Is The Venetian in the Hottest Location in the City? 230 W. Division in Old Town
This 2-bedroom penthouse in The Venetian at 230 W. Division in Old Town came on the market in November 2017.
The Venetian was built in 2005 and has 88 units and a parking garage.
This penthouse is a southwest corner unit with a wrap around balcony.
It has 10 foot ceilings and the listing says “outstanding views from every room.”
The kitchen has white cabinets, what look like granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a herringbone backsplash.
The master suite has two corner windows and a walk-in closet.
It has a den which doesn’t have a window.
This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available for $25,000.
The listing says “Old Town is booming and now is the time to buy.”
In the listing pictures, you can see the new apartment high rise that is being built south of this building.
When this building was constructed 13 years ago, this was the very south end of Old Town and there wasn’t much else in this location.
But since then, new construction has moved south on Wells and there is now a new luxury apartment building, the Sinclair, on Division, a new Jewel as well as the new construction directly across the street.
Is this building now at the epicenter of the Old Town boom?
Brian Moon at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1501: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, penthouse
- Sold in March 2005 for $600,000 (two parking spaces included)
- Sold in May 2009 for $500,000 (one parking space included)
- Originally listed in November 2017 for $600,000 (with parking for $25,000 extra)
- Currently still listed for $600,000 (with $25,000 for parking)
- Assessments of $1,000 a month (includes doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $9466
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 13×12
- Bedroom #2: 12×10
- Den: 12×10
- Laundry room: 4×4
This location has definitely improved, but it’s still second-rate for Old Town. It’s unfortunately far (a little over a half mile which is doable but not ideal) from the Brown Line and the most direct route to or from either nearest train stop takes you through neighborhoods that aren’t that nice. Great for hot dogs and library books though. Given the size, it’s not exactly terrible for the money, but they should not nclude the parking. I wonder how the train noise is.
“It’s unfortunately far … from the Brown Line”
Much talk about bringing back the Division stop, once the Atrium Village replacement project is complete. Will likely happen, unless the economy collapses or something.
sidv posted “..It’s unfortunately far (a little over a half mile which is doable but not ideal) from the Brown Line and the most direct route to or from either nearest train stop takes you through neighborhoods that aren’t that nice…”
Fwiw Red line stop is 1/2 block east at LaSalle St. While Brown line stop @ Chicago Ave. is 1/2 mile south, the ‘hood to south is currently undergoing rapid transformation – a lot of residential bldgs have been completed or are still being built. There’ve been discussions about adding Brown line stop at Division but I don’t know how realistic that is.
Neighborhood wise I’d be more concerned about lowlife drawn by CHA’s bldg at LaSalle/Division & adjacent SRO on Division. I do agree this location is the butt end of OT.
Supposedly Division stop won’t be built for 10 years at least… they are focusing on the belmont flyover right now and say that because capacity is already at max, adding another stop would only make the problem worse and they need to finish the flyover first
yeah its dumb
“capacity is already at max, adding another stop would only make the problem worse”
That doesn’t really follow. It’s not like the Brown/Purple *cars* are really completely full, it’s just that no more *trains* can be added to the run.
Neighborhood wise, I’d also be concerned with the proximity to Evergreen and Sedgwick, which is a high crime spot known for shootings. The nearby SRO draws alcoholics and drug users. Those people are not the ones shooting guns.
vb: “…The nearby SRO draws alcoholics and drug users. Those people are not the ones shooting guns…”
Despite very visible police presence killings & shootings have routinely occurred near the SRO for at least the past two years. While the alcoholic & drug addled SRO residents may not be firing guns IMO the violence stems from outsiders visiting area to sell dope to and/or visit relatives/ friends living in either the SRO or CHA’s building. They’re apparently bringing neighborhood issues re matters like drug selling territories to this neighborhood
@ southbound: I used to live over there in late 90s, 2000s when Cabrini was still up. Once Cabrini came down it actually got worse! I dont understand how or why, but Evergreen Aptartments and Marshal Field Homes are no joke, it’s old school gangsta shit, dope dealing 24/7 and shootings, it’s criminal that in 2017 Chicagoans have to accept this crap from our “leaders”. As for the area over by Clark / Division: the sleeper is the CHA old folks home at LaSalle – a lot of nephews and grandbabies staying on the couch bringing the trouble. I cant think of any other city that would put up with this BS in what should be their prime property districts, but then again it’s Chicago, a unique melding of abusers and people who love to be abused. This city needs new blood desperately.
“It’s unfortunately far (a little over a half mile which is doable but not ideal) from the Brown Line and the most direct route to or from either nearest train stop takes you through neighborhoods that aren’t that nice.”
When you’re this close to downtown, why take the subway? Couldn’t you just take the 22 or 36 bus routes- especially if you worked in River North anyway?
So when I hear “penthouse” it always raises my expectations. Then I find myself disappointed to just to learn that it is actually just the top
floor unit in the same configuration as every unit in that entire tier.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s good not to have a neighbor above ypu. But it’s just not worth the same premium as a larger combined unit or entire floor plate that many buildings create on the true penthouse level. And do t get me started about buildings with “multiple” floors of penthouse living. That’s a whole different stretch of the word penthouse!
If you worked in River North then yes, bus or walking would beat the train. Those buses can get frustratingly packed though. But if you work in the loop the Redline is probably your best bet, it’s not too far. If they build a Division Brown Line stop, this will likely eventually become truly prime.
buses are soooo slow going to the loop anywhere south of wacker
took one today because the brown line was screwed up and omfg I hate it
“If you worked in River North then yes, bus or walking would beat the train.”
Many people in the area live there for the nightlife and weekends. They are young and actually drive to work in the burbs. I see them heading west down Division every morning as I pull up to my office on Goose Island. They all seem to be getting on the Kennedy headed NW.
BTW speaking of true “penthouse units” a famous Chicago sports figure lives in a new low rise building in that immediate area. It is located on Chestnut. That “penthouse” comes with a really large unit. Think that it was two per floor. And a huge terrace with some really great views.
Crazy thing is that the guys famous name is actually on the doorbell.
I know someone who lives in the area and commutes daily to Schaumburg. I didn’t know there were many others as crazy as him and doing the same. I joke with him about his commute frequently. Of course, he’s single. He’s strongly opposed to living anywhere near Schaumburg.
“Of course, he’s single. He’s strongly opposed to living anywhere near Schaumburg”
Back in the late 90’s most of my friends lived in Lakeview, Wrigley, or LP. And many of them reverse commuted to the burbs. It was all about living where you wanted to spend the weekends and free time.
That commute was way easier back then. Not so much today…..
Ironically now I commute from PR to my city office because it is better for the kids. I want to be where they need to be on the nights and weekends. And as much as I thought that it would have killed me the wife and I survived the move and change in lifestyle!
I’ve been in this building for the last 3 years and have never felt unsafe and can’t say the same for my prior apartment in Lakeview. That said – Sedgwick between Division and North is pretty shady but there’s really no reason to go that way with Wells just around the corner. Door to door commute on the red line to the Loop is 20-25 minutes but a bit longer on the 156.