Crib Chatter

Loft lovers will tell you there’s something about the Donohue Annex at 727 S. Dearborn in Printers Row.

Located just south of The Donohue at 711 S. Dearborn, the Annex was added in 1913. It is a concrete building (versus The Donohue’s timber.)

It also still has the original elevator in the lobby (worth checking out on the South Loop loft walk or if you’re lucky enough to get into the building some other way.)

This top floor 2-bedroom just came on the market.

If it looks familiar, long time readers may recognize it from October 2008 when we last chattered about it.

See our interesting chatter from over 4 years ago here.

Back in 2008, it was listed for $592,500 and most of you thought it was overpriced (shocker!).

It has since been reduced to $399,900.

At 2200 square feet, it has tons of exposed brick and large industrial windows.

It appears from the pictures to possibly have a skylight.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and a SubZero refrigerator.

There’s in-unit washer/dryer but no central air (window units only) and parking is available at 801 S. Plymouth to purchase or in the neighborhood to rent.

This loft also has roof rights.

Another top floor loft in the Annex, Unit #911, actually just sold last week for $430,000. That unit was a 3/2 with 2500 square feet and a north facing deck. It’s assessment was $1198.

Will this loft finally sell in 2012?

Edward Schwind at Century 21 S.G.R. still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #910: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2200 square feet

• Sold in October 1989 for $80,000
• Sold in July 1997 for $227,000
• Was listed in October 2008 for $592,500 (plus parking at $48,000)
• Withdrawn
• Was last on the market in September 2010
• Withdrawn
• Currently listed for $399,900 (plus parking at $40,000)
• Assessments of $1012 a month (includes heat, cable). In 2008 it was $970 a month
• Taxes now $6811 (they were $4,691 in 2008)
• No central air- window units
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×12

This condo-hotel unit at The Raffaello at 201 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast has been on and off the market since October 2011.

The listing says it is bank owned.

The condo-hotels were all the rage at the height of the housing boom.

You own the hotel room which has a private, locked closet where you can put your belongings when you’re not using the room.

When you’re not there, the hotel can rent the room out for you.

This unit is a double/double with 2 double beds.

The listing says you can use it as on your own or as an investment.

This unit is listed about 50% under the 2007 price.

What  would you want to pay for this to make investment sense?

Mary Summerville at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the listing here.

There aren’t any interior pictures- so see the listing for #1011, also a double/double unit. It’s been on the market over 600 days and is listed at $190,770. See the pictures here.

Unit #411: hotel room, bathroom

• Sold in April 2007 for $244,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in May 2011
• Originally listed in October 2011 (I couldn’t find an original list price)
• Currently listed as a “bank owned” for $125,000
• Assessments of $480 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $2300
• Central Air
• Flat panel tv
• Fridge
• Microwave
• Living room: 30×14
• Kitchen: 4×4

This 2-bedroom loft in the Casablanca Lofts at 70 E. 18th in the South Loop came on the market in March 2012.

In that time it has been reduced $15,000.

This is a loft by name only as it doesn’t have the authentic features loft buyers look for which include timber or concrete ceilings, exposed beams and several walls of exposed brick.

It does, however, have a small strip of exposed brick across the living/dining areas, exposed ductwork and 12 foot ceilings.

It also has large windows.

There are cherry floors in the living/dining space.

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

The unit has a full-size washer/dryer and garage parking along with central air.

It doesn’t appear, from the listing pictures, that either bedroom has windows.

The unit is currently listed about 20% below the 2006 purchase price.

Given the price declines in the South Loop, how much lower will this have to go to find a buyer?

Judy Mannetter at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in April 2006 for $457,000
• Originally listed in March 2012 for $375,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $360,000
• Assessments of $300 a month
• Taxes of $6280
• Central Air
• Full size washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 16×10

This 3-bedroom in the luxury high rise at 55 E. Erie in River North just came on the market.

It is bank owned.

The listing says it has 2028 square feet but the room sizes are estimated.

From the pictures, it appears the kitchen and bathrooms are intact.

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

The listing says the buyer is responsible for condo/docs meeting with the HOA.

The buyer must also pay for 6 months HOA fees prior to the foreclosure date.

This unit appears to include a rare 3 garage parking spaces.

It is listed about 9% under the 2004 purchase price.

Is this even much of a deal?

Jack Stempien at Re/Max City has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1403: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2028 square feet, 3 car parking

• Sold in January 2004 for $1,015,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2009
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2010
• Bank owned in November 2011
• Currently listed for $924,900
• Assessments of $802 a month (includes doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $14,394
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×10

This 2-bedroom modern unit at 2157 W. Division in West Town has been on and off the market since March 2007.

It appears to still be developer owned.

The building is a 6-unit elevator building constructed in 2007.

It has 10 foot floor to ceiling windows with cedar accents.

The unit has upscale finishes including an Arclinea designed kitchen with white cabinets and SubZero, Gaggenau and Miele appliances.

The master bath has Ann Sacks tiles.

The unit has heated garage parking, washer/dryer in the unit and central air.

I don’t have an original 2007 list price, but since December 2011, the unit has been reduced $45,000 to $474,800.

Will this property finally find a buyer in 2012?

Karen Ranquist at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing (the building was originally a Ranquist development). See the pictures here.

Unit #301: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Still developer owned?
• Originally listed in March 2007
• Was listed in December 2011 for $519,800
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $474,800
• Assessments of $280 a month
• Taxes of $8755
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Heated garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 12×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×13

This 3-bedroom duplex down at 1510 N. Cleveland in Old Town recently came on the market.

The listing makes a point of saying that this is all brick construction. There is no cinder block on this building.

At 2650 square feet, this unit is larger than some single family homes and many townhomes in the nearby area.

Two of the bedrooms are on the main level with the third in the lower level. There is also a lower level family room.

It has Brazilian cherry floors and heated floors in the lower level.

The kitchen has a Viking stove, cherry cabinets and granite counter tops. There is crown molding throughout.

The unit is listed at the same price as the 2005 purchase price.

Is the all brick construction a huge selling point for this unit?

Scott Berg at Berg Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.

OR you can also see it in person at the Open House on Sunday, May 6 from 1-4 PM.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2650 square feet, 1 car garage

• Sold in July 2005 for $699,000
• Currently listed for $699,000
• Assessments of $188 a month
• Taxes of $5704
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 25×20 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 10×13 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 10×13 (lower level)
• Family room: 13×31 (lower level)

This 3-bedroom triplex at 2300 W. Armitage in Bucktown just came on the market.

It has many unique features including an inlaid marble foyer and ebony floors.

It has Phillipe Stark and Bizzaza baths.

The kitchen has Fisher Paykel, Bosch and Viking appliances.

Two of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the third on the third floor along with a 12×29 terrace.

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

It is listed for about 22% under the 2005 price at $450,000.

This is also $90,000 under the 2001 purchase price.

Is this a deal?

Kenneth Marier at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, triplex, 2300 square feet, garage parking

• Sold in September 2001 for $540,000
• Sold in November 2004 (no price given)
• Sold in September 2005 for $575,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in December 2011
• Currently listed for $450,000
• Assessments of $245 a month
• Taxes of $8097
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×21 (third floor)
• Rooftop Terrace: 12×29 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom Lincoln Park townhouse at The Point at 2040 N. Lincoln, an enclave of townhouses at the intersection of Lincoln and Armitage in Lincoln Park, just came on the market.  (The pictures above is of the townhomes on Armitage.)

It looks to be bank owned and is priced just $7,900 above the 2001 purchase price at $399,900.

There are no interior pictures with the listing but it says “move in ready.”

It also states:  “Days 1-7: Offers will not be reviewed, Days 8-12: Offers ONLY from NSP buyers, Municipalities, Non-profit organizations and Owner-occupants will be reviewed. Days 13+: We will consider offers from all buyers.”

The townhouse is 1500 square feet, has cathedral ceilings, central air and garage parking.

Is this one of the lower level townhouses? (These have bigger units on the upper floors and lower level garden townhomes on the bottom floors.)

Otherwise, we don’t know the condition of the property.

But for this location- is this price a deal?

For a frame of reference, Unit #D, also a 2/2.5 with 1500 square feet sold in 2008 for $510,000.

[Also notice that it has been nearly 3 1/2 years since the last lis pendens on this property was filed and it coming on the market. Shadow inventory!]

Samuel Tarara at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See the listing here.

Unit #E: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1500 square feet, garage parking

• Sold in September 2001 for $392,000
• Lis pendens filed in May 2007
• Lis pendens filed in October 2008
• Bank owned?
• Currently listed for $399,900
• Assessments of $363 a month
• Taxes of $7598
• Central Air
• Garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 19×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×9 (second floor)

This top floor 3-bedroom at 3621 N. Wilton in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Lakeview has been on the market since December 2011.

Built in 1894, it has its own separate entrance with staircase that leads into the unit.

It has a massive entrance foyer with skylight.

The original woodwork is intact with wood moldings and doors.

There are hardwood floors throughout, a woodburning fireplace and 11 foot ceilings.

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

Even though it has the vintage charm, the unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a parking space (which could come in handy in the summer time given that the property is just a block from Wrigley Field.)

And no, it is not on the El side of the street.

This unit is listed $8,000 under the 2002 purchase price.

Is this a deal for a 3-bedroom with parking in this location?

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

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 2000 for $312,000
• Sold in December 2002 for $397,000
• Originally listed in December 2011 for $389,000
• Currently still listed at $389,000 (includes parking)
• Assessments of $160 a month
• Taxes of $6,000
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Woodburning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 10×10

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom full floor unit in the Playboy Mansion at 1340 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast in September 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

Originally listed for $6.7 million, it was reduced to $5.8 million.

It recently sold just 9 months after it came on the market for $5.2 million.

You may recall that this property has rarely been on the market. It last changed hands 17 years ago.

The listing said the unit was once the mansion’s ballroom.

It had extensive wood paneling and carvings including beamed and tiled ceilings.

The kitchen had white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

It had central air, washer/dryer in the unit, a 2-car garage and an attached terrace.

Back in September, one person guessed this would sell around $5 million. Another one said they’d rather have a lakefront mansion on the North Shore for around $4 million.

Just how hot IS the upper bracket in Chicago?

Or was this just a rare and unique property?

(The Ritz condos are about to start delivery on Michigan Avenue shortly. They’d love to see a stronger market.)

Katherine Chez at Baird & Warner had the listing. You can still check out the pictures here.

Unit #2: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 7874 square feet, full floor unit, 2 car parking

• Sold in August 1994 for $2.1 million
• Originally listed in July 2011 for $6.7 million
• Reduced to $5.8 million
• Sold on May 1, 2012 for $5.2 million
• Assessments of $4717 a month
• Taxes of $80,384
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×28
• Bedroom #2: 14×19
• Bedroom #3: 14×14
• Bedroom #4: 14×17