Crib Chatter

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom townhouse at 820 N. Dearborn in the Gold Coast several times over the years.

It had previously been bank owned but finally sold again in 2012.

We last chattered about it in April, when it came back on the market as a 3-bedroom asking $180,000 more.

See our April 2015 chatter here.

If you recall, this townhouse complex has 4 units. This unit has 1 indoor parking space and a second space on the parking pad.

The top floor “family room” now apparently has a closet and is now the master bedroom.

The other two bedrooms are on the second floor.

The kitchen now has white cabinets whereas before they were a dark wood.

The listing says the laundry room has been remodeled.

It came on the market in April for $675,000 but has been reduced to $639,000.

What will it take to sell this property?

Chris Bauer at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #B: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1800 square feet, 1 car parking plus second space in parking pad

• Sold in January 1996 for $230,000
• Sold in June 2005 for $477,500
• Sold in May 2007 for $750,000
• Lis pendens in April 2008
• Bank owned as of May 2009
• Sold in October 2012 for $480,000
• Originally listed in April 2015 for $675,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $639,000
• Assessments now $186 a month (they were $146 a month in 2012)
• Taxes are now $9599 (they were $7932 in 2012 and $10,291 in March 2011)
• Central Air
• Skylights
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 8×9
• Family room- now a third bedroom: 16×13 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom in Benjamin Marshall’s elegant 1550 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast came on the market in August 2015.

Built in 1911, the 10-story limestone clad building has 33 units which were originally apartments. It was converted into condos in 1977.

There’s no parking with the building, but parking is available next door in the Constellation high rise.

This unit has north views of Lincoln Park and East views which includes the lake.

It is a half floor apartment with 4160 square feet.

It has 10 foot ceilings, 2 fireplaces and 4 balconies, several of which you can fit a small table and chairs on.

There’s a library and an eat-in kitchen.

The unit has central air and washer/dryer.

The building has 24-hour door staff and an exercise room.

There have only been 2 owners of the unit since 1986. The current seller has lived there since 1995.

Sales in the building are rare.

Is this a unique opportunity to buy into a Chicago gem?

Nancy Joyce at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #402: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4160 square feet

• Sold before 1986
• Sold in January 1995 for $1.2 million
• Listed in August 2015 for $3.85 million
• Currently still listed at $3.85 million
• Assessments of $5971 a month (includes water, heat, doorman, exercise room, snow removal, exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $41,800
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking available next door in the Constellation high rise
• 2 gas fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 24×15
• Bedroom #2: 17×14
• Bedroom #3: 16×11
• Laundry room: 9×8
• Library: 24×15

This 2-bedroom top floor loft at 1737 N. Paulina in Bucktown just came on the market.

It has the loft features buyers look for including timber ceilings and exposed beams and brick and large industrial windows.

Because it’s the top floor unit, it has a skylight in the kitchen for extra light.

The kitchen has custom modern dark cabinets, quartz counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a subway tile backsplash.

Both bedrooms have windows, which is rare in most lofts, and one of the bedrooms is fully enclosed.

A spiral staircase takes you upstairs to the second floor den with a wine bar and a private rooftop deck.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and gated parking.

The building, with 27 lofts, is just steps away from the new 606 trail.

This unit hasn’t been on the market in 15 years. The neighborhood has basically completely changed in that time period.

Will this loft be under contract this week?

Aaron Share at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #302: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet, duplex

• Sold in July 1992 for $113,000 or maybe $226,000– as there are two different amounts listed
• Sold in April 1997 for $222,500
• Sold in October 1998 for $245,000
• Sold in November 2000 for $306,500
• Currently listed for $549,900
• Assessments of $437 a month (includes water, snow removal, exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $6489
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Private rooftop terrace
• Bedroom #1: 18×14 (first floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (first floor)
• Den: 12×11 (second floor)

This 34th floor 1-bedroom in Helmut Jahn’s modern 600 N. Fairbanks in Streeterville recently came on the market.

The listing says it’s the largest 1-bedroom floor plan and that it’s on the highest floor in the building.

Consistent with the modern aesthetic of the building, there are exposed concrete ceilings and beams.

The south facing unit has 10 foot floor-to-ceiling windows with nearly dead-on views of Trump Tower.

The kitchen has ebony Snaidero cabinets, honed Pompeii marble counter tops, a honed Statuary marble subway tile backsplash and Subzero, Wolf and Miele appliances.

The master bath which connects with the powder room is Calcutta marble.

There are blackout shades in the bedroom.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available to rent or purchase in the building.

For those looking for city views, is this an easy sell?

Marc Neuman at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3409: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 926 square feet

• Sold in March 2008 for $479,500
• Sold in March 2014 for $438,500
• Currently listed for $460,000
• Assessments of $530 a month (includes water, gas, cable, doorman, indoor pool, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6465
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking- available for lease or to buy in the building
• Bedroom: 13×13
• Living/dining/kitchen: 15×33

This 1-bedroom on the 64th floor of Aqua at 225 N. Columbus in Lakeshore East came on the market in May 2015.

It is a south facing unit with 687 square feet.

The kitchen has luxury cabinets by Snaidero, stainless steel appliances and quartz counter tops.

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

Parking is available in the building. I don’t know if that’s to buy or to rent.

There are 264 units in the condo portion of this famous building.

It has every amenity you could want including 2 indoor pools, 1 outdoor pool, a fitness center, a pilates studio, a private movie theater, a hot tub, and even cabanas.

Originally listed for $470,000, it has been reduced $27,500 to $442,500.

Is Aqua still a hot building or is some of the glitz fading?

Nancy Furth at Magellan Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #6409: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 687 square feet

• Sold in July 2013 for $335,000
• Originally listed in May 2015 for $470,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $442,500
• Assessments of $351 a month (includes a/c, water, gas, cable/internet, doorman, pools, fitness center, snow removal, scavenger)
• Taxes of $5577
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking is available
• Bedroom: 14×9
• Living room: 12×11
• Kitchen: 8×8

This 2-bedroom at 1445 N. Wells in Old Town came on the market in May 2015.

We chattered about it in May when it first came on the market as the sellers had priced it 18% higher than the June 2014 sale.

See our May 2015 chatter here.

We also chattered about this unit in 2008.

Back then, most of you were obsessed with the elevator, which opens privately directly into each unit. You can see that chatter here as well.

If you recall, this unit has 12 foot ceilings with thick crown moldings and custom features such as remote control blinds.

The listing says there has been $60,000 in upgrades.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets and luxury appliances including Viking, Jenn-Air and Bosch.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit, and a coveted 1 exterior parking space.

This property has reduced once, by $15,100, to $669,900.

Old Town remains one of the city’s hottest neighborhoods and housing inventory is low everywhere.

Why isn’t this selling?

Janelle Jancaric at Rokfish Realty still has the listing. It is agent owned. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage is listed now but in prior listings it was 1410 square feet

• Sold in June 2006 for $602,500
• Sold in July 2008 for $620,000
• Sold in June 2014 for $580,000
• Originally listed in May 2015 for $685,000
• Reduced in August 2015 to $669,900
• Currently still $669,900
• Assessments of $452 a month (includes snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,079
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Includes 1-car exterior parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×10

This 2-bedroom triplex at 834 W. Wolfram in Lakeview came on the market in February 2015.

It is part of 2-unit condo association with this unit being the front part of an old Victorian house (which is on the left in the picture above).

We actually chattered about the back unit which was almost like a loft townhouse in May 2014. See that chatter here.

This unit, however, has a completely different interior with a classical three story staircase and 2-story living room.

It has a private entrance on the street.

The master bedroom appears to be on the ground level right next to the foyer.

The living/dining/kitchen is on the second floor and the second bedroom is a loft-style bedroom on the third floor.

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

There are Brazilian cherry wood floors and skylights.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1-car garage parking.

There don’t appear to be any HOAs as it looks to be a self-managed association between the 2 units.

Originally listed in February for $799,000, it has reduced $180,000 to $619,000.

Is this a deal for the location?

Eudice Fogel at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, triplex

• Sold in March 1995 for $270,000
• Originally listed in February 2015 for $799,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $619,000
• No assessments listed- self managed condo association
• Taxes of $6515
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 22×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 23×16 (third floor)
• Living/dining/kitchen: second floor

This 4-bedroom contemporary single family home at 4511 N. Wolcott in Lincoln Square just came on the market.

If it looks familiar it’s because we chattered about it in February 2013 when it was first on the market as a new construction house.

We debated the noise level of having the El right behind the house and whether or not the layout was kid friendly. See our chatter here.

The home was built in 2012 on a longer than normal Chicago lot measuring 25×152 and has a 2-car garage.

Yes, that’s the El right behind the house.

It has an “exotic wood plank” and stone exterior with an open interior floor plan.

The house has red oak flooring on the main level.

The kitchen is in the contemporary style with walnut and glass cabinets, Caesar stone counter tops and Bosch appliances.

Three of the four bedrooms are on the second floor.

The house also has a lower level family room.

The listing says there is a new rear deck and patio.

The market is hotter and the inventories lower than in 2013.

Will the El even matter?

Jean Metzler at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

4511 N. Wolcott: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3200 square feet

• Previous house sold in August 2012 for $170,000
• Originally listed in January 2013 for $799,000
• Sold in August 2013 for $720,000
• Currently listed for $825,000
• Taxes are $14,649
• Central Air
• 2-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 16×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×13 (main floor)
• Family room: 17×51 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom 3-story townhouse in Dearborn Park II at 1242 S. Federal in the South Loop just came on the market (the picture above is actually of another corner unit- and NOT the property.)

This Dearborn Park II complex was built in 1993 and has 50 red brick townhouses.

Because of its age, the trees and shrubbery are “mature”, making it a forest-like oasis in the middle of the South Loop.

This unit faces east, towards a park across the street. It’s a corner townhouse so it also has south facing windows.

It has a family room on the first floor, the living/dining and kitchen on the second floor and the bedroom is on the top floor.

The listing says the kitchen is “updated” and has granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a mosaic backsplash.

It has central air, a 1-car attached garage and the listing says it is in the South Loop elementary school district.

The townhouse is just a short stroll from the Roosevelt El line stop and the shops/movie theater of the Roosevelt Collection as well as Printers Row.

Is this development of townhomes a secret enclave in the South Loop?

Ted Mortellaro at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #A: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1450 square feet, 3 stories

• Sold in February 1994 for $157,000
• Sold in April 2005 for $360,000
• Sold in December 2007 for $389,500
• Currently listed for $385,000
• Assessments of $275 a month (includes water, exterior maintenance, snow removal, lawn maintenance)
• Taxes of $5310
• Central Air
• Attached 1-car garage
• Bedroom: 16×13 (third floor)
• Living/dining/kitchen: second floor
• Family room: 15×13 (first floor)

This 26 foot covered boat slip in River City Marina at 800 S. Wells in the South Loop came on the market in June 2015.

According to the listing, this is a rare opportunity to get a covered slip.

River City Marina is bubbled to prevent freezing meaning you can keep your boat there year round.

It has a security gate and a 24/7 security camera so you can even check on your boat while on vacation.

Water and electric are included in the assessments – but those aren’t listed in the listing.

There are two other River City Marina boat slips currently  on the market:

1. #M-39: 27.96 feet for $48,000
2. #M-13: 31.94 feet, an outside space, for $69,900

Big development is apparently coming to the Chicago River in this neighborhood, supposedly both north and south of River City. There are plans for 5 new high rises, with 2700 units, on just the north parcel alone.

From Crain’s in June 2015:

The joint venture between Chicago developer CMK and Australian construction company Lend Lease Group has submitted plans with the city for the 7.3-acre riverside parcel between Harrison Street and the River City condominium complex. The largest building, on the north end of the site, would rise 47 stories and include 626 units.

Is a boat slip at River City Marina a smart investment with development about to explode?

Vasili Korovilas at Charles Rutenberg Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit M-35: 26 foot covered boat slip at River City Marina

• Sold in June 2007 for $38,000 according to Redfin
• Originally listed in June 2015 for $44,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $39,000
• Assessments ???
• Taxes are $480 a year
• Year round occupancy