Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom duplex up penthouse in The Metropolitan Place at 130 S. Canal in the West Loop (or is this West Loop Gate?) came on the market in August 2020.

Built in 1950, Metropolitan Place was converted into loft condos in 1999. It has 212 lofts and an attached, heated parking garage.

The building has a doorman and an exercise room.

This loft is one of the rare penthouse units in the building which also has a 400 square foot south facing terrace that stretches the length of the first floor of the loft.

It has newly refinished hardwood floors on the main level along with floor to ceiling windows with motorized blinds.

The first floor has the kitchen, living and dining rooms along with a half bath.

The listing says the kitchen has been “completely remodeled” and now has custom navy cabinets, quartz countertops, a custom backsplash, wine refrigerator, built-in microwave drawer and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has designer solid core doors.

Both bedrooms are on the second level and both are en suite.

The primary bedroom has a granite and marble bathroom with double vanity. It also has 2 walk-in-closets.

There’s a built-in custom library with a desk in the second bedroom.

The loft has central air, side-by-side washer/dryer and a heated garage parking space is available for $30,000.

Originally listed in August 2020 for $800,000, it has been reduced to $720,000 (plus the parking).

Will the downtown condo market turn around in 2021?

Christine Hancock at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #9R: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1836 square feet, duplex up, penthouse

• Sold in November 2000 for $455,000
• Sold in April 2004 for $448,000
• Sold in April 2012 for $450,000
• Originally listed in August 2020 for $800,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $720,000 (plus $30,000 for garage parking)
• Assessments of $1239 a month (includes doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $11,134
• Central Air
• Side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
• Living/dining room: 24×19 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 16×10 (main floor)
• Foyer: 8×7 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 8×6 (main floor)
• Terrace: 43×10 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom in 2700 N. Hampden Court in East Lincoln Park came on the market in October 2020.

Built in 1971, 2700 N. Hampden Court has 95 units and a parking garage.

It has a doorman, a roof top pool and deck, an exercise room as well as an onsite cleaners and storage.

Pets are allowed.

This unit is a corner unit where both bedrooms have east views of the park.

The listing says the unit has been “completely remodeled.”

It has hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has custom gray cabinets, granite counter tops and luxury stainless steel appliances by Sub-Zero and Bosch.

The primary suite is en suite with a tile shower.

There is no laundry in the unit. It is coin laundry in the building.

It has wall heating/cooling units.

While the building has a parking garage, this unit does not have a parking spot.

Originally listed at $355,000, it has been reduced to $325,000.

Buyers want “new.”

Is this a deal at this price?

Minoo Panahi at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #8B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1993 for $121,500 (included parking)
• Sold in June 2000 for $250,000 (included parking)
• Sold in April 2005 for $290,000 (included parking)
• Sold in January 2008 for $225,000 (included parking)
• Sold in March 2008 for $280,000 (included parking)
• Sold in December 2008 for $320,000 (no parking with this sale. The parking space appears to have been sold separately in September 2008)
• Originally listed in October 2020 for $355,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $325,000
• Assessments of $637 a month (includes doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, outdoor pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $5863
• No central air. Wall units.
• No parking
• No in-unit washer/dryer. Coin laundry in the building.
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Living room: 17×14
• Dining room: 9×10
• Kitchen: 9×8

This 4-bedroom vintage row house at 915 N. LaSalle in the Gold Coast came on the market in March 2018.

Built in 1876, on a longer than standard Chicago lot measuring 17 x 138, it appears to have 4 parking spaces behind the house.

It has many of its original features including the wood custom spiral staircase that goes up all 3 floors and finishes in the original stained glass skylight.

The row house also has 3 fireplaces with wood carved mantels and glazed tiles.

There’s other built-in cabinetry, crown molding and wood molding and millwork.

The main floor has the entry foyer, the kitchen, dining and living rooms.

The listing says the kitchen has been “recently remodeled” with “era-appropriate” finishes including white cabinets, stone counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The second floor has two bedrooms, a full bath, a family room and the laundry room.

The third floor also has another two bedrooms, a bath and access to the roof deck.

The listing says the basement is full-height but is unfinished, however there is an exercise room in that space (see the pictures).

The listing also says a garage or yard can be built in the extra long yard.

The listing says there up to 4 car parking.

The row house has central air.

It was listed at $1.599 million in 2018 and has been off and on the market since.

In April 2020, it was listed at $1.2 million but has now been reduced to $1.1 million.

With the development of the Moody Bible Institute land, which sits nearby, coming soon, is this a deal for this row house?

Duane Shumaker at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

915 N. LaSalle: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3704 square feet, row home

• Sold in April 1988 (no price in the CCRD)
• Sold in August 2011 for $995,000
• Originally listed in March 2018 for $1,599,850
• Reduced several times
• Listed in April 2020 for $1.2 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.1 million
• Taxes of $23,160
• Central Air
• 3 fireplaces
• 4 car parking?
• Lot 17×138
• Original stained glass skylight
• Bedroom #1: 25×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 23×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 19×15 (third floor)
• Living room: 21×11 (main floor)
• Dining room: 19×15 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 22×13 (main floor)
• Foyer: 21×13 (main floor)
• Family room: 22×15 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 11×8 (second floor)
• Deck: 18×10 (third floor)

This 4-bedroom townhouse in the Sexton at 419 W. Grand in River North came on the market in January 2021.

This townhouse is part of 17 townhouses that were built in 2000 and are part of the Sexton loft condo building.

The townhouses get access to all the amenities of the condo building including the exercise room.

There is a center courtyard between the townhouses and the Sexton building.

This townhouse also has two private outdoor spaces, including a terrace on the main level and a private rooftop deck.

The living room, dining room and kitchen are all on the main level along with a half bath.

The listing describes the kitchen as a “custom chef’s kitchen” which has white cabinets, quartz counter tops, custom tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

The second level has two bedrooms including the primary suite which has a walk-in-closet with custom California closets and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity, soaking tub and separate shower.

The other two bedrooms are on the third floor along with another full bathroom, the laundry room, a family room and an office.

It has central air and 2-heated side-by-side parking spaces.

There are several downtown condo buildings that also have townhouses in their association but usually those are on the roof of the garage or somehow accessed from the main entrance in the building.

These townhouses have their own private entrances on a separate street from the condo building.

4-bedroom properties in River North have been in demand for families.

Listed at $1,199,888, is this townhouse a single family home alternative?

Matt Laricy at Americorp has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit I: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2800 square feet, townhouse

• Sold in May 2000 for $508,500
• Sold in July 2002 for $611,000
• Sold in March 2008 for $417,500
• Sold in October 2013 for $870,000
• Sold in February 2018 for $1,129,500
• Originally listed in January 2021 for $1,199,888
• Currently still listed at $1,199,888
• Taxes of $20,164
• Assessments of $809 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Central Air
• 2-car side-by-side heated garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×16 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×10 (third floor)
• Living/dining room: 15×16 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 15×20 (main floor)
• Family room: 14×10 (third floor)
• Laundry room: 7×6 (third floor)
• Office: 6×10 (third floor)
• Terrace: 25×20 (main floor)
• Deck: 21×17 (fourth floor)
• Balcony: 20×6 (third floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 10×8 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom in the South Residences at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville first came on the market in September 2019.

This is a unique building as, according to Wikipedia, it was designed by two architects in two different phases.

Completed in 1926, it was originally called the American Furniture Mart and was the largest building in the world when finished.

It has a total of 415 units in 3 different condo associations: The Tower, The Lake and the South Residences.

The South Residences has 120 units and access to the 7-story parking garage.

This is a full amenity building with a pool and 24-hour doorman.

There is commercial space in the building as well as a shopping concourse with a coffee shop, Walgreens, a bank and other amenities.

According to the listing, this is an architect-designed top floor unit which was gutted down to the studs.

It now has double-wall insulated construction to the adjacent units.

It’s interiors are done in unique modern styling with natural ash wood paneling and ceilings.

The unit has real bleached maple wood flooring.

It has custom door and cabinet hardware.

There’s also a sound system with built-in Sonance speakers throughout.

The kitchen has wood cabinets and new Samsun “Smart” appliances along with a Subzero refrigerator.

The second bedroom is being used as a library with a built-in sofa which also converts to 2 twin beds. It doesn’t appear to have a window.

The primary suite, which has a window and appears to not have full walls, has a custom bath and closet with millwork.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking is available for $65,000.

Originally listed in September 2019 for $925,000 it was reduced and withdrawn in June of 2020.

It came back on reduced again in July 2020 and is now listed for $675,000.

At this price, is this apartment a deal?

Julie Harron and Marlene St. George at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1616: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1550 square feet

• Sold in December 1988 for $154,000
• Sold in January 1990 for $380,000 (not sure this is the correct price in the CCRD though. Seems likely it was $180,000)
• Originally listed in September 2019 for $925,000
• Reduced
• Withdrawn in June 2020
• Re-listed in July 2020 for $695,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $675,000 (garage parking at $65,000 extra)
• Assessments of $1229 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $6,113
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Kitchen: 10×9
• Living/dining combo: 29×16
• Laundry room: 12×8
• Utility room: 6×8

This 6-bedroom French Gothic mansion at 1449 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in August 2020.

Built in 1911, the house is all limestone and has 5-levels on a 33×125 lot.

It has a 2.5 car attached garage.

The house also has an elevator.

The listing says it has been “renovated down to the studs.”

The house has custom mill work, including on the ceilings, and crown molding.

It has 5 fireplaces.

The main floor has the entry foyer, the game room, the family room and mud room along with a breezeway that connects the house to the garage.

There’s also a courtyard outdoor space on the main level.

The second floor has the living and dining rooms, a den, and the kitchen.

The house has a de Giulo kitchen with a massive wood island and luxury appliances.

It also overlooks a second floor deck that features a grilling area, chef’s table with bar seating and lounge seating area.

The primary suite is on the third floor with a walk-in-closet, a dressing room, an en suite bath and a private library.

There’s a home office on this level which the listing says can be turned into another bedroom, if need be.

The fourth floor has 4 en suite bedrooms.

The house has a basement with two recreation rooms, one which could be used as an exercise room.

The basement also has the laundry room.

Like other Gold Coast mansions, it has a massive skylight.

The house has central air.

Located on famous Astor Street, it’s near Lincoln Park and is a short stroll to the shops and restaurants of Old Town.

If you were looking for a family home in this neighborhood, would this house be at the top of your list?

Joshua Wiedow and Stephen Bognar Jr. at Baird & Warner have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

1449 N. Astor: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 4 partial baths, 10,000 square feet

• Sold in May 2006 for $3.5 million
• Sold in April 2010 for $4,926,500
• Originally listed in August 2020 for $7.875 million
• Currently still listed at $7.875 million
• Taxes of $98,963
• Central Air
• 2.5 car garage
• 5 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 18×28 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 24×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×16 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×11 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #5: 13×17 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #6: 17×13 (fourth floor)
• Living room: 18×29 (second floor)
• Dining room: 15×15 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 17×20 (second floor)
• Den: 11×11 (second floor)
• Library: 12×12 (third floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 10×16 (third floor)
• Foyer: 15×22 (main floor)
• Game room: 15×28 (main floor)
• Family room: 24×21 (main floor)
• Playroom: 24×13 (lower level)
• Recreation room: 27×24 (lower level)

This 6-bedroom single family home at 1318 N. Astor (the house on the right in the picture above, although the house on the left, 1316 N Astor, is also on the market) came on the market in July 2020.

Built in 1889, it’s on an irregular lot measuring 20.9 x 131.8 x 20.7 x 128.7.

It has an elevator and a 2-car heated garage.

The listing calls it a Charles Palmer Romanesque mansion.

While it has 5 fireplaces, it doesn’t appear to have any of its original interior finishes.

The listing says that the kitchen, primary bath and guest bath were newly finished and were designed by award winning designer Mick De Giulio.

The kitchen has brushed iceberg quartzite counter tops, custom walnut cabinetry, Ann Sacks tiles, top of the line appliances and a custom stainless hood.

The family room and primary bathroom both open to private terraces.

The listing also says there is an automatic sprinkler system built from the ground floor to the fourth floor.

The primary bath and terrace also have heated floors.

Four of the bedrooms are on the third and fourth floors with two others in the lower level.

The house also has Carlisle wide plank floors in the upstairs bedrooms.

There’s an exercise room in the photographs and it has a game room.

The house also has a library.

It has central air.

Is this house prime for those who want vintage on the outside, but not on the inside?

Jian Fu and Ting Ma at Anasia have the listing (it’s agent owned). See the pictures here (no floor plan).

1318 N. Astor: 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 half baths, 7500 square feet

• Sold in November 1997 for $726,000
• Sold in June 2001 for $3.85 million
• Sold in August 2011 for $4.154 million
• Originally listed in July 2020 for $5.1 million
• Currently still listed at $5.1 million
• Taxes of $125,343
• Central Air
• 2-car heated garage
• 2 terraces
• Bedroom #1: 18×24 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×23 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 23×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×16 (third floor)
• Bedroom #5: 23×18 (lower level)
• Bedroom #6: 23×14 (lower level)
• Living room: 18×23 (second floor)
• Dining room: 15×17 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 14×21 (second floor)
• Family room: 11×19 (second floor)
• Breakfast room: 16×10 (second floor)
• Game room: 23×14 (main floor)
• Library: 23×12 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 14×9 (main floor)

Apparently, developers didn’t sell many new homes in Chicago in 2020.

New homes are defined by Tracy Cross & Associates as a development with 10 or more units. It doesn’t include the single family home custom built in Southport.

From Crain’s:

Sales of new-construction homes in Chicago dropped to their lowest in 25 years in 2020, according to a new report. At the same time, new home sales in the suburbs surged to a 12-year high.

In Chicago, 219 newly built homes were sold during the year, according to a 2020 year-end report released this week by Tracy Cross & Associates, a consultant to the homebuilding industry based in Schaumburg. That’s down 38.5 percent from 2019 sales, and the lowest figure in Cross’s records, which date back to 1995.

In the suburban area, 4,676 new homes sold in 2020, an increase of 23.3 percent from 2019. It’s the highest figure since 2008.

And while the suburban sales were the highest since the housing bubble, they remain well below those built in the early 2000s when the article says 20,000 to 30,000 homes were being constructed.

These 219 homes were both detached, condos and townhouse.

Three of the best-selling new-home developments in the city had an average sale price below $1 million, according to Doersching’s calculations. They were CA6 in the West Loop, where 29 condos sold at an average of $830,000 each; Lexington Village in Avondale (16 townhouses at an average of $586,000); and 5748 N. Hermitage (26 condos at an average of $741,000).

Is there a huge, pent-up demand for new construction in the city under $1 million?

There’s a new condo building that is opening a sales center in the Printers Row development called Southbank.

The Reed will be 41-stories with condos starting at $390,000.

With no competition for “new” product at this price point, will these sell quickly?

You can see pictures of The Reed here.

New home sales plummet in the city, surge in the suburbs [Crain’s Chicago Business, by Dennis Rodkin, February 2, 2021]

This 6-bedroom vintage mansion at 1515 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast came on the market in November 2020.

Built in 1898, the house is on a larger than standard 30×130 lot and has a 1-car garage.

It also has an elevator.

The listing says it has gone through a multi-year renovation.

Yet it still has many of its extraordinary vintage features including 6 fireplaces, carved ceilings, paneled wood walls and crown molding.

The dining room has original wall paneling.

The entry foyer has a fireplace and the original coffered ceiling along with a checkerboard floor.

But the house now also has quite a few features imported from France.

The listing says the kitchen, which is on the main floor, is a “dream kitchen” with an island crafted from wormy chestnut, a La Cornue range and 400+ year old reclaimed stone flooring and a wood burning fireplace from Provence, France along with a beamed ceiling.

The nearby family room on the main floor has an antique French mantel.

And just to mix a little Swiss into it, there is a separate billiard room with paneling from a Swiss hunting lodge.

All the door, window and cabinet hardware is either gold or sterling plated from Bronze de France, Paris.

The living and dining room, along with a Butler’s pantry with a Wolf range, and a library are on the second floor.

There are also two bedrooms on the second floor and four bedrooms on the third floor.

The primary suite has an antique fireplace as well as an en suite bathroom.

The house has a basement with an exercise room.

There’s also several outdoor spaces including a courtyard with a fountain and a large stone terrace off the second floor.

It has central air.

Listed at $9.35 million for 9,680 square feet, is this mansion a vintage lover’s dream?

Timothy Salm at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here and watch the video which has more pictures of some of the rooms including the bathrooms.

1515 N. State Parkway: 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 2 half baths, 9680 square feet

• Lis pendens filed in May 2006
• Bank owned in August 2008
• Sold in September 2008 for $3.8 million
• Originally listed in November 2020 for $9.35 million
• Currently still listed at $9.35 million
• Taxes of $124,568
• Central Air
• 1-car garage
• Elevator
• 6 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 15×28 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×21 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×21 (third floor)
• Bedroom #5: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 21×21 (third floor)
• Living room: 18×25 (second floor)
• Dining room: 15×21 (second floor)
• Library: 11×19 (second floor)
• Family room: 20×19 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 18×17 (main floor)
• Breakfast room: 12×13 (main floor)
• Den: 14×17 (main floor)
• Foyer: 12×8 (main floor)
• Exercise room: 20×18 (basement)
• Laundry room: 7×7 (third floor)
• Terrace: second floor

This 3-bedroom single family home at 1524 N. Astor in the Gold Coast came on the market in December 2020.

It’s rare for its location as it was built in the middle of last century and not during the early 1900s.

It was designed by Chicago architect I.W. Colburn in 1969.

It’s on a smaller than normal Chicago lot measuring 25×101.

The house is also directly on the historic, landmarked “Wooden Alley” which is only one, of two, still existing alleys paved with wood left in the city.

The listing says the current owner embarked on a 5-year redesign done by Marvin Herman & Associates and Suzanne Lovell Inc.

The interior is in art deco style.

The floors are stained, quartersawn white oak with a metal inlay.

There is custom millwork, cabinetry, drapes and paint throughout.

The first floor includes the entry foyer, the laundry room, and an office or guest room with a full bath.

The second floor features the living room, dining room and an eat-in kitchen along with a den, deck and terrace which overlooks the Cardinal’s Mansion across the alley.

The kitchen has dark cabinets, stone counter tops, an island, luxury stainless steel appliances and a banquette.

The third floor has the primary suite with an attached bathroom, another bedroom, also en suite, and a family room.

The listing says that the garden, koi pond and terraces were professionally landscaped by Scott Byron & Company.

There are 4 fireplaces, central air and 2-car parking (although there are 3 listed on the floor plan. Is one too small to have a car in?)

If you’re a fan of mid-century homes, does this one hit all the buttons?

Jennifer Ames at Engel & Voelkers has the listing. See the pictures, a video and floor plans here.

1524 N. Astor: 3 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, 6500 square feet

• Sold in October 2000 for $8.125 million
• Originally listed in December 2020 at $10.995 million
• Currently still listed at $10.995 million
• Taxes of $80,649
• 2-car garage parking
• 25×101 lot
• 4 fireplaces
• Central Air
• 3 outdoor spaces
• Skylight
• Bedroom #1: 22×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 23×15 (main floor)
• Living room: 22×21 (second floor)
• Dining room: 22×13 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 22×13 (second floor)
• Family room: 22×18 (third floor)
• Den: 15×15 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 6×11 (main floor)
• Terrace with koi pond: 23×12 (main floor)
• Terrace: 16×31 (second floor)
• Deck: 12×14 (second floor)