Crib Chatter

We’ve chattered about a lot of properties that seem to stay on the market for months.

But there are properties that sell quickly- either because it’s in the right location, somehow unique, or because it’s priced right.

Take this vintage 2-bedroom, 1 bath unit at 506 W. Armitage in Lincoln Park. The bathroom and kitchen are both out-of-date. It does have a washer/dryer in the unit- but no parking.

But it has a good location in the middle of Lincoln Park- not far from the Lake. And it was priced at not much more than what it last sold for in 2004.

Carol Duran at Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and the virtual tour here.

Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage given

• Sold in September 2004 for $312,000
• Currently listed for $325,000
• Under contract
• Assessments of $216 a month
• Taxes of $3,706
• W/D in the unit
• Woodburning fireplace
• Central air

How much have things changed in the South Loop in just the last decade?

The prior sales prices of this single family home at 1247 S. Plymouth tell some of the tale.

This house is part of a rare group of single family homes that, when they were built in 1991 as part of a “Parade of Homes” (an old developer technique where developers would build 5 to 10 homes on a street and then open them to tours for, say, $10).

If I remember correctly, this was the first Parade of Homes in the city of Chicago (the prior Parades had all been in the suburbs.)

They were built in no-man’s land in 1991. Now, they’re near the hub of restaurants and grocery stores of the South Loop.

What would you pay for it now?

Deborah Thomas of Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures and the virtual tour here.

1247 S. Plymouth: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, 3300 square feet

• Sold in October 1991 for $446,500
• Sold in May 1997 for $520,000
• Currently listed for $1.25 million
• Taxes of $9,319

Who knew you could have a private, walled terrace of your own in the middle of Streeterville?

You can in The Grand Ohio, at 211 E. Ohio. Built in 1984, the building was originally apartments but was converted into condominiums in 2000.

The building is massive, with 595 units. Washer/dryers are not allowed in units except on two particular floors- the third and some on the fifth, which have been grandfathered in after the condo conversion.

Unit #509 which recently came on the market, is one of those units with the washer/dryer. It has a 400 square foot south facing private terrace. There are no other balconies or terraces on the floors above you- so there won’t be the random flipped cheeseburger falling on your terrace from above.

Is this unit a deal compared to other Streeterville units? (Such as the 1-bedrooms across the street at 600 N. Fairbanks?)

No square footage is given but here are the room sizes:

• Bedroom: 11×13
• Living room: 16×9
• Kitchen: 11×9

Linda Kramer at Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

Unit #509: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 400 square foot terrace

• Sold in May 2004 for $255,000
• Currently listed for $325,000 (parking $35,000 extra)
• Assessments of $520 a month
• Taxes of $3,165
• 9-foot ceilings
• W/D in the unit

This skylight in the livingroom of this penthouse unit at 1839 N. Whipple in Humboldt Park is among the larger skylights I have ever seen.

Here’s the listing:

TOP FLOOR SUN-DRENCHED 3BR2BA CONDO HOME. INTIMATE BUILDING W/ TOP QUALITY CLASSIC FINISHES. BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASE UP TO UNIT. LR W/ SKY LIGHT AND FIREPLACE, JULIETTE BALCONY.

HARDWOOD FLOORS THRU OUT. KITCHEN W/ GRANITE, CHEF RANGE AND HOOD. WALK OUT TO DECKS. MARBLE IN BATHS. IN UNIT LAUNDRY. GREAT CLOSETS, EXPOSED BRICK TOUCHES. AUTO ROLL UP SECURED TANDEM 2 CAR PARKING. A MUST SEE

John Baer at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

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

• Sold in July 2000 for $251,500
• Sold in October 2006 for $315,000
• Currently listed for $349,000 (2 car tandem parking included)
• Assessments of $145 a month
• Taxes of $4,942

6209 N. Mozart is a gorgeous vintage building in West Ridge (or is that West Edgewater?).

It seems to have all the key attributes such as central air and parking. But Unit #3S is now listed for the same price it sold for in 2006.

Here’s the listing:

CHERISHED VINTAGE COMBINED WITH ‘GREEN’ TECHNOLOGY CREATES THE ULTIMATE LIVING SPACE WHICH IS PURE CLASSIC CHARM. CROWN MOLDINGS, FRENCH WINDOWS, COVED ARCHWAYS AND CEILINGS, HARDWOOD FLG THRU-OUT.

BUTLER’S PANTRY COUPLED W/NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC, CAT 5 WIRING, UPSCALE SS APPL, FRONT LOADING W/DRYER, SPA TUB, CERAMIC TILE. GREAT STORAGE, GARAGE PARKING INCLUDED W/THIS TOP FLOOR CONDO ON A QUIET TREE-

Sunny Billups at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here. 

Unit #3S: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in September 2006 for $315,000
• Originally listed in May 2008 for $345,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $315,000 (2 car parking included)
• Assessments of $225 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• Central air

How big do you like your loft?

How about 3200 square feet?

Then this 2-bedroom loft at 1147 W. Ohio in West Town is for you.

Here’s the listing:

FANTASTIC LIVE-WORK OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY! THIS SUN FILLED OPEN TIMBER LOFT W/ APPROX 3,200 SQ FT OF LUXURY. FEATURES REMOTE CONTROL SHADES, DROP DOWN MOVIE SCREEN, CHEF’S KTCHN CUST CABS & HIGH END APPL-JADO & WOLF.

ROOF DECK W/ PICTURESQUE VIEWS OF CITY. DESIGNER MARBLE BTH JACUZZI & STEAM SHOWER. 14′ TIMBER CEILINGS, MODIFIED HEAT/AIR, LAUNDRY, & WIC.

Chicago Home Estates, Inc. has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here. 

Unit #203: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 3200 square feet

• Sold in September 2004 for $540,000
• Currently listed for $774,400 (parking space included)
• Assessments of $550 a month
• Taxes of $8020

Nearly 10 months ago we chattered about this vintage unit at 220 E. Walton in the Gold Coast.

It has a fantastic penthouse terrace.

It’s still on the market and has been reduced $350k.

Here’s the current listing:

NEVER BEFORE ON MARKET! ELABORATE VINTAGE PENTHOUSE W/ OVER 2145 SQ. FT. OF OUTDOOR TERRACE SPACE!

EXPANSIVE S,E, & W VIEWS OF BOTH CITY & LAKE! SPACIOUS AND OPEN FLOORPLAN, PRIVATE ELEVATOR ENTRANCE W/PRIVATE VESTIBULE, MANY ORIGINAL VINTAGE DETAILS* CREATIVE OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE

Last October, the listing described a special assessment- which apparently has now been paid.

Mary Bennett at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

220 E. Walton #11E: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4500 square feet (2145 of it is the terrace)

• Was listed in October 2007 at $3.25 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.9 million (no parking)
• Taxes of $25,464
• Assessments of $3,571 a month

Sometimes location trumps out over space or amenities.

Think you’re priced out of Lincoln Park or Lakeview? Maybe not- if you consider a garden apartment.

Take this junior 1-bedroom garden unit at 2730 N. Pine Grove in Lincoln Park. With ample windows that provide natural light, it doesn’t seem like it’s much below ground.

Here’s the listing:

SPACIOUS & CHARMING VNTGE JR 1BR IN THE HEART OF LNCLN PRK. ELEGANT FEATURES AND SPACIOUS RM SIZES MAKE THIS CONDO ONE OF A KIND.

ENTRY FOYER OPENS TO HUGE LR W/STUNNING PLASTER DEC FPLCE, CROWN MLDGS, ARCHWAYS, & BLT-IN BOOK SHELVES. SEP FORMAL DR AND HUGE IN UNIT STGE ADDS TO APPEAL OF THIS SPACE HW FLRS, HIGH CEILINGS, & FANTASTIC NAT LIGHT.

RNTL PKN AROUND CORNER. STEPS FROM PARK, LAKE, RSTNTS, SHOPPING, & TRNSPTN

@Properties has the listing (see more pictures here.)

Unit #G: 1 bedroom, 1 bath

• Sold in February 2004 for $163,000
• Currently listed for $189,900
• Assessments of $170 a month
• Taxes of $1,883
• No central air/window unit
• Bedroom is 9×6

In our recent discussion of the new construction single family home at 1446 S. Emerald in University Village, a poster named Jack commented:

“You guys are all a little crazy….I am an architect and real estate investor who has lived in the South Loop (23rd and Michigan) sine 1990. I have moved a couple of times since (making a handsome profit as you might guess) and now live at the edge of Pilsen (which, btw, has always been south of the tracks at 16th).

Someone mentioned that the home discussed here would be priced right in the Gold Coast. THAT is indeed crazy; 1.7 mil for a single family in the gold coast? try 10.7 mil and that would be cheap.”

Really?

There’s actually a rare new construction single family home available in the Gold Coast right now at 22 E. Elm.

There are only plans available, as it’s not yet built, but this house is closer to the lake, not near any major expressway, within a few blocks of the red line and numerous bus lines and much larger than the house on Emerald.

Here’s the listing:

BUILD A 6400 SQ.FT. NEW CONSTRUCTION SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON A 25 FT. WIDE LOT WITH NO SET BACKS!! BUILD FROM LOT LINE TO LOT LINE!!

HOME IS IN THE HEART OF THE GOLD COAST ON A BEAUTIFUL TREE LINED STREET. FEATURES INCLUDE 5 BEDROOMS, 4. 2 BATHS, 10 FT CEILINGS ON ALL LEVELS, CENTER COURTYARD, GOURMET KITCHEN, 2+ CAR ATTACHED GARAGE, ROOF DECKS, ALLEY ACCESS & IS ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF ELM STREET.

Jason Kromelow at Koenig & Strey has the listing. (see more pictures and the floor plans here.)

22 E. Elm: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half baths, 2.5 car garage, 6400 square feet

• Currently listed for $1.85 million
• No monthly assessment
• Taxes of $51,804 (maybe the old tax amount on the existing structure on the property?)

There are plenty of other single family homes in the Gold Coast available for under $10 million. In fact, I count 6 homes in what I would consider “prime” Gold Coast addresses that are all listed for under $2.5 million.

Take 48 E. Schiller, a vintage beauty not far from the lake, shopping and restaurants.

Here’s the listing:

Desirable Gold Coast gut rehab! Three floors plus finished basement with private elevator. Premium upgrades include diagonal, solid oak hardwood floors, marble bath, three limestone fireplaces, custom cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel Viking appliances, 10-12′ ceilings.

Approximately 4,500 square feet including finished basement. Three balconies, front garden, small one-car garage.

48 E. Schiller: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 1 car garage,  4500 square feet (includes the basement however)

• Sold in March 2002 for $1.08 million
• Sold in December 2003 for $1.375 million
• Currently listed for $2.2 million
• Taxes of $5,431
• Monica Canellis at Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures on the property’s website.

We don’t chatter about many rentals (unless it’s flippers trying to rent out their investment units) but there’s something about this living room in the penthouse of 1936 N. Clark in Lincoln Park that caught my eye.

Here’s the listing:

SPECTACULAR VINTAGE 4BR/3BA PENTHOUSE WITH STUNNING PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE SKYLINE AND THE LAKE. LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM LINCOLN PARK.

JUST REMODELED EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW! GOURMET KITCHEN WITH GRANITE, S/S APPLS & WINE BAR. HDWD FLRS, MASTER BA SPA, 3 WBFP’S, FABULOUS 1400 SQFT, ROOF TOP DECK, PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING 1 PKG SPOT INCL, ADDL SPOTS AVAIL FOR A FEE. MOVE IN TODAY!

Penthouse: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1 car parking, no square footage listed

• I couldn’t find an original sales price- anyone else want to try?
• Currently available to rent for $7500 a month (parking included)
• Central air
• Jameson has the listing (see more pictures here.)