Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom new construction condo at 744 W. Buckingham in Lakeview came on the market in March 2017.

It’s a 4-unit all-brick building with garage parking that was built by Ronan Builders.

The lot is 32.5 x 133.

This is a top floor unit with its own 69×28 private roof deck.

The unit has all the features and finishes you would expect out of 2017 new construction.

There is a custom trim/molding package.

The kitchen has custom cabinets, quartz or granite counter tops, and luxury appliances by Subzero, Bosch, Wolf and Kohler.

The bathrooms have Grohe, Kohler and Ann Sacks Tile Work.

Originally priced last March at $1,099,000, it has been reduced $94,000 to $1.05 million.

Is $1 million the new reality for new construction penthouse condos in East Lakeview?

Felicia Marinescu at Mod Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1900 square feet

• New construction
• Originally listed in March 2017 for $1,099,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.05 million
• Assessments of $299 a month (includes electric, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, and snow removal)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Private deck: 69×28

This 1-bedroom in 100 E. Huron in River North just came on the market.

The building was constructed in 1991 and has commercial space on the first 10 floors as well as a rental parking garage.

The listing says this unit was “just renovated.”

It has custom oak floors throughout and crown molding.

The kitchen is “completely new” and has been opened to the living and dining rooms.

It has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white counter tops along with a breakfast bar.

There are French doors to the master bedroom where it also has a master bath that has also been renovated.

The unit also has a half bath.

It has upscale appliances by Bosch, FisherPaykel and Toto.

But the real selling point of this unit is the private 385 square foot west-facing terrace.

It is landscaped and has what looks to be wood decking, which even the building’s own terrace doesn’t have. It has plain concrete.

I believe there are only 2 terraces on this level and a few on one of the upper levels so outdoor space is rare in this building.

This unit has sold since 1993, which means it’s been 24 years since you could live here.

Will this be under contract today?

Helen Jaeger Roth at BerkshireHathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1107: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1045 square feet

• Sold in January 1991 for $186,000
• Sold in November 1993 for $258,000
• Currently listed for $615,000
• Assessments of $673 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, exercise room, pool, scavenger, cable)
• Taxes of $6055
• Parking is rental in the building
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 12×17
• Terrace: 10×38

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 3900 N. Fremont in Lakeview came on the market in June 2017.

This complex was built in 1994 and has 21 units and garage parking.

This townhouse is 3 stories but just 1508 square feet.

The listing says it has gotten a new roof, carpeting and paint in 2017.

It also says there were new windows and doors installed in 2014.

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

Two of the bedrooms are on the second floor and the third, along with a den, are on the third floor.

There’s a 15×11 front terrace as well as an ADT security system.

It’s just a block from the Sheridan Red Line stop and 3 blocks north of Wrigley Field.

Three bedroom townhouses at this price in Lakeview are rare.

Why isn’t this selling?

Christine Welch at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #I: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1508 square feet

• Sold in April 1994 for $205,500
• Sold in July 1997 for $257,000
• Sold in September 2000 for $330,000
• Sold in March 2007 for $435,000
• Originally listed in June 2017 for $450,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $445,000 (includes parking)
• Assessments of $150 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $7885
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×9 (second floor)
• Den: 15×8 (third floor)
• Deck: 15×11

This 4-bedroom townhouse at 3631 N. Pine Grove in East Lakeview just came on the market.

This was built in 1978 and has 6 townhomes along with secure gated outdoor parking.

The listing says it has been renovated with oak floors, recessed lighting, solid core wood doors, wood baseboards and 2 HVAC units.

This townhouse has the floor plan buyers look for with townhouses.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms are on the second level, including the master bedroom which has its own bathroom with limestone counter tops and a marble shower.

The second and third bedrooms have skylights, instead of windows, and there is a second bathroom on the floor with a marble shower with a rain shower head.

The fourth bedroom is in the lower level where there is also a full bathroom.

There is a gas fireplace separating the living and dining rooms on the first floor and also in the lower level separating the family room and the fourth bedroom.

The lower level also has storage and a laundry room.

The kitchen has what looks like gray and black cabinets and luxury appliances including a Subzero refrigerator, a Viking stove and a Bosch dishwasher.

There’s also a half bath on the first floor, which means that there is a bathroom on every floor. That’s not common in most townhouse layouts.

The townhouse also has an outdoor patio in the front of the house measuring about 10×7.

Is this a better deal for the square footage and location, about a block from the lake, than a new construction duplex down?

Carole Cousin at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #D: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2700 square feet

• Sold in September 2002 for $429,000
• Currently listed for $749,900
• Assessments of $268 a month (includes scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7562
• Central Air
• Secure gated parking included
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×12 (lower level)
• Family room: 19×11 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 12×11 (lower level)
• Patio: 10×7

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