Live in a Grand Victorian Complete With Wrap-Around Porch: 4605 N. Hermitage in Ravenswood
Some of you have already chattered about The Abbott Estate, the 6000 square foot Victorian at 4605 N. Hermitage in Ravenswood.
On the market since August 2009, it is now listed for $151,000 under the 2006 purchase price.
Built in 1891 for the founder of Abbott Labs, it is on an oversized 92×165 corner lot (which is nearly an acre).
The house also has an updated carriage house that can be used for rental income of apparently somewhere around $2400 a month.
The listing says the home has updated bathrooms and mechanicals.
The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
2 out of the 6 bedrooms are on the 3rd floor with the other 4 all on the second floor.
There is an unfinished basement and space pak cooling.
It appears that in 2006 the house sold in only about a month for just $39,000 under the list price.
What will it take to get the house sold in today’s market?
Jeff Lowe at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.
4605 N. Hermitage: 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 6000 square feet
- Sold in May 2004 for $1.5 million
- Sold in October 2006 for $1.95 million
- Originally listed in August 2009
- Was listed in November 2009 at $2.338 million
- Reduced
- Listed in September 2010 for $1,999,999
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $1,799,000
- Taxes of $18268
- Space Pak cooling
- Rental carriage house
- Is there any garage? It doesn’t appear to have one- but there is a big driveway with room for up to 8 cars.
- Bedroom #1: 19×16 (third floor)
- Bedroom #2: 16×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 15×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 15×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #5: 11×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #6: 15×11 (third floor)
IF the neighborhood is decent, this is actually a great deal for somebody. IF the coach house truly rents at 2500/month, that would take care of taxes and a lot of the maint. – the only thing you would be paying for is mortgage interest/principal. Not bad… especially when you consider that, in 10-20 years, the 5 (FIVE) city lots that it is built upon may be extremely valuable – the house could be torn down and 5 townhouses could be built. Great investment for someone who wants to live in this area!!
If you can afford a $1MM+ house, do you really want to rent out the coach house? It’s still quite useful for other purposes, but is anon after finally getting his triple/quadruple lot, going to let renters on the compound?
DZ – I agree but it would depend on the layout – in the city, the coach house may be further away than your next door neighbors and may have a separate entrance, etc. My coach house in the suburbs shares the same entrance as my house (only one driveway) and I would NEVER rent it out for that reason.
“92×165 corner lot (which is nearly an acre).”
That’s 15,180 SF. An acre is 43,560. Not even “nearly” 1/2 an acre.
anon, does acreage really matter in the city – the value is in the divisibility and zoning.
“Not even “nearly” 1/2 an acre.”
In Realtor(r) speak 15,180SF is indeed nearly 1/2 an acre as its 69.7% of a half acre and we know they are generous with rounding up. Cannot be said nearly an acre under any circumstances though.
“the 5 (FIVE) city lots that it is built upon may be extremely valuable ”
On a block with 165′ deep lots, this is on 3 (or 3.5) lots, not 5. Even at 125′, it’s a bit short of 5 full lots.
I’m certain (w/o looking) that it’s at least an orange property for hist pres purposes and might be red. And (again w/o looking) suspect it’s zoned so that THs would require a zoning change, on top of getting the permission to tear down (which would be very unlikely).
true anon – there are a lot of obstacles but rules are meant to be broken/changed and, in 15 years, when there may be a need for increased housing units, you will see how the city council/zoning board/politicians can push projects through. If you know the right people, nearly anything can be done.
“anon, does acreage really matter in the city – the value is in the divisibility and zoning.”
Sabrina’s post called it “nearly an acre”. It’s not, any more than a 1/1 condo is “nearly” a SFH.
“IF the coach house truly rents at 2500/month”
Where is that number from? I can’t find in listing.
DZ – it’s in sabrina’s comments: “The house also has an updated carriage house that can be used for rental income of apparently somewhere around $2400 a month.”
I love it; but am I alone in thinking that the millwork (specifically the window molding)is quite plain for such a grand house?
DZ: The agent remarks on the mls listing include “UNDER RENTED MTM AT $2100 & SHOULD FETCH $2400.”
It was also last listed for rent in the mls on 6/11/09 for $2400 and rented on 8/3/09 for that amount.
“it’s in sabrina’s comments”
Sorry, reading comp.
“It was also last listed for rent in the mls on 6/11/09 for $2400 and rented on 8/3/09 for that amount.”
Thanks, G. It seemed high to me but I guess it depends how it feels inside and what rentals are in that neighborhood, which I don’t know that well.
I went to an open house when it was on the market previously. The property is a landmark and cannot be torn down. The Realtor said that she got a lot of calls from builders, but the house is protected.
” The property is a landmark and cannot be torn down.”
there are ways around this. i lived in a much more historically significant area of Boston and I saw the way the developers manipulated the system. Show that the house is dangerous and unliveable and there is no other choice but to tear it down. I also have been witness to many “suspicious” fires in developer owned buildings/projects. It is terrible and I, of course, wouldn’t advocate it, but fact is fact and these are the people that are out there…..
“I went to an open house when it was on the market previously. The property is a landmark and cannot be torn down. The Realtor said that she got a lot of calls from builders, but the house is protected.”
The ’09 listing? Or the ’06 listing?
Were there builders looking to spend $2mm for land *last year* when there is an identical–but already flat–lot exactly 2 blocks south that’s been on/off the market that whole time? (currently listed for $1.2mm and pending).
The house is the house that the founder of Abbott lived in (back when it was surrounded by farms). I suppose you could burn it down if you really wanted to build something else. People in this neighborhood are pretty active, so even if you did manage to get away with it, you would have to come up with something acceptable to the people in the neighborhood
This is a nice part of town, lots of small buildings, SFH’s and SFH conversions. easy walking to Lincoln Square, brown line ect
“you would have to come up with something acceptable to the people in the neighborhood”
haywood haywood haywood… you would be surprise what and how things get approved in the city and suburbs. Things that you wouldn’t believe could/would get approved magically get built and other things which seem to be common sense get mired in the political BS. Why is that? – politics, bribery and scandal – the three common themes in home building.
So, what Clio is proposing is to completely screw the character of the neighborhood by tearing down a unique and historical home. Then replace the building by putting up uninspired McCrapboxes.
Yeah, I’m sure that would fly.
“haywood haywood haywood… you would be surprise what and how things get approved in the city and suburbs. Things that you wouldn’t believe could/would get approved magically get built and other things which seem to be common sense get mired in the political BS. Why is that? – politics, bribery and scandal – the three common themes in home building.”
Yeah, and every once in a while (or, in Chicago, several times a year) someone goes to jail for such bullshi … nonsense.
Schulter wouldn’t approve that one–not that he’s some paragon of virtue, but he’s not nearly stupid enough to take a bribe on a high profile prop like this one.
“So, what Clio is proposing is to completely screw the character of the neighborhood by tearing down a unique and historical home.”
no – not at all. My comments were meant to justify the value of the house. A buyer could buy the house, live in it for 15-25 years and then sell – the fact that it may be subdividable adds to the value. True there are a lot of obstacles to overcome, but developers in the know would be able to do something acceptable to the property. Remember, in 15-25 years, nobody knows what is going to happen to the area, housing, or that particular house. There are no guarantees – the land and use of land is the biggest “known” in the the whole mix of things.
I’m totally computer illiterate, so excuse this post – but I wanted to demonstrate an example of a historically significant building in a very sought after and protected area being torn down despite opposition. This one was personally devastating as i was bidding on this house (to be my permanent residence). It was absolutely beautiful and a great project to restore. The chandeliers, solid doors, brass fixtures, stain glass windows were all irreplaceable. Of course a man named “Mr. Hussein” was able to buy the house, cash, tear it down and is building a modern middle eastern monstrosity – right in the center of historic southeast hinsdale!!! Here is the story:
Sale of the Week: Gadzooks! Teardown Planned for Hinsdale Tudor
By Dennis Rodkin
List Price: $3,900,000
Sale Price: $3,575,000
The Property: This mammoth, lavishly detailed Tudor mansion, completed in 1932 in a section of Hinsdale known as the Woodlands, was sold in late September to only its fourth owner—who plans to demolish it and build a new home on the 2.2-acre lot. The Chicago architecture firm Armstrong, Furst and Tilton designed the 14-room house, which was built for the family that owned Naperville’s old Kroehler furniture factory. It was later remodeled by Harold Zook, the Hinsdale architect who designed some of the town’s most distinctive homes and “signed” them with a spider-web pattern (in this house, it’s emblazoned in a door to the back yard).
At least 100 feet wide, the residence has a relatively simple beamed and gabled front, but out back, it has turrets and lots of stone and wood accents. The original structure includes a four-car garage and a dog kennel; Zook’s additions included a swimming pool and pool house (both torn down some years ago). Inside there is plenty of vintage craftwork in stained glass, tile, plaster, and wood. One limestone fireplace is a replica of the main fireplace at the University Club in downtown Chicago.
(Any piece of this house that you can haul away will be available at a demolition sale, as yet unscheduled. You can also sign up there to be notified of the sale date.)
The seller Edward Paloyan, a surgeon, bought the house in 1978 with his wife, who has since died. “The quality of the house is unbelievable,” says Paloyan. “There were craftsmen brought in from Europe to make some of the ceilings; everything was done with amazing detail. It took the Kroehlers five years to build it, during the Depression.”
Paloyan, who has remarried and moved to another home, says that he initially insisted that the house be sold only to a buyer who would keep it standing. But it quickly became clear, he says, “that no one was going to do that.” What does he think of the fact that it will soon be torn down? “Not much.”
The buyer, Khurram Hussain, did not respond to requests for an interview about the house.
Price Points: Paloyan first put the house on the market in June, with an asking price of $4.2 million. When he bought the house, back in 1978, it had sat empty and unsold for about two years. He says that he paid “about $475,000,” which he remembers as being only 5 to 10 percent more than the prices he was seeing on houses half its size. “We couldn’t resist,” he says.
Listing Agent: Christopher Crawford, Sothebys Realty, 630-323-4800; chris.crawford@sothebysrealty.com
Sort of makes the 1.+ places seems inadequate in the neighborhood.
Clio, clio, clio (did I get the douchey clio attitude aire right?)
We all know that buildings get torn down by “accident” all the time. I was simply pointing out that the neighborhood is pretty active in what gets built around here, which is why you have fewer tear downs, and in some cases several empty lots within a few block radius of this one,
and as far as 25 years out goes, you are right no one knows. 3033 N sheridan (ugly tower from the 1950’s) site on a site once populated by a kellog or wrigly mansion. but frankly I think that is straw man argument becasue I have never met a developer who plans 25 years out, on the hopes the nighboorhood would change
Bit of interesting history on this property (memory from newspaper).
Abbott Labs bought this place, restored it inorder to preserve the property (assuming from a horde of McCrapbox developers).
Then the built a near scale replica on their Lake Forest headquarters. I did a little bit of searching on BING maps. Link below. It look pretty similar.
Perhaps CLIO can stage a hostile takeover of the company and get himself a new suburban pad. looks like it has enough parking for his Bently fleet.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r1fr367p89q8&scene=11313226&lvl=1&sty=b
re:being on 5 lots.
its 165′ deep on a corner. So you could have 5 slighty wide & slightly short lots @ 33′ 92′ (which are actually a little bigger in sq ft than a standard 27′ x 110′ lot). There would be an issue with alley access. Maybe a private drive, or perhaps sunken front garages.
Thankfully this beauty looks to be decently protected.
“a standard 27? x 110?”
25 x 125 is “standard”. Where are you getting 27 x 110?
And, you wouldn’t have as-of-right curbcuts, especially off of Wilson. Nor would you be allowed as-of-right a private alley to access the rear.
Tom: That’s hilarious, nice find on the duplicated building. Looks like they use it for events would be my guess.
@anon
re:standard lot. I’ve seen both 27×110 and 25×125 refered to as standard. Not surprising that in Chicago real estate there’s discrepancies in a standard. Is the definition of ‘Standard Chicago lot’ officailly listed somewhere? I’d like to know once and for all.
My point was that there is someway to break up the lot for 5 SFH, if not then you could fit 5 rowhouses or townhouses. All of that would take zoning variation, right of ways, etc. Lots of which would be difficult. Remember the ‘French Embacy’ monstrocity in Bucktown/Wicker park? That didn’t exactly conform to its original zoning.
Hopefully this place never gets torn down.
“re:standard lot. I’ve seen both 27×110 and 25×125 refered to as standard. Not surprising that in Chicago real estate there’s discrepancies in a standard. Is the definition of ‘Standard Chicago lot’ officailly listed somewhere? I’d like to know once and for all.”
The muni code sez:
17-17-02174 Substandard Lot Depth. Lot depth of less than 125 feet.
So, “standard depth” is definitely 125.
And, it also sez:
17-2-0302-A Minimum Lot Frontage Standards. Except as expressly allowed in Sec. 17-2-0302-B, all lots in RS1 and RS2 districts must have a minimum lot frontage of 25 feet or the predominant lot frontage of similarly zoned lots on the same block face, whichever is greater.
So, I’d say that the muni code provides that the Chicago Standard Lot is 25×125. Except of course on blocks where it isn’t.
that clone house is pretty awesome. nice to see super rich abbott doing something like that with their dough.
There is an identical 92×165 lot 2 blocks south on Montrose which appears to (finally) be under contract since being listed with Conlon. Listed at $1.2M…
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/4401-N-Hermitage-Ave-60640/home/28893400
“easy walking to Lincoln Square”
I agree this home is in a nice area with good access to Montrose Brown Line stop, but it sits nearly a mile east of the shops on Lincoln. A mile is walkable, but for most people that takes 15-20 to cover, which is not optimal neighborhood access.
“I agree this home is in a nice area with good access to Montrose Brown Line stop, but it sits nearly a mile east of the shops on Lincoln”
At 1.8 million, are the occupants really likely to take the “el”? Also, are they likely to be shopping on Lincoln street (whatever that is)? Really? ….
@anon
-thanks for the reference.
this place is awesome wtf are you people talking about tearing it down for… GTFO!
clio: “At 1.8 million, are the occupants really likely to take the “el”? Also, are they likely to be shopping on Lincoln street (whatever that is)? Really?”
Your filter is broken, isn’t it? Or is this just an intertubez affectation?
Yes, if the buyer of this place works downtown (possibly/probably a dubious proposition), s/he will likely take the train sometimes, and will *certainly* find themselves on Lincoln not infrequently (what’s the point of living in this area if you’re “too good” for Lincoln Square dining/shopping?).
Also, how can you have lived in Chicago/area for about 20 years and plausibly say “lincoln street” as if you’ve never heard of it?
Michelle: “A mile is walkable, but for most people that takes 15-20 to cover, which is not optimal neighborhood access.”
Anyone whose seriously averse to walking a mile should probably just move to Oak Brook or some other car-centric location (edgebrook?). This type of house/land size + sub-400 yard access to “neighborhood amenities” exists in–what? 4?–places in the city, and then it would still be a “how often do you go to Alinea/Trotter’s/whatever anyway?”.
I just had a funny thought..
Wouldn’t it be funny if you were a guy taking a date back to your place for the first time, and you lived in that carriage house? You pull up to that house and she would be like “WOW!” and you say, “Uh, no I actually live back here…”
Just gave myself an afternoon chuckle….
“this place is awesome wtf are you people talking about tearing it down for… GTFO!”
Consider the source, Sonies.
“Anyone whose seriously averse to walking a mile should probably just move to Oak Brook or some other car-centric location (edgebrook?). This type of house/land size + sub-400 yard access to “neighborhood amenities” exists in–what? 4?–places in the city, and then it would still be a “how often do you go to Alinea/Trotter’s/whatever anyway?”.”
But the issue posed is not whether you are willing to walk a mile, it’s whether you view amenities within a mile radius as being part of your neighborhood. You agree I think that a mile is a long way to the el. Same thing for daily amenities.
It’s a mile-ish from where I am to parts of Bucktown and we make the walk at times, but I don’t think of it as my neighborhood and I do want stuff (coffee, resto, grocery) within a half or at most two-thirds of a mile, which I have. Especially when weather is suboptimal. There are lots of houses with that kind of access (I dunno about houses with that lot size, but that’s just part of the tradeoff).
“At 1.8 million, are the occupants really likely to take the “el”? Also, are they likely to be shopping on Lincoln street (whatever that is)? Really? ”
More likely to take the Ravenswood Metra if they work in the loop, otherwise the el makes a lot of sense. Clio, you forget that some who have the coin to afford 1.8M don’t spend needlessly (like on parking when there is an alternative) in order to hang on to some of it. You can cerainly find places to blow a rediculous amount of money in Lincoln Square (I have my eye on the green egg at the chopping block).
“it’s whether you view amenities within a mile radius as being part of your neighborhood. You agree I think that a mile is a long way to the el. Same thing for daily amenities.”
Depends what one does daily. As for restos, coffee, etc. there’s a bunch of options along Wilson, Ravenswood, Damen and Montrose w/o getting to Lincoln. For groceries, I don’t pay too much attention to proximity of smaller stores, as we just don’t buy walkable amounts of food often, but when we do, the diff b/t .5 and .8 miles isn’t a big deal.
And yes, being about the same distance from Giddings Plaza as this house, and about the same distance to central Roscoe Village, I consider Lincoln Square and RV as “in the neighborhood”.
a mile walk is not at all bad. very enjoyable in good weather. esp if you smoke a doobie prior. just dont take that street behind the wicker park jewel featured last week. it’s a serious downer regardless of the temperature.
clio, they love lambos on lincoln street too, give them a chance at the kind of happiness you bring wherever you pull up for dinner. it could be a mutually rewarding experience.
Awesome place
How do you build a house like this in 1891 and not have any fireplaces? (Looks like the one in the dining room was infilled)
“How do you build a house like this in 1891 and not have any fireplaces? (Looks like the one in the dining room was infilled)”
Fireplaces were viewed as lower class around the turn of the century. The very wealthy had radiant heat systems installed and didn’t need fireplaces to heat the home. Fireplaces are, of course, a cosmetic item now rather than a necessity.
Sabrina–recently construction 2/2 in LP for under 260k w/outdoor parking included. MLS 07579038. Plz cover as I want thoughts from the CC peanut gallery. Its properties like that that might get me going to homeowner status once I save the 25% downpayment for optimum financing.
“MLS 07579038” “in LP”
That’s the very definition of NorthCostco. And has a positively lovely view of the Menard’s lumberyard wall.
That said, not a bad price. I’d want one of the top floor units, like this one: http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2746-N-Wolcott-Ave-60614/unit-3N/home/12753742 for a little more $$ (less than the current ask, for that one).
“Depends what one does daily. As for restos, coffee, etc. there’s a bunch of options along Wilson, Ravenswood, Damen and Montrose w/o getting to Lincoln. For groceries, I don’t pay too much attention to proximity of smaller stores, as we just don’t buy walkable amounts of food often, but when we do, the diff b/t .5 and .8 miles isn’t a big deal.”
I didn’t mean to say there weren’t closer options to this place, just that a mile is a long way for access to many neighborhood amenities. Definitely would like coffee and some dining options within a half mile. Wife likes grocery shopping as a toddler activity more than anything else. I think she would draw the line at about 0.7 or 0.8 miles. A mile would be too far. All of this depends on niceness of walk too. Certainly, I’d be happy to have Lincoln Sq or RV within a mile walk and would walk it sometimes.
“MLS 07579038?
Definitely spring for anon’s penthouse unit. WAY too far from the el. It’s hard to beat the costco proximity, can get a hot dog, slice, and gelato before you head out on the town.
Oh crap thanks for showing me that other one anon it def. seems like the better deal given it has the rooftop terrace, the extra parking spot & extra half bath.
Maybe in the next couple years I’m gonna save big money _next to_ Menards.
“WAY too far from the el.”
Bob will just take the Clybourn bus! (oops!)
Okay, the Damen bus, to the Milwaukee bus; or Diversey bus to Halsted bus. Bob loves teh bus.
“Definitely spring for anon’s penthouse unit”
You guys don’t find these type of units/buildings depressing. These buildings and units lack character and charm and are a dime a dozen in the area. I guess it WOULD be a great place for a “vanilla person”.
“Maybe in the next couple years I’m gonna save big money _next to_ Menards.”
I don’t remember the last time I drove down that block and there weren’t 5+ for sale signs. So, you’ll probably have some time and some options, unless they get cheap enough to cashflow as legit investment props.
“Maybe in the next couple years I’m gonna save big money _next to_ Menards.”
Hilarity.
“You guys don’t find these type of units/buildings depressing. These buildings and units lack character and charm and are a dime a dozen in the area.”
Not the point.
“Fireplaces were viewed as lower class around the turn of the century. The very wealthy had radiant heat systems installed and didn’t need fireplaces to heat the home. Fireplaces are, of course, a cosmetic item now rather than a necessity.”
Not sure if I agree.
Here’s a home completed in 1891 as well – http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnesotahistoricalsociety/sets/72157603950257241/with/2278987443/
I guess the 20 or so fireplaces makes it a hovel
“Fireplaces were viewed as lower class around the turn of the century. The very wealthy had radiant heat systems installed and didn’t need fireplaces to heat the home. Fireplaces are, of course, a cosmetic item now rather than a necessity.”
The original owner was the first person to install radiant heat in the city so decided to include just one fireplace so they had one for aesthetic purposes. I toured it recently and it’s a beautiful old house. Some of the bathrooms could be updated but it would be a great place for people who have kids in the city that like to entertain.
“Not sure if I agree.”
My understanding from various historic house walks is that radiant heat in homes was a fairly new feature at the time…my guess is that the technology wasn’t universally available. Same with electricity at the turn of the century.
Bob,
The assessments won’t cover all the needed building maintenance and you will need to budget in money for specials.
I couldn’t see if there was a side view of both properties (you and anon(tfo) , but my guess is that the side walls are cut face block that need to be sealed every couple of years, then roof replacement, et. al.
my previous eloquently chose words were deleted, (rightfully so).
so to add, this house is beautiful. the porch makes me crave lemonade 🙂
wife and i walked past it on the way back from the raven fest, its a “you have to see it in person” to understand its awsomeness the way it just sits there being awesome.
Someone asked if the proposed owners of this home would shop on Lincoln…of course they would! I live in a 1.5ml house and I shop at Target all the time and drive a Honda. WTF? Sorry, but houses in this price range do not necessarily house “millionaires” riding around in limos anymore (with butlers doing the shopping). Gimme a break. This house is a deal at this price; I feel badly for the current owners.
“MLS 07579038? “in LP”
I’d split the difference and go a little west for a more neighborhood feel and less of a power-plant/luber-yard hood. My buddy lives there at Diversey and that part on Wolcott is brutal. Plus bus access to el is closer via-a-vie blue line. I’m eye’ing it.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2816-N-Rockwell-St-60618/unit-2N/home/12668000
“‘you have to see it in person’ to understand its awsomeness the way it just sits there being awesome.”
I agree with you, Groove (on the lemonade. . . not taking it any further than that. . . ). . . except that, now that I’ve seen the listing, I like this place a lot less than I did when I walked by.
It’s irritating. I should love this home. It’s everything I normally like (except not masonry, but I could let that slide for a painted lady like this).
But without a garage, and with kitchen/batch as ugly and cheap as those, I just can’t see it.
“I’d split the difference and go a little west for a more neighborhood feel and less of a power-plant/luber-yard hood.”
I can’t stand WP/BT so no, not an option for me. In fact earlier this summer I got enraged walking down Milwaukee as I was going to a friends house for a party. Saw a liquor store two blocks away but thought nah I’ll just get drink closer to their apt. No more liquor stores..got to his apt. Kept walking down Milwaukee..no liquor stores despite thousands of retail. Walked ALL THE WAY DOWN TO F’IN JEWELL-OSCO ABOUT A MILE DOWN MILWAUKEE TO GET A SIX PACK OF BEER.
WP/BT is fake and full of poseurs, hipsters and clubrats. I could never live there.
I think there’s an elephant in the room that we’re not discussing here.
The slowness-to-sell for this particular property may be a case of “the singer not the song.”
JEFF LOWE is the agent here? Isn’t he the guy who’s accused of being on the wrong side of a big-bucks fair-housing lawsuit?
Why on earth someone with an A-list property like this would turn it over to ANY agent with a “cloud” on his/her reputation is beyond me. I have seen this house on a brokers’ tour, with the prior agent, and it is indeed a lovely combination of vintage and modern, in a good neighborhood (within walking distance of the possible next mayor of Chicago as well as the former Carl Sandburg residence and a certain ChiTownGal).
But trust me, the presence of Lowe’s name on the listing and advertising may well be a turnoff to many potential buyers, for better or worse.
This property needs to be in the hands of a first-class “upscale properties” agency, maybe based on the North Shore, with an agent whose rep is beyond reproach.
I don’t know the merits of the case ChiTownGal and certainly wouldn’t trust an anonymous internet commenter regarding it.
In fact personally I am very much against “fair housing laws” so if anything not only would I discount this “potential cloud” as you call it, it might actually work to the agent’s advantage with people like me.
believe it or not, agents don’t really matter, price is whats important a property will likely sell itself
CTG I think you’re making too much of that lawsuit.
He’s one of the biggest listing agents in the city, and moves a ton of property. I actually have had some personal and second hand experience working with/against his team, and never seen or heard anything bad.
The guy had a racist client in Bridgeport, and his deep pockets make him a target for lititgation. Nothing about that should be shocking.
Also, minor point, but that’s “a” Carl Sandburg residence, not “the” Carl Sandburg residence– that dude lived several different places (he even spent his “hipster years” in WP).
“But without a garage, and with kitchen/batch as ugly and cheap as those, I just can’t see it.”
SquareD,
on the garage and driveway combo i will say that our cars are never in the garage. our garage is for storage and my work bench, the only car that ever set foot in there was a project car i never finished and sold a month back.
i like the coach house thing but i would only use it for visiting family i would hate to rent it(think Kato Kalin). i would not like another family on my land.
the kitchen isnt really that bad i like it. what irks your nerve on it?
“the kitchen isnt really that bad i like it.”
Which one are you looking at? The nicer (imo) one is the one in the coachhouse.
“Which one are you looking at? The nicer (imo) one is the one in the coachhouse.”
oh my really, the coach house looks like every other kitchen everywhere. i like the white kitchen its just the bone head jammed the ginormous fridge in the wrong spot and the bar chairs gotta go.
“oh my really, the coach house looks like every other kitchen everywhere. i like the white kitchen its just the bone head jammed the ginormous fridge in the wrong spot and the bar chairs gotta go.”
Okay, the coach house k–don’t like the cabinet color, hate the chandelier, not sure about counters/backsplash, and the fridge is awkwardly located.
Main house–fridge sux as you note, don’t like the island cooktop, layout seems awkward, hate the cabinet detail and the floor (too cafeteria kitchen for me) and the wine fridge stuck in the wall.
“The original owner was the first person to install radiant heat in the city so decided to include just one fireplace so they had one for aesthetic purposes. I toured it recently and it’s a beautiful old house. Some of the bathrooms could be updated but it would be a great place for people who have kids in the city that like to entertain.”
Thanks
Is the one in the dining room infilled?
Brother Groove-
I covet a coach house in a huge way. . . but not willing to give up a garage for it. Small unit on the second floor would be fine (and would leave our garage on the 1FL).
The kitchen. . . well, the one in the coach house is ok, if that’s what you mean (how f’d up is that to have a better kich in the guest house?).
The one in the main house, I see no redeeming value at all– bad design with sub-par appliances and finishes.
Orange tile would piss me off every moment it was within site, and then the rest of the time I’d be looking for space to work. . . because there are only a couple feet of counter space. That’s before we get to that hulking fridge. . . or the fact that there’s no room on the island, with the cook top there. Sorry but I hate it.
after further review,
dear gosh could the wine fridge beeeeee anymore awkward? the floor needs to be regrouted i like the color with the white, and yes i would rather have the sink in the island, the kitchen does have a good working area despite its aesthetics.
seems like the original plan was to go country style and at the end the owner wanted the extra large stainless package to go in.
and anybody who really cooks (except real chefs) would want the cook top up against the wall with a hood. (Think splash and clean up)
and yes the dual oven side by side thing irks me too.
and what is with the coach house having two sinks in the kitchen not next to each other and on different working surfaces?
“Sorry but I hate it.”
SquareD,
wow, that kitchen hit a button with ya 🙂
orange tile aside (i like it with a southwest theme or a better white country) the kitchen does suck butz
“how f’d up is that to have a better kich in the guest house?”
LOL
“and what is with the coach house having two sinks in the kitchen not next to each other and on different working surfaces?”
One for dishwashing, the other for food prep. I wouldn’t expect someone who thinks a 3d bathroom an unnecessary luxury to understand (not that I have or expect to ever have two sinks in my kitchen).
“dear gosh could the wine fridge beeeeee anymore awkward?”
My rant about wine fridges below is targeted to properties well below this one, maybe the 250-800k segment. When you get to this level of property its okay.
Of all the kitchen appliances, I think wine fridges are the most pretentious/ostentatious. Its like people screaming that just a bigger regular fridge isn’t good enough for their wine bottles as they don’t want any other foodstuffs or smells coming near the OUTSIDE OF THE WINE BOTTLE.
It exemplifies everything you don’t need in your kitchen during the bubble (along with granite, stainless, etc) but with an extra air of pretentiousness factor.
I look forward to watching the financial ruination of some of this set of people, with popcorn at my behest, as this RE train-wreck continues to unfold. Bwahahaha good luck wine fridge set.
“Of all the kitchen appliances, I think wine fridges are the most pretentious/ostentatious. Its like people screaming that just a bigger regular fridge isn’t good enough for their wine bottles as they don’t want any other foodstuffs or smells coming near the OUTSIDE OF THE WINE BOTTLE.”
A regular refrigerator is too cold and too dry to properly store wine. At a certain price point–both for the appliance and the wine–they can be a useful thing. If you are considering a $129 wine fridge or think that $10 for a bottle is way too much, then don’t bother.
Bob,
you paid off that final piece of debt yet?
just wondering if the mood will change
“A regular refrigerator is too cold and too dry to properly store wine.”
I am talking about the under counter wine fridges. And if what you say is true then maybe it makes some sense. I had assumed they were just for show to impress guests but if there is a functional element.
(Obviously I know next to nothing about vino other than that white is almost undrinkable and red is a sleepy buzz).
“just wondering if the mood will change”
Yeah when I buy a nice condo some wine fridge connoisseur paid 500k for near the peak for 250k from the bank and convert it into an under-counter keg fridge. The mood will change the closer it gets to 5pm each weekday as well as the closer it gets to 5pm on Friday.
“It exemplifies everything you don’t need in your kitchen during the bubble (along with granite, stainless, etc) but with an extra air of pretentiousness factor.”
While anon’s point on fridges is accurate (of course), I can’t imagine choosing to put a wine fridge in my kitchen wall when I have a huge unfinished basement that almost certainly could have a nice cellar installed for the same price or less (and could hold 10 times the bottles).
I don’t know if that qualifies as pretentious, but to me it’s a perfect example of the poor use of space here.
“I can’t imagine choosing to put a wine fridge in my kitchen wall when I have a huge unfinished basement that almost certainly could have a nice cellar installed for the same price or less ”
Which is the perfect point.
Altho, if you have a pantry in your kitchen, having a small wine fridge in the pantry is definitely handy, if you drink a lot of wine.
“Altho, if you have a pantry in your kitchen, having a small wine fridge in the pantry is definitely handy, if you drink a lot of wine.”
man that is one thing i miss, a pantry. why do people when the remodel remove the pantry just to get extra space in the kitchen? i love our pantry and would never trade it for the extra square footage kitchen.
“…No more liquor stores..got to his apt. Kept walking down Milwaukee..no liquor stores despite thousands of retail…”
I feel your pain. I had the same experience walking down Fulton Street in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn this weekend.
I don’t need another fancy French bakery with $4.50 lattes or a doggie sweater or a $100 haircut! Give me a laundromat for the love of God! Or a supermarket or a hardware store. The hipsters are making all neighborhoods the SAME everywhere.
The 06 listing
“Or a supermarket or a hardware store.”
A supermarket with $12 loaves of bread and $22 mustard? And a hardware store with “curated” salvaged hardware and handmade nails for $2.75 each? I think we can accommodate your needs!
The laundromat, tho, is a different issue. Altho I think the hardware store will do pick-up/drop-off for your fluff’n’fold needs.
“The 06 listing”
That makes sense. Thanks.
“I feel your pain. I had the same experience walking down Fulton Street in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn this weekend.”
But wasn’t Bob’s problem that he had a place ON THE WAY but didn’t want to carry his beer 2 blocks? Besides, anon says a mile is fine (and a mile seems like exaggeration anyway).
A supermarket with rice ‘n beeeeeeeeeeans 🙂
Re: no liquor stores in WP:
3 weeks ago we were at a byo place in WP and needed to run for booze. I told the “runner” to just head up to the intersection, and “go to the little dive place next to the Big Horse– they have an ok selection even though it’s dumpy.”
Much fun was had at SquareD’s expense, when it was determined that said liquor store, and said burrito/punk rock joint, have been gone for years.
(But, some important context to remember: In almost every area of the city outside the fratboy zone, it’s actually a good thing for the hood when a liquor store closes. . . . )
R.I.P. Big Horse though. . .
“But wasn’t Bob’s problem that he had a place ON THE WAY but didn’t want to carry his beer 2 blocks? Besides, anon says a mile is fine (and a mile seems like exaggeration anyway).”
As far as *on* Milwaukee, is there anyplace b/t Western and the 7-11 at Wood (does that one have beer?) that’s off-sale?
“As far as *on* Milwaukee, is there anyplace b/t Western and the 7-11 at Wood (does that one have beer?) that’s off-sale?”
You’re saying bob walked the mile? Is it obvious he came from western? I thought maybe damen, but I trust that you have sleuthed it out based on what he passed up. There’s that Aldi, which may not be ideal. And there’s this place below, but I concede that may not have fit Bob’s needs. There are places off milwaukee obviously. My main issue is his passing up the store he had.
http://www.redandwhitechicago.com/index.html
I was coming down Damen before Milwaukee. And no that store you linked to absolutely would not have fit my needs.
The place I passed, while not exceptionally far at only two blocks out, looked smallish and wasn’t a chain or one I recognized. Had some polish name on it iirc. I know those kind of stores gouge yups pretty good too so try to avoid them.
Had I known there wouldn’t be another store around for a whole mile I probably would’ve sucked it up and paid the extra few bucks. Still doesn’t help my impression that then neighborhood sucks. Also I would never step foot in Red & White Chicago if I can avoid it.
Man people are dumber with their money in WP/BT than LP/LV if you ask me. Me and my “yuppie” friends would sooner balk at those ridiculous prices. How are these kiddos getting this kind of coin as we all know many don’t have corporate jobs?
“You’re saying bob walked the mile? Is it obvious he came from western?”
I’m saying *if* he walked anything close to a mile (+2 blocks, as it was “about a mile” *after* getting to the apartment), he started at Western or so. You pointed out one more option I missed.
Does Aldi carry beer? Also the 7-11, but the extra .2 walk could be worth it to Bob to avoid 7-11 pricing.
“Had some polish name on it iirc.”
Polonia. Next time, just stop there, or the 7-11 basically across the street.
aldi has all sorts of great knock off beers. knock off corona, knock off pilsner urquell, etc. i dont recall them being offensive.
http://www.aldifoods.com/us/html/product_range/productrange_wine_and_beer_4572_ENU_HTML.htm
not sure about that aldi however
man bob, if you are so tight you are worried the mexicans in polonia are going to squeeze you dry I dont know what to say. i am a cheap irish bastard and I never got a rip off vibe from that place.
No Aldi doesn’t carry beer and also not surprised you’ve never stepped foot in one. 7-11 pricing is fair, much fairer than small independently owned convenience store pricing.
Case price at Foremost Liquors: ~$14 after tax.
Case price at 7-11: ~$16.50 after tax.
Case price at Przwecki’s Polish gouging liquor store/etc: ~$21 after tax.
Big difference. Had there been 7-11s around maybe its an area I could possibly live in (still unlikely), or at least not hate visiting.
“not sure about that aldi however”
I’m going to say yes based on yelp comments (I know, I know) and this. Oddly their store locator suggests that one does not.
http://chicago.everyblock.com/business-licenses/by-date/2010/1/16/2685672/
bob, 7-11 almost right across the street from polonia
“not sure about that aldi however”
Exactly–not that Aldi.
Polonia just gave a quote of 15.99 for a case of Budweiser.
Foremost just gave a quote of 12.99 for the exact same case.
You are right CH they’re not a ripoff or nearly as bad as the smaller corner liquor stores closer to me, but even they can’t match the pricing of big chain stores (or Foremost). And because of that impression and the distance I took a pass, thinking more convenient and cheaper options lay ahead. They did but it was a whole mile.
“bob, 7-11 almost right across the street from polonia”
And another 2 blocks before Jewel at 1400 Milwaukee.
“Had I known there wouldn’t be another store around for a whole mile I probably would’ve sucked it up and paid the extra few bucks.”
I hadn’t understood the price factor. I now submit bob’s problem was not so much expecting another store closeby but expecting one on Damen that would be appreciably cheaper than Polonia’s.
foremost is great. but I get pretty sick and tired of the unimaginative selection at domnicks/jewel. I dont know why but I like being surprised by some oddball cheap sixpack or german rare german lager now and then. stay away from gluek though, worst taste ever canned.
“The hipsters are making all neighborhoods the SAME everywhere.”
Milky,
what are you trying to say the potbelly’s in lincoln square isnt unique? and there are others in different ___insert any area you would like___ ?
“And another 2 blocks before Jewel at 1400 Milwaukee.”
I can’t fathom how I missed two. I was def. in a 7-11 will do just fine kind of mood. Maybe if they had the BIG BRIGHT SIGNS like the one’s on Lincoln I would’ve noticed. Whatever.
“Exactly–not that Aldi.”
I’d bet it does but, then again, I would have bet it would be easy to get a phone number for them.
“I’d bet it does but, then again, I would have bet it would be easy to get a phone number for them.”
Cold? Because, on the way to a party, you need cold.
“Cold? Because, on the way to a party, you need cold.”
If you get me a number, I’ll call. Otherwise someone else will have to go. It’s outside of my neighborhood radius.
“If you get me a number, I’ll call. Otherwise someone else will have to go. It’s outside of my neighborhood radius.”
they seem to keep their listing off the web. But, the Adli.com store locator doesn’t have beer/wine symbols for that store.
“they seem to keep their listing off the web”
You’re going to let that stop you?
“But, the Adli.com store locator doesn’t have beer/wine symbols for that store.”
I did acknowledge that above, but noted their license and yelp comments indicating beer purchases (no indication of cold or not).
fwiw I’ve never seen cold beer at aldi, been to the locale on clyborn and one on roosevelt in burbs.
Hi Groovy –
What I’m trying to say is that crime aside, I liked NYC and Chicago better when no one wanted to live there.
“Hi Groovy –
What I’m trying to say is that crime aside, I liked NYC and Chicago better when no one wanted to live there.”
i was being sarcastic 🙂 and i agree with your hipster(yuppie) comment.
Aldi probably doesn’t want drunks as they are a low margin high-volume business model. Little margin for error and the drunks wouldn’t be adding enough to their bottom line to deal with all of the associated problems of catering to them.
walgreens sells cold beer now @ reasonable prices so stop all this stupid aldi talk, unless you wanna get shot getting your groceries
Walgreens apparently also carries Wild Irish Rose, which really made my day (in some sick, juvenile way).
seems some walgreens have been selling cold beer for decades, no? do they all sell it now?
The reason Oldtowner is successful and lives in a 1.5 million dollar house is because he is sensible enough to shop at Target and drive a Honda. He can bank the coin he saves or put it towards a nice house instead of running a balance on his credit card buying stupid, expensive things just to look cool.
I understand where Bob’s coming from too. Those extra bucks you go through a temporary inconvenience to shave off here and there add up.
I feel like everyone’s got their hands in my pockets. Sigh.
wow, I am positive I bought a case at walgreens nye 05. but apparently they stopped in the mid 90s and I never noticed.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704515704575282370477702814.html
“wow, I am positive I bought a case at walgreens nye 05. but apparently they stopped in the mid 90s and I never noticed.”
’96, iirc. Bought many a beer at the North/Wells walgreen’s in 94/95.
“You’re going to let that stop you?”
Apparently, they are all unlisted, so that no one has to answer the phone.
However: Aldi Corporate Headquarters & Main Info 1200 North Kirk Road Batavia, Illinois 60510 (630) 879-8100
“wow, I am positive I bought a case at walgreens nye 05”
it was a CVS there are the same thing anyway
“Aldi Corporate Headquarters & Main Info 1200 North Kirk Road Batavia, Illinois 60510 (630) 879-8100”
Surprisingly nice person answered. Beer at that location, yes. Cold beer at any location, no. I guess if you’re not going to spend the money to answer the in store phone, you’re probably not going to chill my beer for me.
When is Sabrina coming back from vacation again?
you guys are so full of shit, how in the hell do you remember where you bought a beer at 16 years ago… I don’t even remember where I bought my beer from over the weekend
“you guys are so full of shit, how in the hell do you remember where you bought a beer at 16 years ago… I don’t even remember where I bought my beer from over the weekend”
dude you remember when your doing it under age and i rememebr almost everyplace or person i bought it from then.
oddly to tie into this property i had a HS friend whose parents owned a liquor store by this house he would sneak a case of something for us every two weeks for our daytimes.
ok thats sort of true, I do remember paying some taxi driver to buy me some 40’s of schlitz malt liquor at the milwaukee train station when I was a freshman in high school and the crazy taxi ride after he bought me the stuff where he was running red lights and such
“you guys are so full of shit, how in the hell do you remember where you bought a beer at 16 years ago”
Boss at the time semi-regularly had a end of day beer run. I’d buy 2 or 3 cases of beer.
“I do remember paying some taxi driver to buy me some 40’s of schlitz malt liquor”
and thats why we remember ah the good ol days, or anon’s repetitive routine.
LOL – we just walked into liquor stores and tried to act old & nonchalant. Worked about half the time. Then word would spread & the dimwits amongst the urban youth would get a place shut down (Miavana on Broadway, anyone?), and we’d start over.
“LOL – we just walked into liquor stores and tried to act old & nonchalant. Worked about half the time. Then word would spread & the dimwits amongst the urban youth would get a place shut down (Miavana on Broadway, anyone?), and we’d start over”
LOL, when the “look the other way” owners got shut down because of us yoots i would always turn to the gangbangers and have to pay the premium for our parties. i rememeber the IG’s on fullerton and lavergne either owned the liquor store there or provided “protection” to the owner. i would walk in with a school mate that was in IG and the guy would sell it to me and i was 14 or 15 at the time.
Sold for $1.606K — looks to me like a good deal for the buyer.
Coach house for rent again:
http://www.thedorgermccarthygroup.com/rentals/2816/A/4605-n-hermitage-ave-unit-coachse/
$2400/mo.