Get Your White Picket Fence (and the DQ too!) in Southport: 1320 W. Grace
This 3-bedroom vintage single family home at 1320 W. Grace in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview recently came on the market.
Built in 1892, the listing says it has been “gutted to perfection.”
It has a custom designed kitchen with white cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances along with an eat-in breakfast area and wine fridge.
All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor.
The basement is finished with a family room and storage.
Built on an irregular 41.5×47.3 lot, it has 2 car parking on the driveway and central air.
It’s also just a quick stroll to the neighborhood Dairy Queen.
Is this the going rate for a gutted vintage SFH in the Blaine school district now?
Jena Radnay at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
1320 W. Grace: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed
- Sold in September 1992 for $178,000
- Sold in September 1995 for $244,000
- Sold in February 1999 for $257,000
- Sold in March 2002 for $522,500
- Sold in May 2008 for $636,000
- Originally listed in February 2011 for $759,000
- Currently still listed for $759,000
- Taxes of $9516
- Central Air
- 2-car parking on the driveway
- Bedroom #1: 14×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×11 (second floor)
- Recreation room: 16×14 (lower level)
staircase lookin steep
Was the renovation done post 2008? Why the huge price increase from the 2008 sale?
Even if it was totally rehabbed since 2008, $760k for a house with no garage or yard?! That seems insane to me….even if it were still 2006.
love the looming cinderblock mccrapbox right behind the place…
not
This place is way too “cozy” for it to be $760k
that kitchen is awfully small and looks like it was built in a butler pantry or something. Same with the tiny living room, dining room, and a master suite of 14×12? come on…
In Ohio a house like this near a Dairy Queen costs 150k. This is priced around 200k too high is my guess.
Beautiful home, plain out gorgeous.
but WTF??????? 759k no really 759k to have the back of your house being loomed over by a mccinderblockmansion!!!!
seriously is that a spiral staircase dressed up like a real staircase? (good idea though)
Looks like a pretty normal staircase to me. A few steps, turn, most of the steps, turn and a few more at the top. Not the hugest staircase but takes up more space than a spiral one.
i love this! i would much rather have this than some of the duplexes down, that were priced similarly, on Southport that were featured last week.
Guessing maybe 650k? The garage & small kitchen really kills any hope of a higher price.
i meant to say “lack of garage”
realto speak: intimate, cozy lot!
you can get the 2008 listing in redfin (just scroll down to the history), but only has an exterior picture.
From the sound of the listing, they did the kitchen, “mechanicals” probably means new furnace and a/c. Says they painted.
Maybe, *maybe* they spent something in the range of the $123k they’re asking for on all of that, but I would think less, yet the market has gone down quite a bit since May 08.
“the back of your house being loomed over by a mccinderblockmansion”
condos. with a duplex down available:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3805-N-Wayne-Ave-60613/unit-1N/home/39586184
$675.
2N and 3n also both sold in the last 4 months for $355 (Nov) and $417 (Jan).
Pretty sure I was in this place when it was on the market in ’01. Only a vague recollection of details, as it felt too small for the money then. Believe that the kitchen and pictured bath are new since then, but this isn’t a post-01 “gut”, if it’s the same place.
we looked at this place when it was on in 2002, from what i remember it was already gutted at that point. It is indeed very cozy….as in way too tight. We thought it was 25 over priced in 2002. Way too high of an ask price, i’d say this gets maybe about 625.
also those taxes are bad for the lot size.
hahaha, as much space as you get with the duplex down i still say “nay, nay” on all duplex downs. if i wanted to sleep in a basement i could do it for free at my parents
but still its only a 100k extra to have a SFH, the fact that the entry fee is 759k is mind boggling.
if i was rolling in $$$ to consider spending 759k on a house in wiggleville i would just go and by my dream home for 200k more
http://www.redfin.com/IL/River-Forest/706-Lathrop-Ave-60305/home/13325283
“we looked at this place when it was on in 2002, from what i remember it was already gutted at that point.”
My recollection of asking price then was $589, but that was early ’01. And my other recollection is that the basement height was not good.
lot size
42′ x 47′ = 1,974 sf
vs.
25′ x 125′ = 3,125 sf
Bob – “In Ohio a house like this near a Dairy Queen costs 150k. This is priced around 200k too high is my guess.”
So what, in Brooklyn a house priced like this is 1 million.
I used to live at Grace and Sheffield and would walk by these 3 houses all the time. I was 25 at the time and always thought…this is where I would want to live when I am married and have a family. These owners were always outside with their kids in the front yard playing and they always seemed so quaint. Plus I was living in a 1bd/1bath apartment. It is now 10 years later, I have lived in several apartments, condos, houses and now realize that the only reason they were out front is because their house has no backyard and butts directly up to the house behind them! Not sure I would want my kids playing out front with a DQ so close and the drunks walking by after Cubs games saying stupid things…..
I’ve been looking at the 706 Lathrop house for awhile. It’s been on the market for well over a year I think. The interior is amazing – probably the best I’ve seen. But we couldn’t get past the location (pretty busy street, directly across from an elementary school and kitty corner from the RF tennis club). And it looks spookier from the street than the picture reveals. Dark, small front porch.
Bob – “In Ohio a house like this near a Dairy Queen costs 150k. This is priced around 200k too high is my guess.”
a local – “So what, in Brooklyn a house priced like this is 1 million.”
I would have thought that a house priced like this in Brooklyn would also be $759,000. Then again, they don’t have any Dairy Queens in Brooklyn so all is not normal there.
“Not sure I would want my kids playing out front with a DQ so close and the drunks walking by after Cubs games saying stupid things…..”
and eric rojas riding his bike
Still almost sharp as a tack, anon.
listed 1/10/01 $579,000 lowered to $559,000 before canceled 1/30/01
listed 1/30/01 $559,000 canceled 3/6/01
The 2002 sale does not appear in the MLS.
anon (tfo)- that duplex down needs about a 100k haircut too.
blackberry,
It is dark outside but its a plus i found as passers buy cannot easily peek in. i love the current owners fall decorations.
the street is busy but last summers construction helped lighten the thru traffic which hasnt come back yet (as far as i can tell).
i want to say the original list was like 1.4m i think.
the yard is private too as the bushes provide privacy. I mis the old listing that had the floor plan and i think 360 views.
“I’ve been looking at the 706 Lathrop house for awhile. It’s been on the market for well over a year I think. The interior is amazing – probably the best I’ve seen. But we couldn’t get past the location (pretty busy street, directly across from an elementary school and kitty corner from the RF tennis club). And it looks spookier from the street than the picture reveals. Dark, small front porch”
Groove – this cracks me up!! “It is dark outside but its a plus i found as passers buy cannot easily peek in.”
I used to live near here as well….my favorite thing to do in the ‘hood….go for a run and check out the posh decorating of RF! I even spied a pot belly pig once…who would have guessed!
“Groove – this cracks me up!! “It is dark outside but its a plus i found as passers buy cannot easily peek in.””
which part, the horrible gramitcal and spelling errors or the “the name is shall not mention” happy chipmunk positive spin?
“Groove – this cracks me up!! “It is dark outside but its a plus i found as passers buy cannot easily peek in.””
which part, the horrible grammatical and spelling errors or the “the name is shall not mention” happy chipmunk positive spin?
Groove…. “which part, the horrible grammatical and spelling errors or the “the name is shall not mention” happy chipmunk positive spin?”
I was thinking more the part that you know I like to see inside people’s houses =)
Although…I guess that is likely true of anyone on this site.
“Still almost sharp as a tack, anon.
listed 1/10/01 $579,000 lowered to $559,000 before canceled 1/30/01
listed 1/30/01 $559,000 canceled 3/6/01”
Damn close for 10 years ago. And an open house walk thru, without any continued interest.
wc: “that duplex down needs about a 100k haircut too.”
No doubt, but the asking prices are playing off each other.
“In Ohio a house like this near a Dairy Queen costs 150k”
Considering it’s in Ohio, they should pay someone $150k to take it.
EJ,
Have you ever been to Ohio? There are a lot of young transplants from Ohio State and Miami University that come to Chicago seeking jobs and a great dating scene. Once they find their mate, marry and have kids many move back to Ohio. After all a nice suburb in Ohio is very similar to a nice suburb in Illinois, except the housing is cheaper in Ohio.
(Another thing going for Ohio, better taxes.)
The Banana Leaf had good food but crappy service. Also, they didn’t have a corkage fee on the menu and then tried to charge you for one. Also, a waitress there actually chased me down outside one time to yell at me for giving a tip somewhere above 10% because the service sucked.
notClio, I bet that a much higher percentage of people born in Ohio leave Ohio for Chicago than those born in Chicago who leave Chicago for Ohio, even after you account for the return after they realize what a house costs.
@JJJ – Good Point.
“notClio, I bet that a much higher percentage of people born in Ohio leave Ohio for Chicago than those born in Chicago who leave Chicago for Ohio, even after you account for the return after they realize what a house costs.”
Most of the time the Ohioan who moved here finds a mate from here or somewhere else. And nobody who wasn’t born & raised in Ohio ever really wants to move there so they wind up here.
“After all a nice suburb in Ohio is very similar to a nice suburb in Illinois, except the housing is cheaper in Ohio. ”
Yeah but thing is, once they’ve been living in the citaayyyy for the young transplant quality of life, they get tied to a job in Chicagoland. So moving back to Ohio usually isn’t practical AND it’s akin to admitting defeat to their highschool friends back home that they never really made it. Most transplants wind up sucking it up and buying an overpriced home in the burbs. Yeah its still a defeat of sorts as it’s the same soulless existence as an Ohio burb but they’re at a different point in their lives and it’s not akin to admitting defeat back on the farm. And they can still consider themselves cultured with their weekend trips downtown. Chicago has a ton more culture than ANY Ohio city (I used to live in Ohio for a couple years).
Ohio house prices may look dirt cheap, but that’s only because Ohio has become a very poor state and one of the most difficult to make a living in.
Saw a glorious vintage apt in a stately Shaker Heights building for an unbelievable price: $14,000 for a 2000 sq ft place with herringbone parquet from front to back and some of the most beautiful vintage details I’ve ever seen anywhere. But the maintenance is $2000 a month (including taxes- it’s a co-op), and that means that you need an income of $75K a year just to support the place if you pay cash. It’s probably harder to make $75K in Ohio these days than it is to make $200K a year here.
House prices in a normal market not driven by corrupt lending tend to reflect the buying power- the incomes, that is- of the likely buyers, and in places like Cleveland and Detroit, there’s not much of that these days.
“Considering it’s in Ohio, they should pay someone $150k to take it.”
The DQ is an Ohio small town social institution, hence the reference.
Groove,
The Lathrop house is gorgeous and HUGE. You are right about the price drops too. I am amazed it is under $1MM but the inside is also very museum-like. I would hate to have the Lathrop home and have little kids who might put crayon on the 1890’s mural in the dining room. With how nice the house has been preserved and updated, it truly needs someone that will maintain it as is…not use the house.
This raises the question… are there any suitable mid-west cities other than Chicago or are they all soulless?
“This raises the question… are there any suitable mid-west cities other than Chicago or are they all soulless?”
Define “midwest”. West of the 13 colonies, not in the confederacy + Oklahoma, and no Rockies in the state?
Minneapolis is pretty okay, but it’s a love it or hate it place. Most of the other places I’d consider decent are *much* smaller.
St. Louis? Small for my tastes, but still.
Columbus has it’s upside.
“This raises the question… are there any suitable mid-west cities other than Chicago or are they all soulless?”
Soulless is entirely subjective and I admit my years here have transformed me into a bit of an urban snob. (Although contrary to stereotypes I am not nor do I consider myself to be ‘sophisticated’).
LOL at Minneapolis–its probably the only major city in the midwest I definitely could not live in. Imagine Chicago but smaller and colder. Much, much colder. If you aren’t of scandinavian descent or from the Dakotas I’d steer clear.
In terms of walkability I don’t think any other midwestern cities come close. In other midwest cities there are only very small pockets of walkable neighborhoods in my experience. Yeah there’s the bus in some of these areas but it generally doesn’t goto to places without also quite a bit of walking (like 1-2 miles).
“The Cities” are really parochial. If the cold doesn’t get you, the fact that everyone at Nye’s except for you went to grade school together will.
“This raises the question… are there any suitable mid-west cities other than Chicago or are they all soulless?”
With the possible exceptions of Milwaukee and Madison, they are all soulless compared to Chicago, in my opinion. Part of my justification for being long term long housing is that Chicago is a unique mix of affordability in a major, large city where there are plenty of young transplants and plenty of high-paying jobs.
The twin cities are nothing like Chicago. They are far whiter, the people are less friendly, the summers are better, the parks are nicer, and they have ridiculous bar and alcohol rules.
I’d like the smaller midwestern cities a lot better, and once DID like them better, when they weren’t so destroyed and filled with crime and violence.
I hate what has happened to St. Louis (my old place), Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. I’m old enough to remember these cities when they were beautiful and bustling; real cities. St. Louis still has incredible built beauty and lots of “soul” – a fascinating history with ties between its founding families and those of New Orleans, and it is still a very, very literary city with great cultural amenities. But the crime and violence are appalling and there is only one small pocket left in the city where you can safely walk the streets.
And how beautiful Detroit used to be. There is a website called “Ruins of Detroit” that made me weep when I saw it, for I saw buildings there that I remember as beautiful and intact. But that was a long, long time ago.
It is so sickening to think of how we built all these fantastic cities, some of the greatest cities the world has ever seen, in such a short time, between 1880 and 1930, just so we could tear them up in less than 40 years after WW2.
Chicago is the last of them. I’m very afraid for our city right now, because this city’s success at reinventing itself has made us all so smug and complacent, and blind to the destruction that is taking place due to the endemic corruption and financial mismanagement. Taxes in this town were very reasonable when I moved here 23 years ago, and services such as public transit were much better. We’re still the best city to live in in the country, but Detroit was a gorgeous place with a great buzz and high levels of prosperity, not to mention twice as many denizens, back in 1952. If Detroit could die, so can we.
About the twin cities: Minneapolis looks and feels today very much as Clayton, MO (St. Louis) felt 30 years ago, very nice, but very suburban in character and lacking in the kind of vitality and “buzz” Chicago has. Nowadays, Clayton feels much more “urban” than the twin cities area.
“The twin cities are nothing like Chicago. They are far whiter, the people are less friendly, the summers are better, the parks are nicer, and they have ridiculous bar and alcohol rules.”
Totally agreed, but they aren’t soulless (which was the question)–it’s just a basically unwelcoming Scandinavian soul. Not my thing, but know people–yes, transplants, and not from Bemidji or Fargo, and not Scandinavian–for whom it is.
“Nowadays, Clayton feels much more “urban” than the twin cities area.”
Clayton feels more “urban” than central Minneapolis? Are you serious?
Obviously, Clayton would feel more urban than Eden Prairie, but almost everything does.
“If Detroit could die, so can we.”
Different demographics are much less trusting of one another here. Our mainstream media like’s to spin this as a negative but it’s actually a very strong asset. The people I know in Chicago don’t have the attitude “we’re in this together” if they don’t know one of a different demographic.
It’s more like: what are you doing in my neighborhood, don’t know you, don’t trust you, look like you don’t belong & I’m going to watch you. This goes for me too when I goto certain neighborhoods where I am the distinct minority.
PS Chicago probably peaked on the world stage in 1893 when it hosted the The World’s Columbian Exhibition. (!!) One cannot even compare what comprises/transpires today here for culture (i.e. Taste of Chicago with its shootings and obesity levels, Bulls games, hip-hop blasting nightclubs, etc.)
I’m not kidding… visited Clayton last time I was down there (last year) and it has a lot more “buzz” to it than downtown Minneapolis, a lot more sophistication, and almost as many skyscrapers. Clayton really is the new downtown St. Louis, or at least half of it. I always preferred the West End, but I didn’t have children, so the crime in that area was not such a problem for me until I got violently mugged a couple of times within a year. Clayton, on the other hand, has no crime and is even more upper-income than in the old days, and additionally is in the Clayton-Ladue school district.
Was in Minneapolis a few years ago and it was OK, very nice, but it became more suburban than Clayton right outside the downtown core, and NOTHING was happening downtown at night, only in the hotels. It was of course very pretty and very clean, but felt extremely empty and deserted, even by day.
grew up in Clayton, MO, lived in Chicago (for many years), now live in Uptown, Minneapolis – no comparison (and Uptown is pretty cool).
The first and last are like highschool – no one leaves and if they do, they move back after college. That’s why Chicago is so great – newbies moving in every day to breathe in new life, plus the best walking city in the US – many cultures can be seen in a three mile walk. Is there another city like that in the midwest?
Taste of Chicago is awful, nobody would call that “Chicago Culture”
Bulls games? Come on, why wouldn’t you want to pay $100 to get blasted by commercials for 3 hours straight?
(and I totally love the bulls, but going to games sucks and I would never ever PAY for a ticket)
Hip Hop Clubs?
Oh noes! What about Techno clubs with Indians, Latinos, AA’s, Asians and White kids from Schaumburg? Hard to tell which is worse IMO
There is plenty of culture here in Chicago, you just have to work a little harder to find it. The improv/theater scene is great here, as well as rock clubs. Gotta filter out the emo crap though, but overall we are pretty spoiled here
One of the few problems I had with Chicago is the fact there is no other city nearby. Anything you want to do worthwhile requires getting on a plane.
kcg.. I’ll give Chicago props over NYC in many ways but a better walking city absolutely not.
90% of most major metropolitan areas in the country look and feel exactly the same but for topography, weather and flora. Same chain stores, similar looking stucco/frame/steel&glass structures, same automobile centric lifestyles. Is Henderson really all that different from Schaumburg from Eden prairie? The older I get the more I like nature like settings; like living on a river valley, or in a forest, or in the mountains. But those areas are usually isolated, without major industry and definitely not walkable. Outside of these select areas, I find most of the country very homogeneous.
I wanted to go to the open house here Sunday but couldn’t make it. Glad it’s featured here though because looking at the photos quickly I didn’t realize 1. how small it looked, and 2. that there is no backyard (or the cinderblock McCrapbox immediately behind it).
Is the side drive for this house or the neighbor? Overall it IS so cute, but I think overpriced. It has Blaine as a major plus though.
Grand Rapids, MI is pretty nice, and has had a lot of downtown redevelopment for the better.
Just my two cents on the Midwestern City convo.
“90% of most major metropolitan areas in the country look and feel exactly the same but for topography, weather and flora. Same chain stores, similar looking stucco/frame/steel&glass structures, same automobile centric lifestyles.”
So true HD. 30 years ago it might have been more traumatic to move from Chicago to, say, DC or Atlanta but now? Same stores, same restaurants, same bookstores, same movie chains showing the same movies. Very little is “unique” or different. But this is what makes a few select cities stand out (San Francisco, NY, New Orleans, Santa Fe)- where there is different architecture and maybe some different restaurants.
There have been fights in SF with the chains as some neighborhoods refuse to allow them in thinking it will “ruin” the uniqueness of the neighborhood.
There IS something disheartening about going to Paris and seeing Gaps all over the place. I know this is globalization but it’s a shame in a way too.
“One of the few problems I had with Chicago is the fact there is no other city nearby. Anything you want to do worthwhile requires getting on a plane.”
Why is this any different than SF? Other than San Jose and Sacramento which are non-events- the nearest city is a 5 hour drive. We always flew down to LA.
In Chicago- you can go to wine country (in the same way as in SF) and you can ski (okay- it’s not Tahoe- but it’s available in MI and WI and is fun for what it is.)
Ze- you must be from the east coast where going from city to city within an hour is common.
Yep.. always said I was true NYC kid. Not even an issue to drive to Philly just for a cheesesteak. And what you said is exactly why I said NYC is the best walking city in the country. Chicago has a good amount of stuff a bit spread out and one concentration of a load of stuff around Mich Ave. But NYC has all those distinct little shops and restaurants packed throughout the city and you can just wander all day. Only other city better is Paris which despite the commercialization of the champs elysees has to be 99% distinct little shops and bistros and almost all of them in exceptionally good taste. The food is just f’d up it’s so good.
As for cali.. never got the SF amazing city thing and LA I just hate.
Didn’t even know Illinois had a wine country… lots of very nice long bike paths though…
homedelete – sounds like you would like Fort Collins
there are mountain hipsters there though
“Didn’t even know Illinois had a wine country… lots of very nice long bike paths though…”
Illinois has one further downstate but in 2 hours you can be in a very nice wine country in Southwest Michigan. People may mock it as not being Napa or Sonoma (thank goodness is what I say) but some of the whites have actually won awards.
“No matter where you go – there you are.”
Which explains why I’m still here. Had I been born in Ohio rather than here, I’d probably feel a bit differently about my lot in life.
“Chicago has a good amount of stuff a bit spread out and one concentration of a load of stuff around Mich Ave.”
NYC is bigger, that is true. But if you start in Albany Park and enjoy some Middle Eastern fare, you can hit German food, some Swedish if you’re so inclined and a host of very fine neighborhoods with plenty of character and mom and pop places as you walk all the way down to Michigan Avenue from the far north side. It might take you about 3 or 4 hours (if you don’t stop much to eat/drink)- but it’s a great stroll. Chicago is a great walking city- but- like I said- we’re not nearly as concentrated or massive as NYC.
The wine country in southern IL is supposedly pretty cool and unique. Sort of an long weekend trip. Southern IL down by Shawnee National Park is an experience unlike any other in the state. It’s beautiful down there, being at the Garden of the Gods you wouldn’t even know you’re in IL.
“#Sabrina on March 16th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
“Didn’t even know Illinois had a wine country… lots of very nice long bike paths though…”
Illinois has one further downstate but in 2 hours you can be in a very nice wine country in Southwest Michigan. People may mock it as not being Napa or Sonoma (thank goodness is what I say) but some of the whites have actually won awards.”
Common HD, you call that wine country? It is depressing. To me except Chicago all midwest in boring. Now NYC that is my favorite US city by far. No other city except Montreal comes close in North America IMO.
“The wine country in southern IL is supposedly pretty cool and unique.”
I’ve lived all over the upper Midwest and even though the people drive me nuts, I’d probably go back to the Twin Cities, given the chance. Why? Good restaurants, lots of theater, and parks, parks, parks. The Twin Cities have good green spaces. I miss that here. A lot. Yes, the lake exists. But, walking at the lake is crowded and loud. In the Twin Cities I had my choice of lovely, quiet (bird-filled) lakes to wander around.
Another thing, the cities aren’t so flat. There are hills and gorges.
Also, I miss my little stucco bungalow with my garden just minutes from both downtowns. My newish, larger soulless townhouse doesn’t compare.
(An aside, the standard lot size in Mpls is 40×120. St. Paul has more variation, but is generally 50×150. The houses were anything but suburban with both cities containing a number of traditional bungalows, Victorians, and American four-squares.)
“The wine country in southern IL is supposedly pretty cool and unique. Sort of an long weekend trip. Southern IL down by Shawnee National Park is an experience unlike any other in the state. It’s beautiful down there, being at the Garden of the Gods you wouldn’t even know you’re in IL.”
I’ve heard that HD.
Here’s a link to the wineries which are near Shawnee. If you look at the pictures of Shawnee- you would never know you’re in IL.
http://www.shawneeforest.com/Wine.aspx
Wow. Is something wrong here? Are you all going soft in the head? Nice things being said on CC about Chicago and Il. Who would have thought? Before you know it you’ll actually like some of the houses that Sabrina posts.
“Groove…. “which part, the horrible grammatical and spelling errors or the “the name is shall not mention” happy chipmunk positive spin?”
I was thinking more the part that you know I like to see inside people’s houses =)”
is that a play on your screen name “onlooker”,
should i be worried that you have been passed the house in river forest and here on southport?
bejamon9,
Good point about the kids thing, i have never been inside and wonder if the basement would make a good playroom maybe the third floor which will be perfect for a kids paly room with a slide!!!. ahh who am i kidding this place needs a anal buyer who will keep its awesomeness intact.
I love thats its brick too and the garage looks sweet and might have a studio above it!
“Groove, The Lathrop house is gorgeous and HUGE. You are right about the price drops too. I am amazed it is under $1MM but the inside is also very museum-like. I would hate to have the Lathrop home and have little kids who might put crayon on the 1890’s mural in the dining room. With how nice the house has been preserved and updated, it truly needs someone that will maintain it as is…not use the house.”
“Before you know it you’ll actually like some of the houses that Sabrina posts.”
only if she posts them without listing price and pictures 🙂
“Clayton … has a lot more “buzz” to it than downtown Minneapolis, a lot more sophistication, and almost as many skyscrapers.”
I don’t even know what to say to this. There are 18 buildings in Minneapolis taller than the just built tallest building in Clayton.
Look, I said Minneapolis isn’t for everybody (ain’t for me, either) but comparing it unfavorably to *Clayton* is like saying there’s sooo much more going in in Chicago that in NYC–possibly true from your perspective, but objectively loony.
Hey, what about Omaha? I grew up there, and at the time, couldn’t wait to get out. However, now when I visit, I’m pretty surprised at all of the new cultural stuff going on, in particular, the revitalization of the downtown (especially Old Market) area, and some of the developing gallery and arts scenes in the old North Omaha area. Still all the problems of a city, of course, but you might be surprised at how Omaha is changing …
P.S.: I grew up right near 50th and Farnam, about four blocks away from Warren Buffet’s very normal and understated house.
puh-lease, warren buffe’s house is far from “normal”
its definitely slumming it for a bajillionaire like him but its a really frickin big and nice house.
“I’ve lived all over the upper Midwest and even though the people drive me nuts, I’d probably go back to the Twin Cities, given the chance. Why? Good restaurants, lots of theater, and parks, parks, parks. The Twin Cities have good green spaces. I miss that here. A lot. Yes, the lake exists. But, walking at the lake is crowded and loud. In the Twin Cities I had my choice of lovely, quiet (bird-filled) lakes to wander around.
Another thing, the cities aren’t so flat. There are hills and gorges.
Also, I miss my little stucco bungalow with my garden just minutes from both downtowns. My newish, larger soulless townhouse doesn’t compare.
(An aside, the standard lot size in Mpls is 40×120. St. Paul has more variation, but is generally 50×150. The houses were anything but suburban with both cities containing a number of traditional bungalows, Victorians, and American four-squares.)”
Pretty accurate. Mpls isn’t for everybody, but soul-less? LOFL. The food is improving, but still has away to go.
Curious what people think this house in a GZ hood in Chicago would fetch? (Tangletown is one of the better hoods in Mpls)
http://www.edinarealty.com/MN/Minneapolis/55419/homes-for-sale/343-Elmwood-Place-W-56944213/popup
“Mpls isn’t for everybody, but soul-less? LOFL.”
But it’s hands-down not as “urban” as Clayton, Missouri.
“Curious what people think this house in a GZ hood in Chicago would fetch? (Tangletown is one of the better hoods in Mpls)”
Also on a 80′ wide lot, or re-scaled and re-oriented to fit on a 25′ lot? Because, on 80′, anywhere in the GZ, it would *easily* sell as a teardown for $600k–that’s three lots.
It’s hard to compare, because that’s basically an impossible house east of Western, south of Foster, but on a standard lot, I’d think, depending on where in the GZ, it could be as little as the same and as much as double.
Thanks for the input.
Depends on your definition of “Urban”. Having lived in St Louis, it maybe quailfies as redneck urban.
Mpls/St Paul is more midwest Urban.
YMMV
“Depends on your definition of “Urban”. Having lived in St Louis, it maybe quailfies as redneck urban. ”
It was a dig at Laura’s contention upthread. I think it’s only true to the extent one uses “urban” in its typical codeword meaning.
Clayton is edge city urban and one of the more urban suburban places, but more urban than downtown Mpls is just silly, especially the complaint that away from dt, Mpls is more suburban than Clayton, which has a 20 block dt, and then is pretty comparable to south minneapolis.
You know, Sonies, it’s not a big house at all. I mean, it’s nice, but it fits right in with all the other houses in the neighborhood. You can literally walk right up to it and ring the doorbell on the front door. Check it out on Google Street View: 55th and Farnam, on the southwest corner.
Speaking of Clayton – my sister just bought a house there last year and I am SHOCKED at the price of real estate there. Clayton and Ladue prices are the same as Kenilworth/Winnetka/Hinsdale/oak brook prices!!! What gives?
“Clayton and Ladue prices are the same as Kenilworth/Winnetka/Hinsdale/oak brook prices!!! What gives?”
They are the only* place for “rich” people to live.
*mild exaggeration.
“They are the only* place for “rich” people to live.”
Yep, that about sums it up, flight at ANY cost (psf), self-segregation at any cost (psf).
Formerly American metro areas, including more conventional ones like STL, KC, Portland, Seattle etc. are losing their all-American modest and balanced pasts, and are becoming more like NYC, Chicago, LA, Miami etc. every single day. These smaller American cities are now becoming (oxymoronically) homogenous blobs of random, disconnected diversity too. People with money try to avoid it, and they bid up prices in those areas where they can do so. In places like STL it was necessary to do so in the past, those days are gone.
typo: In places like STL it was NOT necessary to do so in the past, those days are gone.
““Clayton and Ladue prices are the same as Kenilworth/Winnetka/Hinsdale/oak brook prices!!! What gives?”
I would not lump Oak Brook in with the rest of those.
“In places like STL it was NOT necessary to do so in the past, those days are gone.”
You mean like, pre-WW2? STL is *hugely* segregated and has been for over 5 decades.
Clio always is careful to include Oak Brook in with the “better” suburbs because thats where his estate is located. Self promotion. He also has Hinsdale properties, so he always is careful to include that suburb too. He throws in Kennilworth and Winnetka so the bias won’t be as obvious. No matter how many times people point out that Oak Brook doesn’t really belong with the rest, Clio continues to include it as one of the more desirable locations.
“I would not lump Oak Brook in with the rest of those.”
Off topic of the city comparisons, I have toured this home at an open house and it really is beatiful… very charming (not realtor speak, but truly an inviting home). The kitchen has been done very, very well but, overall, it is tiny. The basement is probably not even 6-feet tall and there is no yard or anything. I would compare it to a townhome, rather than SFH, especially because you can reach out and touch the neighboring buildings. It’s certainly a special home looking for the right buyer who likes “quaint” …and doesn’t mind small. But I would think a list price closer to $699K (mostly due to proximity to Blaine and what a great neighborhood I think this is), would be more fair.
juliana and jmm look at what is for sale in oak brook and tell me that it is not one of the top 5 most expensive suburbs in chicago. you are a moron if you don’t look at the facts. In fact, if you look at the housing stock, it is actually more expensive than kenilworth, winnetka, wilmette (ie you can find a much better house for cheaper in those other suburbs). Don’t take my word for it – look it up.
went off the market in April…now back and listed @719k
Update: Closed last September at 671k
Thanks T-Biscuit. We DID chatter about this closing back when it happened.
See our chatter: http://cribchatter.com/?p=11246