Now’s Your Chance to Buy a Rare 6,600 Sq Ft SFH in Old Town: 321 W. Menomonee
This 5-bedroom single family home at 321 W. Menomonee in Old Town came on the market in May 2017.
Built in 1918 on an irregular Chicago lot measuring 48 x 104, it has 2-levels and a 2.5 car garage.
The house has a lot of unique features including a grand atrium with a curved staircase and skylight (see the pictures on this).
There are skylights throughout the house, including in the second floor family room.
The eat-in kitchen has a large island which opens to a great room with patio access.
4 of the 5 bedrooms are on the second floor with the 5th on the main level.
The master suite has a wood burning fireplace, 2 walk-in closets and a private balcony.
The master bathroom has onyx counter tops and a dual shower.
There’s also a wood-paneled library.
The listing says the backyard has been professionally landscaped and it has a large terrace/patio.
The house has central air.
At 6,687 square feet, and with the rare Old Town Triangle garage parking, is this a chance for Old Town lovers to get a large family home?
Katherine Malkin at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
321 W. Menomonee: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 half baths, 6,687 square feet
- Sold in September 1988 for $400,000
- Sold in January 1989 for $550,000
- Currently listed for $3.45 million
- Taxes of $67,417
- Central Air
- 2.5 car garage
- Bedroom #1: 17×25 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 14×14 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 16×15 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 14×17 (second floor)
- Bedroom #5: 13×9 (main floor)
- Family room: 14×23 (second floor)
- Laundry room: 8×6 (second floor)
- Library: 11×13 (main floor)
- Terrace: 46×22
This could be a really cool place with some serious changes in paint/ flooring / furniture / lighting. Again, I’d have to say it needs a few 100k in updates to be up to date..
With that being said – who is buying 3.5 million dollar houses in old town that need updating? I understand this is a big house but 3.5 goes a long way in Lincoln park or even Gold Coast, no?
@Riz,
I don’t see anything wrong with the flooring or the lighting. And I would suspect you’d bring your own choice of furniture in.
Corner lot, lots of light. The folks looking on Burling will be looking at this. In my mind, this location is super prime. I’m an old town lover. Not a lot of cut through traffic, very quiet for being close to everything. At that garage! I’m also a car lover.
Regarding that thread about Turbo and Turbo S. Both are financial disasters. The Turbo values drop like a rock. Any real car guy would be in for a GT3, GT3 RS or even GT4. But you gotta be on the list and in the know to be able to buy one new from a dealer at MSRP. Of course you could always buy low mileage used at above MSRP.
FYI, not a corner lot. To the east, there is a fenced in lot, so at least you can get some light on that side.
” 3.5 goes a long way in Lincoln park ”
Um, this *is* Lincoln Park.
Holy shit, I thought this was an apartment building whenever I’d walk by, dope house, just perfect (as a car lover too, 3 car would be ideal but w/e lol)
“FYI, not a corner lot. To the east, there is a fenced in lot, so at least you can get some light on that side.”
I stand corrected. From the street it looks like that corner is your side lot but from Google Maps its for another property.
But my point is that you get the side light which is what matters and a wide front.
“Um, this *is* Lincoln Park.”
Yep
“I don’t see anything wrong with the flooring or the lighting.”
I don’t like the sconces much either, but there seem to be a half dozen of them so that’s maybe $3k, and 2 hours of work.
The kitchen floor doesn’t look to go so well with the granite–and I don’t like the cabinets and granite, either, but maybe they photograph poorly.
Master bath “needs” a new shower enclosure, bc that looks “cheap”; again don’t love the cabinets–seems a little dated to me.
That said: imo, can’t beat the location.
Very OT but does andersonville really extend to ravenswood on the west? Doesn’t feel like aville.
Not a bad price for such a large double lot. And having an easy access garage like that….awesome for that area. I would guess that it will ultimately sale in the $2.9 to $3.1 range.
“does andersonville really extend to ravenswood”
imo: At Berwyn, probably, at Bryn Mawr, prob no. At Rosehill, def no.
Think it is unreasonable to say it is only Glenwood to Ashland, and if you extend to Paulina, no principled reason to not go to RR, at least in the southern portion.
DZ, the western border of Andersonville is Ravenswood. When I lived in the neighborhood back when it was considered Wisconsin, the general consensus was Northern border was Hollywood/Ridge/Bryn Mawr depending on where you are east/west. Eastern border is Broadway. Western border is Ravenswood. Southern border is Argyle. When you cross any of those streets, the neighborhood character changes considerably.
JAN TERRI KICKSTARTER TO GET HER BAND PRACTICE???
THIS PLACE RULEZZZZZZ!!!
GO CUBBIES LOLZ!
I adore this home and love the foyer. This home feels warm and inviting. Maybe my tastes are too pedestrian, but the only thing I really dislike are the columns near some of the doorways. Otherwise, this house is great.
I wonder what the condition of this house was in 1988/1989 when the price was $400K/$550K. It looks like it’s been gut rehabbed in the not too distant past. Looks like a million dollar rehab to me. Beautiful home. Nice job to whoever rehabbed it. Not overpriced compared to other large homes in Lincoln Park east.
OT: Fireside Restaurant is in Andersonville. That mean Ravenswood and Rosehill is in Andersonviile.
“Fireside Restaurant is in Andersonville.”
Not according to Fireside Restaurant:
https://firesidechicago.com/
FIRESIDE CHICAGO RAVENSWOOD
Yeahyeah, member of the Aville CC, it’s *on* Ravenswood, not *in* Ravenswood. That a single place claims Aville for business reasons does not make the place next door Aville. And that would lead us to Argyle & Clark being Aville, too, as the SoFo Tap is also a Aville CC member.
Fireside is definitely not A’ville. Too far north.
“Regarding that thread about Turbo and Turbo S. Both are financial disasters. The Turbo values drop like a rock. Any real car guy would be in for a GT3, GT3 RS or even GT4. But you gotta be on the list and in the know to be able to buy one new from a dealer at MSRP. ”
That’s really cute that you know some stuff about porsches. I bought mine a few months old and got an amazing deal. If you actually knew anything about the Porsche market you’d know no dealer is selling Any GT3 for sticker – they aren’t doing anyone favors and selling at msrp to those in the “know” because they are flying off the lots at double the price with minor dealer upgrades. I didn’t buy my car for a track it’s a daily driver and handles / accelerates plenty fine for me in a straight line.
Gt4 is a great track car but I wouldn’t be caught dead in a cayman, I just think they are ugly.
Thanks for the insight though, “real car guy”
“Um, this *is* Lincoln Park.”
Understood anon, my point was that can’t you get something in the neighborhood that doesn’t need the updates this does?
TBH I don’t know – I could never afford a place in this price range so I don’t know the market that well.
holy cow just saw the taxes on this place…67k!
In reference to an earlier convo – a person that buys THIS place is what I’d consider wealthy…right?
“In reference to an earlier convo – a person that buys THIS place is what I’d consider wealthy…right?”
Yes. However, the person would still be a working stiff if (s)he needed to continue earning money by working to afford this house and the lifestyle that goes with it.
“That’s really cute that you know some stuff about porsches. I bought mine a few months old and got an amazing deal. If you actually knew anything about the Porsche market you’d know no dealer is selling Any GT3 for sticker – they aren’t doing anyone favors and selling at msrp to those in the “know” because they are flying off the lots at double the price with minor dealer upgrades. I didn’t buy my car for a track it’s a daily driver and handles / accelerates plenty fine for me in a straight line.
Gt4 is a great track car but I wouldn’t be caught dead in a cayman, I just think they are ugly.
Thanks for the insight though, “real car guy””
Touchy are we… all Pcars are great, all can be tracked, I’m glad you bought used. Real car guys bust a lot of balls. Caymans are great, everyone has a preference. Join the local club, come out out to an event. Seriously, hit up a track day, plenty of docs out there spending a day burning gas and rubber.
GT3’s do not sell for double the price. Period, new or used. Show me an ad.
My pal has a 991.2 GT3 on order for delivery around September, he’s paying MSRP. The car is coming from Napleton out in Westmont. This will be his third car from them and first GT series. He’s not famous, or “wealthy” as described above.
Back to real estate and this thread, I agree that wealthy is being able to earn income passively. This number can vary. If you can live on $12k/year and your assets provide that for you, you are wealthy. Its a mindset.
“Touchy are we…”
Haha, sorry. Kind of a rough day at work, I was moody. Just got home –
you’re right, not double the price but above sticker – I think what I was remembering the GT3 at the dealership where I bought in PA, it was priced around 166, ~ 35 above sticker on that particular car, on which they had changed rims / tints / cosmetic stuff.
They were not budging about the price..comparitively they were knocking a LOT off 911’s, especially if you went a year old and picked up some of their lightly used 2016’s.
So basically I digress. GT3 is a great car but about 30k out of what I could reasonably spend!
Track days to come when I actually get a freaking weekend off.
Here’s where my mind is at in regards to this place,
If you had 3.5 million to spend – would you spend it here?
My point was just that I can think of a lottttt of other places I’d rather buy.
I disagree that the Burling St. Crowd will be drawn to this location – sure it’s closer to lincoln park itself, but you don’t have the same prestigious neighbors etc..There are still a lot of cheap rentals etc within a block or two of here.
I’m working late tonight.
For 3.5M, there’s not a lot on Burling, Howe, Ochard. Only one house under 3.5M, a handful at 6M+. So yes, I think this OT house is priced right. The only other house for sale in that area under that is $1.7M and that’s about $450 more than the last sale and not a very big house and Willow has some traffic. I know the previous owner and I’ve been in the house, He moved and bought a house in Glenview. Props to the current owner if they sell it for $500k over what they paid. Also there’s some new place on Halsted, doesn’t count.
I’d say there is less riff raff in this part of Old Town because its far from a train and not close to LPHS. Also, less car traffic. Yes there are rentals, but filled with upwardly mobile professionals. To me, riff raff = dude that will point a gun in your face and steal your wallet or group that will jump you and beat the shit out of you for $200 bucks. A group of drunk 20 somethings is not riff raff to me. Regardless, this part of town is really quiet.
Cayman is gorgeous (relatively speaking) compared to any 911, but that’s a case of tallest pygmy if there ever was one.
There are cheap rentals everywhere. 1400 LSD, flats on LaSalle, etc.
I could see a youngish family living here, a couple, three kids, they are all at Latin, she is a Pediatrician, he is a lawyer. Grandparents are on Astor street all summer, Palm Beach all winter. Family money.
Back to the house, I do love so much about it from the foyer to the location. The kitchen seems a bit dated but nothing I couldnt live with if need be.
I comment on this regularly, but why don’t people get rid of this overabundance of “stuff” for photos and showings? I know I’m somewhat of a minimalist but it’s hard to see what could be with every nook and crannie filled up. It’s exhausting to look at.
“Understood anon, my point was that can’t you get something in the neighborhood that doesn’t need the updates this does?”
I would enjoy looking at pics of a single true comp for this, if you’d like to post a link.
These are the two I might propose as comps or alternatives in the area. There are other SFHs at this price point but they are all cookie cutter big box houses.
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/336-W-Wisconsin-St-60614/home/26829605
No curb appeal but some unique features.
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/545-W-Dickens-Ave-60614/home/12716005
Vintage house.
“Cayman is gorgeous (relatively speaking) compared to any 911, but that’s a case of tallest pygmy if there ever was one.”
Depends on the trim level and mods IMO, I don’t think the 991 is ugly at all, but nobody buys a Porsche for the looks, there are other cars for that which I prefer
I tell ya what though, the Cayenne is frickin sweet, I don’t care what anyone says about it
” can’t you get something in the neighborhood that doesn’t need the updates this does?”
Well, if you’re willing to live west of Sheffield, and not on fancypants row, then maybe. But that’s not *this* neighborhood.
This place is (really) about $2m in dirt, and then about $200 psf for the improvements. If it were 100% au courant, it’d be more like $300 psf–an extra $600k.
I think the dated-ness is totally priced into the ask.
That Harrison Ford movie house is still on the market at $3.5M. It’s close to this house. That house is huge, needs a ton of update but it has a pool!.
1805 N Sedgwick sold for $3.25 in January 2017 on I think a standard lot size. It’s well done, move in, looks really new, but Sedgwick doesn’t have the same street charm as Menomonee. But I can see some folks may not like how tight that street is, to me it has charm.
This place is (really) about $2m in dirt, and then about $200 psf for the improvements. If it were 100% au courant, it’d be more like $300 psf–an extra $600k.
I think the dated-ness is totally priced into the ask.
Agreed
‘I would enjoy looking at pics of a single true comp for this, if you’d like to post a link.”
I’ll bite.
This place is a little bit more west, but only a few blocks to the famed burling st. and smack in the middle of the actual park and the fun stuff on armitaqe. Newer, doesn’t need the updates. Smaller lot, same size house, less taxes.
https://www.urbanrealestate.com/property/1903-N-Howe-CHICAGO-IL-60614-6WqFka3Fka37.html
in the middle *between* the park and halsted /armitage is what I meant to say.
Also this place:
https://www.urbanrealestate.com/property/1907-N-Lincoln-Park-West-CHICAGO-IL-60614-6WqFkWKtkWX7.html
that’s two places I’d rather buy.
https://www.urbanrealestate.com/property/1903-N-Howe-CHICAGO-IL-60614-6WqFka3Fka37.html
That’s a comparable it’s also a “Burling” street house and one of the cheapest ones on the market. There are a lot of haters for this style of house and location some think “nouveau riche”. The whole “Burling” area does look out of place, it’s its own little world. I’d live there, but I’d much prefer the Old Town house. It has a lot of understated charm.
https://www.urbanrealestate.com/property/1907-N-Lincoln-Park-West-CHICAGO-IL-60614-6WqFkWKtkWX7.html
Very vertical living. Location is a little clunky (this is like picking apart a Ferrari). Again it doesn’t have the charm, location or layout of the Menomonee house. Of couse this is my opinion and it doesn’t matter since I’m not buying a $3M house.
If I were, I’d still buy that Menomonee house. Those other listing are cookie cutter SFH LP houses.
This place is a little bit more west, but only a few blocks to the famed burling st. and smack in the middle of the actual park and the fun stuff on armitaqe. Newer, doesn’t need the updates. Smaller lot, same size house, less taxes.
https://www.urbanrealestate.com/property/1903-N-Howe-CHICAGO-IL-60614-6WqFka3Fka37.html
Lincoln Park is along the lake.
Oz Park is where that Howe house is.
” same size house, less taxes.”
1. Assessed at $1m under ask; taxes are likely headed up.
2. Taxes on this one are “only” $55k this year (yes, tax bills are out).
3. ~30% of that “6600” SF is basement, v. zero of “6600” on this one. (also has 515 sf basement, in addition to the 6600)
4. “Greek” dude in the shower is weird.
5. Lots of taste-specific (ie, imo, ugly) light fixtures, that I’d have to change.
1907 LPW
I kinda like that location, but it’s really a B- compared to the other two. Too much traffic all around.
Another thing with that Howe house–as a ‘family’ home, it’s really only a 3 bedroom. The basement bedroom is barely tolerable as a guest room, and the bedroom of the conservatory is a great in-law suite, but only good for a part-time (older) kid from the starter family.
“Another thing with that Howe house”
Never mind another thing. What about the style of the Howe house? Isn’t that *the* thing. What is that? Like ancient rome cum country farmhouse?
“yes, tax bills are out”
wtf, why my taxes up? (about 3.4%)
you get your bill in the mail already?
“you get your bill in the mail already?”
I didn’t but given @fo’s comment looked it up.
I agree with the strange style taste of the Howe house – overall still find the interior better than the listing above. But again, neither a home I can ever afford lol.
“I didn’t but given @fo’s comment looked it up.”
how do you look it up, on the assessor site you take that assessed value and multiply it by ??? or is there an actual bill you can see somewhere
1903 N Howe
Kitchen cabinets are not white. That’s a fail. When you’re spending this much money you need to be part of the herd. This should be priced under $1M. lol
Does that house even have a sunken driveway up front so you can pull right in to your garage with your bentley without going through a disgusting alley? I would need Schaumburg in the city to spend this kind of money.
Looking to buy,
I disagree – I don’t know the exact boundaries of the top of my head but I think halsted/armitage is DEFINITELY Lincoln park – and this place is east of that.
Perhaps you meant “east Lincoln park” is along the lake.
1907 LPW
I kinda like that location, but it’s really a B- compared to the other two. Too much traffic all around.
Agreed.
Back to reality, in the grand scheme of things it’s A+. Englewood is a F.
My taxes went up just shy of the 10% anticipated average increase. DZ–not in the city or successfully reduce your assessed value?
“(about 3.4%)”
Mine = +9.6% with no AV change.
“how do you look it up”
Can do it here:
http://www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com/
Or on Treasurer’s site.
Riz,
“This place is a little bit more west, but only a few blocks to the famed burling st. and smack in the middle of the actual park and the fun stuff on armitaqe.”
When you said “actual park” what park were you referring to? Since this house is in the neighborhood of “Lincoln Park”, it sounds as you are referring to Lincoln Park, the park as the “actual park”
With that said,
Lincoln Park is along the lake. The actual park, meaning trees, grass playground equipment.
Oz Park is the closest large park to that Howe house.
All of these properties are located in the “neighborhood” of Lincoln Park. There is only one “Lincoln Park” in the neighborhood of Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park the neighborhood is North Ave to Diversey. Lake to whatever some realtor is selling at the time…..
Ahhhh gotcha. I think “technically” it goes as far west as the river?
Can we see some sub 2 mil properties please, haha this is making me sad.
“My taxes went up just shy of the 10% anticipated average increase. DZ–not in the city or successfully reduce your assessed value?”
Got av reduced last year. Didn’t appeal this year (didn’t give it much thought, don’t know if I should have tried). Difference is change in exemption.
re: taxes
ouch!!!!!!
1.93% of AV for the year?
brutal
sorry 11.93% of the AV
“sorry 11.93% of the AV”
I don’t understand what ponies is saying? what’s 11.93% of av? increase in av?
taxes I have to pay/my total assessed value = % of the AV
there was no prior AV
basically what I’m saying is that I’m paying taxes on 1.93% of what the city thinks my house is worth, that’s like fucking Oak Park rates!!!
“taxes I have to pay/my total assessed value = % of the AV”
that seems really low if you are really talking av. @fo, can you explain? is ponies living somewhere really cheap so the exemption distorts the percentage? is he a senior citizen? (and who really has a conception of what taxes should be as a percentage of av anyway?)
is it 11.93 or 1.93% and is it av or estimated “mv”?
Mine up 11% over last year. In Oak Park…
assessed value is basically ‘city determined market value’ divided by 10
and I’m pretty sure 1.93% is very high for Chicago, maybe not anymore?
my condo was around 1.25%
obviously things are different
I wonder if the city fucking up and adding another bathroom on my page on the assessor’s website is messing things up
“and I’m pretty sure 1.93% is very high for Chicago, maybe not anymore?”
yeah but you said 11.93% of av, which would be 1.193% (not 1.93%) of city determined market value, which would be low.
yeah, typo there… whoops!
“yeah, typo there… whoops!”
it’s okay, I know it’s tough wo a full set of (non-vestigial) fingers.
“I’m pretty sure 1.93% is very high for Chicago, maybe not anymore?”
Should be almost exactly the same for everyone with just a HO exemption (obv will vary a little, bc HO is higher % of cheaper house).
My tax bill is 1.91934% of Assessor’s Market Value. (we’re under assessed compared to real MV)
Looked up a friend’s house in Oak Park (also under assessed compared to real MV, prob by about same %age). His taxes are 3.89749%. So, still under half of the OP rate.
what about this
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1248-N-Astor-St-60610/home/39907028