Crib Chatter

This 1-bedroom in Lincoln Park Commons at 600 W. Drummond in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

This complex was built in 2003 and has 57 units and a parking garage.

It’s one of the rare, newer buildings in this Lincoln Park/Lakeview area that has the amenities that buyers look for including an exercise room.

The listing says this is the largest 1-bedroom floor plan in the building.

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

A hall closet has been turned into a desk space.

The living and dining space is large enough to have a dining room table.

There’s a terrace and a gas fireplace.

The unit has all the features buyers look for including central air, in-unit washer/dryer and garage parking is available for $30,000.

You can see it at the Open House on May 13 from 12 – 2 PM.

Apparently, demand is so intense that they will be reviewing offers in 4 days, on Monday at 12:00.

While bidding wars are common in some areas, like California, how many buyers in Chicago are willing to engage in a bidding war?

Alishja Ballard at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #502: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 921 square feet

• Sold in July 2003 for $344,000 (included the parking)
• Currently listed for $299,900 (plus $30,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $361 a month (includes cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $5001
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 11×14

We’ve chattered about the incredible asking prices on some condos in the red hot West Loop this year.

Now, Crain’s is reporting that a new construction penthouse condo listed at $5.6 million has gone under contract in 900 W. Washington.

It would be the most expensive condo ever sold in the neighborhood. By far.

The record purchase price for a West Loop condo is set to more than quadruple, with a buyer agreeing to pay more than $5 million for a not-yet-built penthouse on Washington Street.

The asking price is about $5.6 million for the home, which is under contract. The listing agents declined to provide any details on the buyer, whom they referred to only as “he.”

“We’re getting a younger generation, the tech crowd, in the West Loop,” said Shannon Kelly, one of two Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty agents representing the building, 900 W. Washington. Kelly and Melanie Giglio, the other listing agent, declined to say whether the buyer is part of that tech crowd. But he is paying close to the list price, Giglio said.

Of the 22 units planned for the building, five are under contract, including the penthouse, Giglio said.

Construction is scheduled to start next month, with the building ready for occupancy by summer 2018.

This year, the most expensive condo sale in the West Loop was a $1.2 million sale in the loft building at 1000 W. Washington. That condo was 2400 square feet.

That’s just $500 per square foot.

“It seems like they’re reaching for the sky,” said Colagiovanni, who’s been selling property in the West Loop since the late 1990s and lived there until a few years ago. “The West Loop isn’t Silicon Valley.”

The penthouse prices at 900 W. Washington are over $1,100 a square foot. Existing condos in the West Loop are selling in the range of $475 to $525 a square foot, up from $350 to $375 about two years ago, Colagiovanni said. For new construction at the Hayden West Loop, asking prices are below $800 a foot.

“That’s a big difference” from what the 900 W. Washington units are asking, Colagiovanni said.

The argument I keep hearing for rising West Loop and Fulton Market prices are that all those jobs, including McDonald’s, are coming there.

But prices didn’t skyrocket in the Loop when Boeing moved 500 top executives from Seattle to Chicago nor near the offices of Grubhub, after they went public.

This argument assumes that every McDonald’s employee will move from their suburban homes AND will want to live within a mile of their offices.

But if it’s not McDonald’s, what is causing the soaring prices in the West Loop?

Is it the neighborhood of choice for Millennials now? And aren’t they all renting anyway?

Who’s buying all the condos?

Someone just put a West Loop condo under contract at over $5 million [Crain’s Chicago Business, by Dennis Rodkin, May 5, 2017]

This 6-bedroom single family home at 1324 W. Webster in Lincoln Park came on the market in March 2017.

Built in 2007, it sits on a 24×120 lot on the corner of Wayne and Webster and has a 2-car garage plus 2-car driveway parking.

It has upgraded millwork and custom wall finishing.

The listing calls the kitchen “gourmet” with white cabinets, stone counter tops and Viking and Miele appliances.

The master suite is on the second floor and has dual walk-in closets and a luxury bathroom.

Two other bedrooms are also on the second floor, with one on the third floor and two on the lower level.

The third floor also has an office and a workout room with skylights.

There’s a recreation room on the lower level as well.

If you’re concerned about walking up and down the stairs with the laundry, don’t worry, there’s an elevator and there’s also two sets of washers and dryers.

Given the corner lot, a deck was put above the garage.

This house last sold in the middle of the Great Recession, in August 2009, for $1.65 million.

That was a buying opportunity for many.

It has come back on the market for 81% more, at $2.999 million.

Is a $3 million Lincoln Park home the new normal?

Brant Booker at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

1324 W. Webster: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 5414 square feet

• New construction in 2007
• Sold in August 2009 for $1.65 million
• Listed in March 2017 for $2.999 million
• Taxes of $29,809
• Central Air
• 2 sets of washer/dryers
• 2 car garage plus 2 car parking on the driveway
• Bedroom #1: 22×24 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×18 (lower level)
• Bedroom #5: 15×18 (lower level)
• Bedroom #6: 10×16 (third floor)
• Office: 10×16 (third floor)
• Exercise room: 26×19 (third floor)
• Recreation room: 22×24 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom on the 58th floor in the John Hancock at 175 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast came on the market in December 2016.

It’s 911 square feet and has south city views.

The listing says it has been “completely rehabbed” but it also says that it was done in 2012 and in the interim, there was a sale.

Since the 2014 sale, it appears there are new white (tile?) floors (can’t tell exactly what the floors are made of) but it’s the same kitchen.

There’s a built-in desk with white cabinets which matches the modern white cabinets in the kitchen.

The kitchen also has stainless steel appliances and a backsplash.

The sky terrace off the bedroom has been converted into a sitting area.

It has wall unit heating/cooling. Parking is leased in the building and there is coin laundry (on every floor, I believe.)

The listing says this unit would make a perfect pied-a-terre.

Originally listed in December for $435,000, that was a gain of 24% over the 2014 sales price.

The Hancock has been an up and down investment for owners over the years.

Are we entering into a new “up” cycle in the building?

Lisa McGuirt at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5819: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 911 square feet

• Sold in June 2002 for $260,000
• Sold in November 2007 for $394,000
• Sold in December 2014 for $350,000 (had the renovated kitchen)
• Originally listed in December 2016 for $435,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $405,000
• Assessments of $786 a month (includes doorman, cable, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $5501
• Parking is leased in the building
• No central air- but wall units
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom: 15×10

This 2-bedroom in the vintage mid-rise building at 164 W. Huron at the corner of Huron and Wells in River North just came on the market.

But if it looks familiar, that’s because it sold as recently as August of last year.

A year ago, however, it was simply a large 1325 square foot 1-bedroom with 1.5 baths.

Now, it has come back on the market as a 1325 square foot 2 bedroom with 2 baths.

What happened?

Here are the rooms in the 2016 listing:

• Bedroom: 25×13
• Living room: 42×16
• Dining room: 10×10
• Kitchen: 12×8

Here are the current rooms:

• Bedroom #1: 25×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Living room: 42×16
• Dining room: 10×10
• Kitchen: 12×8

But if you look at the pictures, you can see that the second bedroom has been carved out of the living room. So the living room size is most likely incorrect.

It also looks like the second full bath was carved out of the older half bath and washer/dryer closet. A stand-up shower was added there.

The unit has exposed brick walls which have been painted white. You can see the brick in last year’s listing.

See that listing here.

The kitchen and other bath are unchanged from a year ago.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and a wood breakfast bar.

The unit has south and west exposures.

It has the other features buyers look for including central air and there is an exterior parking spot behind the building.

This vintage building, with 14 units, used to be in no-man’s land but in the last several years a handful of new high rises have been built within one to two blocks. You can see the pictures of two of them in the picture above.

This unit has come back on the market just 9 months after its last sale for $109,000, or 30%, more.

Will they get the premium for the second bedroom and the shower?

Kevin Binkley at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or you can see it at the Open House today, Friday May 5 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM or on Saturday, May 6, from 1-3 PM.

Unit #2A: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1325 square feet

• Sold in November 2000 for $225,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $289,500
• Sold in February 2006 for $350,000
• Sold in September 2012 for $255,000
• Sold in August 2016 for $360,000
• Currently listed for $469,000
• Assessments of $322 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $5522
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking space behind the building included

This 1-bedroom in 340 W. Diversey in East Lakeview came on the market in March 2017.

Built in 1957, these two buildings were designed by Mies Van der Rohe.

They have 330 units with an exercise room and a pool.

There is leased parking in the building for $200 to $215 a month.

This unit is a south and west corner unit with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Lincoln Park.

The listing says it’s a “complete gut renovation.”

It has built-ins, including bookcases, cabinets and a wine fridge. There’s track lighting in the living room and what look to be all new doors.

The kitchen appears to have custom cabinets in the farmhouse style with stone counter tops and a subway tile backsplash.

There are built-ins in the bedroom.

The unit has central air but no in-unit washer/dryer.

The listing says this unit would make a perfect pied a terre.

It came on the market in March for $415,000 and has been reduced $16,000 to $399,000.

At just 850 square feet, that’s $469 a square foot for East Lakeview.

Is this neighborhood hot enough to command that price point?

Sophia Worden at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1415: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 850 square feet

• Sold in November 1991 for $93,500
• Sold in June 1993 for $102,500
• Sold in June 1998 for $143,000
• Sold in July 2000 for $189,000
• Sold in November 2002 for $240,000
• Sold in September 2006 for $280,000
• Sold in September 2010 for $282,000
• Originally listed in March 2017 for $415,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $399,000
• Assessments of $731 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable/Internet, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $4299
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Leased parking for $200 to $215 a month
• Bedroom: 15×12
• Living room: 23×20
• Kitchen: 10×8

This 2-bedroom loft in 1800 W. Grace in North Center recently came on the market.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we last chattered about it just 2 years ago, in 2015, when it was last on the market.

Back then, it was priced at nearly $1 million and would have been among the most expensive lofts to sell in North Center.

But, apparently, the neighborhood couldn’t support that high of a price and it ended up selling for $815,000.

You can see our chatter here.

This time around, the seller isn’t starting with the million dollar price point.

If you recall, this building was converted into lofts in 2008.

This loft has exposed brick, floor to ceiling windows and 18 foot concrete ceilings.

This unit has an expansive 60×5 terrace.

The living/dining room has white porcelain tiled floors.

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

The bathrooms also have modern finishes.

The loft has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a rare 2-car parking.

The listing says that $15,000 in electronic window shades were added in 2017.

It has come back on the market for only $34,000 more than the 2015 price at $849,000.

Will this sell quickly this time around?

Nancy Tassone at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing this time. You can see the pictures here.

You can also see it at the Open House on Sunday, May 7 from 11 am to 1 pm.

Unit #508: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in May 2010 for $706,000 (included 2-car parking)
• Was listed in May 2015 at $995,000 (included 2-car parking)
• Sold in July 2015 for $815,000 (included the 2-car parking)
• Currently listed at $849,000 (includes the 2-car parking)
• Assessments now $667 a month (they were $619 a month in 2015)(includes cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes now $10,664 (they were $11,608 in 2015)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 18×11
• Terrace: 60×5

This 1-bedroom in the Donohue Annex at 727 S. Dearborn in Printers Row just came on the market.

The Donohue Annex is the smaller building that is connected to the Donohue at 711 S. Dearborn. They have the same association.

But the Annex has the original elevator and it is made up of concrete lofts, not timber which are in the Donohue.

For those concerned about noise issues, this is a critical difference.

This loft is a 1550 square foot 1-bedroom with large industrial windows that face east.

It has 13 foot concrete ceilings and exposed brick which appears to have been painted white.

The bedroom has sliding doors and a large organized custom walk-in closet.

The listing calls the kitchen a “chef’s kitchen” with limestone countertops, Subzero, Gaggenau, Bosch and Miele appliances.

It has a walk-in natural stone shower.

The unit has in-unit washer/dryer but no central air (there is a wall unit) and there’s no parking with the building.

For loft fans, the Donohue is the holy grail and the most like New York style lofts because of the wide open space, brick, huge windows and mostly original wood floors.

This loft sold just 15 months ago for $375,000 and has come back on the market for $399,000.

The kitchen and the baths are same as last year’s sale.

Will this loft get the premium in this hot market?

Brian Loomis at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #611: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1550 square feet

• Sold in August 1994 for $165,000
• Sold in April 2004 for $255,000
• Sold in February 2008 for $400,000
• Sold in February 2016 for $375,000
• Currently listed for $399,000
• Assessments of $860 a month (includes heat, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $4866
• No central air- wall unit
• In-unit washer/dryer
• No parking with this building
• Bedroom: 17×13

This vintage top floor 3-bedroom at 448 W. Wrightwood in East Lincoln Park just came on the market.

For you long time readers, it may look familiar. We chattered about it several times in 2012, the last time it was on the market.

You can see our chatter here.

It took 6 months to sell last time, and had price reductions, but that was the bottom of the market.

And this is (maybe?) the top.

It has the same features as before with a wood burning fireplace in the living room and a coffered ceiling in the dining room which is also used as a den with built-in bookcases and entertainment center.

There are two outdoor spaces: a small balcony off the front of the building and a large back deck.

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

The master bedroom and the second bedroom share a bathroom.

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

The unit is in a prime location if you want to be in East Lincoln Park as it’s just a half a block to the Park.

It has come on the market just $80,000 more than the 2012 selling price, at $720,000.

At 2200 square feet, is this listed at this price to elicit a bidding war?

In 2012, a poster named TB said this:

“So, 3 years from now, when they sell, it’ll go for $690k? Wash, rinse, repeat every 3 years! I want in!!”

And will it be under contract as of today? (There are already several comments from Redfin agents who toured it this weekend with clients.)

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3E: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2200 square feet

• Sold in December 1994 for $332,000
• Sold in August 2000 for $570,000
• Sold in November 2006 for $558,000
• Sold in April 2009 for $590,000
• Was listed in June 2012 for $699,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2012 at $675,000
• Sold in November 2012 for $640,000
• Currently listed for $720,000
• Assessments of $375 a month (they were also $375 a month in July 2012) (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9339
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• 1-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×14
• Bedroom #3: 11×9
• Dining room/family room: 23×14
• Laundry room: 4×4

This ground floor 1-bedroom at 433 W. Briar in East Lakeview just came on the market.

Built in 1929, this vintage high rise was converted to condos in 2007 just as the bust was hitting.

This unit has crown molding and hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has Jenn Air and Bosch appliances with wood cabinets and granite counter tops.

The half bath is marble.

It has an electric fireplace in the living room.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. However, there’s no parking with the building.

At just $200,000, is this a deal compared to renting for this popular neighborhood?

Maura Vrabel at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or you can see it on Saturday, April 29 from 12-2 PM.

Unit #1C: 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 885 square feet

• Sold in July 2007 for $250,000
• Sold in February 2010 for $257,500
• Lis pendens filed in October 2013
• Bank owned in 2015
• Sold in September 2015 for $176,500
• Currently listed for $200,000
• Unit being sold “as-is”
• Assessments of $371 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $3285
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Electric fireplace
• Bedroom: 13×17