Crib Chatter

The only authentic French Market in Chicago is expected to open on December 3 in the Metra Market, the newly renovated portion of the Ogilvie Transportation Building in the West Loop.

Randolph Place at 165 N. Canal, a big industrial building which was converted into condos in 1998, is right across the street.

What could be more convenient?

There are several large 1-bedroom units currently on the market in the building including this one, Unit #1303, which at 1200 square feet, has more space than many 2-bedroom units.

It also has an attached 11×11 “bonus room.”

The kitchen has been upgraded with stainless steel appliances (original appliances in the building were black) and has cherry cabinets and granite countertops.

It has hardwood floors and a gas fireplace.

These units are considered “soft lofts” as they have high ceilings and some of the rooms do not have floor to ceiling walls but there are no “authentic” loft features such as exposed brick or timber. The duct work is also hidden.

The French Market will feature 25 local vendors and will be open Monday through Friday until 7:30 pm and on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Read all about the French Market here.

Will the French Market become a food destination and bring West Loop real estate along for the ride?

Nancy Finley at Keller Williams Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1303: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1200 square feet, bonus room

• Sold in May 1999 for $168,500 (included the parking)
• Sold in April 2007 for $322,000
• Currently listed for $289,000 (plus $30,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $323 a month (includes cable, water, doorman)
• Taxes of $3488
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Central Air
• Bedroom: 14×11
• Living/dining: 21×15
• Kitchen: 14×18
• Bonus room: 11×11

We’ve chattered about this 2-bedroom vintage unit in a 2006 conversion at 2734 N. Kimball in Logan Square several times before.

See our May 2009 chatter here.

It’s now been reduced by $47,500 since it was first listed in March 2009.

It is now also listed below the 2006 purchase price.

The top floor unit has high ceilings and a fireplace. The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

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

There is no deeded parking with the unit.

Is this property now priced to sell?

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

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1000 square feet

• Sold in July 2006 for $244,000
• Was listed in March 2009 for $285,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2009 for $274,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $237,500
• Assessments of $207 a month
• Taxes are $3240
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• No parking- but the listing says it’s “available”
• Bedroom #1: 12×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×9

You could live in one and rent out the other two units in this magestic greystone 3-flat at 914 N. Winchester in the East Village (or is this the Ukranian Village???)

Many of the original wood work features are still intact including the wood archways in between the living and dining rooms and the decorative fireplaces.

The kitchens and baths have been updated.

The units have separate central air and all three kitchens have dishwashers. The tenants pay their own separate gas, electric and heat.

All three units are currently rented:

1. Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, rented for $1150 – including a parking space
2. Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, rented for $1150 – including a parking space
3. Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, rented for $1200

Ivona Kutermankiewicz at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

914 N. Winchester: 7 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage

• I couldn’t find an original sales price- but sometime in 1987
• Currently listed for $679,900
• Rental income of $42,000
• Electric: $3600
• Insurance: $2800
• Maintenance: $2000
• Water: $600
• Full basement

Most of us have probably passed by the 3-bedroom modern mansion at 2474 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park at some point.

It is one of the few single family homes that sits directly on Lincoln Park.

The home has been for sale for over three years.

In that time period it was reduced just $875,000.

It has finally gone under contract.

Designed in 1991 by architect Perry Jenke, the glass and steel home has a 42 foot high center atrium. The listing says it was designed to display an art collection.

This sale, if it is completed, would be among the most expensive properties to sell in the city in 2009. Is this a sign that the luxury market is re-awakening?

Gayle Tepper at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

2474 N. Lakeview: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• I couldn’t find an original sales price
• Originally listed in June 2006 for $6.575 million
• Reduced in July 2008 to $5.7 million
• Currently still listed at $5.7 million
• Under contract
• Taxes of $36,465
• Third floor terrace

This 4-bedroom penthouse unit at 1250 S. Michigan in the South Loop has been on the market a few months.

It has been reduced by $140,000 since September 2009.

The unit is now listed for $350,100 under the 2006 purchase price.

The listing says it has a “spectacular” view from every room. It also has two balconies.

The pictures don’t show the kitchens or baths and the listing doesn’t reference them, so we don’t know any details about the finishes.

There are dark hardwood floors in what appears to be the main living area.

With 3,000 square feet, the unit is now listed at only $283 a square foot.

Is this a deal?

Michael Fields at Jax Realtors has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2900: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3000 square feet

• Sold in August 2006 for $1.2 million
• Was listed in January 2009
• Was re-listed in September 2009 for $989,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $849,900 (2 car parking included)
• Assessments of $1600 a month (doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $15,000
• Central Air
• Washer Dryer

We last chattered about the ParkView at 505 N. McClurg in Streeterville in September 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, several investors were trying to flip 2-bedroom units in the building.

Unit #2402 was one of the units we chattered about.

It is still on the market and has been reduced by another $59,500.

The unit is also now priced below the 2008 purchase price.

The listing says it has upgraded finishes. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

Is it now “priced to sell”?

Francesca Rose at Prudential Rubloff now has the listing. See more pictures here.

See the property website here.

Unit #2402: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1464 square feet

• Sold in June 2008 for $795,000
• Originally listed in June 2008 for $869,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in September 2009 for $759,000 (plus $60,000 for parking)
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2009 for $739,000 (plus $60k for parking)
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $699,500 (plus $60k for parking)
• Assessments of $661 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Living room: 17×16
• Kitchen: 12×8
• Dining room: 17×11

This 5-bedroom new construction single family home at 2665 N. Burling in Lincoln Park has been reduced by over $1.2 million since it was first listed about 11 months ago.

It is now in short sale.

The listing calls it the “deal of the year” in Lincoln Park.

The new owner will have to finish the interiors as it is missing the kitchen and baths.

It has a top floor master suite with private balcony and master bath. It also has a two car garage.

Is this a steal at this price and location?

Ruta Usaviciute at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

2665 N. Burling: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3585 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in February 2006 for $937,000
• Originally listed in January 2009 for $1,999,900
• Reduced several times
• Was listed on Nov 23, 2009 for $1,290,090
• Reduced on Nov 24, 2009 to $784,769
• Taxes of $12,203

We chattered about this traditional looking 4-bedroom home with a contemporary interior at 4337 N. Paulina in the Ravenswood Historic District several times.

See our August 2009 chatter and pictures here.

It has now gone under contract 18 months after it was first listed.

If you remember, the house was on an oversize 33×165 lot.

It had a renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The house also had skylights.

Timothy Sheahan at Conlon Real Estate still has the listing.

See more pictures here.

4337 N. Paulina: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2.5 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 1988 for $56,500
• Sold in March 2000 for $700,000
• Sold in August 2005 for $955,000
• Originally listed in May 2008 for $1.099 million
• Listing cancelled in October 2008
• Re-listed in June 2009 for $999,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2009 at $949,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in late August 2009 for $899,000
• Currently listed for $899,000
• Under Contract
• Taxes of $11,471
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×21
• Bedroom #2: 16×14
• Bedroom #3: 11×12
• Bedroom #4: 10×11

We chattered about this 2-bedroom duplex at 552 W. Armitage in Lincoln Park several times.

See our August 2009 chatter and pictures here.

The unit had a good location close to Lincoln Park, Old Town and the shops and restaurants on Armitage.

It had a townhouse feel with the two bedrooms on the second floor. The property also had central air and a deeded parking space.

It recently sold for $17,500 under the 2004 purchase price.

Matt Garrison at Coldwell Banker had the listing.

552 W. Armitage #1: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, duplex

• Sold in September 2004 for $370,000
• Originally listed in June 2008 for $424,000
• Reduced a few times
• Was listed in May 2009 at $399,900 (parking space included)
• Reduced
• Was  listed in August 2009 at $374,900 (parking space included)
• Sold in November 2009 for $352,500 (parking space included)
• Assessments of $140 a month
• Taxes of $3945
• Central Air
• Living room: 21×11
• Kitchen: 10×8
• Bedroom #1: 11×10
• Bedroom #2: 13×11

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom luxury penthouse at 1715 W. Ohio in the Ukranian Village in May 2009.

There was a heated discussion about the price of this property with some saying it shouldn’t sell for anything over $950,000 and others saying they would eat their words when it sold “in a few months” for $1.8 million to $1.9 million.

See our prior chatter here.

Since May, the unit has been reduced by $200,000.

It’s now under contract.

It’s no ordinary penthouse. The 6000 square foot home has 14 to 17 foot high ceilings and a private elevator to take you to your unit.

The master suite is 30×25.

It also has a 1700 square foot cedar rooftop deck with gas fire pit (not clear if that is included in the 6000 square foot total- but it appears to be.)

Chaz Walters at Sudler Sotheby’s International still has the listing.

You can see the pictures here.

Unit #PH: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 6000 square feet, 2 car garage, duplex

• Sold in August 2004 for $1.2 million
• Was listed in May 2009 for $1,999,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.799 million
• Under contract
• Assessments are $900 a month
• Taxes are $8,000
• Gourmet kitchen with Brazilian granite island