Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom penthouse triplex loft in the Tower Lofts at 1601 W. School just came on the market.

Built in 1915, it was the former Weiboldt’s store. It has 80 lofts and heated garage parking. There’s no doorman.

There’s also no longer scaffolding on this building. I need to update my picture.

This penthouse level loft is a combined unit with 3,000 square feet on 3 levels.

It faces north.

It has 16-foot cement ceilings with exposed brick and ductwork.

The 3-bedrooms are on the main floor and all three have full walls. Only the master bedroom has a window, however.

The master bedroom also has a spa bath and walk-in-closet.

The listing says the kitchen is “newly renovated” with dark modern cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

There’s a lofted family room and a top level entertainment room with a wet bar that leads to a private rooftop deck with Wrigley Field lights views.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 heated garage parking spaces.

The loft has come on the market at $869,000. But at 3,000 square feet, is this a deal for the square footage?

Jenny Ames at Engel & Voelkers Chicago has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #714: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3000 square feet, triplex loft

• Sold in February 1996 for $298,000
• Sold in May 1997 but no price listed
• Sold in September 1999 for $544,000
• Sold in June 2011 for $629,000 (included the parking)
• Currently listed at $869,000 (includes the 2-parking spaces)
• Assessments of $833 a month (includes parking, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $12,420
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 18×19 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (main floor)
• Living room: 19×27 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 13×11 (main floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 12×10 (main floor)
• Family room: 14×15 (second level)
• Entertainment room: 12×11 (third level)
• Deck: 20×12 (third level)

This 5-bedroom single family home at 1324 W. Webster in Lincoln Park came on the market in February 2020.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it when it was on the market in 2017.

Back then, it was listed for $2.999 million and many of you thought the price was too high for a home this far away from the lake.

You can see our 2017 chatter here.

If you recall, this house was built in 2007 on a 24×120 lot on the corner of Wayne and Webster.

It has upgraded millwork and custom wall finishes.

The eat-in kitchen has white cabinets, stone counter tops and high end appliances along with a great room.

The master suite is on the second floor and has dual walk-in closets and a luxurious spa bath with a steam shower, soaking tub, heated floors and a private terrace.

The second floor also has two other bedrooms that are en suite.

The other two bedrooms are in the lower level where there is another full bath.

The third floor has what the listing calls two “flex rooms” which could be whatever the buyer wishes, as well as a half bath.

There’s wine storage and a recreation/media room in the lower level as well.

The house has its own elevator and 2 laundry rooms, one in the lower level and one on the second floor.

If you’re looking for a lot of parking, the house has a 2-car garage and parking for 2 more cars on the driveway. There’s also a deck over the garage.

This house sold in August 2009, which was during the financial crisis, for $1.65 million.

In 2017, it was listed at $2.999 million before being withdrawn.

3 years later, it has come back on the market at $2.7 million.

Will this price get the sale done in 2020?

Emily Sachs Wong at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1324 W. Webster: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 half baths, 5985 square feet

• New construction in 2007
• Sold in August 2009 for $1.65 million
• Listed in March 2017 for $2.999 million
• Withdrawn
• Currently listed for $2.7 million
• Taxes are now $35,851 (they were $29,809 in March 2017)
• Central Air
• 2 sets of washer/dryers
• 2 car garage plus 2 car parking on the driveway
• Bedroom #1: 18×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #5: 12×11 (lower level)
• Bonus room: 25×12 (third floor)
• Deck: 24×22 (second floor)
• Playroom: 16×9 (third floor)
• Family room: 22×18 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 10×6 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom at 2221 N. Lincoln in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

I can’t find an age on the building but it’s old and has 5 units and is a self-managed association. It was converted into condos in 1999.

This unit has the only private garage for the building, which is down the side alley. That garage includes some additional storage.

I thought we had chattered about this unit previously, as it was last listed in 2015 after it was completely renovated, but it sold within days so I didn’t have time to post on it.

The unit has many of its vintage features including original oak mill woodwork with custom, solid oak built-ins including a hutch in the dining room.

It also has ceiling medallions in several rooms.

The kitchen was renovated in 2015 and has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and stone counter tops.

The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom, which is rare in a vintage unit.

The bathrooms were also renovated in 2015.

Because it’s on the corner which faces the alley, the unit has two walls of windows, including a bay window.

Along with the private garage, the unit has the finishes buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

It has come on the market at $449,000.

Is this going to sell in a week again 5 years later?

Mariah Dell at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in June 1999 for $129,000
• Sold in May 2001 for $250,000
• Sold in August 2014 for $268,000 (included garage parking)
• Sold in June 2015 after renovation for $395,000 (included garage parking)
• Currently listed at $449,000 (includes garage parking)
• Assessments of $295 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $6338
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Living room: 17×12
• Dining room: 15×14
• Kitchen: 13×11

This 3-bedroom single family home at 610 W. Kemper Place in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

Built in 1881, it’s on a smaller than standard Chicago lot measuring 50×21 and doesn’t have parking.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in 2012 and 2013, the last time it was on the market. The market was bottoming out back then and the house was listed at just $438,800.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, this house is located directly across from the Lincoln Elementary.

It has a front fenced in patio and a roof top deck.

The listing says the kitchen has had a “facelift.” The cabinets are now white, and there are stainless steel appliances.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor. The listing says the master bedroom is 22×11, but this appears to include the square footage of the bathroom as the floor plan lists the master bedroom as 11×11.

The listing says the house has had a “complete renovation of the master bathroom.”

It also says there are new hardwoods throughout and new flooring in the lower level which has a family room, the laundry and storage.

The house has custom lighting and paint.

It also has central air.

Worried about parking? The listing says there is private leased garage parking which is transferrable.

Here’s a comment from sonies from 2013:

“Nobody wants a SFH with no parking, on a postage stamp lot, on an alley, with small bedrooms, and craptastic finishes from the 90’s, even if it is in mighty Lincoln Park. Too bad they didn’t list in 2005-2007 this would have sold for 700k easy.”

This house is currently listed at $699,900.

After the renovations, and the hotter housing market, will they get?

Michael Gaffney at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

610 W. Kemper: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1764 square feet

• Sold in 1993? (no price)
• Sold in May 2013 for $443,000
• Currently listed at $699,900
• Taxes are now $7908 (they were $6582 in February 2103)
• Central Air
• No parking- but current owners have leased garage parking that is transferrable
• Bedroom #1: 11×22 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×8 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×9 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 14×12 (main level)
• Living room: 18×11 (main level)
• Dining room: 17×11 (main level)
• Family room: 14×8 (basement)
• Laundry room: 6×3 (basement)
• Front patio: 15×15
• Roof top deck: 16×8

This 3-bedroom in The Barry at 3100 N. Sheridan in East Lakeview came on the market in January 2020.

The Barry was built in 1923 and has 65 units and a doorman. There’s no parking but it’s available for rent in the neighborhood.

This listing says that there was “no surface left untouched during the renovation” of the unit.

It has custom millwork, bookcases, new windows and hardwoods throughout.

The eat-in kitchen has white cabinets with Subzero and Wolf appliances and a beverage refrigerator in the wet bar.

There are Waterworks tile and fixtures.

It has heated flooring in the kitchen and baths.

It’s wired for sound and has brand new 2-zone air conditioning.

There’s a gas fireplace and custom California closet organizers.

The building has a playground, an expanded exercise room and a courtyard with tables and grills.

It has washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available for rent for $200 to $300 a month.

This unit was already under contract but just came back on the market.

Will it be under contract again this week at its price of $850,000?

Wade Marshall at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #9A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2400 square feet

• Sold sometime before 1992
• Sold in November 2005 for $500,000
• Originally listed in January 2020 for $850,000
• Under contract in February 2020
• Re-listed in February 2020 at $850,000
• Assessments of $1740 a month (includes heat, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $8,673
• Space pak cooling
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but available for rent from $200-$300 a month
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×10
• Bedroom #2: 17×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Office: 12×8
• Living room: 25×15
• Dining room: 15×11
• Kitchen: 12×8
• Laundry room: 4×4
• Gallery: 31×7
• Foyer: 8×8

This 2-bedroom on the twenty second floor in 600 N. Fairbanks in Streeterville came on the market in June 2019.

600 N. Fairbanks was designed by famed architect Helmut Jahn. It was built in 2007, just as the housing bust was about to happen, but most of the units in the building were already sold, and closed on, by the time the Great Recession hit.

It has 212 units and an attached parking garage. It’s a full amenity building with a doorman, indoor pool, exercise room and clubhouse.

The building was construction with a modern and urban design including exposed concrete ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

This unit has north and west views with 10 foot ceilings.

The kitchen has dark Snaidero cabinets, which were standard in all units, stone counter tops and back splash along with upscale appliances including a Subzero refrigerator and Wolf range.

The master suite has a built-out walk-in-closet and a stone bath with a separate tub and walk-in shower.

The unit has custom roller shades that are included.

The unit has the finishes buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking is available for $55,000.

The listing says there are no specials planned, even with an upcoming lobby “re-decorating”, and there are over $2 million in reserves.

This building didn’t see much distress during the Great Recession as others completed around the same time.

Does it still hold the crown as one of the hottest buildings in Streeterville?

Michael Maier at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2205: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1253 square feet

• Sold in December 2007 for $579,500 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in June 2019 (I couldn’t find the price)
• Withdrawn in November 2019
• Currently listed at $663,000 (parking is $55,000 extra)
• Assessments of $735 a month (including a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, clubhouse, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,700
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×18
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Kitchen: 10×11
• Living/dining room: 19×31
• Laundry room: 3×4
• Walk-in-closet: 5×7

This 2-bedroom in the Park Newberry at 55 W. Delaware in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

The Park Newberry was built in 1996 and has 182 units and a parking garage.

It’s a full amenity building with an exercise room and doorman.

The listing says this unit has a 4-season view of Washington Square Park and the Newberry Library which means it faces north.

It has seen some updates including “remodeled” hardwood floors.

There’s a brand new gourmet kitchen with white contemporary cabinets, as well as black cabinets on the island, and top of the line stainless steel appliances along with what look like stone counter tops.

The master suite has 2 walk-in California closets and an en suite marble bath with dual vanity and spa bath, which was not remodeled from the prior sale.

The unit has an actual laundry room.

It has the features buyers look for including central air and main floor deeded parking which is included in the price.

This property sold in 2017 for $680,000 and has come back on for $210,000 more, at $890,000.

When this building was originally constructed, white kitchens weren’t in. Maple cabinets and black appliances were.

If you want to sell in 2020, do you need a white kitchen?

Joe Zimmerman at Keller Williams Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #301: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1607 square feet

• Sold in July 1998 for $364,500 (included the parking)
• Sold in August 2000 for $578,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in October 2004 for $615,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in September 2017 for $680,000 (included the parking)
• Currently listed at $890,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $1091 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $15252
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×14
• Living room: 14×19
• Dining room: 11×16
• Kitchen: 13×9
• Laundry room: 6×6
• Balcony: 6×16
• Walk-in-closet: 7×5

This 5-bedroom duplex in 2430 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park came on the market in April 2015.

This building was constructed in 1927 and has just 17 luxury units and parking.

It’s a doorman building that faces Lincoln Park and the lake.

This 5600 square foot co-op has many of its vintage features including restored wood paneling in the living room and library.

It also has a grand interior staircase along with a foyer.

The unit has 3 gas fireplaces and a formal dining room.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The master suite has his and her baths along with custom closets.

The unit also has the features that buyers look for in 2020 including washer/dryer in the unit, 2-car parking and space pak cooling.

There’s no private outdoor space with the property.

Listed in April 2015 for $3.49 million it has been reduced to $2.9 million, but that reduction was in August 2018.

This is a “cash only” building.

The taxes, heat and doorman are included in monthly HOAs.

Do GenX or the Millennials have any desire to buy in the older co-op buildings?

What’s the future of co-ops?

Michael Zucker at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #11-12N: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5600 square feet, duplex, co-op

• No previous sales price as it’s a co-op
• Listed April 2015 for $3.49 million
• Reduced in August 2018 to $2.9 million
• Currently still listed at $2.9 million
• Assessments of $10,671 a month (includes heat, taxes, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are included in assessment
• Space Pak cooling
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car parking included
• 3 gas fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 24×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 20×9 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 19×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 21×14 (second floor)
• Office: 10×7 (second floor)
• Living room: 31×18 (main floor)
• Dining room: 27×16 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 24×11 (main floor)
• Library: 22×14 (main floor)

This 4-bedroom brick bungalow at 2434 N. Sawyer in Logan Square just came on the market.

Built in 1912, it’s on a bigger than standard Chicago lot measuring 31.5 x 186.5. It has a 2-car garage.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we last chattered about it in 2009. Thanks to DSquareD who pointed out that it was back on the market 11 years later.

You can see our 2009 chatter here wherein many thought that even at $525,000 it was overpriced for the neighborhood.

How times have changed.

This house has extensive gardens including a treehouse, patios and flagstone paths.

The listing says the kitchen has been completely renovated in 2012. It has modern cabinets, granite counter tops and Thermador and Bosch appliances.

The listing also says the bathrooms were updated in 2016 with Carrera marble, Grohe and Toto fixtures, rain showers and granite floors.

Three of the four bedrooms are on the second floor with the fourth on the main level. The master bedroom has an en suite bath.

Space pac cooling was added in 2011.

The listing says copper water lines and gas lines were updated in 2016.

It also says the roof has been replaced, most windows were replaced and it has a finished basement.

After selling in August 2009 for $525,000, it has come back on the market 11 years later, with a much stronger economy and a hot Logan Square, at $800,000.

Is this the price of entry in Logan Square if you want a single family home?

Jeffrey Beck at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

2434 N. Sawyer: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, 3000 square feet

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price- but it was in the 1980s
• Sold in August 2009 for $525,000
• Currently listed at $800,000
• Taxes are now $9021 (they were $4624 in 2009)
• Space pac cooling
• Bedroom #1:  15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×8 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×11 (main floor)
• Living room: 30×12 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 11×11 (main floor)
• Family room: 13×13 (main floor)
• Breakfast room: 11×10 (main floor)
• Recreation room: 27×13 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom in 530 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville came on the market in June 2019.

530 N. Lake Shore Drive was built during the housing boom years, in 2004. It has 180 units, a parking garage, a doorman, and common amenities like a shared deck, clubhouse and exercise room.

The listing says this unit has north and east views. It looks like it has some views of the lake from the balcony.

There are hardwoods in the main living area.

The bedroom has a walk-in closet.

The kitchen has the finishes that were common in the housing boom years, including cherry cabinets, black granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

This unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car tandem parking is available for $55,000 extra.

Originally listed in June 2019 for $430,000 it has been reduced to $419,900.

The condo last sold in July 2005 for $412,500.

Are 1-bedroom condos among the most difficult property type to sell in this market?

Gail Spreen at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2002: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1028 square feet

• Sold in January 2014 for $368,000 (no parking included)
• Sold in July 2005 for $412,500 (no parking included)
• Originally listed in June 2019 for $430,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $419,900 (2-car tandem parking is $55,000 extra)
• Assessments of $642 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet)
• Taxes of $8597
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Balcony
• Bedroom: 15×13
• Living room: 20×14
• Kitchen: 11×9