Crib Chatter

We chattered about this 2-bedroom vintage conversion unit at 522 W. Oakdale in East Lakeview several times before.

See our May 2010 chatter and pictures here.

It has finally sold for $69,500 under the 2006 purchase price.

It had all the bells and whistles including a second bathroom, central air, in-unit washer/dryer and deeded parking.

It also had a desireable East Lakeview location. 

Eric Rojas at Prudential Rubloff had the listing.

Unit #2W: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 1 parking space

• Sold in February 2006 for $409,500
• Originally listed in January 2010 for $374,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in March 2010 for $369,900
• Was listed in May 2010 for $369,900
• Sold in July 2010 for $340,000
• Assessments of $267 a month
• Taxes of $6336
• Central Air
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• Bedroom #1: 11×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×9
• Living room: 22×24
• Kitchen: 12×14

We’ve chattered about this 2-flat in Old Town at 1618 N. Cleveland several times since it was first listed in February 2010.

See our May 2010 chatter here.

Since that time, it has now been reduced $140,000 but still there are no buyers.

Once listed as an investment property, then it was about “location, location, location” and converting the property into a single family home.

Now the listing says you can “own a piece of history” and that FHA financing is “possible.”

The 2-units are as follows:

1. Unit 1: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, currently rented for $1200 a month
2. Unit 2: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, currently rented for $1200 a month

There is a 2-car garage with the property.

There is also central air and heat with is separately metered and a washer/dryer in the basement.

What price will it take to finally sell this property?

Sandra Adler at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1618 N. Cleveland: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, 2-flat

• I can’t find an original sales price but last sale was in 1998
• Was listed in February 2009 for $590,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2010 for $540,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2010 for $490,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $450,000
• Taxes of $10,712
• Central Air

This 3-bedroom condo unit at 2535 N. Orchard in Lincoln Park is for those vintage lovers who also want the modern amenities.

That would mean central air, in-unit washer/dryer and deeded parking.

You rarely find vintage in this prime Lincoln Park location with all three features.

This unit also has some of its vintage character still intact inside the unit with an original built-in hutch and beamed ceiling in the dining room.

The kitchen has been “recently renovated” and has granite counter tops.

The top floor unit also has a private 20×7 deck which over looks a side yard.

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3N: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1700 square feet

• Sold in December 1986
• Sold in September 2000 for $325,000
• Originally listed in January 2010 and withdrawn in May 2010
• Re-listed in July 2010 and currently listed for $424,500 (parking included)
• Assessments of $345 a month
• Taxes of $5481
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×10
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 10×9

Crain’s reports that Lucien Lagrange, the famed architect of such downtown condo high rises as Park Tower and The Elysian as well as the still under development 2520 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park, is retiring.

One of the city’s most active designers for more than two decades, Mr. Lagrange, 69, says the firm filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors Wednesday as a way to wind up its affairs and prevent him with being saddled with company debts after he stops working.

Mr. Lagrange declines to comment about the firm’s finances and says the Chapter 11 filing was merely a pragmatic business decision he made after deciding it was time to retire.

“Retiring, (there would be) a lot of liabilities are on my back. I can’t just walk away,” Mr. Lagrange says. “Chapter 11 gives you a chance to plan ahead, organize and close in a decent way.”

No closing date has been set for the firm, says Mr. Lagrange, one of four principals in the company, which employs four associates and other support staff.

The 69 year old Lagrange, who moved to Chicago in 1968, also seems aware that the market conditions may not improve soon enough for him to make a comeback.

Mr. Lagrange says he doesn’t see development rebounding for at least five years, when he might be too old to undertake another major project.

“I could maybe survive the economy downturn, but what’s the point?” he says.

Architect Lucien Lagrange retires, firm files Chapter 11 [Crain’s Chicago Business, Thomas Corfman, July 15, 2010]

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit at 2754 N. Hampden, the Hampden Tower, in East Lincoln Park is listed as a short sale.

The listing says the unit had been rehabbed in 2005.

It has hardwood floors and dark kitchen cabinets with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

This is one of the units in the building with in-unit washer/dryer and it also has a wine fridge.

There are custom California closet systems as well.

There is no central air, just wall units, and deeded parking is available.

This building, which was built in 1973, has a great roof top pool that overlooks the lake and downtown.

The listing says the building is FHA approved.

Is this a deal given the renovation of the unit and the square footage?

Jim Humes at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #705: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 1999 for $198,000
• Lis pendens filed in September 2008
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in September 2009
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $279,000 (parking extra)
• No assessments are listed but similar units in the building are around $600 a month
• Taxes of $4311
• Bedroom #1: 12×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Dining room: 15×10
• Kitchen: 13×8
• Living room: 15×15

This 2-flat at 1013 Ashland in Evanston is close to shopping and the Metra Main Street stop.

Built in 1906, the listing says a buyer can keep the property as a 2-flat or convert it into a single family home.

Constructed on a 45×175 lot, the listing says it needs “TLC and updating.”

But it still has some of its vintage bones including wood floors and built-ins in one of the dining rooms.

There is no central air, just window units.

The listing also says there is a 1-car detached garage.

Does this property make financial sense if you want to live in one and rent out the other? The public listing does not provide information about rental rates or gross income of the property.

Gordon Smith at Baird and Warner has the listing. See more pictures here.

1013 Ashland in Evanston: 2-flat, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car garage

• Sold before 1988
• Currently listed for $295,000
• Taxes of $9349
• No central air

Recently, there was a debate about what land is selling for in Lincoln Park, Lakeview and some other North Side neighborhoods.

This 3-bedroom single family home at 2117 W. Belle Plaine in North Center has been on the market since May 2010.

It is not next to the El tracks, on a busy street, or on a corner lot.

The house, constructed in 1891, is built on a 25×120 lot and has a 1-car garage.

The listing says it is “as-is” and “needs updating” but it has a new roof and some new windows.

And the property is located, according to the listing, in the Coonley School District.

The house has been reduced $40,000 since May.

Not including the house itself, is this a deal just for the property?

Doris Rivera at Century 21 has the listing. See the pictures here.

2117 W. Belle Plaine: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 1988 for $2584
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $399,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $359,900
• Taxes of $3919
• No Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×8
• Bedroom #3: 9×7
• Kitchen: 9×11
• Living room: 14×11
• Family room: 14×13 (second floor)

There are lofts of all sizes and flavor in The Donohue Building, one of the original loft conversion buildings in the city, at 711 S. Dearborn in Printers Row.

This 2 bedroom loft is bigger than many single family homes at 3000 square feet.

It is two units that have been combined.

There are upscale finishes including white Snaidero cabinets, quartz counter tops, and Wolf and Bosch appliances in the kitchen.

The bathrooms are marble with undermount sinks.

There is exposed brick and hardwood floors but the timber ceiling has been drywalled (which some units in the building have and some have not.) The drywalled ceiling does provide more privacy.

There is no central air (only window units) but it does have an in-unit washer/dryer in its own laundry room.

There is also no deeded parking included, but as has been discussed with this building before, deeded parking is available at 801 S. Plymouth nearby.

This loft has been on and off the market since July 2008.

In 2010, it has been reduced by $60,000.

David Wiencek at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #301: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3000 square feet

• One unit sold in May 2001 for $230,000
• One unit sold in June 2005 for $385,000
• Originally listed, combined, in July 2008
• Withdrawn and re-listed in 2009
• Re-listed in March 2010 for $859,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2010 for $799,900
• Currently still listed for $799,900
• Assessments of $1549 a month (includes heat and cable)
• Taxes of $8655
• Bedroom #1: 13×16
• Bedroom #2: 13×19

This top floor 2-bedroom vintage unit at 34 E. Elm in the Gold Coast may not appear to be anything special from the street, but behind the building lurks a new rooftop terrace with views of the surrounding buildings and trees.

The listing says the deck is private to the unit.

There is also a new deeded parking space attached with the building (which you can see if you click on the virtual tour if you’re on Redfin.)

The unit has some of its vintage features intact including 10 foot ceilings, a wood burning fireplace, and crown molding.

The kitchen is a custom-built in-eat kitchen with Dacor and Miele appliances and a SubZero refrigerator.

It has central air and a washer/dryer in the unit.

This property seems to be pretty unique with the large deck and even has all the bells and whistles including attached secure parking.

Will buyers pay a premium for the big private deck and quiet Gold Coast location?

Carol Browne has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 1993 for $220,000
• Sold in March 2000 for $400,000
• Sold in July 2001 for $546,000
• Currently listed for $899,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $225 a month
• Taxes of $6233
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Living room: 23×12
• Dining room (is this a combo?): 17×12
• Kitchen: 16×14
• Private rooftop terrace

This 5-bedroom brick single family home at 444 W. 38th in Bridgeport is just a few blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

It looks, from public records, like the house was built in 2008 and sold in 2009.

The brick house is on a double lot of 50×125 and has a rare Chicago feature: a 3 car heated attached garage.

5,000 of the 6,100 square feet is above grade and it has a full, finished basement.

All 5 bedrooms are on the second floor. The master bedroom is a huge 28×20.

The listing says the kitchen has “top of the line” finishes.

There is a unique 3-season separate porch house in the backyard and a third floor deck with views of The Cell.

Timothy White at Re/Max Vision 212 has the listing. See the pictures and the virtual tour here.

(The listing gives the address as 440 W. 38th but all the public records call it 444 W. 38th).

444 W. 38th Street: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3 car garage, 6100 square feet

• Sold in November 2009 for $950,000 (according to the Tribune’s records)
• Currently listed for $1.2 million
• Taxes of $6921
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 28×20
• Bedroom #2: 15×12
• Bedroom #3: 15×13
• Bedroom #4: 15×13
• Bedroom #5: 15×13