Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom at 1313 N. Ritchie Ct in the Gold Coast recently came on the market.

This building was constructed in 1973 and has 143 units and a parking garage.

It’s a full amenity building with a doorman, exercise room and outdoor pool.

This is a corner unit which faces west.

It has hardwoods throughout and crown molding.

The kitchen is open to the living/dining room and has white cabinets, white appliances and granite counter tops along with a breakfast bar.

The second bedroom has French doors.

The listing says there are new heating/air conditioning units throughout the unit.

It has the features that buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking is available for $55,000 extra.

The property also has a terrace with east, west and south views.

The 1970s buildings were routinely built with larger floor plans than what you’d see today. This unit is 1300 square feet, much larger than the 1100-1200 for a newer construction 2/2.

Can a 1970s high rise be a better deal than new construction?

Kimberly Gleeson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1401: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1300 square feet

• Sold in September 1996 for $296,500
• Sold in April 2000 for $350,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $399,000 (included the parking)
• Currently listed at $490,000 (plus $55,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $835 a month (includes doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, outdoor pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $9417
• No central air- but has wall units
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×18
• Bedroom #2: 11×13
• Balcony: 8×7

This 2-bedroom corner unit in Chicago Place at 100 E. Huron in River North just came on the market.

Chicago Place was built in 1991 and has 204 units, rental parking in the building and commercial space in the base that used to be a shopping mall.

Thanks to the long-time reader who tipped me off that this unit had come back on the market, because we chattered about it the last time it was on the market in 2010.

It’s memorable.

All three bathrooms have unique tiled bathrooms, including flowers in one and paisley in the half bath.

The current listing only has pictures of one of the three bathrooms so it’s unclear if all three still look the same.

But you can see what the bathrooms looked like in 2010 here.

You can also read our prior chatter here where many of you were fans of the mosaic bathrooms, including the paisley tiled one.

If you recall, the unit is a southeast corner unit.

The kitchen has modern cabinets, stainless steel appliances and what looks like granite counter tops.

The living/dining and kitchen have granite floors while the bedrooms have walnut wood floors.

There’s now a custom wall unit in the living room.

It has all the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. It has leased parking.

Will the unique mosaic baths attract buyers looking for something different?

Janet Jasmer at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1305: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1515 square feet

• Sold in December 1996 for $310,000
• Was listed in February 2010 for $599,000
• Sold in June 2010 for $520,000
• Currently listed for $639,900
• Assessments $1030 a month (they were $970 a month in Feb 2010) (includes heat, air conditioning, cable, doorman, indoor pool, exercise room, exterior maintenance, snow removal)
• Taxes are now $8251 (they were also $8251 in 2010???)
• Parking is valet/rental at $240 to $340 a month
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 15×12
• Kitchen: 12×10

This 2-bedroom in the Grand Ohio at 211 E. Ohio in Streeterville just came on the market.

The Grand Ohio was built in 1984 as apartments. It’s a full amenity building with 595 units, an indoor pool, a basketball court, tennis courts and an exercise room along with a parking garage.

It was converted into condos in 1999.

Most of the units don’t have washer/dryer in the unit, although there is a unique loft floor on the 5th floor that has them in the unit and a smattering of other units have it.

Apparently, the building now also allows you to put an all-in-one in (the washer/dryer combo).

This unit has had a “custom rehab” and now has light grey wood laminate flooring, contemporary lighting and custom closets.

The kitchen has quartz counter tops, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, glass and Carrara marble backsplash and under-cabinet lighting.

The bathrooms have Carrara marble countertops and vessel sinks.

There’s a custom shoe closet and wardrobe lighting in the master bedroom.

It has wall unit cooling, rare washer/dryer in the unit and parking is $29,000 extra.

At $453,000 (including the parking) in a prime Streeterville location near restaurants, shops and the Mag Mile, is this a deal?

Shruti Srivastava at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #618: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 2000 for $250,500
• Sold in April 2002 for $252,000
• Sold in July 2005 for $300,000
• Sold in August 2009 for $303,000
• Currently listed for $424,000 (parking is $29,000 extra)
• Assessments of $635 a month (includes doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, indoor pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $4450
• No central air- wall units only
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Living room: 17×16
• Kitchen: 9×10
• Laundry: 6×4

This penthouse 2-bedroom at 2846 N. Southport in Lakeview recently came on the market.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we last chattered about it in June 2015.

Back then, the kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities had been painted white, along with the rest of the unit, and it was being marketed as “California chic in Chicago.”

You can see our chatter here.

If you recall, this building has 6 units and is a rare mid-rise building with an elevator.

This top floor unit has 10.5′ ceilings and a full wall of built-ins in the living room.

The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a kitchen island.

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

This unit is also larger than your typical 2/2. The current listing doesn’t have the square footage, but the 2015 listing said it was 1670 square feet.

It’s also in the Burley school district.

Listed at $570,000 in 2015, it eventually sold for $545,000.

It has come on the market at just $589,900.

Have Lakeview 2/2s reach a “peak” price point?

Joshua Weinberg at Keller Williams has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3S: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1670 square feet

• Sold in April 2002 for $487,500
• Sold in January 2015 for $532,000
• Originally listed in early May 2015 for $570,000
• Sold in July 2015 for $545,000
• Assessments are now $415 a month (they were $361 a month in 2015) includes exterior maintenance and scavenger
• Taxes are now $6936 (they were $5393 in 2015)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Attached garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 16×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×11

This 2-bedroom in 400 N. LaSalle in River North recently came on the market.

The building was constructed in 2003 and has 415 units plus rental parking in the building.

It’s a full amenity building with a clubhouse, a pool and doormen.

This unit is on the 18th floor facing north and east.

The listing says it has an “all new interior” including new 5″ wide plank wood floors.

The kitchen has been reconfigured and is now open to the living room.

It now has modern gray wood washed cabinets, stainless steel appliances and quartz counter tops.

The listing says both bathrooms have also been renovated and have Porcelain tile flooring.

The unit has solid core doors, crown molding, high end base trim and skim coated ceilings.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is rental in the building.

Buyers want “new.”

Will this sell quickly?

Lance Kirshner at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1802: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1271 square feet

• Sold in June 2007 for $500,000
• Sold in June 2014 for $415,000
• Currently listed for $525,000
• Assessments of $874 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, Internet, clubhouse, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $8474
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking is rental in the building
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×12

This 4-bedroom mid-century modern ranch home at 1310 Brassie in the south suburban town of Flossmoor came on the market in March 2017.

If it seems familiar, that’s because we last chattered about it in 2012, when it was last on the market.

See our chatter and some interior pictures from the prior listing here.

If you recall, the house was designed by famed architect Bertrand Goldberg in 1957. He designed River City and Marina Towers in Chicago but only a few single family homes, this being one of them.

The house has stunning vaulted wood truss ceilings and a steel fireplace.

There are walls of thermopane glass throughout.

The kitchen is described as a chef’s kitchen with modern stainless steel appliances and white cabinets.

The house is on a large 149.5×190 lot and has a 2.5 car heated garage.

It’s also just 3 blocks from downtown Flossmoor, with its popular Flossmoor Station restaurant, and the Metra stop.

Flossmoor is a small village with a population around 9,400. It is best known for its proximity to country clubs including Flossmoor Country Clubs, as well as Olympia Fields, which has hosted major golf tournaments like the US Open.

The Metra schedule shows 42 minutes from Flossmoor to Millennium Park station during morning rush hour.

This house took several years to sell the last time it came on the market in the 2010-2012 time period, but that was also during the bust times of the market.

The house is now listed $25,000 under even the 2002 sales price, at $400,000.

Will a mid-century architecture fan snap this up?

Joe Kunkel at Baird & Warner has the listing again. See the pictures here.

1310 N. Brassie: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2.5 car garage, 2784 square feet

• Sold in July 2002 for $445,000
• Originally listed in August 2007 for $635,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in June 2010 for $485,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in January 2012 for $435,000
• Sold in March 2012 for $420,000 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in March 2017 for $425,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $400,000
• Listing says 2016 taxes were $13,936 (they were $12,383 in 2012 and $11,786 in 2010)
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×12
• Bedroom #2: 15×10
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Bedroom #4: 11×10

This 3-bedroom townhouse in the Oak Club at 123 W. Oak in the Gold Coast came on the market in March 2017.

The Oak Club was built in 1995 and has 52 townhouses with an underground parking garage.

Some face the street and some face the inner courtyard.

This townhouse faces the street and has a private entrance.

The listing says it has a new gourmet designed open kitchen with Poggenpohl cabinets, granite counter tops and luxury appliances including a Subzero refrigerator, Miele dishwasher and a Wolf oven.

The master suite is on the second floor, has a walk-in closet and a master bath with double sinks.

According to the listing, all the full baths have been “completely redone.”

The family room is also on the second floor.

The other two bedrooms are on the third floor.

The listing also says there’s a new rooftop deck (but there are no pictures of it in the listing.)

There’s an interesting 2-car garage, with each car having its own private stall with a 6×6 private storage unit in between them. You get the security of the shared underground garage with the privacy of your own garage space so you never have to park next to another car.

The Oak Club has always been considered a luxury townhouse development.

The neighborhood used to be a bit more down on its luck but has grown around this development and is now considered prime Gold Coast.

3-bedroom units, either condos or townhouses, have been hot in 2016 and 2017.

This townhouse was listed in March and has been reduced $24,010 to $1,374,990.

Does Oak Club still have the prestige to command this price?

Chaz Walters at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit C: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3200 square feet, 2 car parking

• Sold in October 1996 for $575,000
• Sold in June 2006 for $1,017,000
• Originally listed in March 2017 for $1,399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1,374,900
• Assessments of $848 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $18,560
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer
• 2-car separate stalls garage included (see pictures)
• Bedroom #1: 21×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×11 (third floor)
• Storage: 6×6 (in garage)
• Family room: 18×20 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom duplex at 820 W. George in Lakeview first came on the market in May 2017.

Built in 1993, it is a rare first floor duplex up as this style of construction isn’t built anymore (they are almost always duplex downs.)

The living room, dining room, kitchen and family room are on the main floor along with a half bath.

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

All three bedrooms and the two full baths are on the second floor, along with the laundry room.

The master-suite has a walk-in closet and it’s own bath with double vanity.

It has a private 600 square foot garage roof as well as 1-car garage parking.

The unit also has central air.

It originally came on the market for $750,000 in May 2017 and then the price was actually RAISED after one week on the market to $779,000.

But after that, it was reduced numerous times and was even listed for rent for $3950 a month at one point.

It is now listed for $599,900, or $25,100 under the 2006 selling price of $625,000.

Three bedroom duplexes have been a hot commodity. This one has the bedrooms well above ground, instead of in the basement where they normally are located.

Is this a deal?

Matt Laricy at Americorp has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2200 square feet, duplex up

• Sold in July 1993 for $325,000
• Sold in May 1999 for $440,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $625,000
• Sold in March 2011 for $505,000
• Originally listed in May 2017 for $750,000
• Price raised after a week to $779,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Was listed for rent from 8/31 to 9/13 for $3950 a month
• Currently listed for $599,900
• Assessments of $300 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,817
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 34×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×10 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 8×6 (second floor)
• Family room: 18×16 (main floor)

This 1-bedroom loft in the Donohue Building at 711 S. Dearborn in Printers Row just came on the market.

The Donohue Building is one of the original loft conversions in this neighborhood and is considered one of the top loft buildings in the city.

It has a timber and a concrete side. This loft is in the timber side.

The loft has 11 foot ceilings with exposed timber beams and exposed brick walls along with large, west facing industrial windows.

It has the original hardwood maple floors, which the listing says have been refinished.

The kitchen was renovated in 2016 by the prior owner. It has dark Thomasville solid hardwood stained maple soft close cabinets, quartz counter tops and LG and Kitchenmaid stainless steel appliances.

The listing says there is all new plumbing, wiring and a hot water heater.

There’s no central air, only window cooling units, but there is washer/dryer in the unit.

Parking is available to buy or rent in the building.

This is the 4th time this unit has been on the market in the last 5 years.

Is it hard to live in a loft for the long term?

Mary Gamber at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #406: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 900 square feet (the 2016 listing said it was 875 square feet)

• Sold in August 1989 for $87,000
• Sold in July 1997 for $112,000
• Sold in February 1999 for $117,500
• Sold in April 2012 for $175,500
• Sold in July 2015 for $177,000
• Sold in November 2016 for $263,000
• Currently listed for $275,000
• Assessments of $528 a month (includes heat, security system, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $2939
• No central air- window units only
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking. Available to rent or buy in the neighborhood
• Bedroom: 13×12

This 3-bedroom duplex up at 1530 S. State in the South Loop recently came on the market.

At 3150 square feet, it has as much square footage as many single family homes and townhouses in the Green Zone.

The corner unit has 75 feet of floor to ceiling windows with, the listing says, protected skyline views facing north and east.

It has 10 foot ceilings, exposed duct work and 3.5″ solid maple hardwood floors that have been recently refinished.

There’s a DeGuilio kitchen with Subzero, Miele and Thermador appliances, stainless steel counter tops and a 9-foot island.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor.

The unit has a large master suite with 2 walk-in closets. The bathroom has Snaidero cabinetry with Calcutta marble counter tops.

The first floor also has a family room, a laundry room and a 20 foot north facing terrace.

It has central air and one parking space is included with the option for a second for $50,000.

Related’s large 60-acre site is just a block away. That development is expected to bring in housing, commercial buildings, restaurants and a riverwalk.

There’s also talk of it possibly being an Amazon headquarters location.

But either way, it looks likely to finally get developed over the next decade.

Should you be buying into the nearby buildings now to get in before property values explode higher?

Mary Beth Malone at @Properties has the listing. It is agent owned. See the pictures here.

Unit #1012: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3150 square feet

• Sold in July 2001 for $633,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $785,000
• Currently listed for $1.25 million (includes one parking space and second is available for $50,000)
• Assessments of $1481 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,731
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 23×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 19×11 (second floor)
• Family room: 17×14 (main level)
• Laundry: 10×5 (main level)
• Balcony: 20×6