Is Old Town Still a Top Neighborhood? A 2-Bedroom at 1445 N. Wells
This 2-bedroom at 1445 N. Wells in Old Town came on the market in August 2021.
If this building looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about this unit back in 2014, where its location next to a popular bar was the gist of the discussion.
See our chatter here.
Built in 2000, this building has 3 units.
The listing says it has parking, and in our old crib on this unit, it apparently has outdoor parking.
The listing says this property is “custom designed luxury” with a private elevator that opens directly into the unit.
It has 12 foot ceilings with 10 inch crown moldings and built-ins.
There are hardwood floors throughout, remote control blinds and surround sound.
The unit has a “gourmet” kitchen with Viking, Bosch and Samsung stainless steel appliances with custom solid cherry cabinets.
The baths are marble and granite.
The primary bedroom has an en suite bathroom.
There are three outdoor spaces: a balcony off the front of the building overlooking Wells Street, a deck off the back of the unit accessed through the primary bedroom and a balcony off the second bedroom, which isn’t pictured.
The unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, a Miele washer/dryer in the unit and a parking space.
This property is in the heart of the popular Old Town restaurant and shopping corridor.
Listed at $690,000, that is $45,000 over the 2016 sales price of $645,000.
Old Town was hot during the housing bust years but that was nearly a decade ago.
Is Old Town still a top neighborhood for condo buyers?
Eric Newman at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
- Sold in June 2006 for $602,500
- Sold in July 2008 for $620,000
- Sold in June 2014 for $580,000
- Sold in February 2016 for $645,000
- Originally listed in August 2021 for $690,000
- Currently still listed at $690,000
- Assessments of $350 a month (they were $452 a month in May 2015)(includes exterior maintenance, scavenger and snow removal)
- Taxes of $11,614 (they were $10,079 in May 2015)
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- One parking space (outdoor?)
- Fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 16×13
- Bedroom #2: 12×10
- Living room: 25×13
- Dining room: 9×7
- Kitchen: 12×10
The decor of the main living space says “Don’t attempt to work remotely here. You’ll be way too cramped and will be looking at your workspace constantly”.
Agreed. Don’t understand why an owner refuses to de-clutter in order to sell. I even like the personality shown in the space (if I were a visitor to this person’s home), but as a seller – they’re just plain stupid.
I don’t know – maybe they’re confident they’ll sell and don’t care.
The first thing I notice are the cheap Ikea pendant lights, which are ill placed. Secondly, the cheap curtains in lieu of interior doors in the closet and office. Also, there are so many ‘chachkies’ and books, ugly furniture and weird wall art everywhere, its sensory overload.
For $690,000 and outdoor parking, — no thanks.
“Don’t understand why an owner refuses to de-clutter in order to sell.”
I’ve heard of realtors recently telling sellers to not bother with having a unit cleaned (messy renters in place) for pix or open house, so may be the case here.
Funny thing about the dining table office is that the 2d bed is labeled as Office on the floorplan, and has the murphy bed to make that sort of work.
The other funny thing is: how dreary must that balcony off the Office be to have it hiding behind a curtain for the pix? You can see it in the 3d walkthrough–I’d prefer it to just a window, but it’s pretty dreary.
Also amusing from the walkthrough: how much stuff they hid in the office for the walkthrough that can be seen thru the closed sliding doors.
“I’ve heard of realtors recently telling sellers to not bother with having a unit cleaned (messy renters in place) for pix or open house, so may be the case here.”
Why on earth would they suggest that? Because the market is so hot, why bother?
I get really frustrated when buyers can’t look past decor but I have to say this is straight anxiety-inducing. There’s so much going on in there, you have to work just to get a sense of the space.
That bar next door is multiple floors and is probably a terrible neighbor to have to share a wall with
No clue who would ever spend this much to live here… crazy
If I had to choose to live on Wells I would take this place.
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1414-N-Wells-St-60610/unit-207/home/14115506
It’s a little more per month but much less cramped, and not next to Burton Place.
“Why on earth would they suggest that? Because the market is so hot, why bother?”
Yup. That was what I had heard in a couple of different cases. Seller asked realtor, realtor said “don’t spend the $$”. Those properties did, in fact, sell quickly.
“If I had to choose to live on Wells I would take [1414].”
Well, Johnny Depp was in that lobby many times, so it’s obviously better:
http://cribchatter.com/?p=5240
I’d rule out any condo in a building with fewer than about 25 units – the smaller the association, the larger the risk & headaches. Three units is out of the question – no matter the location, layout, price, etc. I also “like the personality shown in the space” but agree that, to sell, decluttering should have been done. For these folks that might mean moving out altogether, which may have been un-doable.
Too much clutter! I don’t like the personality on display and it very difficult to imagine myself, as I usually in do at this price point, in this condo. The photo lense makes make it even worse– the bedroom looks like a tiny, narrow massage room. Sometimes empty is better.
Unit above gives a better feeling of space: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1445-N-Wells-St-APT-3-Chicago-IL-60610/80825409_zpid/
Don’t know about the elevator opening directly in to a bedroom
After the attempted car jacking and successful car jacking in Old Town yesterday, is this a desirable neighborhood?
“After the attempted car jacking and successful car jacking in Old Town yesterday, is this a desirable neighborhood?”
Well- that’s been going on for 30 years. Think back to the 1990s in Old Town. It was terrible. But so was everywhere in the city.
“Think back to the 1990s in Old Town. It was terrible.”
Nah. Total exaggeration.
Yeah, yeah, bars on the windows, Cabrini right there, can’t leave anything in your car bc the windows will be broken…sure. Carjackings and aggravated assault? Notsomuch.
“After the attempted car jacking and successful car jacking in Old Town yesterday, is this a desirable neighborhood?”
ehh, carjacking are at a higher level in Bucktown/Wicker Park. Most would consider them desirable neighborhoods. Many homes are still selling fast and over list.
I hope I’m going to be immune to carjackings because I drive a stick shift. I somehow doubt many of the hoods who commit these crimes could handle a clutch pedal.
My other car is automatic but a nearly 8-year old beater with a big dent. If they want it, I guess they can have. Maybe for the parts.
“After the attempted car jacking and successful car jacking in Old Town yesterday, is this a desirable neighborhood?”
Was there for dinner last night and the restaurants were packed, streets full of people.
“I hope I’m going to be immune to carjackings because I drive a stick shift. I somehow doubt many of the hoods who commit these crimes could handle a clutch pedal.”
Why would they have ANY idea when they carjack you Dan #2 that they can’t drive the car?
The percentage of people with a stick shift anymore is almost non-existent.
There have already been occasions where they have carjacked, got into the car, and couldn’t figure out how to drive it, and jumped out.
Also, just because you drive an older car doesn’t mean you can’t be a victim. Someone just carjacked a woman outside of a bank driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla. Is that a glamour car? No. They’re just looking for the nearest victim.
“Also, just because you drive an older car doesn’t mean you can’t be a victim. Someone just carjacked a woman outside of a bank driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla. Is that a glamour car? No. They’re just looking for the nearest victim.”
This sounds awful…Hello Detroit!