- Lis pendens foreclosure filed in April 2010
- Sold as a “short sale” in August 2010 for $138,000
- Currently listed at $849,000
- Taxes are not listed
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 20×14 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 18×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 20×14 (lower level)
- Bedroom #5: 15×12 (lower level)
The rehabber did a really nice job on the interior of this fugly frame house. Unfortunately, it still is just “worker housing” with lots of top decoration. I appreciate that a lot of money was spent in here, but there’s no way it’s worth 6X as much as what it sold for in 2009.
It is still just a pig with with an expensive facelift and lots of jewelry. Lipstick, too.
Have to love that early 70s vinyl look. And the other premiums such as its location on one of the City’s most congested intersections and stewing in truck and car exhaust all day.
This is funny. I sorta know the builder/owner. He hangs out at my gym. We just say hello to each other so I don’t have to worry about what I say here. Get this: the name of his company is EZBM.
Anyway, this house lacks curb appeal and is way over-improved for the neighborhood/street. Someone looking to spend this kind of money is going to want a house with more curb appeal in a more trendy neighborhood – not to mention schools.
Wow, terrible curb appeal here… one would think that with all the luxury finishes inside they would have opted not to buy the cheapest, ugliest front door they could find. Like the interior though, just not sure someone spending this kind of money would want to spend it here. Isn’t the gorgeous sfh in Lakewood-Balmoral (or nearby) on the double lot around the same price? That’s definitely where I’d be spending my $800K+.
I “luxury home” it is not. 5 bedrooms above grade: doesn’t appear so and this also does not look like a “Chicago basement” with a greater amount above grade so those rooms may be a bit gloomy. I appreciate the effort but still not a nice enough home to command the asking price. A lucky 600K may move it but I could never get past the front sidewalk without being depressed.
I hope when this finally sells, the builder can recoup the material and salary cost of the rehab. Although the interior is nicely done, the exterior, location, and price will repel potential buyers. It almost seems that two different individuals were in charge of the exterior and interior.
It is good to have dreams.
450K might move the house. As it has been pointed out, the location is a killer.
Places like this are a symptom, or perhaps a consequence, of the MSFHO. What is the MSFHO, you ask? Pronounced “Miss-Fo,” the term will be used by anthropologists in the future to discuss the widespread Midwestern Single Family Home Obsession that afflicted many in the Chicago area during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
I like the inside and think it is well done. However, as DD said “the exterior, location, and price will repel potential buyers”.
I think if this house wasn’t on a busy street like Diversey it would have a better chance but still not at that price point.
Annonny, i see your MSFHO and raise you:
Anyone who wants to live here, cannot afford the price tag and anyone who can afford the price tag, doesn’t want to live here.
cannot think of a cool acronym, abbreviation, or initialism for that though.
Reminds me of a first time rehabber: putting too much emotion, cash and personal touches into something without understanding its maximum potential. If they got the place for free in August you would still have to assess the potential buyers for the location and structure. My guess is they did that after finishing the interior right before starting the grand plans for the exterior.
I don’t know what the limits are for people who will tolerate zero curb appeal on a busy street, but my guess is far below $500k.
I would love to know the mental image of the buyer the developer had in mind. I imagine high paid executive, makes 250K a year, drives BMW X5, loves Wicker Park but wants easier access to the highway since he/she works in the suburbs. Recently married, but not ready for kids, knows they will need the extra space soon. Since he/she lived in Wicker Park they are use to a step out unit, noise and busy streets. In fact they feel those characteristics give the city it’s charm. They looked at LP, Roscoe Village and Bucktown and were put off by all the strollers and tree lined streets. He/She is in a bowling league and cherishes the idea of being near the Rock n’ Bowl. Hates the EL and Metra, thus would prefer to be as far away as possible.
Perhaps it was something like that.
Bri Bri,
april fools is 8 days away, your too early.
?anyone else singing the song “one of these things is not like the other”?
“april fools is 8 days away, your too early.”
Don’t worry Groove. I’m sure I can find some other similarly priced SFHs for Apr 1. I’m seeing more and more of these.
Thanks to the tipster who sent me this one!
told ya, the housing selection SUCKS
Is it really this easy to get rich in Chicago?
“Is it really this easy to get rich in Chicago?”
Yes.
Even if this sells for $500k it’s still a nice profit. How much was put into it? It isn’t new construction. Yes- some pretty finishes and a total gut on the inside. But I can’t believe that would be more than $250k.
If an owner built this for themselves, I could understand the interior/exterior disparity: a potential way to keep taxes wayyyy low by making the outside look like a cheap POS basic worker house, while the interior looks like a million bucks.
My only theory here is perhaps for security?! No one would try breaking into a house that looks like this.
“anonny on March 24th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Places like this are a symptom, or perhaps a consequence, of the MSFHO. What is the MSFHO, you ask? Pronounced “Miss-Fo,” the term will be used by anthropologists in the future to discuss the widespread Midwestern Single Family Home Obsession that afflicted many in the Chicago area during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.”
MSFHO still exits. People talk all day about not buying condos and only buying SFHS. Well this 400-600K is what most people can afford. I personally would buy the condo in LP, LV or RN over this anyday. Yes, you are affected by other condo owners in the building but I doubt the decorating committee of a condo board would have gotten the exterior as bad as this…. The SFHS is excactly why Chicago has so many fugly neighborhoods and bad commutes.
Nice done interior but $849M for a frame *ON* Diversey, that far West? LOLzers.
High $5XXs – mid $6XXs due to the above factors, IMHO.
*Nicely
This must be a typo – It must be $489,000 not $849,000.
“Don’t worry Groove. I’m sure I can find some other similarly priced SFHs for Apr 1. I’m seeing more and more of these.”
wait there are more vinyl wood frame homes hiding a howe/dayton street mansion interior? and all inches right next to medical problem diesel/exhaust fume central?
i so, so, so, so, so want this home to sell for asking price within months.
HD – I agree – it may be a typo. No sane flipper/construction person in his/her right mind would price it at 849k the way that it looks. If they wanted that kind of money, why didn’t they just tear down the house and build new construction? Construction costs (for a developer) are about 150/sq ft. You could build a nice 3000 sq foot house for 450k. Add that to land value and carrying costs and you would have been into it for less than 600k – and you would be MUCH more likely to sell it for 849k.
Regardless of the list price, if you’re looking to do a fancy gut, why do it here. Why not pay a bit more for a lot in Logan “proper” etc.? I guess you are walking distance to the Elston corridor.
Nice job on the interior, but not a desirable location and no curb appeal. This level of rehab makes no sense… especially given that this project wasn’t initiated in 2006. Before undertaking this, did they ask who the market for such a property was?
Maybe they think they can slash the price in a couple of weeks and then market it as PRICE SLASHED and people will fall for it.
I was sitting in traffic next to this house yesterday and my wife said, “their new siding sure makes that house look a lot better than it used to.” I wish that I remember what it looked like before.
The interior of this house looks a lot like the 3 5-bedroom brick SFHs on the first block of Cullom west of Western. They are also overpriced at $950k, although I think that one finally sold for $910k or so. However, my gut says that one includes some sort of big credit or something – my guess is that those places will need to go into the high $800s to sell over the next year or so.
For this place, gee, maybe someone will pay low to mid $600s but it just seems nut at this location. If I were looking for something like this house in this price range, I’d be looking in Irving Park – I looked at a few nice, new SFHs around low $600s there and they were very nice.
I live further on Diversey, on the other side of Western from this place. The intersection of Diversey / Western / Elston that this resides almost right next to is very busy, loud and generally ugly. If this was five or six blocks east (LV/SoPoish), north (Roscoe) or west (Logan), it would be more appealing – but as it stands there is nothing appealing about being in the midst of all the traffic around Target / Strack and the new shopping center. Also, the houses around it are majorly rundown. I would be surprised if this goes for any more than $500.
I think it’s a brilliant new Chicago home strategy – awesome interior, thief repellant exterior. Why would anyone ever break into this house? They couldn’t possibly have anything of value inside.
+a local
wanting to way overpay for a horribly old and ugly SFH in the city with a bad commute and lots of maintenance really confuses me
The market for this house, which is “edgy jr exec”, or “edgy trusty” is looking at something nicer than this in Portland or Austin right now.
Not only are those cities “edgier”, they have also long since achieved the aesthetic that Logan and Pilsen have been desperately seeking to emulate. Oh yeah, they also come with close to zero of the crime, anti-yuppie attitudes, and general scariness.
Did I mention those cities (especially Portland) also possess an abundance of the type of natural beauty that does not exist in the Midwest?
And the weather is better.
And you’re also pretty much guaranteed to see a substantial return on your investment.
“Edgy” types would scoff at the interior of this place as much as the exterior, btw.
places like this in portland cost 2 million bucks
and Austin blows unless you’re a college student or have a summer home in the north
so not really a comparison, and there’s plenty of “natural beauty” here in the midwest, the land is just flatter
Not only is the street drab and filled with ugly housing, but Logan Square just had ANOTHER shooting, and summer hasn’t begun yet.
I’m with the poster who says $450K is tops for this place. There are much better ways and places to live for any more money than that.
“Not only is the street drab and filled with ugly housing, but Logan Square just had ANOTHER shooting, and summer hasn’t begun yet.”
If you’re referring to the shooting on George Street, that’s technically in Avondale. Close to Logan Square, yes, but not actually in Logan Square since Diversey is the official north boundary of the neighborhood.
“places like this in portland cost 2 million bucks”
Really? In a “comparable” location?
I would be VERY VERY careful about buying ANY type of property in areas other than the green zone at the current time. Right now, things seem to be getting better, but in Chicago, everything can change. I truly feel the only best bets are those properties in the best locations. Everything else is still a gamble.
“places like this in portland cost 2 million bucks”
Just because idiots were willing to pay it prior to the bust does not mean it will be this way going forward.
Guess what’s going to happen when populist outrage forces the GSEs to eliminate conforming loan limits above the 417k standard?
The coasts are going to be F’d. And what better way to get back at them once we have an R president as they are reliably blue.
Well everyone is in agreement on this one, unattractive exterior. BYW, how did they manage to add 2 more bedrooms? Are they the usual in the basement ones?
This listing has to be a joke or a typo. Even the comments are ridiculous. Cedar facade? Is it covered by the beautiful siding? Near Whole Foods? Wha? The closest Whole Foods is at 3300 N. Ashland! By that measure, this should also be listed as lakefront property. Maybe by “Whole Foods” the realtor meant Diversey Rock ‘n Bowl… or The Golden Nugget…
This developer/investor missed the lesson on location, location, location.
” but in Chicago, everything can change. ”
by that logic, isn’t it fair to say that what is considered the Green Zone today, could be the DMZ tomorrow and vice-versa?
Ok I take that back, portland real estate has crashed HARD. I don’t know anything about what area sucks but there are an assload of 5 bedroom homes there selling from anywhere from $60-600 a sqft, bust most are in the 150-200 /sqft range
But portland is a really pretty town full of awful people, mostly gross transplanted wanna be hippie kids from the midwest, or californians… blech
BTW, our realtor has setup some automatic MLS listing notification for us and I have noticed that the new properties that are getting listed have more reasonable prices compared to the stuff listed say a year or even 2 ago. Of course this is a very small sample so I am not sure this is necessarily a trend. I wonder if they will cause price adjustments for the sellers that have been holding on and failing to sell.
also I think I have found groove’s dream house
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/2260-NE-28th-Ave-97212/home/25748778
a “Grand Tudor”
Very nice house Sonies, except for the kitchen that has a bit of Turkish bath feel to it. But the listing is hilarious:
This exceptional home is filled with original architectural details , tile, & emotional appeal.
What is emotional appeal?
“also I think I have found groove’s dream house”
dude awesome place, how is the metra time from there to the loop
Sonies,
This took 5 seconds:
http://www.estately.com/listings/info/7639-nw-blue-pointe-ln
This is in the NW which is vastly closer to the city center than Logan is to the Loop.
“Even if this sells for $500k it’s still a nice profit. How much was put into it? It isn’t new construction. Yes- some pretty finishes and a total gut on the inside. But I can’t believe that would be more than $250k.”
Sabrina:
Check Streetview. Redfin badly misidentifies the location–this is actually the 2d house east of the CVS. The old house was a 1.5 story house, so the whole 2d floor is new. Assuming that it’s really 4000 sf and they did the structural stuff even *reasonably* correct, they easily could have spent $400k+ on it, and I have *no idea* how they could have done that much in 4000 sf for under $300k.
They did it with permits, too.
That said, I’d be unhappy with this house, in this location, over about $450k, as everyone else sez. Even moving it one block north onto Wolfram would make an extra $100k conceivable.
“Not only are those cities “edgier”, they have also long since achieved the aesthetic that Logan and Pilsen have been desperately seeking to emulate. Oh yeah, they also come with close to zero of the crime, anti-yuppie attitudes, and general scariness.
Did I mention those cities (especially Portland) also possess an abundance of the type of natural beauty that does not exist in the Midwest?
And the weather is better.”
You and I have been to two different Portlands. Maybe you mean the one in Maine? Because the one in Oregon is one of the grayest places on the planet. And they’re not so much anti-yuppie as anti-everyone who makes money and violently pro-tree hugging.
But it is beautiful the 4 days a year the sun shines, I’ll give you that.
This is another house that makes me feel depressed just looking at the exterior. Plus right on Diversy? Ugh.
“What is emotional appeal?”
The thing that clio (correctly) tells us drives people to overpay for a home.
“This took 5 seconds:”
Wow, craptacular mcmansion. Nice setting tho, except for the Skyline Resto parking basically in your backyard.
“Maybe you mean the one in Maine? …
But it is beautiful the 4 days a year the sun shines, I’ll give you that.”
You’ve been to Portland, Maine, on a sunny day? And I mean a full 10-12 hours of sun?
I’m not saying Portland is the ideal town for everyone, I’m saying that it is far more suitable for the “edgy” person this house built for.
And dude, we live in a large city with some of the worst weather on the planet. Their five bad months beats the hell out of our 7 bad months.
Are the people there unbearable? Some are. But you’re talking about the entire town of Portland in a way one of those unbearable people from there would identify all of Chicago with the West and Southsides of this city.
“You and I have been to two different Portlands. Maybe you mean the one in Maine? Because the one in Oregon is one of the grayest places on the planet. And they’re not so much anti-yuppie as anti-everyone who makes money and violently pro-tree hugging.
But it is beautiful the 4 days a year the sun shines, I’ll give you that.”
“a “Grand Tudor””
I wonder how much they were asking when they first listed **FOUR** years ago?
“And dude, we live in a large city with some of the worst weather on the planet. Their five bad months beats the hell out of our 7 bad months.”
If you really think that there are 7 bad months of weather here, why the hell don’t you move? Most years it’s 10 weeks of “bad” weather, 10 more of “I wish the lake would warm up already”. This winter was historically bad.
We aren’t even through the woods yet. In 2007 the Cubs home opener was postponed due to snow & that was April 11th. Same thing in 2003 and that was on April 7th. And we’re four years from 2007 so…
“Ok I take that back, portland real estate has crashed HARD.”
I don’t think the crash is what makes your statement incorrect.
Further OT, but I spent some time looking at Seattle houses recently. Better deals than Chicago I thought. Maybe just that you can get really nice views even on a smallish lot.
Portland IS nice. I agree with you on that. It’s also nice the way that it’s easy for professionals to work in the huge, well-known Portland industries of finance, law, accounting, advertising, marketing, technology, traditional industry, etc.
Seriously, Portland is more affordable because the incomes just don’t support lots of normal people having good jobs and saving enough money to buy expensive houses. It’s a meaningless comparison.
Bob: “We aren’t even through the woods yet. In 2007 the Cubs home opener was postponed due to snow & that was April 11th. Same thing in 2003 and that was on April 7th. And we’re four years from 2007 so…”
So, an inch of snow = “bad weather”? Again, if it’s so awful, why are you here?
If there isn’t a threat of snow on opening day for one of the teams, it ain’t Chicago.
DZ: “Further OT, but I spent some time looking at Seattle houses recently. Better deals than Chicago I thought. Maybe just that you can get really nice views even on a smallish lot.”
Yeah, the view thing makes small lots seem much bigger and the houses much more open.
On Diversey, at this stretch? You literally would have to pay me.
also, this is indeed brilliant stratewgy, but it’s definitely not even remotely new:
“I think it’s a brilliant new Chicago home strategy – awesome interior, thief repellant exterior. Why would anyone ever break into this house? They couldn’t possibly have anything of value inside.”
Anon, I travel a lot. I also happen to like Chicago and I live in “ELP” *proper* (lol), so I make it work for me. I also don’t live in Chicago year round.
And only two-and-a-half months of bad weather in Chicago? Come on. Historic blizzards or not, Chicago has crap weather in every season.
December, January, and February suck outright. There are less than 10 total days in those months in any year that have the bearable “ooh it’s winter” appeal with gently falling snow, light wind and pretty holiday decorations.
Most of every November and March are an extension of winter. With *maybe* 10 “nice” days in November and 5 tolerable days in any given March.
Our “Fall” consists of late September through October, half of which is marked by tremendous thunderstorms.
“Spring” lasts three weeks, late April through mid May.
1/3 of Summer is marked by tornado warning producing thunderstorms. Late July to late August is miserably hot and humid.
So don’t give me 7 “good” months of weather, anon. Geeze.
lol the old “can’t use your outdoor space more than 3 months a year” stupidity…
I mean seriously, Chicago weather is bearable for at least 9 months a year, if you can’t stand 50+ degree weather you should really move to san diego
Right, but that doesn’t change the fact the the West Coast has not been more affordable than Chicago pretty much since they finished the railroads. Now it is. Take what you will from that, but don’t dismiss it as something as simple as “all industries revolve around Chicago and can’t possibly up and relocate somewhere cheaper with a higher standard of living”.
That house I linked to in Portland is in the Northwest. That’s their Lincoln Park. Think about that for a second.
*Chicago is in a RE bubble right now, folks!!!!!!*
Lol.
“Seriously, Portland is more affordable because the incomes just don’t support lots of normal people having good jobs and saving enough money to buy expensive houses. It’s a meaningless comparison.”
here’s a dose of facts for ya
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/lot/cliplot/KORD2011plot.png
LOL, the old “Chicago’s weather isn’t THAT bad” stupidity.
Lol, the old “look, it’s either Chicago, or San Diego, if you don’t like it, move” stupidity.
and here’s portland, very nice weather I would say. And being on the pacific ocean obviously helps a ton and im sure the closer to the mountains you get the colder it is
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/pqr/cliplot/KPDX2011plot.png
I agree with CB that Dec-Feb sucks and July and August are pretty much warm as hell. 7 month of bad weather might be a stretch but so is 10 weeks. But of course, some have better tolerance for heat and cold than others.
have you ever been to texas in the summer, chicagobull?
its like a death ray is blasting you its so hot… it suuuucks
I don’t have a major issue with Chicago weather, but do really like the pacific northwest. But I don’t mind wet weather as much as others I think.
“So don’t give me 7 “good” months of weather, anon. Geeze.”
I’ll give it to you all I want; it happens to be how I view the weather here, and is actually an understatement, as I think it’s about 9.5 of okay to good weather, and that there is really, in a typical year, only about 5 or 6 weeks total–usually non-consecutive–of weather that gets to me. This winter had 8 straight weeks that sukd, and the blizzard was actually a welcome break in the monotony of its crapitude.
If November/December *and* March, *and* July and August, *and* T’storms, (and Sept/Oct are *”half”* unbearable T’storms) are all “bad” as far as you are concerned, then you’re just going to be unhappy with the weather, period, except when it’s Medi-esque.
“I don’t have a major issue with Chicago weather, but do really like the pacific northwest. But I don’t mind wet weather as much as others I think.”
Me, too. 40F and rainy is a downer tho, especially if it lasts for a week or more.
Look at picture 3. Can someone with actual knowledge explain to us novices how those ceilings are done? Is that all molding? or are those “beams” (what do you even call this type of ceiling?) framed out and then drywalled with small drywall pieces? How expensive is this to do? Thanks….
“Look at picture 3. Can someone with actual knowledge explain to us novices how those ceilings are done? Is that all molding? or are those “beams” (what do you even call this type of ceiling?) framed out and then drywalled with small drywall pieces? How expensive is this to do? Thanks….”
Little hard to say from the pic, but typical way is to frame a box with lumber, and drywall over, with molding covering the inside corners along the ceiling.
Some of the lower portions of the ceiling are likely covering structural headers (either engineered pieces or, more likely, stacks of 3/4/5 2x10s) holding up the second floor across that wide span. Note that one of them is about where the 2d floor exterior wall is and another is right at the opening for the stairs–points of relative weakness/greater load in the structure.
Dan, generally that’s a tray ceiling, and there are all kinds of different ways to do them. They aren’t terribly expensive – just framing and drywall – but it takes a skilled drywaller to do them well.
This type of trim isn’t expensive to do, but like a lot of things it is expensive to do well. You see it in high end homes, usually ones that are wider where mouldings would get lost. Personally I don’t like it.
“If November/December *and* March, *and* July and August, *and* T’storms, (and Sept/Oct are *”half”* unbearable T’storms) are all “bad” as far as you are concerned, then you’re just going to be unhappy with the weather, period, except when it’s Medi-esque.”
Yes, definitely indicative of the kind of pantywaist who thinks ELP proper allows him to “make it work.” And this is coming from someone who lives in an area where it pains me to mention it when someone asks “where are you from?”
I hear the IFC show Portlandia is very close to accurate.
It pains you to tell people that you live in West Wilmette? Loolz.
“And this is coming from someone who lives in an area where it pains me to mention it when someone asks “where are you from?””
Portlandia is accurate. No more accurate than how the Hughes movies paint Chicago and the burbs, but there is a lot of truth there.
If the hipsters had a pope, he would live in Portland. That’s why $850,000 single family homes don’t make sense in Logan Square.
OMG,
really if you can only stand 10 weeks of the weather here than dang buy a pill, borrow, draw on, get a surgery, just plain out go old school darwin and GROW A PAIR!!!!!
I have a lot of outdoor space and we use it a lot all the time starting around now and going to about Thanksgiving, so 8 months. In the last month of fall and during winter the kids still play out there and we use it for grilling, the occasional snow bocce match, smoking cigars, etc. We also have a portion covered and have a patio heater and often have a cocktail out there even in the winter.
I like cold weather a lot more than really hot weather, and would be miserable living anywhere south of St. Louis or so that was not San Diego.
Finally, I’m shocked by how poor some people’s winter clothes must be so that they’re always cold. Get yourself at least one warm kit of clothes and the winter is not really that bad.
JJJ, it is not just about clothing. People have different circulation and temperature sensitivity depending where they grow up. I for one always find the buildings over air conditioned during the summer and have to wear at least a cardigan or something while most of my midwestern friends walk around in tshirts and shorts. Also I think men due to more muscle mass have an advantage and being a bit over weight helps too.
Groove, thank to urban dictionary I can decode your messages…lol…and some of us don’t have the option to grow a pair : )
I find it hard to believe a show about Portland, written and conceived by the Hollywood-kosher set sitting in SoCA and NYC, is going to be an accurate reflection. “The show, produced by Andrew Singer and Jonathan Krisel….Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, Alison Silverman, Lorne Michaels….” Uh-huh… has this milieu ever gotten a show about Chicago or the midwest right or is it always a caricature?
The PNW probably peaked in the early 1960’s, before the Beatles when kids had buzz-cuts, went fishing and hiking and camping, their dads had good post-war jobs and incomes, it was pre-pot, coke, and meth…..everyone was generally well-off and the whole scene was healthy with normal families with a pet dog. The national parks weren’t overrun, there was less population and pollution, less “depression” and anger too. There weren’t salmon shortages….but now we have a miserable Portlandia provided to us by our friends of the miserable Left, that ruin pretty much anything they touch.
“is it always a caricature?”
You mean like this:
“The PNW probably peaked in the early 1960’s, before the Beatles when kids had buzz-cuts, went fishing and hiking and camping, their dads had good post-war jobs and incomes, it was pre-pot, coke, and meth…..everyone was generally well-off and the whole scene was healthy with normal families with a pet dog. The national parks weren’t overrun, there was less population and pollution, less “depression” and anger too. ”
?
“lol…and some of us don’t have the option to grow a pair : )”
thats why i added surgery, and the use of magic marker for the artsy types 🙂
but i agree that its about personal temps, thats why the wife and i are still married, our natural temps are pretty close, which is hard to come by in the opposite sex.
She growing up in eastern europe didnt have the crazy humidity we have and it still “gets to her”, she also didnt have the harsh azz winters either and HATES the crazy wind. but as time has gone on she has adjusted and has come to love the variation and will sit outside on a 30 degree night with me a toss a few back. and she will on a 1000000% humid day sit out side with me and toss a few back.
she works her wardrobe accordingly and so you can say she adapted (hence the darwin reference in previous post)
anon(ufo),
no dont do it, rub the earlobe and say goosefrabaaa, goosefrabaaa, goosefrabaaa
That’s the way it really was back then. Tons of photographical documentary proof in newspapers, magazines, library historical depts. etc.
yes, I am using he wardrobe method too. Hard to make Darwin kick in one generation.
BTW, I had a Swedish ex that wanted the window slightly ajar in winter while sleeping and I used to think I must have done something terrible in life to deserve this!
“BTW, I had a Swedish ex that wanted the window slightly ajar in winter while sleeping and I used to think I must have done something terrible in life to deserve this!”
i do this in the evening before bed to freshen up the place. i love the crispness of fresh air before bed. i would probably do it at night too, but easier just to avoid the nagging and crankiness the next day.
Our windows are open all year round in our bedroom. 55-degree bedroom with lots of comforters FTW. My SO and I are also temperature compatible.
“It pains you to tell people that you live in West Wilmette? Loolz.”
Yes. Hilarious comeback btw.
“My SO and I are also temperature compatible.”
dude i swear the inventor of dual climate in cars should win a noble PEACE prize award.
Btw, anyone who glorifies Lincoln Park, or the easternmost portion for that matter, likely did not grow up here, or if they did they are under 30 years old.
30 years ago, most of Chicago was uninhabitable for the obviously yuppie folk who post here, or if it was, it was solid middle class living (with real estate values to match circa 300k SFHs in todays dollars). Lincoln Park had the same complexion of Humboldt Park, not that there is anything wrong with that. But no one bragged about living there, lake or no lake. The most foolish people on this blog are those who think a hefty premium for east lincoln park will be tenable in 10 years.
lol…It does not work that well though, cars are too small. I take a blanket with me when we travel in my husband’s car or put my coat on me. The best thing is the seat warmer because that really helps. I also keep my hat and gloves on. Actually the aforementioned ex taught me the importance of wearing a hat as apparently one loses a lot of heat through the head.
“dude i swear the inventor of dual climate in cars should win a noble PEACE prize award.”
I seem to recall peeps bragging about living in LP in 1980. not like today , and they wouldn’t be called yuppies for another couple of years but that is where they lived. maybe it was an urban pioneer type of pride.
Can someone define green zone? It seems everyone has a different definition.
LP, GC, Streeterville, River North…what else?
Which “Logan” property will sell for a bigger discount (percentage or absolute dollar) off list? The featured property, or this one:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2632-N-Talman-Ave-60647/home/13450822
It didn’t have anything to do with easy Fed monetary policy and massive deficit expansion, unlimited spending under Reagan, HWB, Clinton (after the breaking of stagflation). The reason for all the northside expansion, RE boom, and easy money was due to the Cubs’ breakout 1984 season!!
“The most foolish people on this blog are those who think a hefty premium for east lincoln park will be tenable in 10 years.”
Really? The ELP premium will be significantly less in *10* years? I am by no means an ELP booster but this surprises me a bit. Call me foolish, I suppose.
The higher the premium the greater the risk. See how much people are willing to pay for declining city services, crime and deteriorating infrastructure. Not exactly conducive to buyers of $3M homes.
I guess. I didn’t grow up here. I thought you grew up up Palo Alto? At least you claimed that you did once.
Anyone that currently glorifies the North Shore didn’t live there during it’s 1980’s – mid 90’s peak. Not only that, but they also tend to be from disgusting enclaves like Libertyville and West Willmete.
Can’t blame them, really. They missed the decline. They were at Boulder in the mid 90’s, then they were in the back office on “Wall Street”(lofl) up until they washed out with the rest of the state school guys when the market shit the bed.
“Btw, anyone who glorifies Lincoln Park, or the easternmost portion for that matter, likely did not grow up here, or if they did they are under 30 years old.”
“At least you claimed that you [grew up in PA] once.”
Mistaken recollection.
Eastern LP is such a small area it might maintain it’s premium. So long as Chicago has a relatively better economy than other midwest cities (which seems to be the case) it makes the case for small enclaves of expensive properties. Note that I do NOT believe this will occur for the entire GZ. Maybe the GZ circa 1990.
The GZ will be just fine as FB’s are stuck in their foreclosures. Schools are slowly starting to fix themselves in those areas.
Just don’t expect the GZ to expand much beyond its current boundaries. It is what it is. New sales will be slow for years to come and quality properties, while continuing to fall in price for years to come, will still be in short supply … due to primarily to FB’s who cannot sell and to the sheer fact that large numbers of SFH have been torn down over the years and replaced with multi-unit housing.
The suburbs on the other hand will also continue to expand, as they have been for 50 years now. It’s the inner ring suburbs that will continue to experience the blight and it will only get worse as time goes on.
I’m simply arguing that the status quo will stay the same, maybe alittle reversion here or there. I can’t predict much beyond 10 or 12 years though other then Gen X/Y will be poorer, heavily indebted and underemployed, sort of like Japan’s “keiyakushain” or ‘suffering generation’.
This has all happened before and it will all happen again.
“The GZ will be just fine as FB’s are stuck in their foreclosures”
sorry, replace ‘foreclosures’ with ‘homes’ (too much going on right now!)
“The GZ will be just fine as FB’s are stuck in their foreclosures. Schools are slowly starting to fix themselves in those areas.
Just don’t expect the GZ to expand much beyond its current boundaries. It is what it is.”
Nope it’s gonna contract. Don’t expect CPS to enforce any sort of broken window policy with budget cuts. Areas like where this house is and “West Town” are going to contract as the drug addicts and drunks come out of the woodwork.
Too many areas tried to jump into the GZ in the past 10 years but not enough of a critical mass of yuppies, IMO, to sustain them.
I dunno what this house is worth today, but I think 10 years from now it’ll be around 250k.
“Areas like where this house is and “West Town” are going to contract as the drug addicts and drunks come out of the woodwork.”
Is *anyone* contending this house is GZ? I don’t think there’s even a consensus on here that the nicer parts of Logan are GZ.
“At least you claimed that you [grew up in PA] once.”
“Mistaken recollection.”
I’m a quote miner now!
“JMM on August 26th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
New Trier is a good school, but my impression is most go to big 10 schools (when they are free on bond to do so).
There is certainly an upper cadre of kids that is not dissimilar from the private boarding schools (if there were set on a stand alone basis).
My alma hs was a bay area school that was similar to New Trier. Probably send 15 kids to Stanford, but a good half of those were kids of profs, etc. Most went to the UC system, USC, pac 10 or smaller west coast colleges.”
“I’m a quote miner now! ”
Graduated from HS =/= “grew up”.
“Finally, I’m shocked by how poor some people’s winter clothes must be so that they’re always cold. Get yourself at least one warm kit of clothes and the winter is not really that bad.”
Don’t be shocked – for many people fashion and the way you look is more important to than the way you feel. You get further in life as well……
LOL clio you are an internet treasure
Here’s a REAL arts and crafts bungalow from 1908 that just went up for sale today in the Villa.
3734 N. Harding.
At $174,900 this house will be under contract in a new york minute.
I bet there are people driving by this house and planning their offers as we speak. Literally, as we speak. I’d bet money that if I walked over there right now there would be at least one car with people checking it out, looking in the windows, etc.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3734-N-Harding-Ave-60618/home/13457019
The previous 3/1 1920’s arts and crafts in the villa (also needed work) sold in April 2010 for $361,000
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3616-N-Avers-Ave-60618/home/13456435
My my the difference a year makes…
HD – I don’t know that area or anything about the house but if YOU think it is a great deal, I am going to submit a full cash offer. I will tell you how it goes tomorrow!!!
HD: Thanks for the links to the houses in the Villa (which I love!)
But it makes you wonder what the real condition is on the house that was just listed. The agent has access to the comps just like you. Yes- prices continue to fall- but it’s not like they couldn’t try $300k or something and see what would happen. Unless they’re going for some kind of bidding war.
It will be interesting to see what happens with this new one.
“My my the difference a year makes…”
I was pondering whether the fact that the current place is basically a half block from the Kennedy might be a factor, but so the prior sale (not that I’m necessarily agreeing they’re comps). You really do love the expressway.
“Can someone define green zone? It seems everyone has a different definition.
LP, GC, Streeterville, River North…what else?”
Lakeview, North Center, Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Wicker Park, Bucktown, parts of the West Loop, parts of the South Loop, Loop
DZ, I do. I hate hate hate fighting 20 mins of traffic down irving park or addison to sit in traffic on the kennedy.
The other comp I didn’t list is a california style bungalow on pulaski that recently sold for 160k iirc. Properties that need work sell fast if they’re price correctly.
“DZ, I do. I hate hate hate fighting 20 mins of traffic down irving park or addison to sit in traffic on the kennedy.”
I do too. I suppose I’m lucky where we are that California is pretty quick moving. Going a third or half mile on Calif to get to Kennedy is no big deal. Also lucky that blue line is not on the Kennedy down here. But seriously, air quality really has to be bad so close to it. We have friends who live close who complain, as well as about noise.
How far away do you live at the moment?
Btw that harding property has a 50×137 lot.
“Properties that need work sell fast if they’re price correctly.”
I agree. But it has to be priced pretty low for someone to see “value” in upgrading it. But those that are- are selling fairly quickly.
I live a hop skip and a jump from smoque about a block and a half south of the highway.
ve got the metra el bus cabs and the highway. My household has only one car. So many transit options is one reason the area lags in amenities. Hell I can get to old orchard in traffic in less than 20 mins.
The noise and vantage point, from my unit at least, is negligable. During the summer, late at night with the windows openi can hear a slight rumbling of the el.
But I will admit that some properties in the area could have a lot of noise. As far as pollution, its nowhere near as bag as some smog filled cities in this country.
The 4112 n keeler property foreclosure I briefly toured had a loud highway noif youu are a block or more away you can’t even even tell there is a highway. The cicadas at night in the summer drown out the highway noise! Honestly!
Someone will find value in the villa property. Its a nice little community of home afficianados. Its just a small little couple of blocks. I could be wrong but I see something like this selling quickly as an estate sale. Im not intersted in a rehab at this point. Nor am I interested in pressure to outbid someone else. I never regret missing out on a deal on anything. I buy onmy own time line withoout a gun to my head.
I’m agree with you about the villa. It’s a very cute area and people love it for its historical significance. A certain group of homebuyers would love to buy there- especially at this price.
For those that are interested- the Chicago Architecture Foundation does a bungalow bus tour twice a year and the north route covers the villa (and a bunch of other neighborhoods that we routinely chatter about here including Galewood and Portage Park.)
It’s definitely worth checking out.
http://caf.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=692
why don’t you put in a bid you are comfortable with HD and if you don’t get it, so be it
Sonies, I don’t want to rehab and the public school there sucks. Its not a neighborhood for strollers and kids.
“Don’t be shocked – for many people fashion and the way you look is more important to than the way you feel. You get further in life as well……”
Tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis have a way of making this not quite true.
“I bet there are people driving by this house and planning their offers as we speak. Literally, as we speak.”
You speak out loud as you type? All the time, or just after teh staff leaves the office?
Speaking of good deal fixers on the freeway, the buyer is going to end up with a nice house for cheap here (tho it’ll probably be a flip):
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3809-N-Avers-Ave-60618/home/13457959
That avers house IS too close to the highway for me..
Didn’t someone post that Avers house here when it first came on the market?
“That avers house IS too close to the highway for me”
my note for the funniest thing EVER said on cribchatter
“Graduated from HS =/= “grew up”.”
That is correct.
“Anyone that currently glorifies the North Shore didn’t live there during it’s 1980’s – mid 90’s peak. Not only that, but they also tend to be from disgusting enclaves like Libertyville and West Willmete.”
First of all, there is nothing disgusting about west wilmette.
But here is some history on your beloved Lincoln Park. Like most areas of Chicago, it was urban, lower middle class and plagued with gang issues — again nothing inherently wrong with it other than the fact that it stands in stark contrast to mr. yuppie come lately who thinks the area was and always will be the upper east side (though NYC had issues back in those days too). You were probably not born yet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Lords
“That avers house IS too close to the highway for me”
“my note for the funniest thing EVER said on cribchatter”
Pretty funny. Although I kinda think HD has posted stuff that’s as close.
I drove past this property yesterday on my way to Costco. Man, the location stinks. it’s one door away from the CVS parking lot, right across from Niko’s grill. It will smell like burgers and fries, all the time in there.
It’s all cars, all the time over there, too. Across the street down Diversey going east is a series of brick 2 flats, all identical, that I’ve always wondered about owning as rental property. Sure they built that new stuff on the north side of Diversey west of the river, but I think much of that will collapse in value. Speaking of construction West of the River, how long is that unfinished mess at Rockwell and Belmont just going to sit, unfinished and open, an eyesore to all?
Overimproved for the location.
It’s been there few years now, it’s a disaster that should have never been converted. It is a complete eyesore. I think it’ll be there probably a full decade.
“how long is that unfinished mess at Rockwell and Belmont just going to sit, unfinished and open, an eyesore to all?”
“Speaking of construction West of the River, how long is that unfinished mess at Rockwell and Belmont just going to sit, unfinished and open, an eyesore to all?”
There’s a “for sale” banner on it now.
“it’s a disaster that should have never been converted”
New from the foundation up, no?
I don’t know if it’s new from the foundation up. IN the year’s I’ve seen it, it looks like a half converted conversion. Nobody today would design conods that bad, the courtyard in the middle is only like 18 feet wide and balconies are inside there lookin alll nasty.
If you go to Streetview on Rockwell just south of Belmont, you see the site with nothing above teh jersey barriers.
Two flat next door for sale, too:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2336-W-Diversey-Ave-60647/home/13360698
$429k.
REDUCED to $799k.
and, the neighboring property at 2336, listing expired.
Listed at $679,000
I just drove by this house- and saw they were having an open house. I wondered what was happening with the pricing. Thanks for the update.