Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom top floor unit at 817 W. George in Lakeview is blessed with nearly all of its vintage features still in tact.

The foyer has wood moldings along with the original pier mirror.

The living room has a fireplace (non-working) surrounded by glass cabinet built-ins. There is also stained glass above the door in the living room that leads to the front terrace.

The listing says that there is a family room in the back of the unit next to the kitchen and describes how this was the dining room in the original layout given the beamed ceilings and huge hutch built-in.

The kitchen has been opened to the family/dining room. It sports white cabinets and a 6-burner Viking stove and stainless steel refrigerator.

There is also another deck on the back of the unit.

The unit has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer. There is no parking but it is available to rent in the neighborhood.

The property is just a five minute stroll to the Diversey El stop.

Ed Jelinek at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3W: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 2001 for $315,000
• Sold in April 2005 for $366,000
• Originally listed in February 2010 for $375,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $349,900
• Assessments of $345 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $4301
• Central Air
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 11×12
• Bedroom #2: 9×11
• Family/dining room: 11×17

This 2-bedroom unit in a courtyard building at 542 W. Brompton in Lakeview isn’t your typical vintage unit.

While it has a full-sized separate dining room which is typical in this era of a building and bay windows, it also has a unique second floor “loft” area that measures 26×9 which is accessible from a staircase in the living room.

The kitchen has new cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops as well as some exposed brick.

The listing says the bathrooms have been remodeled.

There is a European-style washer/dryer in the kitchen but there is no central air and no parking (it is available for lease in the neighborhood.) The listing says the seller will credit 6-months worth of parking.

Janis Northon at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3S: 2 bedrooms, den/loft, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in October 1989 for $269,000 (?)
• Sold in April 1994 for $151,000
• Sold in October 2000 for $250,000
• Originally listed in November 2009 for $349,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $339,900
• Assessments of $400 a month (includes heat, cable)
• Taxes of $3939
• No central air- window units
• In-unit washer/dryer
• No parking- available for lease nearby
• Bedroom #1: 16×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living room: 19×12
• Dining room: 15×11
• Loft: 26×9
• Kitchen: 16×8
• Foyer: 23×5

We last chattered about this 1000-square foot renovated vintage 1-bedroom at 1450 N. Dearborn in July 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

The unit is still available and has now been reduced by $20,000.

The 1877 building has great bones, with high ceilings and lots of windows.

The unit has a fireplace.

The kitchen has been updated to bring it into the modern era with a Fisher Paykel dishwasher and refrigerator and a european style in-unit washer/dryer.

The bathroom has also been renovated with a Jado faucet and Duravit sink.

There is no central air and no parking (it is, however, available to rent in the neighborhood.)

Emily Sachs Wong at Koenig & Strey still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3A: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1000 square feet

• Sold in April 1989 for $135,000
• Sold in September 1999 for $219,000
• Sold in October 2004 for $300,000
• Was listed in July 2009 for $399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $379,000
• Assessments of $340 a month (includes heat and water)
• Taxes of $5540
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No central air- window units
• No parking (rental next door for $205 a month)
• Bedroom: 15×15
• Living room: 24×17
• Kitchen: 13×10
• Other: 10×7

This 3-bedroom vintage unit at 2227 N. Bissell in Lincoln Park appears to be a regular duplex down property.

But the listing says it has a “unique” 1000-square foot kitchen, bedroom, den and bathroom on the lower level.

The property is not on the El side of the street.

The main level has all three bedrooms.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and is open to the dining room. There are hardwood floors throughout.

The downstairs kitchen has white cabinets and black appliances.

Could this make a perfect in-law suite?

Kimberly Broznowksi Powers at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1000-square feet of living space duplex down, 1 car parking

• Sold in May 1998 for $320,000
• Sold in February 2000 for $395,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $600,000
• Listed in January 2010 for $624,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $598,000
• Assessments of $125 a month
• Taxes of $6690
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 10×9 (main level)

This 2-bedroom concrete loft at 130 S. Canal in the West Loop came on the market just 3 weeks ago.

It is listed as a short sale for $22,100 under the 1999 purchase price.

There are no interior pictures with the listing but a tipster told me that in the agent’s comments on the MLS it says that the appliances are missing.

Also, offers were due by 5 pm on April 1 but the listing is still marked as “active”.

The unit has 1300 square feet and is located across the street from Union Station.

It has central air, a washer/dryer hook-up in the unit and a heated garage space.

Is this unit a steal?

Dawn Siben at Green Brick Realty has the listing. See the listing here.

Unit #804: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1300 square feet

• Sold in July 1999 for $242,000
• Sold in February 2004 for $305,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $333,000
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $219,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $458 a month (includes doorman)
• Taxes of $4951
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook-up in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom 1890s single family home at 3037 N. Seminary in Lakeview in October 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

Since then, it has been reduced by $81,000 and is now listed just $7,000 above the 2004 purchase price.

The house has a front porch and some of the original crown molding.

Three out of the four bedrooms are on the second flooor.

The kitchen has white cabinets and honed granite counter tops.

There is space pac cooling and a 2 car garage.

Is this a good deal at this new lower price for a single family home with the bells and whistles in this neighborhood?

Debra Dobbs at Koenig & Strey still has the listing. See the pictures here.

3037 N. Seminary: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in October 1992 for $190,000
• Sold in August 1997 for $329,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $762,000
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $850,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $769,000
• Taxes of $10,354
• Space pak cooling
• Bedroom #1: 14×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 7×13 (main level)

We last chattered about this 1-bedroom unit at 1234 W. Argyle in Uptown a year ago, in April 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

At that time, some of you thought the $199,900 listing price was pretty close to the market for the space and location.

The unit just closed for $180,000.

It had a newer kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter top, central air, and deeded parking.

The only thing it seemed to be missing was an in-unit washer/dryer.

Did someone get a deal on this unit?

Matt Garrison at Coldwell Banker had the listing.

Unit #3F: 1 bedroom, den, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 2004 for $230,500
• Was listed in April 2009 for $199,900 (plus $15,000 for parking)
• Sold in March 2010 for $180,000 (unclear if parking was included in that price or not)
• Assessments of $169 a month
• Taxes of $3240
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Balcony
• Living room: 16×13
• Kitchen: 10×10
• Bedroom #1: 12×10
• Den/Dining room: 10×9 (apparently, the kitchen was opened up into the den which is being used as a dining room)

We’ve been following the saga of this 3-bedroom vintage greystone unit at 2127 N. Sheffield for several years.

We even chattered about the complete kitchen renovation during that time.

See that chatter and before and after pictures here.

Also, during that time, the seller attempted to rent out the unit for $2100 a month.

But apparently, selling it was easier than renting it out because the unit finally closed for just $4,000 above the 2002 purchase price.

The unit had high ceilings and vintage features. It also had central air and a parking space but no in-unit washer/dryer.

And yes, it was also directly on the El line.

But it was in the same location when it sold for much more in 2004 (and without the renovated kitchen.)

Mary Haight at @Properties had the listing.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1400 square feet

• Sold in June 2002 for $288,000
• Sold in August 2004 for $325,000
• Was listed in March 2008 for $369,900
• Withdrawn
• Renovated with new kitchen
• Re-listed in April 2009 for $369,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2009 for $349,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2009 for $327,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in January 2010 for $308,000 or also available to rent for $2100 a month
• Sold in March 2010 for $292,000
• Assessments of $200 a month
• Taxes of $4662
• OR available to rent for $2100 a month
• Central Air
• Parking included
• No washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×8

This 2-bedroom penthouse unit at Museum Park Tower IV, at 1235 S. Prairie in the South Loop has been on the market about a month and has already been reduced once.

The building was constructed in 2006. This unit is a corner unit with views to the north and west.

The unit is now listed for $94,500 under the 2006 purchase price (if you include the parking.)

The property has a split floor plan and hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and a double oven. There is a marble bath in the master suite.

Is this a steal for a penthouse in this location?

Katarzyna Sak at American Realtors & Associates has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3609: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1501 square feet

• Sold in October 2006 for $600,500 (with the parking space)
• Lis pendens filed in March 2009
• Listed in March 2010 for $494,000 (parking extra)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $475,000 (parking is $31,000 “when purchased with the unit.”)
• Assessments of $938 a month (includes heat, A/C, pool, doorman)
• Taxes are $10966
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11

We chattered about this 1924 9-unit vintage building at 737-739 W. Brompton in East Lakeview last year.

Last time, it was a 2-bedroom which sold quickly.

See our prior chatter and pictures on the 2-bedroom unit here.

This time around, you can get into the same building and enjoy the same gorgeous vintage bones for a lot less.

This 1-bedroom with dining room is back on the market.

The unit has a unique bay window in the sunroom.

It has hardwood floors throughout, a wood burning fireplace and a small deck off the kitchen.

The property also has central air and while there is no washer/dryer in the unit (it’s free in the building), the listing says one can be added.

There is no parking. It is leased in the neighborhood.

Mary Ann Genellie at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

Unit #2S: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, dining room, sunroom, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 1994 for $118,000
• Sold in March 2002 for $195,000
• Originally listed in December 2009 for $248,900
• Deactivated
• Re-listed in March 2010 and currently listed at $248,900
• Assessments of $132 a month
• Taxes of $2797
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer (can be added)
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Living room: 17×11
• Dining room: 16×11
• Kitchen: 12×8
• Sunroom: 10×6