Crib Chatter

We’ve chattered about the conversion vintage mid-rise building at 433 W. Briar Place in Lakeview several times before.

See our February 2009 chatter here.

The developer has been selling units in the building since 2007.

But this is the first time I’ve seen the top floor unit marketed with its own private 45×35 rooftop deck.

The 2-bedroom unit has south, west and north views.

It has also been reduced $100,000 since April.

Everything is new. The kitchen sports custom cabinets and a 6-burner Jenn Air stove.

Parking is negotiable.

The units also have central air and in-unit washer/dryers.

Meta Rose Torchia at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #11B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1620 square feet

• Originally listed in June 2007
• Was listed in April 2010 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $499,000
• Assessments of $411 a month
• Taxes of $8901
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 17×12

This 4-bedroom duplex penthouse unit in the Park Edgewater at 6101 N. Sheridan in Edgewater recently came on the market as a short sale.

Built in 1930, the unit has 3 of its 4 bedrooms on the second floor, or duplex up. It also has a sunroom.

The listing says that the kitchen is “original” but that the baths had been renovated to spa caliber.

There is also a sauna and steam room.

But the real reason to buy this unit is the 3100 square foot private roof deck with views of the city and the lake.

The property has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer.

Parking is available for rent in the building.

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and virtual tour with interactive floorplan here.

Unit #15I: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, sunroom, 3300 square feet

• Sold in March 1989 for $265,000
• Sold in October 2005 for $675,000
• Lis pendens filed in May 2009
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $799,000
• Assessments of $860 a month (includes heat, gas)
• Taxes of $4257
• Parking is rental for $150-$250 a month
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 20×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×10 (main floor)
• Sunroom: 18×12

This 3-flat plus coach house at 439 W. Webster in Lincoln Park was purchased in 2006.

It has been on and off the market since 2008.

But now the listing says it is a “stalled development opportunity for experienced developers.” (checking out the pictures, that is an understatement).

The units are as follows:

1. 2 bedrooms/1 bath
2. 2 bedrooms/1 bath
3. 3 bedrooms/3 bath duplex up
4. 1 bedroom/1 bath (assuming this is the coach house

What is a price someone will be willing to pay for this property given the development costs?

It still has location, location, location.

Patrick Santry at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

439 W. Webster: 3-flat and coach house, 1 car garage

• Sold in May 1996 for $460,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $850,000
• Several lis pendens filed
• Originally listed in December 2008
• Currently listed for $750,000
• Taxes of $13,670
• The listing says it’s in the Lincoln Park High School district

30 W. Oak, the modern tower in the Gold Coast, was not the tallest or the most luxurious new building to be built during the boom.

But 4 years later, the building continues to be a standout in the Rush Street corridor.

Built by Smithfield in 2006, the 46-unit boutique building has 22 floors (that construction in front of the building is for the new Ogden Elementary School.)

There has been one sale in 2010, Unit #16A, which closed for $3.875 million.

There were 3 sales in 2009, including Unit #3A for $2.9 million.

But Unit #4C has been on the market for 2 1/2 years.

We’ve chattered about Unit #4C several times in the past.

See our November 2008 chatter here.

The 2 bedroom unit has now been reduced by $156,000 since 2008 and is listed for just $54,000 over the 2007 purchase price.

It has a Poggenpohl kitchen and upgraded stainless appliances by Sub-Zero and Miele.

It also has a 24×12 terrace.

What will it take to finally sell this property?

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

Unit #4C: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, study, 2057 square feet

• Sold in October 2006 for $1.01 million
• Sold in May 2007 for $1.115 million
• Was listed in January 2008 for $1.325 million plus $65k for parking
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2008 for $1.299 million plus $65k for parking 
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2008 at $1.249 million (parking included)
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.169 million (parking $30,000 extra)
• Assessments of $1256 a month (includes heat, a/c, cable, doorman)
• Taxes of $2844
• Has a 24 x 12 terrace
• Bedroom #1: 16×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×12

The listing for this 3-bedroom unit at 1000 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast says that there are lakeviews from the bedrooms.

It also says the condo is “priced to move.”

One the market for a year, it has been reduced $69,100 since April 2010.

There are hardwood floors in the main living areas.

The kitchen has white cabinets and counter tops and the listing says there are new stainless steel appliances.

There is no central air (only wall units) and no in-unit washer/dryer.

Parking is valet and looks to be rented.

At 1800 square feet, is this a deal for the square footage and location?

Oak Street Beach is located, literally, across the street from this building.

Greg Whelan at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #405: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in January 1997 for $180,000
• Sold in January 1998 for $193,000
• Originally listed in July 2009
• Re-listed in April 2010 for $399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $329,900
• Assessments of $1313 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $3735
• Parking rental at $200 a month
• No Central Air- wall units
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 19×13
• Bedroom #2: 16×11
• Bedroom #3: 15×12

This 2-bedroom in The Pinnacle at 21 E. Huron would appear to be like every other luxury 2-bedroom in River North.

Only the listing for this unit says that “close to a million dollars was spent to turn this unit into a one of a kind designer home.”

Where did the money go?

It has a Poggenpohl custom kitchen with luxury appliances.

There is diagonal wide plank flooring.

The listing says there is an Annex spa bath (and if you look at the pictures for the bathrooms, you can see they aren’t done in regular tile and granite.)

It is, however, listed just $135,000 over the 2004 purchase price.

Chezi Rafaeli at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2101: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2004 for $655,000
• Originally listed in March 2009 for $890,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $790,000 (parking is extra)
• Assessments of $724 a month (includes heat, air conditioning, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $8011
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×13
• Living room: 16×16
• Family room: 16×16
• Kitchen: 13×9
• Dining room: 12×8

This 2-story 3-bedroom home at 5718 N. Melvina in the Gladstone Park neighborhood of Jefferson Park was renovated in 2004.

The house was built in 1926 but now boosts modern amenities.

The kitchen has 40 inch cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and newer white appliances.

It also has central air and a 2-car garage.

Unlike most houses of this size, it has 2.5 baths, including a connecting master bath with jacuzzi tub.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor and the master has cathedral ceilings.

There is an unfinished basement.

The Metra and the Kennedy Expressway are nearby.

Is this a good starter home for this price range and location?

The house is for sale by owner. You can see all of the pictures and the listing on Zillow here.

5718 N. Melvina: 3 bedroooms, 2.5 baths, 1862 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1997 for $135,000
• Sold in April 2000 for $164,000
• Sold in February 2006 for $417,500
• Originally listed in June 2010 for $399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $379,000
• Taxes of $3200 (from public records)
• Central Air
• Unfinished basement

This 3-bedroom duplex down newer construction condo at 3023 N. Damen in Roscoe Village recently came on the market.

Located across from Hamlin Park, the building was constructed in 2006.

The unit is now bank owned and is listed for about 57%, or $319,100, under the 2007 purchase price.

The listing doesn’t say anything about the condition of the unit. Nor are there any interior pictures so we have no idea if the kitchen and bathrooms are intact.

Still, this is a three bedroom unit just a few doors down from others we have recently chattered about that are listed in the $500,000 range.

Is this a steal?

Michael Olszewksi at Area Wide Realty has the listing. See the listing and exterior photo here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1 car parking, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2007 for $559,000
• Lis pendens filed in March 2008
• Bank owned in December 2009
• Currently listed for $239,900
• Taxes of $8197
• It doesn’t list the condo assessments
• It says no central air- but I find that hard to believe in a new construction condo building.
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×11 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 14×11 (lower level)
• Living room: 25×14 (main level)
• Kitchen: 14×9 (main level)
• Family room: 22×17 (lower level)

These two new construction mansion houses at 2226 W. Medill and 2230 W. Medill in Bucktown were among the earliest foreclosure mansions we chattered about way back in January 2008.

See our January 2008 chatter and pictures here.

What happened to them?

Built at the same time and in the same architectural style, they were both sold at the peak of the market in 2006 for identical prices of $1.475 million.

Both went into distress.

2230 W. Medill was ultimately foreclosed and the bank resold it for 50% off the 2006 price in August 2009.

See it’s history below.

2230 W. Medill: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2792 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in July 2006 for $1.475 million
• Was listed in January 2008 for $949,500
• Bank owned in May 2009? Or was it November 2007? Records aren’t clear
• Sold in August 2009 for $710,000

But for 2226 W. Medill there are few records. There is no record with the county that the bank owns it.

2226 W. Medill:

• Sold in August 2006 for $1.475 million
• Lis pendens in July 2007
• ?????
• It is not currently on the market.

We last chattered about this renovated 1-bedroom condo at 70 W. Burton in the Gold Coast in January 2010.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It has since been reduced by $13,000 but it still remains the most expensive unit available in the building.

It has bamboo floors in the main living area.

The kitchen has modern, European style cabinets with stainless steel.

The bathroom has limestone tiles alongside purist Kohler fixtures.

It doesn’t have central air, but does have wall units.

There is no washer/dryer in the unit and there is no deeded parking. Rental parking is available for $115 a month.

There are also no pets allowed.

Vik Wadhwa at Modern Chicago Homes still has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #803: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 750 square feet

• Sold in June 1989 for $78,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $182,500
• Was previously listed in 2008 for $259,000
• Re-listed in January 2010 for $242,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $229,900
• Assessments of $580 a month (includes heat, cable, doorman)
• Parking of $115 a month
• Taxes of $2389
• No washer/dryer in the unit
• No central air
• Bedroom: 17×13
• Living room: 18×16
• Kitchen: 12×8