Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom loft at 400 N. Racine in the West Loop recently came on the market.

400 N. Racine was converted to condos in 1993 and has 33 units and gated outdoor parking.

This 2650 square foot one-floor loft has 13.5 foot ceilings and concrete floors.

The listing says it was custom designed by Moss Architects.

If you look at the prior listing in 2013, you will see that bedrooms and a bath were added through custom glass partitions and millwork.

There’s now a master suite with an en suite bathroom and walk-in-closet.

The loft has a new kitchen with stainless steel counter tops and high end appliances.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one gated outdoor parking space.

Will this mostly “new” loft sell quickly?

Philip Schwartz at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #106: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2650 square feet

• Sold in October 2001 for $297,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $380,000
• Sold in April 2013 for $430,000
• Currently listed at $730,000 (1 car gated parking included)
• Assessments of $355 a month (includes security, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7737
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×14
• Bedroom #2: 16×13
• Bedroom #3: 17×12
• Laundry room: 8×10

This 3-bedroom penthouse in 740 Fulton at 740 W. Fulton in the Fulton Market came on the market in July 2019.

740 Fulton is a 14 story building built in 2007 with 132 units and a parking garage. It has a doorman.

The building is one of the few at the entrance to the hot Fulton Market neighborhood so shops, restaurants and the hottest hotels are just steps away.

This penthouse has 180 degree east facing skyline forever views (you can see both day and night pictures in the listing) which includes the Willis Tower.

The listing calls this unit a “loft” as it has 19 foot ceilings and exposed ductwork but it’s not an authentic loft unit.

It’s what was commonly called “soft lofts” that were built during the housing bubble years after most of the viable authentic lofts buildings were converted into residences but loft living remained hot.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are fully enclosed with 2 of them being en suite.

The master suite has a spa bath with stone tile and dual vanity.

The kitchen has 42″ dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, 1.25″ granite counter tops and a custom tile backsplash (which is hard to see in the photos).

It has cherry hardwood floors, zoned HVAC, automatic shades and Savant surround sound.

The unit has a 240 square foot covered terrace.

It has central air, a side-by-side washer/dryer and what looks like 2 parking spaces available (at $45,000).

The listing says its in Skinner elementary.

The neighborhood has completely transformed itself from the time of the last sale in 2011.

It sold for $590,000 during the housing bust and has come on the market for $1 million.

Is this price the new reality for this hot neighborhood?

Paul Ragi at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1403: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2100 square feet, penthouse

• Sold in September 2007 for $762,000 (included 1 car garage parking)
• Sold in April 2011 for $590,000 (include 1 car garage parking)
• Currently listed at $1 million (2 car garage parking extra at $45,000 – not sure if that’s each space or 2 for that amount)
• Assessments of $1157 a month (includes parking, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $16,844
• Central air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 17×13
• Bedroom #3: 14×11
• Living room: 26×23
• Laundry room: 7×11
• Walk-in-closet: 9×8
• Terrace: 10×26

This 1-bedroom in Astor Tower at 1300 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in January 2019.

Astor Tower was built in 1963 and has 73 units and garage parking along with a common rooftop deck.

We have chattered about it several times in the past as it’s a popular building for design enthusiasts.

This unit has floor to ceiling windows with what the listing says is the “preferred” Northeast corner view.

The kitchen and bathroom have both been updated (and according to the photos from the 2014 sale, it was done by the prior owner.)

The kitchen has dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, stone counter tops and backsplash and a farmhouse sink.

There’s central air but no washer/dryer in the unit.

There’s also rental parking available in the building.

Originally listed at $289,000 in January 2019, it has been reduced $20,000 to $269,000.

That’s just $9,000 above the 2014 selling price.

Is Gold Coast price appreciation lagging for the smaller units?

Jeff Bushaw at Main Street Real Estate Group has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #16B: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 800 square feet

• Sold in September 1988 for $61,500
• Sold in April 1999 for $128,500
• Sold in June 2011 for $203,500
• Sold in September 2014 for $260,000
• Originally listed in January 2019 for $289,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $269,000
• Assessments of $903 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $5235
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer (coin laundry in the building)
• No deeded parking (rental in the building)
• Bedroom: 14×11
• Living room: 21×14
• Kitchen: 8×9

This 3-bedroom townhouse in the Fulton Station at 310 N. Clinton in Fulton Market came on the market in June 2019.

[Is this Fulton Market? Or is that only west of the Kennedy? Maybe it is the Near West Side? It doesn’t seem to have an identity.]

Fulton Station is a group of 24 townhouses with attached 1-car garages that were built in 1999.

At that time, this area between the Kennedy and the train tracks and Chicago River was mostly abandoned.

But now, it’s among the hottest neighborhoods in the city.

This townhouse faces south and has a private roof deck on the fourth level.

Two of the 3 bedrooms are on the third floor with the third on the main level which appears to overlook the backyard.

There’s a den on the fourth floor, with the rooftop deck.

The living room, dining room and kitchen are on the second floor. The kitchen has maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

It has central air and a one car attached garage.

Listed at $730,000, and within walking distance of the offices in Fulton Market and the West Loop, will these be million dollar townhouses in just a few years?

Galina Bilenko at Exit Strategy has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit L: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet, townhouse

• Sold in February 1998 for $315,000
• Sold in June 2002 for $465,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $530,000
• Sold in August 2007 for $582,000
• Was listed in June 2019 for $730,000
• Currently still listed at $730,000
• Assessments of $243 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,695
• Central Air
• 1 car attached garage
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 17×10 (main floor)
• Den: 16×11 (fourth floor)
• Laundry room: 5×5 (second floor)
• Living room/dining room: 22×17 (second floor)

This 1-bedroom in the Stewart Apartments at 1200 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

Designed by Benjamin Marshall in 1912, it only has 34 units.

This unit has been fully rehabbed with all new windows, flooring and lighting.

It has a custom O’Brien Harris kitchen with white cabinets, stone counter tops, a tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

The master suite has a spa-like master bathroom with wall-to-wall Carrera marble.

Unlike many other vintage units, it has a rare in-unit washer/dryer AND central air.

The building has a 24-hour doorman, a live-in engineer, a party room and a sundeck.

There’s no parking but it’s available for rent in the neighborhood.

This unit doesn’t have lake views as it faces north and west.

It last sold, also fully rehabbed, in March 2018 for $429,000.

The unit has come back on the market for just $10,000 more at $439,000.

Will a Benjamin Marshall fan snap this up?

Hayley Westhoff at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #605: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 950 square feet

• Sold in November 1991 for $89,500
• Sold in November 2012  (no price listed)
• Sold in March 2018 for $429,000
• Currently listed at $439,000
• Assessments of $1174 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable, Internet, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $5851
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom: 17×12
• Living room: 22×13
• Kitchen: 19×7

This 4-bedroom penthouse in the Manhattan Building at 431 S. Dearborn came on the market in June 2019.

Built in 1891, it has 105 condos and was converted into residential living in 1999.

The listing says this unit has been remodeled.

It now has an open concept and, apparently, one of the bedrooms was opened up so it’s no longer, technically, a 4-bedroom.

The kitchen has custom maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

It has other features that buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

The listing seems to indicate that there are 2 garage parking spaces but I don’t think this building has a garage. It might be rental in the neighborhood.

Originally listed at $359,900, it has been reduced $10,000 to $349,900.

At 1800 square feet, is this a deal?

Nick Rendleman at Exit Strategy has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1604: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in November 1999 for $300,000
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $359,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $349,900
• Assessments of $1135 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, doorman)
• Taxes of $6892
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking??? Listing says it has 2 spots but I don’t think there is parking with this building
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 16×14
• Bedroom #4: 12×12
• Laundry room: 7×5
• Foyer: 19×6

This 3-bedroom in 444 W. Roslyn in East Lincoln Park came on the market in February 2019.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in February.

Back then, some of you thought it was overpriced.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, the building was built in 1930, has 15 units and was converted into condos during the condo boom in 2004-2005.

It is an elevator building where the elevator opens into a private foyer.

This unit faces south and has plantation shutters on all windows.

There are dark hardwood floors in the main living/dining room with carpet in the bedrooms.

The kitchen has custom dark wood cabinets, granite counter tops and luxury appliances including a new Bosch dishwasher, 2 Dacor ovens, a Dacor microwave and a Subzero refrigerator. There’s also a wine cooler.

The master bedroom has a marble master bath with separate shower and powder room.

The listing says there’s Restoration Hardware lighting throughout.

The unit has the features buyers also look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and it says there is a separate deeded garage space which is $20,000 extra (previously, it was included in the price.)

Since February, it has been reduced $86,000 to $799,000.

Additionally, if you look at the listing pictures, you’ll see that they have added a virtually “staged” kitchen photo which shows the kitchen with white cabinets. As it stands, they are a dark wood but they wanted to show you them in the white.

The white kitchen has been “in” across all types of properties for several years now.

Is the lack of a white kitchen holding this property back from selling?

And if so, why doesn’t the seller just have them painted?

Sharon Gillman at Compass still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3C: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1847 square feet

• Sold in June 2005 for $733,000
• Sold in July 2011 for $602,500
• Sold in December 2013 for $655,000
• Was listed in February 2019 for $885,000 (included deeded parking)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $799,000 (garage parking is $20,000 extra)
• Assessments of $550 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of are now $12,910 (they were $11,548 in February 2019)
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Walk-in-closet: 10×4

This 2-bedroom at 3730 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview came on the market in April 2019.

Built in 1923, there are two buildings in the association 3730 and 3740 N. Lake Shore Drive which have 60 units.

There are just 2 units per floor.

This unit has North, South and West exposures so it does not look over the Lake.

It has many of its vintage features including custom crown moldings and trim and the original oak floors with custom inlay.

The unit has 9 foot ceilings, new windows and risers.

There’s new designer lighting and a wet bar/entertainment center with Carrara quartz counter tops.

The listing says there’s a new chef’s kitchen with custom white Shaker cabinetry, white Carrara quartz counter tops and Fisher Paykel appliances.

It has other features buyers look for including space-pak cooling, in-unit washer/dryer and parking is available for $175 to $300 a month in the building.

Originally listed for $639,888, it has been reduced nearly $40,000 to $599,900.

Buyers love move-in ready properties.

Why isn’t this selling?

Ivona Kutermankiewicz at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2400 square feet

• Sold in October 2017 for $135,000
• Sold in March 2018 for $187,500
• Originally listed in April 2019 for $639,888
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $599,900
• Assessments of $1540 a month (includes heat, electric, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $8327
• Space pak cooling
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking is available to rent in the building for $175 to $300 a month
• Bedroom #1: 18×16
• Bedroom #2: 17×15
• Den: 12×7
• Laundry: 8×12
• Living room: 24×16
• Dining room: 17×14

These 4-bedroom new construction row homes in Menomonee Row at 509 W. Menomonee in Old Town recently came on the market.

Is this Old Town or just Lincoln Park? It’s located not far from St. Michael’s Church which is a mainstay of Old Town.

The listing says Menomonee Row is 5 brick and limestone single family row homes designed by Sullivan Goulette & Wilson in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

All the bedrooms are en suite.

It has luxury finishes like a custom kitchen by Bovelli with Wolf and Subzero appliances.

The house has many vintage touches including coffered ceilings, extensive moldings and wainscoting along with wide plank hardwood floors and large oversized Pella architectural windows.

Each row house has a fully attached underground 2 or 3 car garage.

These have been under construction for some time (the picture above is from 2018). The listing says there is 45-day delivery.

Are luxury row houses an unexpected choice for a developer in this neighborhood?

And with so many luxury properties on the market, are these going to be a hard sell?

Timothy Sheahan at Compass has the listings. You can see the listing with interior pictures here.

509 W. Menomonee: 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Currently listed at $2.225 million
• It doesn’t list an assessment (fee simple?)
• Built on a 23×75 lot
• Taxes are “new”
• 2 or 3 car underground garages
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×14 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom penthouse loft in 3201 N. Ravenswood in Lakeview came on the market in June 2019.

The building was constructed in 1918 and has 35 units and gated outdoor parking.

The listing says it was Chicago’s first historic loft conversion.

This loft has authentic loft features including exposed brick walls and a wall of industrial windows along with a 12 foot timber ceiling.

However, it also appears to have some kind of addition as the living room has normal drywall and regular, non-industrial windows.

While listed as a 3 bedroom, the third bedroom is currently being used as a formal dining room although the listing says they will give a $5,000 credit to rebuild the third bedroom.

Both bedrooms are en suite. The master bedroom also has a large walk-in-closet.

There is a private, fenced in terrace off the living room but that’s not the only outdoor space.

There’s a spiral staircase that leads to 2 private decks with city views including one with a large pergola.

The kitchen has custom wood cabinets, a large island and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has the features most buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and gated parking is $15,000 extra.

Originally listed at $649,900 in June 2019, it has been reduced $20,000 to $629,900.

Will the 3 outdoor spaces make the sale on this loft?

Anne Connolly Rief at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #401: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1456 square feet, penthouse

• Sold in December 1993 for $185,000
• Sold in February 1998 for $230,000
• Sold in September 2001 for $340,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $408,000
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $649,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $629,900 (plus $15,000 for gated parking)
• Assessments of $260 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7399
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 13×15
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (now a formal dining room)
• Deck: 15×16
• Deck #2: 15×13
• Terrace: 17×12
• Walk-in-closet: 9×12