Gold Coast Mansion Week: Overlook the Cardinal’s Mansion at 1524 N. Astor
This 3-bedroom single family home at 1524 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in December 2020.
It’s rare for its location as it was built in the middle of last century and not during the early 1900s.
It was designed by Chicago architect I.W. Colburn in 1969.
It’s on a smaller than normal Chicago lot measuring 25×101.
The house is also directly on the historic, landmarked “Wooden Alley” which is only one, of two, still existing alleys paved with wood left in the city.
The listing says the current owner embarked on a 5-year redesign done by Marvin Herman & Associates and Suzanne Lovell Inc.
The interior is in art deco style.
The floors are stained, quartersawn white oak with a metal inlay.
There is custom millwork, cabinetry, drapes and paint throughout.
The first floor includes the entry foyer, the laundry room, and an office or guest room with a full bath.
The second floor features the living room, dining room and an eat-in kitchen along with a den, deck and terrace which overlooks the Cardinal’s Mansion across the alley.
The kitchen has dark cabinets, stone counter tops, an island, luxury stainless steel appliances and a banquette.
The third floor has the primary suite with an attached bathroom, another bedroom, also en suite, and a family room.
The listing says that the garden, koi pond and terraces were professionally landscaped by Scott Byron & Company.
There are 4 fireplaces, central air and 2-car parking (although there are 3 listed on the floor plan. Is one too small to have a car in?)
If you’re a fan of mid-century homes, does this one hit all the buttons?
Jennifer Ames at Engel & Voelkers has the listing. See the pictures, a video and floor plans here.
1524 N. Astor: 3 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, 6500 square feet
- Sold in October 2000 for $8.125 million
- Originally listed in December 2020 at $10.995 million
- Currently still listed at $10.995 million
- Taxes of $80,649
- 2-car garage parking
- 25×101 lot
- 4 fireplaces
- Central Air
- 3 outdoor spaces
- Skylight
- Bedroom #1: 22×15 (third floor)
- Bedroom #2: 11×15 (third floor)
- Bedroom #3: 23×15 (main floor)
- Living room: 22×21 (second floor)
- Dining room: 22×13 (second floor)
- Kitchen: 22×13 (second floor)
- Family room: 22×18 (third floor)
- Den: 15×15 (second floor)
- Laundry room: 6×11 (main floor)
- Terrace with koi pond: 23×12 (main floor)
- Terrace: 16×31 (second floor)
- Deck: 12×14 (second floor)
It’s good to be rich.
One of my favorites on Astor. Amazing.
“The house is also directly on the historic, landmarked “Wooden Alley” which is only one, of two, still existing alleys paved with wood left in the city.”
It was wood originally, but was replaced with all new wood, maybe a decade ago?
To each his own I guess. To say this is art deco on the interior is a bit of a stretch – – a 1980s inflected interpretation of art deco….and most definitely nothing mid century modern going on here. I could definitely find better uses of my $11MM…If you pay CASH you are paying $6700 a month in taxes to live here. After upkeep and insurance, easily over $10K/mo to live here for a cash buyer!
While I like what they’ve done, this place looks like it would be a PITA to live in day in and day out (Unless your a member of the idle rich)
At $11MM – NFW
And there are 3 garage spaces, 1 didnt get labeled
“If you pay CASH you are paying $6700 a month in taxes to live here.”
In what is really a two bedroom house.
Note that the 25×101 lot is rather misleading, as the floorplans show–a good portion of the house is actually the rear portion of 1520 Astor.
There are also actually 2 tax parcels for that part, and the actual 2019 taxes were about $94,500–closer to $8,000/month.
“And there are 3 garage spaces, 1 didnt get labeled”
Reasonably sure that is the garage space for 1520 Astor.
“Reasonably sure that is the garage space for 1520 Astor.”
So you only have 1 of the 2 Garage spaces on the West and have to walk outside to enter the home?
I’m glad the cappuccino maker made it into the floorplan.
Anybody buying this has F-U money and probably doesn’t care about paying the enormous property tax bill. Its just another line on their CPA’s to-do list.
“If you pay CASH you are paying $6700 a month in taxes to live here.”
“Anybody buying this has F-U money and probably doesn’t care about paying the enormous property tax bill.”
To the above comments, I’d have to say that anyone who can pay $5M or more for one or more dwellings, is so well set that the tax bill and maintenance costs for this place are just normal costs of living.
Are you guys kidding with the taxes? This place is yet another Berrios criminally underassessed special. Current owner bought for $8M back in 2000, is listed for $11M now and it’s assessed at $4.7M?!?! (that’s $4M for the main PIN at 1624 and $690k for the other 2 at 1620 that have the same owner listed per what anon said). If this is worth even the original purchase price, the taxes are about half what they should be.
“It was wood originally, but was replaced with all new wood, maybe a decade ago?”
It’s still wood today anonny. Every street needs maintenance. Nothing lasts forever. It is landmarked. Some of the wood bricks are missing even today. It takes a beating with the weather, I’m sure.
“If this is worth even the original purchase price, the taxes are about half what they should be.”
Agreed! And if it sells for $11m, the new taxes–if fairly assessed–should be around $200k.
Dude appeals almost every year. As recently as ’14, the AV for the main parcel was $240,106, and he still appealed.
Absolutely perfect case for the forced sale approach to tax appeals–he thought it was worth less than $2.4m–than anyone can buy it for $3m.