Crib Chatter

This 1-bedroom in the St Regis Residences at 363 E. Wacker Drive in Lakeshore East came on the market in September 2021.

The St Regis Residences (also still called Vista Residences by some, including this listing), was designed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang and built in 2021.

It has 101 stories with 406 condo units and a 192 room luxury hotel, the St Regis Chicago.

It’s a full-service building with door staff, valet garage parking, package service, an outdoor pool, exercise room, party room, dog exercise area, private wine storage and wine tasting room.

This unit is on the 39th floor and has a south facing view down Du Sable Lake Shore Drive with views of the Lake, the city skyline, the Field Museum and Soldier Field.

At 1,126 square feet, it has wide plank hardwood floors throughout and a powder room.

The kitchen has Snaidero white and wood modern cabinets, Gaggenau and Thermador appliances and an island with cantilever countertops.

The full bath has a double vanity and walk-in-shower.

There is also a walk-in-closet.

It has side-by-side washer/dryer, central air and valet garage parking is included.

Lakeshore East continues to build out, but has become a popular downtown neighborhood, especially as there is now a path to the Riverwalk.

For those who love views, and want the amenities of a luxury hotel in the building, is the St Regis the perfect combination?

Jenny Fultz at Jin’s Group Corp. has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3905: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1126 square feet

• New construction
• Originally listed in September 2021 for $1,049,000
• Still listed at $1,049,000
• Assessments of $608 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, exercise room, pool, scavenger, Internet)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Side-by-side washer/dryer
• Valet garage parking included
• Bedroom: 15×12
• Living/dining room combo: 18×16
• Kitchen: 19×10

This 1-bedroom in the Tribune Tower Residences at 435 N. Michigan in Streeterville came on the market in Sept 2021.

The Tribune Tower Residences is a conversion of the Chicago Tribune building which was built in 1925 in the neo-Gothic style.

It is landmarked.

The building has 36 floors and 162 units. The marketing brochure says there are 56 different floor plans in the building.

The building has 55,000 square feet of amenity space, including a 7th floor all-season rooftop pool that is enclosed but has doors that open during the summer weather, lounging area and grills.

It has a library, party room, exercise room, indoor golf practice area, a private 1/3 acre park, and the amazing Crown Terrace with flying buttresses, which also has grills.

It has two entrances, with door staff, package delivery and an attached parking garage.

This unit was already sold and has come back on the market as a re-sale.

It’s a south facing 1703 square foot 1-bedroom with wide plank white oak wood floors.

The kitchen has custom white cabinets with Subzero, Wolf and Miele appliances, and a large kitchen island with seating for three.

It has a separate dining room and a powder room.

The bedroom has a 12×8 walk-in-closet and a 12×11 en suite bathroom.

It has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and attached garage parking.

There’s no private outdoor space, however.

This unit sold from the developer in August 2021 for $1,625,295 and has been re-listed for $1.995 million.

Apparently the building is already about 50% sold.

Is Tribune Tower Residences on its way to becoming the premier luxury condo building in the city?

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

Unit #701: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1703 square feet

• New construction
• Sold in August 2021 for $1,625,295
• Listed in September 2021 for $1.995 million
• Currently still listed at $1.995 million
• Assessments of $1,347 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit
• Foyer: 7×6
• Bedroom: 21×14
• Dining room: 11×10
• Kitchen: 15×10
• Walk-in-Closet: 12×8
• Primary Bathroom: 12×11

The pandemic is bringing a lot of work/life changes, including work-from-home.

Downtown Chicago, especially the Loop, has historically been dominated by commercial office buildings and retail, but over the past 30 years there’s been a push to move residential into the neighborhood.

In the 1990s, old commercial buildings were converted into condos or apartments, but according to Crain’s, with all the empty commercial space thanks to the pandemic, that trend could be accelerating.

In mid-November, the National Association of Realtors reported that Chicago has the third-highest potential among big U.S. cities for office-to-residential conversions. The reason: Office vacancy is high and rents are falling, while apartment vacancy is low and rents are rising.

Between 2010 and 2020, the population grew by more than 44% in the Loop (including the Lakeshore East neighborhood north of Millennium Park), according to a study from the Chicago Loop Alliance. In the same period, the population of the city overall grew by about 1.9%.

Leading the return in the 1990s and early 2000s were affluent empty nesters looking to live near arts institutions and restaurants. Converted former office buildings along Michigan Avenue, including the former homes of Montgomery Ward, Encyclopedia Brittanica and Crane Plumbing, accommodated them, and featured park and lake views.

Now it’s often younger adults who want to live downtown, Edwards says. “They don’t want to own a car or they don’t want to use the car,” he says. “They want to walk to work, walk to dinner.”

Can downtown finally morph into a cool, hip residential neighborhood?

And if so, will condos see a renaissance in some of the conversions?

In 2003-2008 numerous downtown buildings were converted into condos, including The Metropolis at 8 W. Monroe.

Here’s more about the building from the condo association website:

Metropolis Condominiums is located in a building known as the North American Building that was built in 1912 and designed by Holabird and Roche Architects.

The terracotta details and massive scale make this building a fine example of neo-gothic architecture, giving the impression of a fifteenth century cathedral standing as the gateway between Chicago’s historic retail and financial districts.  Original elaborate ornamentation, including four foot terracotta owls perched atop the building, decorate the exterior.

The building saw a lot of investor purchases during the housing boom, and a lot of foreclosures.

But what’s happening now?

This 16th floor corner unit with city and lake views came on the market in June 2021.

The listing says this is the largest floor plan in the building at 1300 square feet.

It has 12 foot ceilings and large windows, including in both bedrooms.

The primary suite has 2 closets and an en suite bathroom with a soaking tub and separate shower.

The kitchen has wood cabinets, granite counter tops and backsplash and stainless steel appliances. It has a breakfast bar with seating for 2.

The main living space has hardwood floors and the bedrooms have carpet.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and valet garage parking is available in the building for $13,000.

The building has a doorman, exercise room, party room and shared terrace with grills.

Originally listed in June 2021 for $349,000, it has been reduced $4,000 to $345,000.

It’s in the middle of everything going on in the Loop and Millennium and Grant Parks and is a rare building that has attached parking.

Is it time to buy again in the Loop?

Sima Shah at Maroon Realty has the listing. It is agent-owned. See the pictures here.

Unit #1604: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1300 square feet

• Sold in June 2006 for $473,000 (included the parking)
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2009
• Bank owned in May 2011
• Sold in April 2012 for $212,500 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in June 2021 for $349,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $345,000 (plus $13,000 for valet garage parking)
• Assessments of $836 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, exterior maintenance, exercise room, scavenger and Internet)
• Taxes of $7365
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×14
• Bedroom #2: 9×12
• Living/dining room combo: 14×21
• Kitchen: 8×9

The October sales numbers are out from the Illinois Association of Realtors and the market continues to remain strong, with the second highest October sales since 2006.

In the city of Chicago, home sales (single-family and condominiums) in October 2021 totaled 2,417 homes sold, down 5.9 percent from October 2020 sales of 2,568 homes.

The median price of a home in Chicago in October 2021 was $312,000, down 1.0 percent compared to October 2020 when it was $315,000.

Thanks to G for all the data on October sales going back to 1997:

October Chicago sfh/condo/th sales and median

• 1997 1,731 $129,900
• 1998 1,855 $138,000
• 1999 1,978 $159,500
• 2000 2,106 $174,710
• 2001 2,177 $200,000
• 2002 2,503 $215,000
• 2003 2,996 $236,000
• 2004 2,651 $241,000
• 2005 2,846 $268,500
• 2006 2,630 $278,000
• 2007 2,007 $285,000
• 2008 1,564 $261,000
• 2009 2,068 $215,000
• 2010 1,225 $183,000
• 2011 1,324 $162,000 (44% short/REO sales)
• 2012 2,009 $175,000
• 2013: 2,231 $218,500
• 2014: 2,128 $236,000
• 2015: 2,173 $240,000
• 2016: 2,046 $260,100
• 2017: 2,109 $260,000
• 2018: 2,108 $271,500
• 2019: 2,084 $275,000
• 2020: 2,568 $315,000
• 2021: 2,417 $312,000

“Real estate has always had an element of seasonality, and that’s what the data reflects from October: seasonality coming back into play after so much pent-up demand over the past year and a half,” said Antje Gehrken, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and president and designated managing broker of A.R.E. Partners. “The market remains relatively strong and healthy, even compared to before the pandemic, despite concerns about continued inventory strain.”

The average days on the market declined statewide to 28 days from 43 days last year.

While average days on the market in Chicago actually rose 2.9% to 35 days from 34 days last year.

Statewide, and in City of Chicago, inventory plunged year-over-year.

Statewide, home inventory fell 28.7% to 29,456 from 41,320 properties. In Chicago, it fell 25.1% to 8,315 from 11,099 properties last year. In October 2019, it was 10,138 properties.

The Chicago sales mix continued to favor condos. Of total sales, 1,426 were condos and 991 were single family homes.

Single family homes fell 12.8% year-over-year and, for the first time in a year, condo sales also fell year-over-year, down 0.3%.

The average 30 year mortgage rose to 3.07% in the month, up from 2.9% in September and also up from 2.83% last year.

Low inventory appears to be pressuring prices statewide.

“Again, this month the market exhibits positive growth in prices combined with a decline in the number of sales,” said Dr. Daniel McMillen, head of the Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Business Administration. “Surveys provide mixed evidence on consumer sentiment, with some indicating an increase this month in consumer confidence in the economy and others indicating a decrease. Prices are expected to continue to increase for the next three months while the number of sales is expected to decrease again.”

The winter has historically been the “slow” months for the housing market, except last year, in 2020, due to pandemic buying.

Will this be the second year in a row that there is no real seasonal slowdown in sales?

Illinois homes continue to sell quickly in October [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release by Bill Kozar, November 22, 2021]

This 2-bedroom loft in Park 1500 Lofts at 1500 W. Monroe in the West Loop came on the market in August 2021.

Park 1500 Lofts was converted into 175 loft condos in 2002.

It has an attached garage and door staff.

This loft has 14 foot timber ceilings and large industrial windows.

It has mahogany hardwood floors in the living/dining room and kitchen with carpet in the bedrooms.

The loft has a “chef’s kitchen” with white Shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, tiled backsplash and a large island.

The loft has a cocktail station and fireplace.

The listing says both bedrooms can fit kingsized beds.

The smaller bedroom doesn’t have a door, nor full ceilings, but it does have a window.

The primary bedroom also has a window, which is not always guaranteed in an industrial loft, and a wood bedroom wall.

The bathroom has new light fixtures, mirror and quartz counter tops on the vanity.

The loft has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking is included.

It also has a balcony.

This loft was originally listed in August 2021 for $355,000 and has been reduced to $329,000. The listing also says the seller is offering a $2K credit.

With many working from home full-time, will buyers be seeking out the 2/1 floor plans versus the 1/1s so they have space for an office?

Will 2/1 units be back in vogue?

Ebonie Andrews at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures and 3D walkthrough here.

Unit #207: 2 bedrooms, 1 baths, 1070 square feet, loft

• Sold in May 2002 for $178,000
• Originally listed in August 2021 for $355,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $329,000 (includes garage parking)
• Assessments of $375 a month (includes doorman, snow removal, exterior maintenance, lawn care)
• Taxes of $5125
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Seller providing $2K credit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×17
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Living/dining combo: 19×22
• Kitchen: 8×17
• Laundry: 12×3
• Balcony

This 3-bedroom in The Barry at 3100 N. Sheridan in East Lakeview came on the market in November 2021.

Built in 1925, The Barry has 65 condos.

It has door staff and an exercise room. There is no attached parking.

The listing for this unit says it was “demolished and rebuilt” by Lewbonne Development.

It says it is a “new and inspiring way to live in The Barry.”

The unit has an all new floor plan along with new electric, plumbing, metal std walls and tall French doors.

They opened the space which revealed the aggregate beamed ceilings and exposed brick exterior walls.

The listing says it was designed with an art collector in mind.

The living room has a marble gas fireplace and a Timothy Oulton crystal chandelier.

The unit has a separate dining room.

It has a den with an industrial Jon Sarriugartea 3-tier hand forged iron chandelier.

The kitchen has a 10 foot island that unites the kitchen and den.

The kitchen is custom with “craftsman built shou-sugi-ban treated solid wood cabinetry with brass hardware” marble counter tops, a Dacor range and 2 convection ovens, along with a professional style refrigerator and pantry.

There’s a built-in wine wall with industrial lighting.

The unit has 2 primary suites, at each end of the unit, and both are en suite. There’s also an attached office or third bedroom accessed via French doors.

It has some of the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit but no parking. It is rental in the neighborhood.

The listing says all of the furnishings are available to purchase.

This unit last sold in 2017 for $325,000 and has come back on the market at $1,035,750.

Is this the most unique property ever featured on Crib Chatter?

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

Unit #2E: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2300 square feet

• Sold in August 1988 for $145,000
• Sold in May 1991 for $143,000
• Sold in July 2017 for $325,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in July 2021
• Currently listed at $1,035,750
• Assessments of $1768 a month (includes heat, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $8721
• Central Air
• Radiator heat
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 18×12
• Bedroom #2: 19×12
• Bedroom #3: 9×12
• Gallery: 33×5
• Living room: 16×23
• Dining room: 9×16
• Kitchen: 16×15
• Family room: 15×30
• Laundry: 11×4

This corner 2-bedroom in The Lancaster at 201 N. Westshore in Lakeshore East came on the market in June 2020.

The Lancaster was built in 2005 and has 232 units and an attached parking garage.

It’s a full service building with 24-hour door staff, an exercise room and sundeck.

We haven’t chattered about the building in a number of years. It was hit by foreclosures and short sales during the housing bust a decade ago.

The listing for this unit says it has had a “gorgeous renovation.”

It has new wide plank hardwood floors.

The kitchen is also “new” and has white cabinets, stone counter tops, a breakfast bar, and stainless steel appliances.

Both bedrooms have “updated” en suite baths and there’s also a powder room.

This unit has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available for $35,000.

Lakeshore East has matured over the last 16 years and now has shops, restaurants and access to the Riverwalk and Lakeshore bike path.

Originally listed in June 2020 for $649,000, it has been reduced to $575,000.

Is this a deal for this neighborhood?

Ginger Menne at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or you can go to the open house on Saturday, November 20 from 12 PM to 3 PM.

Unit #1908: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1295 square feet

• Sold in May 2008 for $510,000
• Originally listed in June 2020 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $575,000 (garage parking is $35,000 extra)
• Assessments of $799 a month (includes heat, A/C, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $10,965
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×13
• Living/dining combo: 20×15
• Kitchen: 9×12

This 1-bedroom at 1350 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

Built in 1911, 1350 N. State Parkway became 8 condos in 2009.

It does not have parking nor any amenities other than extra storage space.

The listing says this unit has been “meticulously remodeled” and could be a pied-a-terre.

This is a “garden unit” with many of its vintage features including walnut hardwood floors throughout, classic crown moldings and a gas fireplace with an art deco mantel.

It has 9’6″ ceilings and a gilded chandelier.

The living room has 2 walls of built-in bookshelves.

The “gourmet kitchen” has deep cherry cabinets, honed granite counter tops and luxury appliances with Subzero, Miele and Bosch.

The en suite bedroom has 2 closets and crown molding along with designer lighting. The bathroom has noir marble floors, a coffered ceiling and Barber Wilsons and Waterworks fixtures.

There is a second full bathroom.

The listing also describes a “flex space” that could be a sleeping quarters or office.

The unit has central air, but no in-unit washer/dryer or parking. There is coin laundry in the building and parking is available throughout the neighborhood.

But the big selling point of the unit are the French doors which open onto the private landscaped terrace, with a brick herringbone floor and brick walls, which the listing says provides “Parisian charm.”

This building is next door to the old Playboy Mansion and is in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood, within walking distance of shops and restaurants of the Gold Coast, the Mag Mile and Old Town.

The listing calls it “authentically chic” Chicago.

Listed at $650,000, that’s $100,000 more than the 2017 sales price of $550,000.

Is this the ideal location for those who dream of Gold Coast living?

Ryan Preuett at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry- no floor plan).

Unit #GS: 1 bedroom, 2 baths, 1474 square feet

• Converted to condos in 2009
• Sold in August 2017 for $550,000
• Currently listed at $650,000
• Assessments of $640 a month (includes heat, gas, security, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7458
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit- but laundry in the building
• No parking- but available in the neighborhood
• Gas fireplace
• Landscaped terrace (no square footage listed)
• Bedroom: 16×13
• Living room: 18×15
• Dining room: 16×13
• Kitchen: 8×8
• Flex space: 9×6
• Foyer: 13×5

This 1-bedroom in Kilmer House in the Sandburg Village at 1555 N. Sandburg Terrace in Old Town came on the market in November 2021.

From the Kilmer House website:

James House is a 43-story high-rise structure with 520 residential units. Although the address is 1560 North Sandburg Terrace, its main entrance is on Germania Place and its service entrance faces LaSalle Street.

Kilmer House is a 6-story mid-rise structure with 96 residential units. Although its address is 1555 North Sandburg Terrace, Kilmer’s main entrance faces Clark Street and its service entrance is on Sandburg’s terrace level.

The two buildings share services and mechanical systems and are connected at the basement level through the garage. Construction of James House and Kilmer House was completed in 1970. At that time, the buildings were rental units. During 1980, they were converted to condominium units.

While James Kilmer is responsible for its own buildings, the Homeowners Association (HOA) is responsible for the common elements of the Village including swimming pools, tennis courts, commercial spaces, walkways and driveways, plantings, landscape maintenance, and snow removal.

The Kilmer House has doorstaff, a clubhouse, exercise room, and pool.

The listing says Kilmer House was designed by renowned architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

It describes this unit as an “urban retreat” which has had a “stunning remodel.”

The unit has an exposed brick wall and 8″ wide white oak floors trimmed with 5″ moldings.

The listing says it has a Chef’s dream kitchen with custom, high gloss white cabinets, quartz counter tops and full wall backsplash along with waterfall edge.

The kitchen has luxury appliances including Fisher & Paykel refrigerator, Bertazzoni stove, Zephyr range hood, a Bosch dishwasher and Sharp microwave drawer along with a dual zone wine refrigerator for 40 bottles.

The unit has a built-in media unit and designer lighting.

The bathroom has an oversized walk-in shower with custom glass, Fairmont Design vanity and Hansgrohe fixtures.

There are new raised panel doors throughout and California Closets.

Still looking for outdoor space?

It has a “massive” private terrace with brick walls and “lush gardens.”

The unit has air conditioning and parking is rental in the complex.

There is no washer/dryer in the unit BUT the listing says there is “a walk-in room off the kitchen that includes plumbing for in-unit laundry.”

This building is near the shops and restaurants of Old Town and the Gold Coast.

Buyers love remodeled properties and outdoor space.

Listed at $375,000, is this competition for the new luxury rentals in the neighborhood?

Tracy Boyce at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #114K: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1000 square feet

• Sold in November 1995 for $109,000
• Sold in December 2012 for $195,000
• Sold in July 2015 for $243,000
• Currently listed at $375,000
• Assessments of $723 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, Internet, clubhouse, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $4925
• Air conditioning
• No washer/dryer in the unit but you apparently CAN put it into the closet off the kitchen- otherwise coin laundry in the building
• Rental parking in the building
• Bedroom: 11×18
• Office: 3×8
• Living/dining room combo: 15×16
• Kitchen: 12×9
• Laundry: 6×5
• Private terrace: 26×24

This 1-bedroom at 36 S. Ashland in the West Loop came on the market in July 2021.

36 S. Ashland is a vintage building with 16 units on Ashland and Ogden.

It was converted into condos in 2004.

It has an elevator and storage in the basement but there’s no parking.

This unit has 10 foot ceilings with a wall of windows with northwest exposure that runs the length of the apartment.

There are Brazilian cherry hardwood floors and a fireplace in the living room with a full granite surround.

The unit has a “euro-style” kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a built-in oven and granite counter tops with a breakfast bar.

The listing says there is a marble bath.

The unit has features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a private balcony overlooking Ogden.

It doesn’t have parking but it does have private storage in the basement.

The listing markets this as the following:

Investment or in-town condo in a popular, easy-to-rent West Loop location.

Originally listed in July 2021 at $195,000, it has been reduced to $175,000.

But there’s a catch.

The listing also says:

HOA has limited documentation, so no conventional financing. Cash only, sold as-is.

The West Loop is one of the hottest in the city. Would this unit make a good investment?

Rozilyn Dupiton at KellerWilliams OneChicago has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #204: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 883 square feet

• Sold in July 2004 for $228,000
• Originally listed in July 2021 for $195,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $175,000
• Assessments of $137 a month (includes scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $1601
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Fireplace
• Bedroom: 13×12
• Living room: 16×16
• Dining room: 10×10
• Kitchen: 12×10
• Balcony: 12×5