Crib Chatter

This custom built 8000 square foot mansion at 2216 W. Grace in the St. Ben’s neighborhood of North Center just came on the market.

It has 4 bedrooms, 9 baths, and 3 half baths on a 125×30 lot.

It appears that the 2.5-car garage is still being built.

There also doesn’t appear to be any outdoor space but the buyer can breathe in summertime air on the rooftop terrace which, according to the listing, boosts a kitchen, a fireplace, and a hot tub.

In case you were wondering, the listing makes clear this home is in the Bell School District.

Check out the pictures of the curved stair atrium and detailed millwork.

There is also a custom kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a SubZero refrigerator, and what looks to be marble counter tops.

In addition to the 4 bedrooms, the house also has an exercise room, an office, a theater room, a sitting room and a maid’s room.

There is also an elevator.

This home is amongst the top three most expensive houses for sale in North Center (interestingly, the realtor actually listed this house as being in Lakeview, which it is not.)

We have chattered about the other two expensive homes:

1. 3540 N. Ravenswood, the mansion with the indoor pool and backyard basketball court, at $3.475 million– listed for 333 days- see the prior chatter here.
2. 3909 N. Claremont, the contemporary new construction, at $2.6 million– listed for 252 days- see the prior chatter here.

What’s the market for this home in this neighborhood?

Charles Schnuda at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

2216 W. Grace: 4 bedrooms, 9 baths, 3 half baths, 2.5 car garage, 8000 square feet

• Sold as a multi-unit building in January 1999 for $550,000
• Sold as a multi-unit building in May 2007 for $1.02 million
• Currently listed for $2.995 million
• Taxes of $14,717
• Central Air
• Elevator
• 3 fireplaces
• Rooftop terrace with hot tub and kitchen
• Bedroom #1: 22×15 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #2: 22×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×13 (third floor)
• Kitchen: 29×15 (second floor)
• Living room: 22×17 (second floor)
• Second kitchen: 8×5
• Office: 17×15 (fourth floor)
• Sitting room: 14×11 (fourth floor)
• Exercise room: 19×9 (main floor)
• Theater room: 25×11 (main floor)
• Maid’s room: 9×7 (main floor)

This vintage 2-flat at 3515 W. Belden in Logan Square has been on the market since July 2010.

In that time, it has been reduced $78,000.

It is a short sale.

The two units are as follows:

• Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
• Unit #2: duplex up 4 bedrooms, 2 baths

Built on a 25×125 lot, it has an oversized garage and hardwood floors.

The property is now listed $14,000 under the 1992 purchase price.

Is this a steal? (if the bank is even open to offers around the list?)

Jose Campoverde at Re/Max Skyline has the listing. See the pictures here.

3515 W. Belden: 2-flat, 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 car garage (oversized)

• Sold in May 1992 for $95,000
• Sold in April 2003 for $230,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $323,000
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $159,000
• Reduced several times
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2010
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $81,000
• Taxes of $3645
• Gas heating

This 3-bedroom unit at 1300 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast has been on and off the market since March 2008.

In that time, the price has been reduced $455,000.

It is currently listed $215,000 under the 2006 purchase price.

The building was built in 1963 and has dead on lake and city views.

The unit has been renovated with stone baths, maple floors and cove moldings.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stone counter tops.

There are also electronic window shades as the unit faces south and east. It also has a balcony.

This is a full service building with a doorman, indoor pool and exercise room.

The listing also says that the buyer will get an “exclusive Nantucket 1-week stay” at the close.

Will the vacation help sell this property?

Carla Walker at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and virtual tour here.

Unit #10A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2200 square feet

• Sold in February 2005 for $865,000
• Sold in September 2006 for $1.41 million
• Originally listed in March 2008 for $1.65 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $1.195 million
• Assessments of $1590 a month (includes heat, a/c, cable, pool, doorman)
• Taxes of $13,608
• Central Air
• Full sized washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 13×20
• Bedroom #2: 12×17
• Bedroom #3: 12×15

Location, Location, Location.

This 3-bedroom duplex up at 419 W. Grant in Lincoln Park is located just a block or so from Lincoln Park, the Zoo and all that Chicago’s lakefront has to offer.

It also has the amenities that most homebuyers are looking for with central air, in-unit washer/dryer and deeded parking.

The complex, the Portals at Grant Place, was built in 1971.

The unit has two balconies and a wood burning fireplace.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor along with 2 full baths. There is a half bath on the main floor.

The unit even comes with extra storage.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances and there is separate dining room.

The listing says the duplex is in the Lincoln school district.

It is listed $25,100 under the 2003 purchase price.

Is this a deal for the location?

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

Or you can see it at the Open House this Sunday, Feb 13, from 11-1pm.

Unit #C: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1620 square feet

• Sold in September 1997 for $225,000
• Sold in August 1998 for $283,000
• Sold in May 2000 for $338,000
• Sold in May 2003 for $385,000
• Originally listed in January 2011 for $359,900
• Currently listed for $359,900
• Assessments of $343 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $5031
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 13×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×8 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×8

This 2-bedroom unit in the highrise at 1111 S. Wabash in the South Loop has been on the market since December 2010.

It is bank owned.

It has been reduced $15,000 in that time and is now listed for $86,100 under the 2004 purchase price.

The unit has 2 bedrooms and a den in 1320 square feet.

From the pictures, it appears that the kitchen and at least one of the bathrooms is intact (along with the washer/dryer.)

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

The listing says the “seller never occupied the property.”

Unit #2008, one floor higher, and also a bank owned unit sold just a few weeks ago, on January 25, 2011, for $265,000.

But that listing warned, “BUILDING IS NOT FHA APPROVED, AND THERE ARE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COMMON AREA AND BALCONY REPAIRS. TENANTS ARE APPROX 1/3 OF BUILDING OCCUPANTS”.

Is this property a deal?

Juliette Davis at Northpoint Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1908: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, den, 1320 square feet

• Sold in July 2004 for $336,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2009
• Bank owned in September 2010
• Originally listed in December 2010 for $264,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $249,900 (includes parking)
• Assessments of $600 a month (includes heat, A/C, cable, doorman)
• Taxes of $4260
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 10×13

This 3-bedroom unit at 2762 N. Lincoln in Lincoln Park has been on the market since October 2010.

It is currently listed for $31,000 under the 2008 purchase price.

The unit has 1675 square feet on one level with an east facing balcony.

It has hardwood floors throughout the main living area.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

After 5 months, what will it take to finally sell this property?

Ron Knoll at Saffron Realty has the listing.  See the pictures here.

Unit #306: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1675 square feet

• Sold in May 2001 for $416,000
• Sold in April 2008 for $480,000
• Originally listed in October 2010 for $449,000 (included the parking)
• Currently still listed for $449,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $303 a month
• Taxes of $7060
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Covered parking
• Bedroom #1: 16×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10

This 5-bedroom vintage greystone at 4401 S. Berekely has been through quite the transformation in the last year.

The house, built in 1893 with a limestone exterior, had been on the market since December 2006.

Originally listed in 2006 for $479,000 it finally sold in April 2010 for $150,000.

From the one picture in the old listing (which you can see on redfin if you have an account), it looked to be completely boarded up. It also did not have heat or air conditioning.

Now, it looks like a totally new house. None of the vintage interior features appear to remain, however.

The kitchen has white cabinets and upscale appliances such as a Viking stove.

The lower level has been turned into a 36×23 entertainment area.

There is an upper level family room with a balcony.

Built on a 30×115 lot, it has two car parking (I can’t tell if this is a garage or just spaces) and, yes, central air.

For the space, is this now a deal?

Belkis Muldoon at Urban Search has the listing. See the pictures here.

4401 S. Berkeley: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 5500 square feet, 2 car parking

• Sold in November 1989 for $60,000
• Lis pendens filed in August 2005
• Originally listed in December 2006 for $479,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Sold in April 2010 for $150,000
• Currently listed for $799,000
• Taxes of $1130
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 23×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 21×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #5: 21×12 (third floor)

We first chattered about this small multi-unit building at 3505 N. Janssen in Southport in August 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

At that time, the top floor unit, Unit #4, was on the market and was asking $12,500 more than its 2006 purchase price.

It never sold and was withdrawn from the market.

Now, Unit #3 has come on the market. It has a similar layout and features, as the building was a gut conversion in 2006/2007.

The kitchen has wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

There are cherry floors and crown molding along with a fireplace.

The unit has 2 limestone baths.

It also has the same separate 10×4 laundry room as Unit #4, a rarity among most condos of this size.

This seller has priced it $40,000 under the 2007 purchase price.

Is this priced to sell?

Gregory Desmond, who also had the listing for Unit #4, from Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in April 2007 for $525,000
• Currently listed for $485,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $174 a month
• Taxes of $7567
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×10
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×10

According to Wikipedia, John Van Osdel was considered to be among the first Chicago architects, was a peer of Louis Sullivan, among others, and designed many famous buildings including the Palmer House.

The listing for this 6-bedroom greystone mansion at 2430 N. Orchard in Lincoln Park says it was designed by Van Osdel.

If so, it would be one of the few structures of his that is still standing as Wikipedia said most were destroyed by fire.

The listing says the house was built in 1895. According to Wikipedia, Van Osdel died in 1891.

The listing says that 90% of the first floor of the home is “original.”

It has leaded stained glass, plaster crown moldings and built-in bookcases.

The master bedroom has wood beamed ceilings and one of three fireplaces.

The kitchen appears to have some sort of stone counter tops and black appliances with a breakfast island.

Built on a 41.67×125.75 lot, the house has a 2-car garage and central air.

Originally listed in July 2010, it has been reduced $196,000 since that time.

Belkis Muldoon at Urban Search of Chicago has the listing. See the pictures here.

2430 N. Orchard: 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 7000 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 2003 for $1.85 million
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $2.695 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.499 million
• Taxes of $25,575
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 23×22 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 25×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 16×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #6: 22×12 (lower level)

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom Dutch Colonial at 1721 W. 104th in Beverly in December 2010.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

On the market since September 2010, those of you who commented about the property thought it was priced too richly for the neighborhood (after all, what cop making $50,000 could afford it? That was one argument).

It went under contract shortly after appearing on CribChatter and recently closed just $29,000 under the original list price.

The house was on an extra large 100×135 lot and had a two car garage.

While just 1500 square feet, it retained much of its vintage charm.

Did the chatterers misjudge this property?

Carole Klein at City Point Realty had the listing.

1721 W. 104th Place: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1500 square feet, 2 car garage

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price
• Originally listed in September 2010 for $319,000
• Was listed in December 2010 for $319,000
• Sold in February 2011 for $292,000
• Taxes of $841
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 9×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×14 (main level)