Crib Chatter

Despite other newer high rise residential buildings trying to steal its thunder in recent years, there’s something special about the John Hancock at 175 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast.

For someone who loves views, there’s nothing that compares to this 1-bedroom west facing (city views) unit on the 80th floor for under $300,000. It is the cheapest 1-bedroom currently available in the building.

The 825 square foot unit, according to the listing, has a white kitchen, but there are no pictures of it.

The listing also says the open floorplan has a movable wall.

There is no washer/dryer in the unit (it’s on every other floor)- but there has since been a change in the condo rules to allow it.

But it’s really all about those views.

Earl Reid at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #8001: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 825 square feet

• Sold in November 1996 for $140,500
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $329,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $299,900
• Parking is leased for $305 to $330 a month
• Assessments of $524 a month (includes doorman, pool, cable)
• Taxes of $3205
• Air conditioning is zoned central air

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 1806 N. Larrabee in Lincoln Park recently came on the market and it’s priced at under $530,000.

Built in 1974, the townhouse has a private garage and private back deck. It also has my personal favorite- skylights.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second level. There is also a lower level family room that is 28×11.

The kitchen has white appliances and maple cabinets.

Yes, there is central air.

Is this a deal for the amount of space and the location?

Eric Rojas at Prudential Rubloff  has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

1806 N. Larrabee: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1 car parking

• Sold in March 1999 for $300,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $535,000
• Currently listed for $529,900
• Assessments of $321
• Taxes of $5272
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×8

This 2-bedroom unit at 100 E. Huron in River North is far from the boring white boxes that are sometimes found in the newer constructed high rise buildings downtown.

Forget about granite countertops. How about granite floors? This unit has them in the living room and kitchen area. Hardwood floors remain in the bedrooms.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and lacquered cabinets.

The unit also has custom doors and unique mosaic tile in the bathrooms that must be seen to be believed.

Judith Pielet at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1305: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1515 square feet

• Sold in December 1996 for $310,000
• Currently listed for $599,000
• Assessments of $970 a month (includes heat, air conditioning, cable, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $8251
• Parking is valet/rental at $240 to $340 a month
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom renovated unit at 550 W. Wellington in Lakeview in November 2009.

See our November 2009 chatter and pictures here.

At that time, the unit was under contract 1 year after it was first listed.

Well, the unit has now come back on the market listed at the same price as November 2009.

This is a true penthouse unit with its own private rooftop deck.

The unit has 10 foot ceilings and luxury finishes including Bulthaup, Sub-Zero, Poliform and Dornbracht.

It also has an enormous walk-in closet.

Brian Loomis at Coldwell Banker now has the listing. See the pictures and the virtual tour here.

Unit #9W: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in June 2005 for $995,000
• Originally listed in November 2008 for $1.295 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2009 at $1.095 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1 million
• Was Under Contract in November 2009
• Recently re-listed for $1 million
• Assessments of $537 a month
• Taxes of $13,369
• 1 heated garage parking space included
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit

We’ve chattered about duplex up units like this one at 2629 N. Dayton in Lincoln Park before.

At 2400 square feet, it’s as big as most single family homes.

It has 3 private decks, 22 foot ceilings and skylights. The unit also has a rare 3 full bathrooms.

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

At this price, is this unit a good alternative for those who want space but also want to remain in Lincoln Park?

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

Unit #3N: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2400 square feet, 1 car parking, duplex up

• Sold in April 1998 for $389,000
• Sold in July 2000 for $480,000
• Originally listed in March 2009 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $574,500
• Assessments of $177 a month
• Taxes of $7408
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Its sister unit, Unit #3S, also just came on the market for $589,900. It only has 2.5 baths. Brett Novack at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

I’ll be away on vacation next week so there will be a limited schedule for Crib Chatter.

1. No posts on Monday, February 15th, President’s Day
2. Limited posts the rest of the week

I’ll be covering some million dollar properties on the north side next week.

But never fear, other neighborhoods will get their chance in the spotlight soon enough as selling season is kicking into high gear.

Remember to keep e-mailing me your tips on properties. I really do look at everything you all send me. You are my eyes and ears in every neighborhood in the city. I can’t keep up with everything otherwise!

Thanks for all the help.

Have a good week next week-

Sabrina

This 3 bedroom bank owned coach house at 809 W. Oakdale in Lakeview has been on the market since July 2009.

Since then, it has been reduced by $137,400.

It is already listed at more than 50% under the 2006 purchase price and is under even the 1997 purchase price.

The listing doesn’t tell us much except that it has a rooftop deck and a 2-story fireplace.

All three bedrooms are on the second level.

It looks like it might have parking, but the listing isn’t clear.

It also appears to not have air conditioning- but that too isn’t very clear.

Is this now a deal?

Connie Ritchie at Re/Max Suburban has the listing. See the few pictures here.

Unit CHE: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths

• Sold in April 1991 for $245,000
• Sold in October 1992 for $243,000
• Sold in November 1997 for $325,000
• Sold in September 2002 for $592,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $670,000
• Lis pendens in June 2007
• Bank owned in February 2009
• Listed in July 2009 for $449,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $312,500
• Assessments of $1440 a month (includes air conditioning (?), parking (?), cable)
• Taxes of $13263
• Bedroom #1: 17×18
• Bedroom #2: 10×13
• Bedroom #3: 10×13

This 3-bedroom unit at 1021 W. Rundell in the West Loop has been on and off the market for three years.

Built in 1999, the unit is in an elevator building in a complex that also has townhouses located not far from the restaurants on Randolph and Madison Streets.

The listing says the elevator opens into the unit.

It has stainless steel kitchen appliances and granite counter tops.

The unit also has 2 balconies.

Is this a deal for the square footage in this location?

Richard DiVito at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet

• Sold in November 2000 for $340,000
• Originally listed in February 2007 for $415,000
• Withdrawn and relisted several times
• Lis pendens filed in January 2008
• Currently listed for $390,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $350 a month
• Taxes of $4973
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×15
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×14

This vintage brick 2-flat at 1314 W. Cornelia in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview is strategically located within walking distance of the Southport El stop as well as Southport’s shops and restaurants.

Built in 1910, it also has a large and updated 3-bedroom owners unit which makes it possible to live in your dream unit and use the proceeds from the other rental property to fund the purchase.

The owners unit is a duplex up with a chef’s kitchen complete with a Viking stove and stainless steel appliances. It also has 2.5 baths.

While this is an owners unit, the listing on Redfin also lists the bigger unit as being rented.

The units consist of the following:

1. Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, washer/dryer in the unit, rented for $1650 a month
2. Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, washer/dryer in the unit, rented for $3250 a month

Both units have the original moldings and other vintage features intact.

The listing says it has steam heat but doesn’t mention any central air.

There’s a two car garage.

Does the math work to buy this building to live in the duplex and rent out the second unit?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker has the listing. Be sure to check out all 22 pictures here.

1314 W. Cornelia: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, 2-flat

• Sold in June 1997 for $545,000
• Originally listed in October 2009 for $1,059,000
• Currently listed for $1,059,000
• Taxes of $11,963

Crilly Court is the 90-unit vintage conversion on Wells, Crilly Court, and St. Paul in the heart of Old Town that sold out quickly back in 2007.

This 3-bedroom unit at 1702 N. Wells is in the main part of the building that overlooks Wells street (above the shops.)

There were only 8 parking spaces with the buildings (outside spots in the courtyard area) and they all sold with the most expensive units only. Everyone else has rental parking in the neighborhood.

This is the first time in awhile I’ve seen a resale of one of the Wells Street units (we’ve chattered about several others on Crilly Court before.)

The listing says it’s had $40,000 in upgrades.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and upgraded stainless steel appliances. The unit has walnut stained hardwood floors.

Interesting, there is a $10,000 charge for storage in the building (first time I’ve ever seen that.)

Someone said in the comments on another thread about this unit that one of the bedrooms was being used as a living room but that is personal preference. The “living room” area in the unit is being used as a dining space, as per the pictures.

This is a top floor unit.

Jeanine Wheeler at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or you can see it in person on Sun Feb 14 at the open house from 12-2 pm.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1507 square feet

• Sold in July 2007 for $467,000
• Currently listed for $525,000
• Assessments of $291 a month
• Taxes of $6200
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking- rental in the neighborhood