Crib Chatter

This studio in 539 W. Stratford Place in East Lakeview came on the market in July 2025.

539 W. Stratford was built in 1967. It is an elevator building and has 43 units. From the prior listings, it appears to be mostly 1-bedrooms and studios.

It has outdoor parking behind the building, a bike room and locker storage.

The listing says the lobby was newly renovated in 2019. There is no door staff.

The listing calls this studio “one of a kind” with a custom design by a designer.

It doesn’t list the square footage, but the studio above it, Unit #410, was listed for sale in 2023 and it said it was 500 square feet.  You can see that listing, and what one of these looks like before being renovated, here.

The unit has a new junction box and electrical wiring in the unit as well as new copper pipes in the kitchen and bathroom.

It has floating engineered hardwood Birch floors along with white Carrera marble in the entry, kitchen, bathroom, closet/office space.

There are also touches of marble outside of the floors including a marble windowsill and marble wall niche in the shower.

The studio has custom white and gray cabinets with cabinet lighting and built-in walnut open shelves, a counter depth bottom stainless steel freezer refrigerator, a built-in wall oven, a drop in glass electric cook top, a Bosch dishwasher, exhaust fan with lighting and new ductwork installed to outside vent.

To separate the bed area from the living/dining space, ther eis a custom walnut floating TV wall console with TV mounting fixture.

The sleeping area has room for a queen bed and two 12 inch nighstands, complete with blackout curtains.

There is a custom window valance.

The listing says the unit has fresh paint.

It has some of the features buyers look for. There is no in-unit washer/dryer, but there is a laundry room in the building.

It also does not have central air but does have a wall air conditioning unit.

An outdoor parking space is available for $30,000 extra.

This building is a block from the lake front, but is also near the shops and restaurant on Broadway. It is near several bus lines.

Listed at $190,000 plus $30,000 for the parking space, or $220,000.

With 10% down, or $22,000, the PMI, insurance, HOA and property taxes all included, Redfin tells me it comes to a monthly payment of $1899.

The listing says that the building is investor friendly and units can be rented.

Buyers love “new.”

Will this renovation sell this quickly?

Ljubica Lola Delia has the listing. See the pictures here. Sorry, no floor plan.

Unit #310: studio, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1988 for $51,000
• Sold in July 2003 for $110,000
• Sold in May 2017 for $115,000
• Currently listed at $190,000 (plus $30,000 for the parking space)
• Taxes of $1,645
• Assessments of $209 a month (includes heat, security, exterior maintenance, snow removal, scavenger)
• No central air- but wall unit cooling
• No washer/dryer in the unit. There is a laundry room in the building.
• Living room: 20×14
• Kitchen: 9×5