Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom unit in the Drake Tower Apartments at 179 E. Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast has been on the market since June 2010.

It has been reduced $76,000 in that time.

The Drake Tower was designed by Marshall & Fox and finished just before the Great Depression in 1929.

It has 68 units with lake and city views.

As Clio has pointed out, the building has access to the Drake Hotel amenities including the business center, the exercise room and the parking.

Parking is valet at $100 each per car per month.

This is the only 2-bedroom currently listed for sale in the building.

It has the original hardwood floors and crown moldings.

The listing says the second bedroom is currently used as a library.

It has white cabinets, white and black appliances and white counter tops in the kitchen.

The unit has central air but the listing doesn’t say anything about washer/dryer in the unit.

With all the newer construction luxury buildings, does the Drake Tower still evoke prestige?

Marie Campbell at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #903: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1422 square feet

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price due to it being a co-op
• Originally listed in June 2010 at $775,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,000
• Assessments of $2655 a month (includes heat, doorman, tax, cable)
• Taxes of $8130
• Central Air
• Valet parking for 2 cars at $100 per month each
• Washer/Dryer in the unit??? (not mentioned in the listing)
• Bedroom #1: 14×21
• Bedroom #2: 17×16

This 5-bedroom vintage tudor at 5919 N. Forest Glen in the Sauganash neighborhood of Forest Glen has been on the market for 11 months.

In that time, it has been reduced $75,000.

It is now listed $24,000 under the 2004 purchase price.

Built in 1930 on a 40×125 lot, the house has many of its vintage features intact.

The living room has a hand hewed beamed cathedral ceiling with the original hand carved floor to ceiling wood fireplace mantle.

In the living room, there is also a unique 6 foot hand carved chandelier.

The kitchen has been updated and has stainless steel appliances, what look to be stone counter tops and an eat-in breakfast nook as well as a kitchen island.

2 of the 5 bedrooms are on the second floor, 2 are on the main floor and one is in the basement along with the family room.

The house has central air and a 2-car garage.

What will it take to sell this property?

Ron Meadows at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

5919 N. Forest Glen: 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in October 1985
• Sold in May 2004 for $749,000
• Originally listed in April 2010 for $800,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2010
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $725,000
• Taxes of $7441
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 13×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×15 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×13 (main floor)
• Bedroom #5: 12×10 (basement)
• Family room: 23×17 (basement)

This 5-bedroom vintage colonial at 2100 W. Pratt Boulevard in West Ridge came on the market in January 2011.

The listing says it is the first time the home has been listed in 111 years.

Built in 1900, the listing says it was a summer home and took four years to complete.

The 12,000 square foot home has hardwood floors throughout and 5 fireplaces.

Built on an oversize 187×150 lot, there is a 3-car garage which the listing says was also the original chauffeur’s quarters.

20 years ago an indoor pool was also added to the house.

The kitchen has white cabinets and some white appliances with black counter tops.

There is central air.

The house sits across from Warren Park’s golf course.

Can this neighborhood sustain this price point?

Lydia Memeti at Re/Max City has the listing. See the pictures here.

2100 W. Pratt Boulevard: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3 half baths, 12,000 square feet, 3 car garage

• Last sold in 1900
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2010
• Originally listed in January 2011 for $2.45 million
• Currently still listed for $2.45 million
• Taxes of $14,225
• Central Air
• Indoor Pool
• 5 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 20×26 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×15 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 20×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 17×10 (second floor)

This 2007 construction 2-bedroom unit in a 12-unit mid-rise building at 2130 W. Belmont in Roscoe Village just came on the market.

It is bank owned.

It is listed for $275,100 under the 2007 purchase price.

The listing says the home is eligible under the Freddie Mac first look initiative through 3/23/11.

The unit has all the finishes you would expect of 2007 construction in this neighborhood.

There appears to be hardwood floors throughout.

From the pictures, the kitchen seems to be intact with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The baths appear to have stone showers/tubs and one bathroom has a double vanity.

This is listed well under any other unit on the street of similar size and finishes.

Is this a steal?

On a side note, notice that the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. had been holding onto this one for 7 months before it was re-listed.

Jim Kennedy at Re/Max Team 2000 has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1650 square feet

• Sold in March 2007 for $475,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2009
• Bank owned in September 2010
• Currently listed for $199,900 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $250 a month
• Taxes of $7033
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook-up in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×10

We last chattered about this new construction 6-bedroom mansion at 3804 N. Janssen in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview in February 2010.

See our February 2010 chatter here.

At that time, it had been on the market for 5 months and had been reduced $300,000.

It was recently re-listed with another $200,000 reduction.

Built on an oversize 34×125 lot, the 7300 square foot house has a 3 car heated garage and 1700 square feet of outdoor space.

4 out of the 6 bedrooms are on the second floor with the 5th on the third floor and the 6th in the lower level.

There is also a third floor great room measuring 25×17.

The kitchen is described as a “chef’s kitchen” and there is a large custom staircase.

Last year, westloopelo thought this was one of the best houses featured on CribChatter and that it would sell withing $50k of the ask. Several other commenters also thought the finishes were very nice.

Will this new, lower list price finally get the job done on this house?

Marta Kazmierczak at Prudential Rubloff again has the listing. See the pictures here.

3804 N. Janssen: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 3 car garage, 7300 square feet

• New Construction (paid $1.062 million for prior house/land in January 2006)
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $3.895 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2010 for $3.595 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $3.395 million
• Taxes are $13,339
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 13×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 14×12 (lower level)
• Office: 16×14 (lower level)
• Great room: 25×17 (third floor)

This 5-bedroom single family home at 2155 W. Caton in Bucktown was built in 1889 and is located on a street with other historic single family homes.

The listing says it is a “Wicker Park Historic Landmark Greystone.”

It still has some of its vintage interior features including doorknobs, hardwood floors with inlay and a large stained glass window above the wood staircase.

Built on a 50×77 lot, it has a 1-car side garage.

The house has no central air.

4 of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the 5th in the third, or attic, level where there is also space for a family room.

There are no pictures of the bathrooms and the only picture of the kitchen shows a double stove and a refrigerator and that is it.

What will it take to sell this unique property?

Catherine Caravette at Catherine Caravette & Associates has the listing. See the pictures here.

2155 W. Caton: 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3500 square feet, 1 car detached garage

• Sold in October 2009 for $881,500
• Originally listed in January 2011 for $1.15 million
• Currently still listed for $1.15 million
• Taxes of $9878
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 14×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 10×7 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom unit at 415 E. North Water in Streeterville is the cheapest 2-bedroom unit listed for sale in the RiverView Condominiums (which consists of two high rises at 415 and 445 E. North Water.)

Bound on the south by the Chicago River, many of the units have lake, river and city views.

The complex was built in 2000 and is known for its upscale finishes.

This unit has Brazilian cherry floors as well as a marble entry.

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

The master bathroom is also marble.

This unit is listed about 11% under its 2007 purchase price.

Is this a deal?

Alison Wertheimer at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1401: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1370 square feet

• Sold in November 2004 for $610,000
• Sold in September 2007 for $706,000
• Originally listed in January 2011 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $625,000 (includes the parking which is normally $55,000)
• Assessments of $554 a month (includes air conditioning, gas, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $6717
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×10

This 3-bedroom vintage greystone unit at 434 W. Oakdale in East Lakeview has been on and off the market since April 2010.

In that time, it has been reduced $174,000.

The unit is now listed as a “short sale” and is priced about 22%, or $150,000, under the 2005 purchase price.

The south facing unit has 2 fireplaces and some of its original features such as a beamed ceiling in the dining room.

The kitchen is open to the dining room and has light green wood cabinets, white counter tops and white appliances.

The unit has an 18×10 sun room, a back deck and covered parking.

It also has central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

Is this a deal for the location and square footage?

Anne Laughlin at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2300 square feet, covered parking

• Sold in May 1989 for $275,000
• Sold in May 1991
• Sold in September 1996 for $400,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $675,000
• Originally listed in April 2010 for $699,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $525,000
• Assessments of $389 a month
• Taxes of $9794
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×13
• Bedroom #2: 15×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×13
• Sun room: 18×10

This 3 bedroom unit at 1030 N. State in the Gold Coast could be your home in the sky.

At 2500 square feet, it has 2 balconies and lake and city views.

The unit also has upgrades you don’t often see such as solid cherry doors and marble and hardwood floors with inlay.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets and granite counter tops.

The building was built in the early 1970s and has about 624 units.

There is no deeded parking – it is leased in the building.

But right outside the door is a host of shops and restaurants at your fingertips.

Originally listed last June, this unit has been reduced $125,400.

Can this unit compete with all the newer construction in the area?

Nick Steffes at Re/Max Vision has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #30EFG: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2500 square feet

• Sold in 1991 but I couldn’t find a price (combined unit)
• Originally listed in June 2010 for $1,124,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $999,500
• Assessments of $1618 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $11817
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking is leased in the building for $290 a month (per spot)
• Bedroom #1: 27×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×9

This 3-flat at 1929 W. Berteau in North Center came on the market in early February 2011.

It is currently listed for $51,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

Built in 1893 on a standard 25×125 lot, the listing indicates the 3-flat has been used as an owners unit plus a basement rental and that there are only 2 kitchens in the property.

Here are the actual configurations of the units:

• Unit #1: 1 bedroom, 1 bath- rents for $500
• Unit #2: 1 bedroom, 1 bath- rents for $1100
• Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath- rents for $1100

There is no central air and only a single heating system.

The 3-flat has some of its vintage features intact with woodwork, wood doors and what looks to be some original hardwood floors.

Does this property make sense for an investor?

Or perhaps a conversion into a single family home?

Ellen Webber at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1929 W. Berteau: 3-flat, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in September 1994 for $171,500
• Sold in December 1997 for $270,000
• Sold in April 2005 for $550,000
• Originally listed in February 2011 for $499,000
• Currently still listed for $499,000
• Taxes of $7238
• No central air