Crib Chatter

This large corner 1-bedroom at the Park Alexandria at 125 S. Jefferson in the West Loop came on the market in August 2015.

It has cherry hardwood floors throughout the main living areas.

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

There’s washer/dryer in the unit, central air and parking is available for $35,000 extra.

With south and west exposures, this unit has views for miles across the city.

Are views the most important criteria for downtown buyers?

Colin Hebson at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1406: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1051 square feet

• Sold in December 2003 for $268,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $268,000
• Originally listed in August 2015 for $299,999 (parking at $35,000 extra)
• Currently still listed at $299,999 (with parking at $35,000 extra)
• Assessments of $540 a month (includes heat, a/c, water, parking, doorman, cable, exercise room, scavenger, snow removal, exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $3824
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 12×14

This 1-bedroom in River Bend at 333 N. Canal in River West came on the market in July 2015.

It has floor-to-ceiling 12 foot windows that face down the Chicago River and have east views of Wolf Point.

The unit has a loft-like feel with concrete ceilings.

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

There is stone tile in the bathroom.

Garage valet parking is included and it has washer/dryer in the unit.

If you’re an investor, the building allows 12-month leases.

Most of the units in this building have River facing balconies but this unit does not.

Is the lack of outdoor space a deal killer for buyers in Chicago?

Do buyers HAVE to have a balcony?

Laura Meier at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1406: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1047 square feet

• Sold in January 2002 for $337,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $295,000
• Sold in May 2013 for $320,000
• Sold in December 2014 for $325,000
• Originally listed in July 2015 for $390,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $354,000 (includes valet garage parking)
• Assessments of $680 a month (includes a/c, water, gas, parking, doorman, cable, exercise room, scavenger, lawn maintenance, snow removal, exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $5676
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 12×14

We’ve chattered several times about the 5-bedroom single family home at 336 W. Wisconsin in Lincoln Park, also known as “the Fugitive House.”

See our November 2012 chatter here and our May 2013 chatter here.

Back in May 2013, when the market was red hot, some of you thought the house would finally sell.

But this property is still on the market 2 years later.

The listing still says “Nothing else compares!”

If you recall, it was built in 1981 on a larger than average Chicago lot of 32×126.

It has a lot of features you don’t normally find in single family homes including a sauna, an elevator and an indoor pool.

It also has a 3 car garage.

The kitchen has white cabinets and a stainless steel refrigerator.

There are 3 master suites.

The Fugitive movie was released in 1993. Given that it’s 22 years old, does it even warrant a mention in a real estate listing anymore?

After years on the market, will this house finally find a buyer in 2015?

Margaret Wilczek at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff still has the listing. See the pictures again here.

336 W. Wisconsin: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 6129 square feet, 3 car garage

• Sold sometime before 1994 (?)
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $3.95 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in March 2012 at $3.699 million
• Under contract briefly in August 2012
• Was listed in May 2013 at $3.699 million
• Was still listed in 2014
• Was re-listed in May 2015 for $3.65 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $3.5 million
• Taxes now $54,188 (they were $48,774 in May 2013)
• Central Air
• Sauna
• Elevator
• Indoor pool
• Bedroom #1: 15×19 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×22 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 14×18 (fourth floor)
• Family room: 17×20 (main floor)

This 12-bedroom Gold Coast mansion at 1547 N. Dearborn Parkway was originally listed in May 2013.

The Romanesque-style house was built in 1891 by architect August Fielder and is on an oversized 82.5×133 lot.

It has an 8-car garage and central air.

The house has some of the original stained glass, moldings and carvings.

It has 9 wood burning fireplaces, a library and a sunroom.

The kitchen has dark wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The house has lawn sprinklers and a power generator.

Originally listed in June 2013 for $18.75 million, it has been reduced $7.75 million to $11 million.

At 18,590 square feet, it is one of the bigger homes for sale in the neighborhood.

Who is the buyer for a house of this size?

How many more years will it take to sell it?

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

1547 N. Dearborn Parkway: 12 bedrooms, 12.5 baths, 18,590 square feet

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price but Zillow says it sold in 1995 for $5 million
• Originally listed in June 2013 for $18.75 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $11 million (includes 8-car garage)
• Taxes of $142,242
• Central Air
• Law sprinklers
• Power generator
• 9 wood burning fireplaces
• Library
• Sunroom
• Master bedroom: 21×18 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom corner penthouse loft at Churchill Row at 2111 W. Churchill in Bucktown came on the market in July 2015.

Churchill Row was converted into 39 condominiums in the early 2000s. It was a former cabinet factory.

This loft has exposed brick, timber ceilings and timber beams and 19 foot vaulted ceilings on the main level along with large industrial windows.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are on the second floor.

It has two outdoor spaces, including a south facing terrace and a private rooftop deck with city views.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

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

The building is also directly on the highly popular new public park, the 606.

At 2000 square feet, this loft has more square footage than many single family homes in the neighborhood.

Originally listed for sale by owner last July, it has been reduced $40,000 to $725,000.

Now that it’s open, is being right on the 606, instead of simply being “close” to it, a selling point for a property?

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

Unit #307: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2000 square feet, corner penthouse

• Sold in November 2002 for $498,500
• Originally listed for sale by owner in July 2015 for $765,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $725,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $525 a month (includes parking, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care and scavenger)
• Taxes of $9013
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 9×13 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom at 30 W. Oak in the Gold Coast came on the market in August 2015.

It went under contract almost immediately but then came back on the market.

30 W. Oak is one of the most popular buildings in the Gold Coast with units re-selling quickly and at high price points. Most of the units are large and face south.

But this unit is one of the rare smaller units.

At 1500 square feet, it faces north and west.

It has 11 foot ceilings and a Poggenpohl kitchen with Meile, Thermador and Subzero appliances.

The unit has honed Bianca White marble floors in the living/dining/kitchen area and espresso hardwood floors in the master bedroom.

The listing indicates the second bedroom is more like a den/office.

The unit, however, has one unique feature: the master bedroom’s walk-in closet is bigger than the second bedroom/den.

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

The listing says “it’s a lifestyle” about the building.

Why hasn’t this sold yet?

Lisa Allegra at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and the floor plan here.

Unit #5E: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in October 2006 for $722,500
• Originally listed in August 2015 for $750,000
• Was under contract in August
• Currently still listed at $750,000
• Assessments of $829 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, internet, exterior maintenance, scavenger, and snow removal)
• Taxes of $11866
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 8×11
• Laundry room: 5×5
• Walk-in closet: 15×12

This 2-bedroom penthouse at 1 E. Scott in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

The corner unit faces south with views of most of the city skyline, including the John Hancock.

Built in 1969, the building has 240 units, a doorman, a rooftop pool with city and lake views and an attached parking garage with rental parking.

The unit has floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors throughout, central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

There’s a master suite with a walk-in closet.

The second bedroom has a custom built-in office and desk.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, black appliances and granite counter tops as well as a large kitchen island that seats 3.

At just $389,900, is this a good entry level apartment to live the Gold Coast life style?

Kaylin Goldstein at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2304-05: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 1993 for $70,000
• Sold in March 2004 for $360,000
• Sold in March 2009 for $374,500
• Currently listed at $389,900
• Parking is leased at $400 a month in the building
• Assessments of $1041 a month (includes heat, a/c, water, gas, cable, doorman, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, roof top pool)
• Taxes of $5308
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 18×24
• Bedroom #2: 11×15

This 4-bedroom at 2912 N. Commonwealth in East Lakeview recently came on the market.

Built in 1929, this brick and limestone building has just 26 units and a parking garage.

At 3200 square feet, this unit lives like a single family home but in the sky.

It has a library, a separate dining room and foyer.

The master suite has a granite bathroom.

Some of its vintage character remains in its wood burning fireplace, built-in bookcases, crown molding and ceiling medallions.

The listing says there is a chef’s kitchen with wood cabinets and Viking appliances.

It has the features buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit, space pak, and a 1-car attached garage.

It is also in the Nettelhorst school district.

Is this unit the ideal high rise family home?

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

Unit #12E: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3200 square feet

• Sold in May 2006 for $840,000
• Currently listed for $1.55 million
• Assessments of $2027 a month (includes heat, water, parking, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9259
• No central air- but it has space pak
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Attached parking included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 18×16
• Bedroom #2: 18×13
• Bedroom #3: 17×12
• Bedroom #4: 14×9
• Library: 17×10
• Foyer: 16×8

This 2-bedroom at 2124 N. Hudson in East Lincoln Park came on the market in September 2015.

Built in 1932, the building has 15 units which were updated and sold as condominiums at the height of the boom.

This unit has exposed brick and hardwoods throughout.

The kitchen has 42 inch maple cabinets, granite counter tops and black appliances.

It has the bells and whistles buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and the coveted parking spot.

Even though this is unit #404 (which normally would mean the 4th floor) the listing says: “Please note this is not an elevator building but really a 3rd floor.”

The unit has been reduced $10,000 since it was listed in September.

Only 3 blocks from Lincoln Park, is this a deal for the neighborhood?

Debbie Maue at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #404: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• There’s no prior sales price in the public record
• Originally listed in September 2015 for $359,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $349,900 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $307 a month (includes exterior maintenance, snow removal, scavenger)
• Taxes of $5149
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Living room: 17×14
• Kitchen: 10×7

This 3-bedroom duplex up in 20 E. Cedar in the Gold Coast recently came on the market.

Built in 1928 as apartments, the Gothic style building has 48 units. Most of them are duplexes.

This unit on the 10th floor has South and East views.

The living room has a 23 foot coved cathedral ceiling with a wall of windows and a fireplace.

There’s a formal dining room, kitchen and family room also on the main level.

The kitchen has white cabinets and luxury stainless steel appliances.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second level.

The unit has washer/dryer in the unit and space pak air conditioning.

The listing says it has “2 garage spaces included” but the building has no parking so it looks like they are in a building down the street (possibly 33 E. Cedar).

Do you dream of living in this Gothic masterpiece whenever you’re on Rush Street in the Gold Coast?

Kieran Conlon at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #10A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2900 square feet

• Sold in September 2003 for $1.2 million (looks like parking is at 33 E. Cedar)
• Currently listed at $1.65 million (includes 2 parking spaces)
• Assessments of $1955 a month (includes heat, water, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, 24-hour doorman, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $15952
• Space pak central air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×11 (second floor)
• Family room: 20×14 (main floor)