Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom in Plaza 32 at 3232 N. Halsted in East Lakeview came on the market in May 2024.

Built in 2000, Plaza 32 has 130 units and underground attached parking. Apparently, when it was first built in 2000, it was so popular there was a waiting list to buy a unit.

It’s one of the few East Lakeview buildings that has a doorman. It also has onsite management, a dog run, and a rare half acre on-site park with mature trees and landscaping on the back side of the building.

This unit is one of the units in the back of the building that overlooks that private park.

It has a proper foyer and an open concept for the living room, dining room and kitchen.

There is a sliding door that leads to a large, private terrace overlooking the courtyard with room for a table for six and a grill.

The listing calls this much outdoor space a “true luxury.”

The primary bedroom is “massive” with a sitting area, a walk-in-closet and an en suite bathroom with a dual vanity and separate tub and shower.

There is a second “good size” guest bedroom and a second full bathroom.

It has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a large tandem parking spot for 2-cars in the attached garage.

It also has one storage unit.

This building is in the heart of the shops and restaurants of Lakeview. There are numerous bus lines and the Belmont Red line stop is nearby.

Listed at $625,000, at 1629 square feet, is this the price you’ll pay for a larger 2-bedroom in Lakeview in 2024?

Brad Lippitz and Brittany Shapiro at Compass have the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #D309: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1629 square feet

• Sold in July 2001 for $375,000
• Sold in May 2003 for $380,000 (per Zillow)
• Sold in July 2008 for $456,000 (per Zillow)
• Listed at $625,000
• Assessments of $1084 a month (includes heat, gas, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal and Internet)
• Taxes of $11,576
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car tandem garage parking space included
• Bedroom #1: 15×19
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Foyer: 5×12
• Living room: 16×20
• Dining room: 12×16
• Kitchen: 9×10

This 4-bedroom vintage greystone at 456 W. Berry in East Lakeview came on the market in May 2024.

Built in 1906, the house is on a bigger than standard lot measuring 35×178. It has a side drive that leads to a 2-car brick garage.

The listing says the side drive can support guest parking.

The house also has a unique front entrance foyer that then leads into the main house.

While it is over 100 years old on the outside, the listing says the house’s brick and limestone facade was restored and tuck-pointed in 2023.

Additionally “the original terra cotta tiled roof was removed and reinstalled once re-sheathing and a new copper flashing was completed in 2016.”

The interiors were also “rebuilt” in 2016 so the home has modern amenities.

But the home still has some vintage features including crown moldings and a hand carved limestone fireplace in the living room.

The house has state of the art technology. A Savant smart home solution controls security, motorized shades, audio/visual, heat/air and Luton lighting technology.

There is custom cabinetry in almost every room.

It has a separate dining room.

The kitchen has white cabinets, Cararra marble counter tops, an island with a mahogany wood slab counter top, and luxury appliances including a Wolf 6-burner with a griddle, a double oven, Subzero refrigerator, two Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers and a full-size Miele dishwasher.

There are 3 Vino Temp 155-bottle dual temperature wine fridges in the lower level.

The kitchen is open to the family room.

The second floor has the primary suite, an office and a library.

The primary suite has features rare in many vintage homes including a dressing room and an en suite bathroom with Calcutta gold marble finishes.

There’s a terrace off the primary suite.

The third floor has the three other bedrooms.

It has Waterworks plumbing fittings and Toto toilets.

The lower level has a catering kitchen, a full bath, a workroom, storage, laundry and an exercise room.

The house has air conditioning and skylights.

The backyard is surrounded by an 8 foot brick wall and is professionally landscaped with a trickling fountain, speakers, full drip irrigation and a sprinkler system.

This house is near the shops and restaurants of East Lakeview, the Mariano’s and Lincoln Park. There are also several bus lines nearby.

Listed at $3.475 million, will vintage lovers swoop in to pick up this house?

Wade Marshall at Engel & Voelkers Chicago has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

456 W. Barry: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5409 square feet, single family home

• Sold in June 1996 for $900,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $600,000
• Sold in November 2005 for $1.85 million
• Currently listed at $3.475 million
• Taxes of $43,782
• Central Air
• 2-car garage parking
• Oversized lot measuring 35×178
• Skylights
• 2 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 21×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 22×15 (third floor)
• Dining room: 20×13 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 11×19 (main floor)
• Family room: 11×19 (main floor)
• Living room: 13×28 (main floor)
• Foyer: 8×15 (main floor)
• Office: 9×15 (second floor)
• Library: 21×17 (second floor)
• Walk-in-Closet: 14×13 (second floor)
• Second kitchen: 11×13 (lower level)
• Workroom: 9×13 (lower level)
• Storage: 21×9 (lower level)
• Exercise room: 24×12 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 7×16 (lower level)
• Terrace: 14×10 (second floor)

This 6-bedroom vintage greystone at 538 W. Deming Place in Lincoln Park came on the market in January 2024.

Built in 1889, it is on an oversized Chicago lot measuring 27×190. It has a heated 2.5 car garage and both a true front, and back, yard.

If it looks familiar, that is because we chattered about it in 2016 when the family that had lived in it for several decades was selling it.

Back in 2016, JohnnyU said “This place is about $3-400M away from being a truly elite property” and Jenny said “This is exactly the type of home I would want if I was wealthy.”

See our chatter here.

While the facade of the house is 1889, with some of its original features including stained glass windows, the interior is “all-new” as of 2019.

The house has its 12 foot vintage ceilings, crown molding and custom millwork.

It has 3 fireplaces including in the family room, living room and primary bedroom.

There is a built-in hutch in the dining room.

But the floors are white oak wide plank hardwoods and it has a curved center wood staircase that is to the period which appears to have replaced a modern white staircase per the 2016 listing pictures.

We debated the era of the staircase in the prior chatter (1980s?).

It now has a 4-stop elevator.

The main floor has the living room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast room, as well as the family room which overlooks the backyard.

The kitchen is open to the family room  and has white cabinets, a big island with seating for three, and luxury appliances including Wolf, Bosch and Subzero.

It also has a Butler’s pantry and a walk-in food pantry along with a breakfast room.

The family room has a glass Nana Wall that opens up to the backyard.

Three of the bedrooms, including primary, are on the second floor, with 2 more on the third floor and the sixth bedroom in the lower level.

The primary suite has features you normally don’t see in a historic home including a dressing room, spa bath with dual vanity, steam shower and radiant heated floors.

The primary also has a private 23×8 terrace.

The top floor has a blue lacquered office which opens to a private roof deck.

The lower level has a full bathroom, second laundry, a second “catering” kitchen, a recreation room and a home theater.

The house has central air.

The baths are “modern” with custom tile by Ann Sacks and Artistic Tile.

The backyard has been designed by Botanical Concepts.

The listing says the house has all “new” mechanicals in 2019, including a backup generator.

This house is in a prime East Lincoln Park location near the shops and restaurants on Clark Street including coffee shops like Starbucks and Colectivo. It’s also near several bus lines and Lincoln Park.

Listed in January 2024 at $3.975 million, it remains listed at that price.

Buyers love “new”.

Will the sellers get their price?

Jennifer Ames at Engel & Volkers Chicago has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

538 W. Deming Place: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 6,000 square foot, single family home

• Sold in August 1992 for $907,500
• Sold in May 2016 for $2 million
• Listed in January 2024 for $3.975 million
• Currently still listed at $3.975 million
• Taxes of $25,913
• Central Air
• 2.5 heated car garage
• Oversized lot of 27×190
• 4-stop elevator
• Skylights
• 3 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 18×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 17×9 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 16×10 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 15×12 (lower level)
• Dining room: 16×15 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 15×14 (main floor)
• Breakfast room: 10×8 (main floor)
• Family room: 22×16 (main floor)
• Pantry: 9×7 (main floor)
• Living room: 16×13 (main floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 18×11 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 13×6 (third floor)
• Office: 16×13 (third floor)
• Recreation room: 18×13 (lower level)
• Home theater: 16×13 (lower level)
• Second kitchen: 9×8 (lower level)
• Laundry hook-up (lower leve)
• Terrace: 23 x 8 (second floor)
• Roof top deck: 16×14 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom corner loft in the TRU Lofts at 2525 N. Sheffield in Lincoln Park came on the market in May 2024.

I’m not sure when the TRU Lofts were built but it was converted into 28 lofts in 2007. It’s an elevator building with outdoor parking.

The building has a bike room but no other amenities.

Yes, the building is right next to the El tracks but this particular unit is the furthest away on the southwest corner.

The loft has 12 foot concrete ceilings and exposed brick walls.

The kitchen is open to the living and dining room. It has white cabinets, a tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, stone countertops and a peninsula with seating for 4.

The primary suite has an en suite bathroom and a walk-in-closet. It has 2 windows.

The second bedroom has a French door and a window, but the walls don’t go all the way to the ceiling and there doesn’t appear to be a closet.

There is extra storage in the lofted space in the unit.

The loft has a balcony as well as a unique sun room space.

It also has the features that buyers look for including central air, side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit and one exterior parking space included.

This building is near DePaul University, Jonquil Park, the Fullerton subway stop, bus lines and the restaurants and shops of Lincoln Park.

Listed at $550,000, it last sold at the start of the pandemic, in June 2020 for $475,000.

With inventory so low in Lincoln Park, will it get its price?

Samuel Kahn at Luxury Living Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2A: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 2007 for $412,500
• Sold in September 2015 for $415,000
• Sold in June 2020 for $475,000
• Listed in May 2024 for $550,000
• Assessments of $336 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $8840
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Exterior parking space included
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 10×16
• Bedroom #2: 9×10
• Living/dining room: 25×19
• Kitchen: 8×8
• Sun room: 7×5
• Balcony: 7×5
• Laundry: 4×5

The painting of brick, both interior and exterior, has always been controversial on the Internet.

There are those who say you should NEVER do it. Others think it’s fine as long as you’re aware of the added maintenance involved.

Homeowners have been painting brick in the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington DC for years. I was recently there and was taken by how pristine the homes looked. These pictures are all of homes in Georgetown.

There was no bleeding or flaking of the paint to be seen. And the whites were crisp.

White brick homes are “in” right now.

We have chattered, in the past, about lofts that have had painted brick interior walls.

It was even the title of this post: Should You Paint Your Brick? A 3-Bedroom Loft at 154 W. Hubbard in River North.

You can see that chatter here.

Would you buy a house with painted brick on the outside?

What about if it was painted interior brick like the loft at 154 W. Hubbard?

This 1-bedroom in Tribune Tower Residences at 435 N. Michigan in Streeterville came on the market in May 2024.

Tribune Tower was built in 1925 and was converted into condos in 2021. It has 162 units and attached garage parking.

It’s a full amenity building with 24/7 door staff and 55,000 square feet of amenity space including an all-season pool, a private park, and the infamous Crown Terrace in the crown of the building.

This unit is a large 1-bedroom.

The listing calls it a “haven of sophistication.”

The unit has a formal foyer, Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and automated Hunter Douglas window treatments.

It has a “chef’s inspired” kitchen with Bovelli custom cabinetry, oversized island with quartzite countertops and luxury appliances by Subzero, Miele and Wolf.

There are RH light fixtures.

The listing says the owner spared “no expense” with custom closets.

The bedroom is en suite and the bathroom has a soaking tub, separate shower, double vanity and marble inlay.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one parking space is available for $55,000.

Tribune Tower is at the south end of Michigan Avenue, near the shops and restaurants of Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, River North and the Riverwalk. There are multiple bus lines in front of the building.

Listed at $1.060 million, including the parking space, that is $185,000 above the 2023 sales price of $875,000. I’m not sure if that 2023 price included the parking.

Will this seller get the premium just one year later?

Carrie McCormick at @properties Christies has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1009: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 2023 for $875,000
• Currently listed at $1.05 million 
• Assessments of $926 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes are not listed
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• One car parking is $55,000 extra
• Bedroom: 14×12
• Living room: 23×17
• Kitchen: 12×10
• Walk-in-closet: 7×6

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 820 N. Dearborn in the Gold Coast came on the market in May 2024.

I can’t find a date for when this complex was built but the first sale is listed as 1988. It has 4 units and a shared garage.

This unit is the Dearborn facing corner unit directly over the garage door.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The main level has the living room, dining room and kitchen which is open to the room.

It has a newly tile fireplace, designer lighting and crown molding.

The kitchen is a “chef’s delight” with “freshly” painted white cabinets, quartzite countertops and backsplash, a built-in Subzero refrigerator, a breakfast bar and a pantry.

There’s also a half bath on the main floor.

The second floor has two bedrooms and one full bath along with a walk-in-closet.

The third floor is the primary suite with an en suite bathroom with a large walk-in-shower, a double vanity, marble floors and marble countertops.

The primary suite has new patio doors which lead to an east facing balcony which has new outside flooring. This is the only outdoor space.

There are 2 skylights.

This townhouse has the features buyers look for including central air, a laundry room in the lower level, and 2.5 car parking plus a parking pad.

Realtor notes on this property from several years ago states that the parking spots are tandem in the garage.

The listing says this townhouse is in a “prime” Gold Coast location. It’s near the big River North Whole Foods, Washington Park, Newberry Library, the shops and restaurants of the Gold Coast, the Mag Mile and River North.

The listing says it’s in the Ogden school district.

Listed at $850,000, is this a good 3-bedroom condo alternative in this neighborhood?

John Lyons at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, townhouse

• Sold in August 1988 for $270,000
• Sold in January 1994 for $240,000
• Sold in February 2017 for $600,000
• Currently listed at $850,000
• Assessments of $210 a month (includes scavenger)
• Taxes of $9667
• Central Air
• 2.5 car garage parking plus parking pad
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×17 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×11 (second floor)
• Living room: 25×11 (main floor)
• Dining room: 12×9 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 11×8 (main floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 7×5 (second floor)
• Laundry: 12×11 (lower level)
• Balcony: 15×5 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom full floor unit in a Victorian Brownstone at 2733 N. Hampden in East Lincoln Park came on the market in May 2024.

Built in 1911, it has 4 units and outdoor parking behind the building.

There’s also storage in the basement and it would seem washer/dryer there as well.

This unit has many of its original features including the original hardwood floors, casings, picture moldings, pocket doors, built-in bookcases and soaring ceilings.

There are also exposed brick walls in several rooms.

It has 2 wood burning fireplaces with one in the living room and one in the family room.

The listing says there are 21 Marvin windows.

The kitchen has green cabinets and what looks like some stainless steel appliances. It also has a breakfast nook and overlooks the family room.

There’s a separate dining room.

The listing says there is 2.5 “updated” bathrooms. One of the bathrooms has a claw foot bathtub.

It has four rooms that have closets, but is only listed as a three bedroom. The other room could be used as an office.

It has a rear porch.

The unit has features that buyers look for including central air and 2 outdoor parking spaces. It does not have a washer/dryer in the unit but the listing says a “W/D can be installed with a separate tankless water heater.”

There’s a storage room in the basement.

This building is near Lincoln Park, the shops and restaurants on Diversey, Clark and Broadway, near multiple bus lines and the listing says its in the Alcott school district.

It appears that there has only been one owner of this condo over the last 31 years.

Listed at $799,000, is this a deal for the location and 2-car parking?

William Becker and Amy Rapp at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2FR: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1800 square feet, full floor

• Sold in February 1993 for $155,000
• Currently listed at $799,000
• Assessments of $483 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $12,803
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit but listing says it can be added
• 2-car outdoor parking included
• 2 wood burning fireplaces (living room and family room)
• Pocket doors
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 16×10
• Living room: 13×15
• Kitchen: 7×12
• Breakfast nook: 9×12
• Dining room: 18×12
• Pantry: 4×4
• Family room: 18×12
• Office/4th bedroom: 9×15
• Deck: 8×10

This 4-bedroom duplex down at 912 W. Webster in Lincoln Park came on the market in May 2024.

Built in 2020, this is a 4-unit building that has “extra-wide” interiors. It is all brick construction and has garage parking.

This is newer construction from Bak Homes.

It is 55′ wide open floor plan with south facing floor to ceiling windows.

There are wide plank oak hardwood floors throughout the main floor and the bedrooms are carpeted.

It has an Ann Sacks tiled fireplace in the living room.

The unit has a custom Italian kitchen with luxury appliances including Subzero and Wolf along with a 10 foot quartz waterfall island.

There’s a family room on the main floor that leads to an oversized covered deck with an outdoor fireplace which is wired for a television.

But that’s not the only outdoor space. The unit also has another “massive” outdoor space with a custom pergola (on top of the garage?)

There’s also a half bath on the main floor.

All four bedrooms are on the lower level along with the three full baths.

The primary suite has a walk-in-closet as well as a en suite bathroom with a double vanity, soaking tub, steam shower and heated floors.

One other bedroom is also en suite.

The bathroom fixtures are by Toto, Hansgrohe and Duravit.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit in the lower level and one garage parking space is included.

This building is in central Lincoln Park, just a few minutes from the Athenian Room restaurant. The listing says it’s in the Oscar Meyer school district.

Listed at $1.5 million, that’s $250,000 above the 2020 sales price of $1.25 million.

The listing calls this condo a “single family home alternative.”

Is $1.5 million the new price for luxury duplex downs in Lincoln Park?

Eugene Fu at @properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1E: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, duplex down, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2020 for $1.25 million (per Redfin)
• Currently listed at $1.5 million
• Assessments of $284 a month (includes lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes aren’t listed but Zillow says they would be $28,350
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1 garage space included
• 2 fireplaces (living room and covered patio)
• Bedroom #1: 16×14 (lower level)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (lower level)
• Living/dining room combo: 24×18 (main level)
• Kitchen: 16×15 (main level)
• Family room: 15×13 (main level)
• Laundry: 6×4 (lower level)
• Walk-in-Closet: 9×7 (lower level)
• Deck: 18×15 (main level)
• Deck: 25×18

This 2-bedroom at 3205 N. Paulina in Lakeview came on the market in May 2024.

I’m not sure when this vintage building was built but it was converted into condos at the height of the housing bubble in 2007-2008.

It has 8 units and outdoor parking.

We’ve chattered about other units in this building previously. Those chatters are under the Belmont street address at 1658 W. Belmont.

The listing calls this unit a “vintage gem.”

It’s a top floor unit that has crown moldings, hardwood floors throughout, and a brick enclosed fireplace in the living/dining room.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and an island with seating for 2.

The kitchen also has a separate built-in desk also with a granite counter top. Could this be a home office?

The primary bathroom has a “Parisian” style skylight (not sure what that means).

Both bathrooms have granite counter tops on the vanity and marble and ceramic finishes.

There’s also a private deck off the back.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one outdoor parking space is included in the price.

The building is also the home to the famous Scooter’s Frozen Custard on the first floor.

It is near the shops and restaurants on Belmont, including a Walgreens, and is just a few blocks from the large West Lakeview Whole Foods. Southport and Roscoe Village restaurants and shops are also nearby.

The Brown line stop at Paulina is just a few blocks away. The Redfin “commute” feature tells me it is a 6 minute walk.

Listed at $440,000, this is a rare 2/2 in this neighborhood that has parking and is listed under $450,000.

At this price, will this unit be under contract by the end of the month?

Susan Radzinowicz at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here. (the prior 2016 listing has a floor plan)

Unit #3N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2007 for $378,000
• Sold in May 2016 for $373,000
• Currently listed at $440,000
• Assessments of $386 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6765
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking space included
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living/dining combo: 24×17
• Kitchen: 20×11
• Laundry: 3×4
• Deck: 9×7