Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom at the Ruckert on 12th at 2330 S. 12th in Soulard in St. Louis came on the market in June 2019.

This building was constructed by Henry Ruckert in 1889 and has 6 units and partial garage parking (by partial that means there is a door on a carport but the garage is not enclosed. This seems to be common in St. Louis.)

This unit appears to be a lower level garden unit.

The listing says it has 9 windows on 3 sides.

It has dark hardwood floors on the main level.

The kitchen has gray cabinets, white counter tops, a white subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances, including a wine fridge.

The two bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.

There’s also a half bath in the living areas.

The building has an elevator and a shared rooftop deck with city views.

The listing says it has a 95% tax abatement approved.

It has central air and washer/dryer hook-ups in the unit.

Originally listed in June 2019 for $285,000, it has been reduced $10,000 to $275,000.

I had a hard time finding condos in Soulard to feature. Most of the properties were single family homes.

Are condos a hard sell in a neighborhood with so many single family homes?

Curt Wintrode at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #100: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1,199 square feet

• Sold in July 2018 for $252,900 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $285,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $275,000
• Assessments of $269 a month
• Taxes of $636
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer hook-ups in the unit
• Covered parking included
• Bedroom #1: 10×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×13

This historic 4-bedroom brick single family home at 2309 S. 12th in Soulard in St. Louis came on the market in April 2018.

Built in 1890, it is a rare home that is on a double lot measuring 50×142 in the historic Soulard neighborhood which has small, irregular lots laid out by the French.

The listing says it has a new 2-car garage which the listing says will accommodate even the largest SUV.

The house has some of its vintage features including pocket doors and high ceilings.

There are 2 vintage fireplaces, but neither seems functional.

The kitchen has white cabinets, Carrera marble counter tops, a center island and luxury stainless steel appliances.

3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor including the master suite which has a white bathroom with double sinks and a custom shower.

The fourth bedroom is on the third floor with its own bathroom.

There’s a half bath on the main floor.

I can’t tell if there’s a basement. There appears to be but it’s unclear if its built-out.

The house has central air.

The listing says the lot is big enough to build a pool.

Originally listed at $650,000 in April 2018, it has been reduced by $60,000 to $590,000.

That still makes it among the most expensive home in this neighborhood.

Is it hard to have the most expensive property in a neighborhood?

Jennifer Garcia at Garcia Properties has the listing. It’s agent owned. See the pictures here.

2309 S 12th: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3100 square feet

• Sold in November 2016 for $130,000
• Originally listed in April 2018 for $650,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $590,000
• Taxes of $3153
• Central Air
• 2-car garage
• Double lot
• 2 vintage fireplaces (non-functional)
• Bedroom #1: 18×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 17×14 (third floor)

I recently spent some time in St. Louis.

St. Louis was the fourth largest city in America at one point (as was Charleston, South Carolina, incidentally.)

Much of its historic architecture remains.

Is St. Louis a buying opportunity for architecture lovers priced out of Washington DC, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia?

I’ll be cribbing on St. Louis properties all week.

You might be surprised at what is going on there.

This 2-bedroom historic single family home at 1219 Victor in Soulard came on the market just 6 days ago and was under contract in 4 days.

Soulard is the oldest neighborhood in St. Louis and was originally founded by the French. Much of the homes are brick, with French-American style construction including iron balconies as you’d find in New Orleans.

The neighborhood preservation group became active in the 1980s and managed to save many of the structures. It is a city and National landmark district.

Soulard features the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi River and the second largest Mardi Gras in America.

The Anheuser Busch brewery anchors the south end of the neighborhood.

It’s just about a mile and a half from downtown along the Mississippi River.

Built in 1891 on a 28×68 lot, the brick house has some of its historic features such as pocket doors and a refurbished cornice.

The house has just 1580 square feet and no garage or parking.

Street parking was plentiful when I was there on a Saturday.

Also, apparently many homeowners drive golf carts around the hilly neighborhood. I saw a half a dozen just parked outside homes and restaurants.

It has two fireplace mantles (they are non-functional) and high ceilings.

There’s a half bath on the main level and the full bath on the second floor.

The kitchen has what look like wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The house has a full walk-out basement.

It has a double deck and a brick patio.

The house has central air, a must in hot and humid St. Louis.

Soulard is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city. This was one of the few single family homes currently for sale in the neighborhood under $200,000.

If you love historic homes, is Soulard a hidden gem?

Mona Parsley at Re/Max Gold VI has the listing. See the pictures here.

1219 Victor: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1580 square feet

• Originally listed in 2007 for $225,000
• Reduced many times
• Removed from the market in 2012at $185,000
• Currently listed at $187,400
• Under contract in 4 days
• Taxes of $3576
• Central Air
• No parking
• 2 fireplace mantles (non functional)
• Bedroom #1: 10×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×15 (second floor)
• Office/bonus room: 6×9

This 4-bedroom penthouse in The Pinnacle at 21 E. Huron in River North came on the market in February 2017.

The Pinnacle was constructed in 2004 and has an attached parking garage.

It’s a full service building with 213 units and a doorman.

This penthouse is on the 46th floor and has 360 degree views from its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The elevator opens into a private foyer.

All four bedrooms are en suite and the master suite has 2 large walk-in-closets.

There’s a 1000 bottle wine room.

The kitchen has white modern cabinets, stone counter tops and luxury stainless steel appliances.

There’s a 250 square foot east facing recessed terrace with lake views.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 garage spaces in the resident only garage included.

Originally listed in February 2017 for $4.95 million, it has been reduced to $3.7 million.

That’s the same price it sold for in 2013.

6 years after that sale, there are a dozen new luxury towers in Chicago with several more still under construction.

Are developers overbuilding the luxury condo market?

Randi Pellar at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4601: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5300 square feet

• Sold in January 2006 for $3.9 million
• Sold in June 2013 for $3.7 million
• Originally listed in February 2017 for $4.95 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $3.7 million
• Assessments of $4990 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $86,575
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 Garage Spaces Included
• Bedroom #1: 26×16
• Bedroom #2: 19×11
• Bedroom #3: 14×12
• Bedroom #4: 16×15
• Family room: 22×16
• Laundry room: 10×5
• Terrace: 17×12

This 3-bedroom penthouse in Contemporaine at 201 W. Grand in River North came on the market in March 2019.

Built in 2004, Contemporaine has just 28 units and a parking garage.

It has won numerous architecture awards for modern architecture and is featured on architecture tours.

This top floor unit’s claim to fame is a rare 3,000 square foot completely built out terrace with Japanese gardens complete with waterfalls and 12-foot Bonsai trees.

The Chicago Tribune did an extensive story about the gardens in 2007. Check it out here.

It has 2-story 20 foot floor to ceiling windows that overlook the garden.

The kitchen has modern cabinetry with stainless steel appliances.

Last time we chattered about this property, it was a 2 bedroom unit and now it’s a 3 bedroom unit. Where’d they get the third bedroom?

You can see our 2013 chatter here.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 car parking is available for $65,000 each.

The last time this property was on the market it took 6 years to sell but that was during the housing bust, from 2007 to 2013.

With the upper bracket market the hottest in the city’s history, and the unique gardens, will this sell this year?

Niles Patel at Core Luxury Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit PH2: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3000 square foot terrace, no square footage of the interior listed

• Sold in April 2004 for $1,700,000
• Originally listed in September 2007 for $3.95 million
• Sold in May 2013 for $2.4 million
• Currently listed for $3,095,000
• Assessments are now $2466 a month (they were $2000 a month in 2013) (doesn’t list what is included. There’s no doorman in this building.)
• Taxes are now $35,331 (they were $29,975 in 2013)
• 2-car garage parking is available for $65,000 (each???)
• Bedroom #1: 23×20
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×10
• Walk-in-closet: 25×20
• Terrace: 60×16

This 6-bedroom penthouse in 840 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast came on the market in April 2019. (Did we decide that this area was Gold Coast and not Streeterville?)

Built in 2007, the building has 72 units on just 26 floors and a parking garage.

This is a true penthouse on the 26th floor with 8800 square feet of interior space and 1135 square feet of outdoor living including a 90×9 terrace and other smaller terraces.

It’s apparently all on one level.

It has multiple exposures including the Lake and city views as well as Navy Pier.

The listing says this unit was bought as raw space and custom designed.

It has 12 foot ceilings and multiple living and dining areas.

The 6 bedrooms are en suite with two half bathrooms.

There’s a great room in the rotunda.

The listing describes the kitchen, with white cabinets and counter tops as a “custom Boffi eat-in kitchen with a showcase wine cellar.”

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 3-car garage parking is included.

It has come on the market at $13.5 million which makes it among the most expensive condos currently on the market in the city.

With both city and lake views, is this condo the best of all worlds?

Timothy Salm at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2601: 6 bedrooms, 7 baths, 8800 square feet, penthouse

• The CCRD doesn’t list a prior sales price from 2007
• Currently listed at $13.5 million
• Assessment of $8542 a month (includes gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $60,143
• Central Air
• 3 car garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 28×16
• Bedroom #2: 17×16
• Bedroom #3: 15×16
• Bedroom #4: 15×14
• Bedroom #5: 18×11
• Bedroom #6: 18×11
• Game Room: 17×20
• Exercise Room: 17×20
• Media Room: 15×12
• Laundry Room: 5×6

This 3-bedroom at 550 St Clair at 550 N. St. Clair in Streeterville just came on the market.

Built in 2008, just as the Great Recession and housing bust hit, it’s a modern building with floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed concrete ceilings with 111 units and a parking garage.

It also has an indoor pool and exercise room. (Is there a doorman? The assessment doesn’t list one.)

This unit is on the 24th floor which the listing says is the “penthouse level.”

It has south, east and west views from the floor-to-ceiling windows with automatic shades.

The unit has 11 foot concrete ceilings and two outdoor spaces including a 47 foot south facing terrace which has gas and water and a smaller balcony off of the master suite.

The listing says the master suite has been reconfigured. It now has a 14×10 custom built closet and a spa bath with a separate tub and walk-in shower.

The kitchen has custom modern Italian cabinets, an oversized 48′ Thermador refrigerator, Wolf and Miele appliances and a wine fridge.

This is a rare 3-bedroom unit that also has 3 full bathrooms.

The listing says it has a mud room (what’s with the mud rooms? Is that a thing now?)

It also has a separate laundry room, central air and 2 heated garage spaces are included with a third optional to purchase for another $30,000.

Could this make a good family home for someone looking for a larger 3-bedroom unit?

Natasha Motev at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2402: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3200 square feet

• Sold in April 2009 for $1.35 million
• Sold in September 2014 for $1.65 million
• Currently listed for $1.895 million
• Assessments of $2085 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, parking, cable, Internet, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes are $30,163
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 heated garage spaces included with a third for sale for $30,000
• Bedroom #1: 18×16
• Bedroom #2: 15×13
• Bedroom #3: 13×12
• Terrace: 47×5
• Balcony: 9×4
• Laundry room: 7×6
• Walk-in-closet: 14×12

This 4-bedroom duplex penthouse in The Montgomery at 500 W. Superior in River North came on the market in February 2019.

The Montgomery was an office building that was converted into condos at the height of the boom in 2007.

Built in 1972 as part of the corporate headquarters of Montgomery Ward, its architect was Minoru Yamasaki who also designed the New York City’s World Trade Center at the same time.

It has 245 units and garage parking.

This unit is one of the south facing penthouses with views of the entire downtown skyline.

It has 4800 square footage of living space on two floors and 1000 square feet in an outdoor rooftop deck which has a built-in bar/grill and professional landscaping with irrigation.

The unit has been completely renovated and reconfigured from the 2017 sale. If you have a Redfin account, I encourage you to look at the “before” pictures.

It’s now a smart home with contemporary finishes such as a custom built central kitchen with dark modern cabinets along with Wolf and Subzero appliances.

The unit also has a unique feature which is a full second kitchen which is a “prep” kitchen. This is a common feature in homes of the wealthy who would likely have staff to prepare for dinner parties, events etc.

The master suite has two huge walk-in closets including a 400 square foot “hers” closet, with vanity and sitting area, and a 250 square foot “his” closet.

There are two other bedrooms on the main floor, with one that is an interior room which doesn’t have a window.

There’s also a 600+ wine cellar.

The second floor has a separate guest suite with its own kitchen and full bath which leads out to the terrace.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 side-by-side heated garage spaces.

Originally listed for $4.995 million, it has been reduced to $4.75 million.

Is this the coolest high rise penthouse on the market right now?

Mary Hanburger at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2801: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4800 square feet, penthouse

• Sold in January 2007 for $2,645,000
• Sold in September 2017 for $2,667,500
• Originally listed in February 2019 for $4,995,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $4,750,000
• Assessments of $3515 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $41,357
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 18×23 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 17×14 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×13 (main level)
• Bedroom #4: 12×28 (second floor)
• 2nd kitchen: 18×8
• Laundry room: 7×8
• Terrace: 31×35

This 3-bedroom loft at 1235 W. George in West Lakeview came on the market in June 2019.

We’ve chattered about this complex in the past. It has 26 units and a heated garage and was converted in 1998.

Other properties in this complex had multiple levels and were basically townhouse-like lofts.

But this unit has its living space all on one floor.

It has the features of many lofts including 11 foot timber ceilings and exposed brick walls.

There’s a master suite with a stone bath and a walk-in-closet with a sliding barn door and a window.

The second bedroom appears to have a window while the third has French doors and a skylight.

The kitchen has 42 inch cherry cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar.

It has two outdoor spaces including a small balcony and an interior staircase to a private rooftop deck which the listing says is a “maintenance-free” deck with water and gas lines.

This loft has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a rare 2 deeded heated garage spaces.

It has come on the market just 16 months after the last sale for 15.8% more at $599,900.

With inventory so low, will they get the premium?

Nathan Brecht at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #214: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in January 1998 for $284,500
• Sold in June 2002 for $420,000
• Sold in October 2013 for $482,500
• Sold in February 2018 for $518,000
• Currently listed at $599,900
• Assessments of $329 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $8454
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 deeded heated parking spaces included
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×9 (main floor)
• Deck: 21×15 (second floor)

This 6-bedroom brick bungalow at 2225 W. Lunt in West Ridge just came on the market (sorry- no picture but given the tightness of the market I wanted to post on it).

Built in 1923, it has 3620 square feet and a 3-car garage. The size of the lot isn’t listed.

The listing says it’s “completely remodeled.”

The kitchen has the current popular look with white cabinets, white counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There are dark hardwood floors on the main floor.

It doesn’t appear that there are any of the original vintage features remaining.

The listing says the basement could be an in-law suite. It currently has a family room and 2 of the 6 bedrooms.

The master bedroom and another bedroom are on the second floor with two of the other bedrooms on the main floor.

The listing says tuck pointing and a new roof were done in April 2019.

The house has central air.

It’s come on the market at $679,000 after selling in 2017 for $200,000.

Is this price now the new reality for renovated homes in this far north side neighborhood?

Pauline Atou-Elia at Century 21 has the listing. See the pictures here.

2225 W. Lunt: 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3620 square feet

• Sold in November 2002 for $275,000
• Sold in May 2017 for $200,000
• Currently listed at $679,000
• Taxes of $7098
• Central Air
• 3-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 20×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 17×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #5: 14×12 (lower level)
• Bedroom #6: 14×11 (lower level)
• Family room: 17×17 (lower level)