Now’s Your Chance to Buy in the Greenhouses: A 2-Bedroom at 2131 N. Clark in Lincoln Park
This 2-bedroom duplex in the Greenhouses at 2131 N. Clark in Lincoln Park just came on the market.
I’m surprised it isn’t under contract already as there are only 11 of these units and they are rarely on the market.
The Greenhouses were built in the mid-1970s.
Dennis Rodkin, when he was still with Chicago Magazine, explained their background back in 2013, the last time a unit was on the market.
(Thanks to the Groove for posting a link to this in our last chatter about this complex.)
“While working for two top Chicago architectural firms in the 1950s and ’60s, Gertrude Lempp Kerbis made contributions to design elements at O’Hare International Airport and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Today’s tour is at a building that was a benchmark project for her, one that she has said was among the first places where she worked on her own.
Kerbis both designed and developed the residential building for a site on Clark Street and called it the Greenhouses.”
None of the units have outside windows. They all face into the 2-story glass atriums.
According to our prior chatter about this building, those glass atriums are heated.
The first floor of this unit is the living room, atrium/dining room and kitchen along with a half bath.
The gray wall in the living room is actually painted brick.
The kitchen has wood cabinets and a mix of white and stainless steel appliances.
The second floor has the two bedrooms and the full bath.
The duplex has an in-unit washer/dryer, central air and an outdoor parking spot.
The building does not allow dogs.
Is the 2-story atrium a pro or a con for most buyers?
Sheetal Balani at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #11: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed, duplex
- Sold in November 1987 (no price listed)
- Sold in June 1997 for $190,000
- Sold in July 1999 for $230,000
- Sold in July 2004 for $350,000
- Sold in August 2005 for $365,000
- Sold in March 2006 for $375,000
- Currently listed for $385,000
- Assessments of $389 a month (includes water, cable, snow removal)
- Taxes of $4996
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- Outdoor parking included
- No dogs allowed
- Bedroom #1: 13×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×10 (second floor)
I like this but I would really need to see what the unit felt like on a hot day, similar to today in early afternoon. Anyone concerned that greenhouse room becomes too hot to use?
I remember a 3 bedroom was on the market late last year.
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2131-N-Clark-St-60614/unit-5/home/13347304/mred-08753271
I was planning to tour it to see how it felt, however it wasn’t a priority as it seemed too small for us. Unfortunately the unit went contingent before I could get in there. Personally I like that area of Lincoln Park, but living right on Clark kind of pushed this place down a notch or 2 on my list as well.
I now have a better understanding of the layout since you mention all of the rooms look into the atrium. I was somewhat confused on how this place was laid out by just looking at the pictures. It looks like it had 2 atriums.
“I was somewhat confused on how this place was laid out by just looking at the pictures. It looks like it had 2 atriums.”
Yes- Unit #5 has two atriums. It’s one of the bigger units. Big difference between 3-bedrooms/2.5 baths and 2 bedrooms/1.5 baths. Thanks for posting it, though, as you can see the original brick in the living room.
I like it. It’s very unique among townhouses. I also wonder how much it would cost to heat/cool this place.
I like this complex, and would think that fans of modern would be all over it. I love the privacy of the complex, and the atrium. I would think that the atrium would help reduce heating costs in the winter, by sheltering the large windows from the full blast of the weather, and while it might get awfully hot in the summer, it would make cooling the interior easier since it can be closed off.
Too bad the kitchen is so sad, with cheap, mismatched appliances, and no real thought given to the design. The photos give you no idea what the baths look like, but I’m not optimistic. This place demands a sleek, modern kitchen with all appliances built in, including an induction cook-top- I notice the stove is electric with old-fashioned coils. The staircase could also use a redesign- that rail is hideous.
The place is priced right and has a lot of potential.
Fail.
Who wants to live in a unit that reminds you of a supermax prison cell?
This is kitschy modernist novelty that doesn’t stand the test of time, because the whole premise of the design is illogical, as it’s solely based on turning away from the progress that housing had made via advancement of civilization. Who could possibly compare this building to something to Paris not conclude that change can also be “bad” or anti-progress. The Rodkin video is hilarious because he’s trying to be an apologist for the place but he refuses to show the viewer the kitchen!
I’d put a life size Hannibal Lecter in my atrium to scare off any invaders or peepers
like this
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4I94EWqLlfs/S89wfyFZuuI/AAAAAAAAAb0/lw79yVxW5rU/s1600/Silence+4+Lecter.jpg
Actually the redfin photos look less supermax than did the Rodkin video, which looks like it was done in the Fall or Winter.
“Building does not allow dogs”
= immediately crossed off my list!
I missed the part about no dogs. WTF? It’s a townhouse. It’s not as though a dog would make a mess in common areas. Are the walls that paper thin that a dog’s barking would be that loud to the other units?
“It’s a townhouse. It’s not as though a dog would make a mess in common areas.”
Common entrance off of Clark, no??
Ahh.. I didn’t realize there was a common entrance. Are there individual exits for these units?
“I missed the part about no dogs. WTF? It’s a townhouse. It’s not as though a dog would make a mess in common areas. Are the walls that paper thin that a dog’s barking would be that loud to the other units?”
As someone mentioned, these are not townhouses. They are duplex units with one on top of the other. So it is 4 stories in height.
Perhaps it’s a little too loud for the owners on the bottom floor to actually hear dogs running/walking all day long just above where they are sleeping so they just banned them to avoid the hassle.