Own a Piece of London: Historic Rowhome Now Available: 3832 N. Alta Vista Terrace in Lakeview
The rowhomes on Alta Vista Terrace in Lakeview were originally built between 1900-1904 to resemble a street in London.
Even today, you feel like you’ve stepped out of Chicago briefly when you venture down the Chicago landmark district block.
Homes don’t often come on the market on Alta Vista Terrace, making them “prime” indeed.
However, 2 properties have suddenly been listed.
We chattered about one in August 2008 at 3805 N. Alta Vista that never sold. It has now been relisted and has been reduced by $30,000.
See our prior chatter here.
The listing says “interior livable but requires renovation.”
Susan Lawrence at @Properties has the listing. See the listing here. (No interior pictures available.)
3805 N. Alta Vista: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2125 square feet
- Sold in June 1997 for $63,000 (went into foreclosure)
- Sold in March 1998 for $353,000
- Was listed in August 2008 for $585,000
- Withdrawn
- Re-listed in September 2009 for $555,000
- No parking
- Central air
- Taxes of $6029
Across the street, the 3-bedroom rowhouse at 3832 N. Alta Vista Terrace also came on the market. This home has the all-important garage.
The house has bay windows, 2 skylights and some of the original woodwork intact.
All three of the bedrooms are on the second floor and there is a newer lower level office with a full bath and steam shower.
It also has a brick paved yard.
How quickly will this sell to a historic home lover?
Millie Rosenbloom at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
3832 N. Alta Vista Terrace: 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 1 car garage, 2100 square feet
- Sold in June 1992 for $318,000
- Sold in January 1994 for $325,000
- Currently listed for $800,000
- Taxes of $7597
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 11×10
- Bedroom #2: 12×9
- Bedroom #3: 10×8
The listing says it’s a 24×40 lot, which I assume includes the garage. If so, I’ll take a pied-a-terre in London for 800, Alex.
Jeez that’s a tiny lot, no wonder its so cheap. Well, that and the fact that the realtor said its “livable” which probably means its not.
My uncle use to leave on this street but his had an amazing roofdeck which these lack!
In fact both properties are listed as 24×40.
The exposed woodwork is inspiring me to go ahead and remove the paint off of the woodwork at my dump. It’s going to be a pain but I love the look.
Anyone else notice the kitchen is in the attic on the first listing? I love historic houses, but that is a pretty weird quirk. Of course if you have servants to bring your meal down to the dining room, then you’re set.
“The listing says it’s a 24×40 lot, which I assume includes the garage.”
Nope. The garage (and brick backyard) are not on the parcel.
Don’t know what their basis for enclosing City property (it’s platted as Seminary Ave) is, but without a recorded agreement (and even with one), I wouldn’t necessarily count on permanent use of the space.
Of course these units are small. I used to live down the block from them. it’s sort of a quaint little community of historic homes but they are small. And unfortunately, now they’re expensive too.
“Anyone else notice the kitchen is in the attic on the first listing?”
Which is an obvious error, as these places don’t have attics that are more than crawlspaces.
since when is 2100 sq ft small? assuming the the sq ftg is accurate, it seems pretty big. really nice unit but for $800k, it wouldnt be at the top of my list.
23×40 is 920 sq ft. is 1,840 sq. ft. They must be counting the garage space and the attic kitchen!
“23×40 is 920 sq ft. is 1,840 sq. ft. They must be counting the garage space and the attic kitchen!”
Left off the basement, HD. But, the lot runs a few feet in front of the house. My recollection is that the interior is about 850+/- sf/level, to the interior walls, so 2100 SF might be actual, livable, SF.
The kitchen in each unit is where you would expect – however, I’m not sure I would consider what is in 3802 a “kitchen”.
In each unit, the original floor plan is about 700 sqf, so including the basement you get to about 2100 sqf. The basement space isn’t exactly the best living space. The exceptions on this street are the 2 or 4 three story units.
Also, many of the units have extended the back wall by about another 5 feet. On the east side, you can tell which units have this addition b/c the back walls on these units go all the way to the alley.
The west side units have a little more space to the alley. This is because these units have an easement from the railroad company which allows many of the garages/back porches/back walls that you see on these units. I can’t imagine the RR company ever revoking this – it would be a PR disaster and I can’t see what they could possibly do with the land.
The 3832 unit is nice – the garage and little paved garden area really set it apart from other units on this street. The kitchen, beds and baths are all perfectly nice (as is the woodwork) but all a little rough around the edges and needs some upkeep. They have also made the basement into a nice study area with a fullbathroom (and steam shower). Overall, a nice unit but I think really overpriced in this market even for this street.
The 3805 unit is just a disaster (hence the much lower price). While it is described as livable, that may be a bit of a stretch. Half the crap that the family obviously doesn’t intend to take with it to the next stop is still there – and I’d be surprised if it wasn’t there for whoever moves in. Large nails and holes in the walls, stained floors, rotting stairs to the roof top deck, rusting grill, you name it. It also doesn’t have the addition on the back giving it more livable space. The lingering odor is a nice touch as well – most of which I think was coming from the downstairs bathroom which looked like a total DIY job. I almost feel bad for the agent showing it – who couldn’t have been more honest and forthright about everything.
The question is, of course, at the discounted price, is it worth it to buy it and make it your own. On the plus side, the fascade, the entrance and the roof top deck are all very nice touches.
If I could find something on this street, that is between these two units (both cost and condition wise), I think I would throw my hat in the ring. Just not sure whether I am willing to tackle the challenge of 3802. And the other unit is just priced way too high.
You can see a slide show w/voice-over at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdJrypGClJE
And a photo album at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yochicago1/sets/72157594301491788/
The second Alta Vista house, the one that provided pictures, is a beauty, and I couldn’t argue with the price. Wish I could afford it. It is also sweetly decorated.
As for the size of the lot, these types of places attract buyers who hate yard work, and for whom a small lot is a plus. The back garden is perfect- a cute patio with enough space to grow flowers, that doesn’t overwhelm you. Many choosy buyers would just as soon leave big yards and spending Saturdays taking care of them to the suburbanites.