This week, all the posts will be about Lincoln Park because . . . why not?
The real estate is hopping in the most prestigious neighborhood in the city, including a LOT of new construction, mostly of multi-million dollar single family homes.
Is Lincoln Park simply becoming the playground of the mega-rich?
Can middle class buyers even live there anymore?
Will it lose its vintage charm as the old homes are torn down for the new, limestone homes?
This 2-bedroom at 1437 W. Diversey in Lincoln Park came on the market in June 2015.
The building was constructed in 2009 and has 5 units.
This unit has modern finishes including wide plank floors.
The kitchen has modern, European-style espresso cabinets and Jenn Air stainless steel appliances.
There are decks on the front and back of the unit along with motorized blinds.
It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking is included.
Originally listed for $535,000, it has reduced $60,000 to $475,000.
Buyers like “new” and this building is less than 10 years old.
Why isn’t this selling in a low-inventory market?
Mark Miles at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #2E: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed
This 2-bedroom at 2045 W. Concord in Bucktown just came on the market.
It’s a top floor unit with north and west views and 10 foot ceilings. Yes, that’s the El running right next to the building.
The listing says it has been “updated from top to bottom.”
It now has new hand scrapped grey oak floors (there’s those light wood floors again. Bye-bye walnut and espresso).
The kitchen has new white Italian cabinets with new quartz counter tops and a Thassos marble back splash. There’s also a new wine cooler.
The master bathroom has been upgraded with quartz counter tops.
It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and heated garage parking is included.
This unit actually sold just 17 months ago for $322,000. It was being rented. You can see those pictures here.
It has come back on after the renovation listed for $399,000.
Buyers want “new.” Will they pay the premium?
D. Waveland Kendt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #601: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed
We’re in the winter market now where inventory and new listings normally drop.
But this year, with already record low inventory, it’s worse than ever. It’s already difficult to find interesting properties to post on. It will only get worse as the holidays approach.
Therefore, Crib Chatter is returning to 1 post a day until 2016 when the inventory improves.
Thanks,
Sabrina
This 2-bedroom in the Rockefeller-McCormick Building at 6334 N. Sheridan in Edgewater came on the market in September 2015.
Built in 1924, the building was part of the building boom along Lake Michigan that extended from the South Shore to the far north neighborhoods of Edgewater and Rogers Park. It has 42 units, many with lake views.
This unit has east and west exposures with some lake views.
At 1700 square feet, it has the features of vintage apartments of this era including a foyer, a separate dining room and a wood burning fireplace.
The kitchen has wood cabinets and some stainless steel appliances.
While it doesn’t have central air, but window units, it does have in-unit washer/dryer which is rare for a building of this time period.
There’s no parking with the unit.
At just $269,000, is this affordable living along the lake in Chicago?
Tanya Hamilton at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #6E: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1700 square feet
The building boom of the 1920s extended from the South Shore neighborhood to the far north neighborhoods of Edgewater and Rogers Park. 6334 N. Sheridan, also known as the Rockefeller-McCormick Building, was built during that decade of the large luxury apartment buildings.
8 units in 3033 N. Sheridan in East Lakeview recently came on the market on the same day from the same seller.
All of the units were 1-bedrooms.
Each listing says “$5000 closing credit on all contracts before Dec 31, 2015.”
It looks like the seller is trying to sell 11 total units, however, including at least one 2/2.
Some units have been on and off the market over the past year.
Take Unit #403, for example.
It looks like it has been completely remodeled with new hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, a tile backsplash and porcelain tile in the bathroom.
It has an in-unit laundry hook-up, wall air conditioning and parking is available in the building for $35,000.
With inventories near all time lows, is now the perfect time to be listing a dozen condos for sale in a prime neighborhood?
Also isn’t buying one of these units much cheaper than renting in this location?
Tim Knipper at Conlon has all the listings. See the pictures here.
There’s also going to be a mass open house of all 11 units in the building this Sunday, Nov 8 from 12 to 2 PM.
Unit #403: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed
This 3-bedroom top floor unit at 30 W. Erie in River North came on the market in January 2015.
This building was constructed in 2008 and has just 2-units per floor and only 20 total units.
It was designed to be more “family” oriented with 3-bedroom units.
This unit has north, south and east views and a private terrace off the living room.
The eat-in kitchen has luxury appliances like Subzero and Wolf along with wood cabinets and a kitchen island.
There is a master suite and a den.
It has central air, a laundry room and 2-car parking is included.
Although small, the building still has a doorman and exercise facilities.
Originally listed in January 2015, it has since been reduced once since August.
With 3-bedroom units in demand from families, why isn’t this one selling?
Sophia Worden at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1402: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2300 square feet
This 2-bedroom on the 28th floor in Lake Point Tower at 505 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville just came on the market.
Lake Point Tower was built in 1968 and has over 750 units.
Some of the units in the building are still in their original condition.
This property, however, has been completely transformed. It last sold in 2013 as a foreclosure but looks nothing like it did then.
It now has Rift Sawn oak floors throughout.
The kitchen has been remodeled with White Tundra granite countertops, a 13 foot kitchen island and luxury appliances including Thermador, Subzero, and a Bosch dishwasher.
There are some unique touches such as wine storage, remote blinds and a custom built-in entertainment center.
The master suite has a marble and granite bathroom.
The only room that looks intact from the 2013 sale is the guest bathroom with its white carrara marble. You can see the 2013 listing pictures here.
It’s a corner unit with views all directions, including the Lake and the city.
It has a washer/dryer in the unit, wall air conditioning and parking is available for lease in the building.
Lake Point Tower is a full service building with a doorman, pool and exercise facilities and even its own private park.
Will this sell within the week?
Jean Ward at @Properties has the listing. See the current pictures here.
Unit #2811: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1430 square feet
This 3-bedroom townhouse in the Patterson-McCormick Mansion at 1500 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in February 2015.
Built in 1891, the mansion was converted into 9 units in 2001.
This unit is called a “townhouse” in the listing because it covers four floors and has an attached garage.
The listing also says it is in the David Adler section of the house and has crown molding tray ceilings.
There’s also an elevator if you don’t want to take the stairs.
The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.
It has the preferred townhouse layout, with all three bedrooms on the same floor, including the master suite.
There is a lower level family room and exercise room.
It has central air and first floor washer/dryer.
This unit has been reduced $129,000 since February.
Townhouses with as much square footage as many single family homes are rare in the Gold Coast. Why isn’t this one selling?
Chaz Walters at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2735 square feet, 1 car attached garage
This 4-bedroom townhouse at 419 W. Grand in River North came on the market in September 2015.
There are 17 townhouses in the complex which is part of the bigger loft building association just to its south called The Sexton.
The townhouse has a 2-car attached garage along with heated bamboo floors.
The listing describes the kitchen as “artist designed.” It has stainless steel appliances.
There’s a rooftop deck and a private outdoor terrace.
But the one thing that makes this townhouse very unique is that it has 4-bedrooms.
4-bedroom townhouses are rare, in general, but nearly a unicorn in hot River North, where condos and lofts rule.
Two of the bedrooms are on the second floor with two more on the third floor (yes- one of them is 9×10).
Don’t like the decor? The listing says “seller will credit buyer $30,000 for remodeling.”
At 3600 square feet, is this a good single family home alternative?
Darya Lisserman at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit B: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3600 square feet, 2 car garage