Just Like New: A 2-Bedroom in 1000 N. Lake Shore Plaza in the Gold Coast
This 2-bedroom in Lake Shore Plaza at 1000 N. Lake Shore Plaza in the Gold Coast came on the market in November 2019.
Built in 1964, Lake Shore Plaza has 132 units and valet parking. It’s a full service building with a pool, exercise room and doorman.
According to Emporis, 1000 N. Lake Shore Plaza, at 55 stories, was actually the tallest building in Chicago to have balconies until Park Tower, near Water Tower Place, was built in 1999.
And an interesting construction fact: This is the tallest building in Chicago with significant areas of brick in its façade.
This southwest corner unit has had a “high quality renovation.”
It has custom millwork throughout by European craftsmen.
The listing says there are all new windows and balcony door.
The kitchen has white and wood modern cabinets with Thermador appliances and a wine fridge.
All baths have Kohler fixtures.
It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and valet parking.
Originally listed in November 2019 at $1,095,000, it has been reduced to $999,999.
Buyers want “new.”
Will the price cut get a quick sale?
Joseph Gasbarra at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Unit #20C: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2100 square feet
- Sold sometime before 1986
- Sold in February 2019 for $545,000
- Originally listed in November 2019 at $1,095,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $999,999
- Assessments of $1983 a month (includes air conditioning, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $13,472
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Parking is valet in the building
- Bedroom #1: 20×14
- Bedroom #2: 17×13
- Living room: 18×18
- Dining room: 17×13
- Kitchen: 18×10
- Library/family room: 17×13
“Incredible custom millwork throughout by European craftsmen” – Is this code for Ikea? or some Polacks in a beat up pick-up truck? It might be worth bragging if you had some Irish come over from the old country and build you a custom bar/ornate millwork but this is just basic
Other than that, while it isn’t my style its a metric shit ton better than the crap that’s been posted lately. Too bad theres no lake view from this unit
Property taxes are going to take a significant jump
Oh and hey look 2 ring rugs
““Incredible custom millwork throughout by European craftsmen” – Is this code for Ikea? or some Polacks in a beat up pick-up truck? It might be worth bragging if you had some Irish come over from the old country and build you a custom bar/ornate millwork but this is just basic”
Best part is how much if it is almost certainly mdf. Not that there is anything wrong with using mdf for this application, but it ain’t “millwork”, much less “custom millwork”.
Suppose it is possible that some of it was actually custom milled, and, if so, they better include the molding knife in the sale, so more can be made if needed.
Before pix:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1000-N-Lake-Shore-Dr-60611/unit-20C/home/14121747/mred-10249977
I think the unit looks fantastic. The location is good and the views are nice. $500/sqft may be too high since the building is terrible though.
As someone who appreciates mid-century modern, I love this building. However, the unit in question is on the least-preferred corner and too low. I wouldn’t pay $1 million for a 2 BR on this side of the building. I would consider it for a unit with a lake view, but my wife has no interest in living right off of Michigan Avenue. Says it’s too touristy.
Some of the high-floor units looking northeast in this building have incredible views. I think an entire floor is for sale around floor 48 and they want $3.5 million. Might be worth it.
Ugh – the “before” listing was hideous. I’m not a fan of “custom millwork,” whatever it might be, but it’s a definite improvement.
Someone above said this is a “terrible” building. I’d like to hear a little more detail on what makes it so bad. Do you have info? Please share. Every building has its detractors, of course.
I’ve been in a unit in this building before, its sort of an old money type building, so I can imagine what the association meetings are like… lol
Other than that the place I was in was on a high floor and had pretty awesome views
“Best part is how much if it is almost certainly mdf. Not that there is anything wrong with using mdf for this application”
True. MDF with a wood veneer works and looks great especially if you want a pricey wood finish. MDF with a laminate/melamine finish is pretty cheap and looks fake.
“True. MDF with a wood veneer works and looks great especially if you want a pricey wood finish. MDF with a laminate/melamine finish is pretty cheap and looks fake.”
Most of the ‘millwork’ in the unit is painted with semi-gloss white. It could be bare mdf, painted well.
The fireplace surround isn’t, but even that looks like laminate panels with a little bit of trim. But the pix aren’t quite clear enough to judge.
I *can* judge them for that outlet under the fireplace–W.T.F?? If that is evidence of the overall attention to detail (duh, of course it is), I must wonder about what other stoooopid mistakes were made.
“I *can* judge them for that outlet under the fireplace–W.T.F?? If that is evidence of the overall attention to detail (duh, of course it is), I must wonder about what other stoooopid mistakes were made.”
Holy crap nice catch LOFL
The lobby / entrance to this building used to be such an eyesore – They delayed renovations foorrrrrrever. And now they finally renovate and they go with 90’s style black marble for the entryway pillars. Nice.
I think the unit looks great. They made this place look about as nice as you possibly could. No way they invested enough to warrant a 450k price increase though.
Think this would easily sell in the 7-800 range. Still too much ‘new’ stuff in river north / streeterville / near north / areas nearby.
As far as the fireplace / plug situation goes – I don’t think that’s a real fireplace..I think its one of the fake ones that is a heater with artificial flames or whatever.
“I don’t think that’s a real fireplace”
Of course it isn’t.
I wasn’t commenting on there *being* an outlet under the fireplace (tho that, too, isn’t great–only good use then is for vacuuming and the like), I was commenting on the fact that they left it smack in the middle of the “custom millwork”.
Any decent amount of planning, and they’d have had the trim be continuous, rather than broken up by the outlet.
Ohhh. Sorry, I know nothing about this stuff. I thought maybe you meant having electrical wiring run above and below a fireplace wasn’t a great idea, haha.
How much cost is there to this MDF type ‘millwork’ – Although it’s obviously not real custom millwork, I do think it really elevates the look of the unit.
“I’ve been in a unit in this building before, its sort of an old money type building, so I can imagine what the association meetings are like… lol…”
I’ve been in this building and imo it’s an old people type building. – meaning you’d feel much more comfortable re your neighbors if you are above the age of 70. Iirc an elderly owner was discovered to be dead when others joined him in the pool here a few years back
I think the previous $545K price was too high (esp with a $2K HOA).
Old building with old folks as noted. I couldn’t imagine the noise complaints I’d get there. (I’m having people over to pre before deadmau5 tonight, my 6 subwoofers will be pumping hard but I am in no fear of a noise complaint).
The views are also weak. Some of the angles you stare right into another building. This is not the place to prance around naked in.
Overall this is way overpriced even if I put myself the prospective buyers’ shoes.
“Old building with old folks as noted. I couldn’t imagine the noise complaints I’d get there. (I’m having people over to pre before deadmau5 tonight, my 6 subwoofers will be pumping hard but I am in no fear of a noise complaint).”
May I ask where in the city you live where you can get away with 6 subwoofers blasting without a noise complaint?
Don’t think I could get away with that in my SFH..
“How much cost is there to this MDF type ‘millwork’ – Although it’s obviously not real custom millwork, I do think it really elevates the look of the unit.”
It does look nice, tho I am not personally a fan. Makes the space quite appealing.
If you are talking about the trim on the walls to make it look like paneling or plasterwork, that can sometimes be done on the cheap, if your walls are true and square, as you can (tho not ideal) apply the trim pieces directly to sheetrock, and then paint well (caulking trim edges etc).
If you mean the fireplace wall, a simple version, using veneered panels and other shortcut stuff could be as little as a few thousand–can be tough to find skilled trades who would do such a small job tho–or easily 10s of thousands if using real wood, and true custom milled trim pieces, and multiple ‘columns’ and shelves and stuff, and having the whole thing stained and sealed.
I like the remodeling choices for the most part, the location and the spacious layout. Views could be better but at least it has views. In terms of negatives, apart from that ridiculous electrical outlet below the FP, the HOA is pretty brutal and you have to pay for parking on top of that. Overall it’s definitely better than a lot of what’s been on here lately, as someone else noted.
“Old building with old folks as noted. I couldn’t imagine the noise complaints I’d get there.”
And old building is EXACTLY where you want to be if you don’t want to hear any noise.
I don’t know about the 1960s buildings, but many of the 1970s ones have a foot of concrete between each floor AND between each unit (i.e. concrete walls.)
Perhaps someone here could tell us if they built them like that in the 1960s.
Today, all they do is put drywall up between units. That’s why you hear everything. Even in luxury buildings.
In these old buildings, it’s remarkably quiet. You can play music pretty darn loud and still not be heard. Heck, you can play a grand piano and not be heard.
“I’ve been in this building and imo it’s an old people type building. – meaning you’d feel much more comfortable re your neighbors if you are above the age of 70.”
All of the Gold Coast is old now.
But we’ve seen plenty of units “turn over” in many of these buildings already. The old owners who lived there for 30 years are moving (i.e. retiring to Florida) or dying. Someone is going to buy the units. For these buildings to survive, it’s going to have to be younger people.
“I don’t know about the 1960s buildings, but many of the 1970s ones have a foot of concrete between each floor AND between each unit (i.e. concrete walls.) Perhaps someone here could tell us if they built them like that in the 1960s.”
I can answer this. My wife and I lived for 8 years in 2626 N. Lakeview, built in 1969, both in a one- and a 2-bedroom.
We heard all the noise from the units next to ours, including stereos, door-slamming, etc. Not well built. But my guess is that 1000 N LSD Plaza was always a fancier building than 2626 and might have better sound-proofing.
Good observation, Sabrina. The old people are clearing out. I’d love to have a unit in 1000 N. LSD Plaza way up above the 50th floor looking north and east. Those views are amazing.
This was actually the grandest building of its era. It was also the last built in Chicago with servants quarters that were indicated as such. Definitely not a low-end building. Look at the scale of the building’s entry relative to other glazed brick buildings. Surprised no one mentioned that Daley here a couple years ago.
Anyway, I lived in a similar era building, though not as grand, and the concrete floor was 18″ thick in the lowest tier, 14″ in the middle, and 12″ in the highest. The walls between units were staggered stud construction with double 5/8″ sheetrock on either side the wall. Staggered stud walls where neither side touches the other are super effective and the units are virtually soundproof, baring leakage through the front door to the hall.
” Surprised no one mentioned that Daley here a couple years ago.”
Lil Richie is/was in the Carlyle (1040, not 1000), no?
[gthooi]
Yes:
https://wgntv.com/2016/08/17/daleys-new-digs/
I grew up in this building, not sure what makes it a “terrible” building. The ceilings are higher than most buildings of the era, excellent soundproofing (we never heard anything from neighbors, and the location is aces. There was even a restaurant “Nantucket Cove” in the space that is now a bank. The bank is an improvement.
It never had “servants quarters,” not sure where AC got that idea and Daley didn’t live there (biggest political resident was probably Ira Colitz)
It was built in 1964 as a rental building and went condo 10 years later, so one negative is most units didn’t originally have in unit laundry (there’s a laundry room on 10). There are some amazing combined units in the building with wrap around views, and every tier but the “C” tier has lake views. My Mom still lives there, and loves it. The building does skew older, but there has been a lot of turnover on units as the original owner generation passes on.
Ha! Thanks Anon.
Totally mixed my buildings up. Everything I wrote was in reference to the Carlyle down the street, not 1000 Lake Shore Plaza. Oops…
Yes the Carlisle is a grand building and built to be that way, and was the last of its kind. Not so sure about 1000 North LSD Plaza.
absolute DAWG of a building
cheaply done and half assed remodel
might be worth 750K$$