His and Hers Bathrooms in a Vintage Penthouse: 1209 N. Astor in the Gold Coast
This 3-bedroom penthouse at 1209 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in March 2021.
Built in 1926, 1209 N. Astor was, according to Chicago Apartments: A Century of Lakefront Luxury, originally sold as “Twelve Nine.”
Designed by Alfred Alschuler and built by Hallbauer-La Bahn, the red brick building has 16 floors with limestone trim.
It has 31 units along with a doorman and exercise room.
There’s no parking.
This penthouse has many of its vintage features including thick crown molding, built-ins and wood paneling in the library.
It has 2 fireplaces, including a gas fireplace in the library.
The second fireplace is in the living room and the listing says it’s the only wood burning fireplace in the building and has a “dedicated chimney fan on the roof with controls inside the unit.”
Other unique features include “dedicated hot water tanks with top-floor pumps for strong water pressure independent of building systems and excellent zoned HVAC system with humidification.”
The living room and primary bedroom span the width of the unit.
The primary bedroom, which you enter through a hidden custom door in the library, also has the unique feature of his, and hers, en suite bathrooms, with body sprays and steam.
The kitchen, which has lake views, has white cabinets, stone counter tops and luxury stainless steel appliances including a range hood that vents outdoors.
It also has a wine refrigerator.
The unit has a 100×6 private terrace that runs parallel to a long gallery hallway.
This penthouse also has a separate dining room and family room along with a small office.
In addition to the central air, it also has a laundry room with in-unit washer/dryer.
There’s no parking but rental is available in the neighborhood.
The assessments are $6800 a month but because its a co-op, those include taxes.
For those looking for a home in the sky, does this fit the bill?
Dawn McKenna and Karen Iantorno at Coldwell Banker have the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan, sorry).
Unit #PH: 3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4100 square feet, co-op
- No prior prices because it’s a co-op
- Originally listed in March 2021 for $3.1 million
- Currently still listed at $3.1 million
- Assessments of $6800 a month (includes heat, gas, taxes, security, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
- Taxes are in the assessment
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- No parking
- 2 fireplaces including one wood burning
- Dedicated hot water tanks with pumps
- Bedroom #1: 13×26
- Bedroom #2: 15×9
- Bedroom #3: 14×14
- Living room: 17×29
- Dining room: 17×21
- Kitchen: 14×20
- Library: 17×20
- Family room: 11×17
- Laundry room: 5×10
- Pantry: 6×6
- Office: 6×5
- Gallery: 8×43
- Balcony: 100×6
Great place. Only complaints are the bath is gaudy, no lake view (I assume) from the balcony and a 6’x100’ balcony isn’t ideal
Is that an original Mac computer? Owners still playing Bird Vs Dr J?
Yes please! Love the asthetics of this place. Agree with JohnnyU about the balcony/patio. Not sure how useable that really is with those dimensions but nice nonetheless. Just curious…at this pricepoint how much of an issue is it not having parking available? I understand that rental parking is available “nearby”, but in all reality does someone at this pricepoint want the convenience of pulling into a parking garage and taking an elevator to their unit rather than parking in a lot a block or more away?
Gorgeous.
I’m surprised you don’t see more dual baths in high end properties.
“Not sure how useable that [patio] really is with those dimensions but nice nonetheless.”
It is not an entertaining terrace, but there is ample space for seating / dinner for the (most likely just) two people who live here.
It looks like they used most of the rest of the space for large planters, to improve the views from inside the unit 24/7.
Far more “useful” than a patio off of one room set up as an entertaining space, IMO.
“the bath is gaudy”
I hope the stone looks better IRL than in the pic. If not–terrible choice.
Property taxes on this PIN went from $149k in 2000 to 713k in 2019, a compound annual growth rate of 8.6%, higher than the other three Astor Street mansions recently profiled on CC which had 10- and 20-year cagrs of 7 – 8%.
At 8.6% your taxes double every 8.4 years, which probably accounts for why YoY median sale price change of Chicago-area luxury homes appear to have hit their ceiling — up only 1%, ranking Chicago third from the bottom in price appreciation compared to its peers.
https://www.redfin.com/news/luxury-versus-affordable-november-2020/
“At 8.6% your taxes double every 8.4 years, which probably accounts for why YoY median sale price change of Chicago-area luxury homes appear to have hit their ceiling — up only 1%, ranking Chicago third from the bottom in price appreciation compared to its peers.”
Thats HAWT ™ and fully sustainable
It’s why the money class has been leaving Chicago and illinois for years.
Part of that increase is likely cooperative taxes catching up to condominium taxes, which has been going on for a few years. It would need to be compared to neighboring condos to see if it’s more, less or equal of an increase.
Great! I’ve been looking for a place with assessments of under $7,000 and no parking. This will be perfect!
Did they steal the fire escape door from the janitor’s closet at the Parthenon?
Not crazy about many things, but jesus christ, that corridor along the balcony leading to the piano….whoa.
“Great! I’ve been looking for a place with assessments of under $7,000 and no parking. This will be perfect!”
First of all, what are the taxes on this?
At least $3,500 a month, right?
So a $3500 a month assessment really isn’t out of line for a condo/co-op of this size. And, actually, as it’s a small building, this is actually quite good.
Next week, I’ll cover some other similar units sized condo units so you can compare the assessments. I think you’ll be surprised.
It’s 4100 square feet. That is a home in the sky.
“It’s why the money class has been leaving Chicago and illinois for years.”
Who’s buying that $3 million house in Bucktown then?
Hm.
I have seen his-and-her dressing rooms and baths in some other vintage high-end buildings in the Gold Coast.
Actually, oftentimes in homes or condos with “2.5 baths,” the primary-bedroom bath becomes “hers” (you can tell by the fancy towels, trays of perfume by the sink, and “feminine products” in the medicine chest) and the hallway bath becomes “his” (shaving equipment by the sink and the tell-tale raised seat).
Sabrina,
I know co-ops often include taxes with the assessment, but this one looks like they’re separate. Maybe I’m wrong.
Vintage is not my style. But I’d have to say that if I could you know I would.
The “terrace” is actually perfect for a large summer cocktail party. Most people don’t want to actually sit down. They prefer to mingle and talk to others while enjoying those impressive views.
Sure there is a surface or two that I’d adapt. That’s true of most spaces. But for me to say that I could live in this vintage style penthouse is a wonderful compliment to timeless classic design and finishes. Bravo! If I win the lottery this weekend then you are all cordially invited to my summer solstice party on June 20th.
That’s a very steep HOA at $1.65 a square foot, for a building whose only communal amenity is an exercise room and doorman. For comparison, refer to the fabulous penthouse at 1500 N Lake Shore,featured on this blog a few months ago. It’s HOA cost is $1.02 per sq ft.
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1500-N-Lake-Shore-Dr_Chicago_IL_60610_M97431-04976
or another fabulous penthouse featured here,1325 N Astor, at $1.04 a sq ft
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1325-N-Astor-St-13_Chicago_IL_60610_M81752-15344
I don’t know whether or not prop taxes are included in these HOAs or not.
“I know co-ops often include taxes with the assessment, but this one looks like they’re separate. Maybe I’m wrong.”
It says “includes taxes” right in the listing.