Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom in the Ambassador House at 1325 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast came on the market in April 2011.

It had sold the prior year and is now back on the market “better than new” with a complete renovation.

The building was constructed in 1969.

The unit now has dark hardwood floors and crown molding.

The kitchen has been opened to the living space and has custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances and carrera marble counter tops.

The bathrooms also have marble as well as Grohe, Toto and Kohler.

The unit has central air, and a washer/dryer was installed (the building DOES allow them- although it looks like the half bath was sacrificed for it in this renovation.)

Parking is available to rent in the building.

This unit is a corner B-tier unit with Lake, North and West views.

There are 2 other B-tier units currently on the market.

1. Unit #15B: listed at $400,000
2. Unit #9B: listed at $350,000

Will this renovated unit get a premium price for being “new”?

Ruth Ann Alexander at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #21B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1675 square feet

• Sold in March 2010 for $350,000
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $630,000
• Assessments of $1158 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $6109
• Parking is rental in the building for $130 a month
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×16
• Bedroom #2: 14×14

Two years ago, we chattered about these unique pool side “cabanas” at Park Place Tower at 655 W. Irving Park in Lakeview.

See our June 2009 chatter here.

Back then,  Cabana CO-26 was on the market for $42,000. I can’t find any record that it ever sold.

Right now, Cabana CO-11 is on the market and listed for $25,000.

The cabanas allow you pool and barbeque rights even if you don’t live in the building.

They have a small kitchenette with a refrigerator and a bath with a shower.

No- you can’t live in one of them.

Assessments are $14 a month which includes water, electricity and, of course, the pool.

Taxes are $69.80.

Before you say anything about the price you should know that one of the cabanas, CO-16, just sold for $22,000.

With CO-11 listed at more than double the 2006 purchase price, are these cabanas among the few properties actually showing appreciation?

Donald Hughes at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here (yes- there are some interiors of the cabana).

Cabana CO-11: 1 bath

• Sold in June 2006 for $11,500
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $25,000
• Currently still listed for $25,000
• Assessments of $14 a month (includes water, electric and pool)
• Taxes of $69.80
• Bath with shower
• Refrigerator

Long time readers will remember this 2-bedroom in the Carl Street Studios at 155 W. Burton in Old Town.

We first chattered about it in September 2007 (it was one of the first Crib Chatter posts!) and then again in November 2009 when it returned to the market to try again.

See our November 2009 chatter here.

Well…it’s back again!

The Carl Street Studios are certainly not cookie-cutter.

Originally built as a mansion in the 1880s, it was converted into the “studios” in 1927. There are only 16 units.

This triplex has ornate mosaic multicolor tile work, stained glass windows and the original Edgar Miller frescoes.

It also has a 2-story wood beamed ceiling, 3 fireplaces and a private rooftop deck (which also is where one of the fireplaces is located).

Not everything is “historic” as the unit has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer.

However, there is no parking.

The bedrooms are also split- with one on the second floor and the master on the third level.

Reduced another $50,000 from the November 2009 list price, the property is now listed $86,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

Is this unit finally priced to sell?

Helaine Cohen at Koenig & Strey Real Living now has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #15: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet

• Sold in September 1999 for $360,000
• Sold in November 2005 for $635,000
• Was listed in September 2007 for $699,000
• Cancelled
• Was listed in November 2009 for $599,000
• Cancelled
• Currently listed for $549,000
• Assessments of $935 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $9902
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No deeded parking- leased in the neighborhood
• 3 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 17×20 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×17 (second floor)

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom contemporary single family home at 5719 N. Jersey in North Park in March 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

Many of you were hung up on me calling it an “arts and craft” house so this time I’ll just say contemporary.

No one had any guesses on how much this would sell for, but it was listed in March for $106,000 under the 2007 purchase price at $639,000.

It recently closed for $618,000.

If you recall, the house was built on an oversized 30×140 lot and had a front facing 2-car garage.

It backed up to a park and the Chicago River.

The 4000 square foot house had vaulted ceilings.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms were on the second floor with the fourth in the lower level.

There was a stone patio with a built-in gas grill.

The kitchen also had the finishes you would expect out of 2007 new construction at this price point including granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

Scott Stavish at @Properties had the listing.

5719 N. Jersey: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4000 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 2007 for $745,000
• Originally listed in March 2008 for $850,000
• Withdrawn in June 2009
• Re-listed in February 2011 for $639,000
• Was still listed in March 2011 at $639,000
• Sold in May 2011 for $618,000
• Taxes of $11,195
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 22×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×11 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom at 1212 N. LaSalle on the edge of the Gold Coast and Old Town just came on the market.

Even though the building was built in 1988, the listing says the unit is as “good as new.”

The kitchen has new granite counter tops and tile backsplash as well as stainless steel appliances.

The bathroom and the wood floors throughout are also new.

The unit boosts floor to ceiling windows with city views.

While there is central air there is no in-unit washer/dryer (though I believe the building does allow it to be installed.)

I’m not sure if parking comes with this unit or not- but it is definitely available to buy or rent in the building.

The unit is listed $10,000 below the 2003 purchase price.

Is this a deal?

John Vossoughi at @Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #1702: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 750 square feet

• Sold in May 2003 for $210,000
• Currently listed for $200,000
• Assessments of $514 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, cable)
• Taxes of $2451
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Parking extra?
• Bedroom: 12×17
• Kitchen: 9×11
• Living/Dining room: 14×17

We last chattered about this top floor 2-bedroom in The Cambridge at 3145 N. Cambridge in Lakeview in December 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

We have been watching this unit for many months. It has been on and off the market for over 2 years.

It recently returned to the market with another $20,000 reduction.

The unit is now listed $61,000 under the 2007 purchase price at $279,000.

Back in December, some of you were surprised it hadn’t sold in the $300,000s.

If you recall, it has 9-foot ceilings, a decorative fireplace and crown moldings.

The kitchen has been updated with 42 inch maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There is an in-unit washer/dryer but no central air and no parking.

What will it take to sell this property?

Jeff Lowe at Prudential Rubloff again has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1300 square feet

• Sold in March 1992 for $147,000
• Sold in February 2007 for $340,000
• Originally listed in April 2009
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed for $329,000 in February 2010
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2010 for $319,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2010 for $299,000
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed at $279,000
• Assessments of $397 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $3757
• No central air- window units
• In-unit washer/dryer
• No Parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 13×8
• Dining room: 13×17

This 3-bedroom duplex down at 1069 N. Marshfield in the East Village neighborhood of West Town has been on the market for about a month.

In that time, it has been reduced $5100.

The unit is now $27,100 under the 2004 purchase price.

At 2500 square feet, it has more square footage than many single family homes in the same price range.

Built in 1998, the duplex down is on a standard 25×125 Chicago lot.

2 of the bedrooms are on the main floor with the third in the lower level along with a 30×18 family room.

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

The unit has 2 fireplaces, central air, in-unit washer/dryer and parking.

It is located just steps away from the Division Blue line stop and the shops/restaurants on Division.

Is this a deal for the square footage and location?

Chris McComas at @Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2500 square feet, 1 car garage parking

• Sold in October 1998 for $243,500
• Sold in November 2001 for $334,500
• Sold in April 2004 for $420,000
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $400,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $394,900
• Assessments of $172 a month
• Taxes of $5341
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 10×14 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 14×14 (lower level)
• Family room: 30×18 (lower level)

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom unit right in the heart of Taylor Street at 1408 W. Taylor in November 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, the primary discussion was on whether or not this area should be called “Little Italy” or “Taylor Street.”

I had called it “Tri-Taylor” which wasn’t, apparently, correct either. So this time I’m going for “Taylor Street.”

On the market for 21 months, it finally sold for $67,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

If you recall, this new(er) construction unit wasn’t one of those small 3-bedrooms as it had 1540 square feet.

It was a double corner unit with two balconies and had 11 foot ceilings.

The building only had 2 units per floor but it did have an elevator.

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

This is located in an area where there are hot restaurants and bars- and more seemingly opening all the time.

Was this a deal?

Eugene Fu at @Properties had the listing.

Unit #202: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1540 square feet, 1 car parking included

• Sold in June 2005 for $392,000
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $414,900
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in November 2010 for $375,000
• Reduced
• Sold in April 2011 for $325,000
• Assessments of $315 a month
• Taxes of $5618
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 10×10

Townhouses seem to be hotter than condos right now, especially those priced in the $400,000s.

But what about townhouses like this 2-bedroom in the Lakewood Commons development at 2357 N. Wayne in Lincoln Park that is priced just slightly above that?

It’s been on the market since February 2011 and has been reduced $50,000.

It is now listed $20,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

The complex was built in 1987 so the townhouses tend to have slightly more generous layouts than townhouses built later.

Both bedrooms are on the third floor with the living/dining/kitchen on the second floor.

There is a family room and garage on the main level.

The kitchen has been renovated and has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

The listing says the master bath has been renovated as well.

There is central air and a 1-car garage plus parking for a second car on the parking pad.

Is this a steal?

(This is a picture of the general complex- but not this particular townhouse.)

Elizabeth Ballis at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

2357 N. Wayne: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage

• Sold in November 1987
• Sold in April 1999 for $336,000
• Sold in May 2000 for $395,000
• Sold in July 2003 for $450,000
• Sold in November 2005 for $520,000
• Originally listed in February 2011 for $550,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $500,000
• Assessments of $282 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $6156
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×13 (third level)
• Bedroom #2: 15×11 (third level)
• Family room: 17×14 (main level)

This 3-bedroom unit at 4065 N. Sheridan in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown came on the market in March 2011.

In that time, it has been reduced $16,000.

The property last sold in 1999.

It has 2300 square feet all on one level, with bay windows in the living room and a separate dining room.

The kitchen has a mix of white and black appliances.

The unit also has 2 exposed brick walls, 2 fireplaces and a 33×7 gallery.

It has central air and washer/dryer in the unit but it’s unclear if there is deeded parking or not (see comments in the thread).

What’s the market for a unit of this size just north of Irving Park Road?

Jennifer Bumbu at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2N: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2300 square feet

• Sold in May 1989 for $125,000
• Sold in May 1999 for $199,500
• Originally listed in March 2011 for $375,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $359,000
• Assessments of $245 a month
• Taxes of $4246
• Central Air
• Side by side washer/dryer in the unit
• Is parking included or not? There is no mention of it in the listing copy and its cryptic in the public listing. ???
• Bedroom #1: 12×20
• Bedroom #2: 14×18
• Bedroom #3: 10×8
• Gallery: 33×7