Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom loft in the Manchester Building at 2035 W. Charleston in Bucktown came on the market in November 2020.

Built in 1895, the Manchester Building has 18 units and a parking garage.

It was converted into condos in 1990.

Here’s info from the Tribune talking about the development when the sales center opened in 1990.

The Manchester Building, 2035 W. Charleston St., was designed in the 1890s as a hospital.

The E-shaped configuration of the four-story structure was planned to contain the 18 wards and service areas of the institution. Each area received light from large windows on three sides.

The hospital was built as an affiliate of All Saints Cathedral, which still stands next door.

Parish financial problems forced the sale of the hospital shortly after it opened, and it was converted to multiuse light industry.

This unit is a 2500 square foot first floor loft that duplexes down.

The listing says it has 14 foot ceilings with beams and iron saddles.

The loft has exposed brick walls and industrial windows.

There are maple hardwood floors on the main floor.

The kitchen has a large island with a breakfast bar with seating, granite counter tops, a tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances along with a walk-in-pantry.

There are two bedrooms on the main floor, including the primary bedroom which has a walk-in-closet and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity and walk-in shower.

The third bedroom is in the lower level along with a full bath, the laundry room and a massive open space that the listing says could be a second family room.

There are 3 outdoor spaces including a covered balcony off the kitchen, a terrace on the lower level and a deck off the first floor family room that could be finished (on top of the garage perhaps? See pictures).

It has the features buyers look for including central air, a one car garage and in-unit laundry.

Listed at $899,000, is this a rare opportunity to get a large, truly authentic loft space for under $1 million in the hot Bucktown neighborhood?

Brent Jensen and Jeffrey Jensen at KW Experience have the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan).

Unit #102: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2500 square feet, loft, duplex down

• Sold in October 1991 for $220,500
• Sold in September 1998 for $468,000
• Originally listed in November 2020 for $899,000
• Currently still listed at $899,000 (includes one car garage)
• Assessments of $471 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $14,338
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 12×15 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×14 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×13 (lower level)
• Family room: 21×32 (main level)
• Dining room: 10×14 (main level)
• Kitchen: 16×16 (main level)
• Recreation room: 22×28 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 7×15 (lower level)

This 4-bedroom Spanish-style single family home at 1821 N. Lincoln Park West in Old Town came on the market in November 2020.

Built in 1895, it’s on a larger than average Chicago lot measuring 25×151.5.

It has a 2-car garage.

The house is one of just two Spanish-style homes in the Old Town neighborhood. The second one is its twin next door.

The listing says it has been “Architect renovated.”

The house has 11-foot ceilings, crown moldings and skylights.

The kitchen has black custom cabinets and luxury appliances by Subzero, Miele and Viking.

There is a banquette eating area off the kitchen as well as a den.

The second floor has 3 of the bedrooms including the primary bedroom, which is en suite.

There’s also an office on the second floor.

The fourth bedroom is in the lower level along with a family room, a full bath and the laundry room.

The listing says that the lower level has private outside access which would make it perfect as a suite for aging parents or a nanny.

There’s a deck on the second floor as well as a backyard patio which the listing says was designed by renowned landscape architect Maria S. Smithburg.

The house has space pak cooling.

It’s located on one of the most popular streets in Old Town, near Lincoln Park and the shops and restaurants on Wells Street.

Originally listed in November 2020 at $2.5 million, it went under contract within the first few days but was then re-listed in December.

It was recently reduced $125,000 to $2.375 million.

Buyers love move-in ready homes.

Will the price reduction get the sale done quickly?

Linda Mayer at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

1821 N. Lincoln Park West: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3800 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in November 1999 for $500,000
• Sold in August 2005 for $1.96 million
• Originally listed in November 2020 for $2.5 million
• Under contract within days
• Re-listed in December 2020 at $2.5 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.375 million
• Taxes of $29,311
• 2-car garage
• Space-pak cooling
• 1 fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 19×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 9×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×13 (lower level)
• Living room: 12×34 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 12×9 (main floor)
• Eating area: 12×7 (main floor)
• Den: 13×15 (main floor)
• Library: 7×12 (main floor)
• Office: 12×8 (second floor)
• Family room: 12×34 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 10×8 (lower level)
• Mud room: 7×18 (lower level)
• Deck: 8×11 (second level)
• Terrace: 21×40

Housing demand continued to be strong into the end of the year as December sales were up double digits year-over-year after sales were up 9% last December.

It was the highest December sales since the housing boom year of 2006.

From the Illinois Association of Realtors:

In the city of Chicago, home sales (single-family and condominiums) in December 2020 totaled 2,220 homes sold, up 17.3 percent from December 2019 sales of 1,892 homes. Year-end 2020 home sales totaled 25,999, down 0.8 percent from 26,217 homes sold in 2019.

The median price of a home in Chicago in December 2020 was $307,500, up 11.4 percent compared to December 2019 when it was $276,000. The year-end 2020 median price reached $316,000, up 7.1 percent from $295,000 in 2019.

• December 2004: 3719 sales and median price of $267,000
• December 2005: 2847 sales and median price of $283,000
• December 2006: 2241 sales and median price of $279,000
• December 2007: 1629 sales and median price of $287,000
• December 2008: 1263 sales and median price of $235,000
• December 2009: 1820 sales and median price of $208,000 (34% short/REO sales)
• December 2010: 1475 sales and median price of $166,000 (43% short/REO sales)
• December 2011: 1536 sales and median price of $156,000 (44% short/REO sales)
• December 2012: 1806 sales and median price of $185,000 (39.7% short/REO sales- according to Gary Lucido’s data)
• December 2013: 2137 sales and median price of $210,000
• December 2014: 2020 sales and median price of $228,000
• December 2015: 2077 sales and median price of $242,000
• December 2016: 1974 sales and median price of $260,000
• December 2017: 2058 sales and median price of $265,500
• December 2018: 1708 sales and median price of $251,500
• December 2019: 1892 sales and median price of $276,000
• December 2020: 2220 sales and median price of $307,500

“December created great opportunities for buyers and sellers. All signs are pointing to a robust January, and now is not the time to let off the gas,” said Nykea Pippion McGriff, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and vice president of brokerage services at Coldwell Banker Realty. “With sales prices up 11.4 percent and interest rates still low, buyers who are on the fence should be encouraged to make their move. Prospective sellers with home prices aligned with market needs should be encouraged to sell, with days on the market down 19.1 percent.”

The sales mix in Chicago still showed a bias towards single family homes as sales rose 25.1% year-over-year to 1,001. But condos were still up double digits as well, gaining 11.6% to 1,219.

In Chicago, average days on the market fell to 38 from 47 days a year ago, down 19.1%.

Statewide average days on the market fell to 42 from 57 days last year.

Chicago inventory was up 0.2% year-over-year to 7,594 from 7,578 properties.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate also cooperated declining again to an average of 2.68% from 2.77% in November.

It was down over a point from December 2019, where it averaged 3.72%.

“Housing sales and prices are expected to continue their positive trends into the first quarter of 2021,” said Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, emeritus director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois.

“A major source of continuing demand is likely to come from those seeking to relocate to accommodate opportunities to sustain the percentage of time spent working from home. Declining housing affordability and a decrease in rental prices may serve to dampen housing demand especially at the lower end of the price spectrum,” Hewings said.

Historically, the spring buying season begins after the Super Bowl, but the housing market remains strong in January despite another outbreak of the coronavirus.

Has the spring home buying season already begun?

Will inventory come on the market to provide relief for buyers?

Illinois housing market ends 2020 strong with December and year-end jumps in sales, prices [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, January 22, 2021]

This 4 bedroom full-floor penthouse at 257 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast came on the market in January 2020.

Built in 1917, 257 E. Delaware only has 13 units.

It does not have a doorman. The elevator opens by key on each floor.

There’s no parking but the listing says there is valet parking “right outside your front door.” It doesn’t list the cost.

The building has a private garden and storage as well as an on-site engineer.

The listing says this unit was renovated in 2019 and was created by merging two units.

We chattered about the bigger of those units, #10A, in 2018.

You can see our chatter here.

It now has modern finishes including stone floors in the living/dining rooms and kitchen.

The kitchen has white modern cabinets with a double oven, a Subzero dual refrigerator, a walk-in-pantry and an island with waterfall countertops.

There’s a wet bar and powder room off the kitchen.

There’s a wood burning fireplace in the family room with a large slab stone surround.

The unit also has a 10 foot wide porcelain and glass enclosed wine cellar overlooking the kitchen.

Every bedroom is en suite.

The primary bedroom has a gas burning fireplace and dual walk-in-closets with a white marble bathroom with steam shower and heated floors.

This penthouse has features buyers are looking for including central air and a laundry room.

The listing says this building is in the Gold Coast, but there’s some dispute on this site whether this is the Gold Coast or Streeterville.

In 2018, I called it the Gold Coast, so I’m going with that here.

It’s near the Mag Mile, museums, Oak Street Beach and the restaurants of Streeterville and the Gold Coast.

Listed at $2.65 million for 4,000 square feet, is this the perfect mixture of vintage and modern?

Kelly Angelopoulos and Ivan Madera at Jameson Sotheby’s have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #10AB: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4000 square feet, penthouse

• Unit #10B: 2 bedrooms, 1 baths sold in November 2018 for $440,000 per Zillow
• Unit #10A: 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, sold in November 2018 for $550,000 per Zillow
• Originally listed in January 2020 (I couldn’t find a price)
• Withdrawn in September 2020
• Re-listed in December 2020 for $2.65 million
• Currently still listed at $2.65 million
• Assessments of $2740 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $21,858
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 fireplaces (one wood burning, one gas)
• No parking but 2 car leased valet parking available
• Bedroom #1: 16×17
• Bedroom #2: 10×14
• Bedroom #3: 13×12
• Bedroom #4: 9×10
• Living room: 25×10
• Family room: 25×23
• Dining room: 25×10
• Kitchen: 25×15
• Laundry room: 7×7
• Pantry: 7×8
• Wet bar: 8×5

This 3-bedroom duplex penthouse loft in the 300 W. Grand Lofts at 300 W. Grand in River North came on the market in January 2021.

300 W. Grand was built in 1928 and converted into 51 lofts in 1998. It has some parking in the building but some owners also bought deeded parking spaces in the building next door.

The building has a 24-hour doorman and a fitness center.

This is an authentic loft with exposed brick walls and 16 foot timber ceilings.

The listing for this penthouse says that it has been “fully renovated.”

It has newly installed real oak hardwood floors in an antique white finish.

Two of the bedrooms are on the main level while the third is on the second level.

The primary bedroom has walls to the ceiling. It’s not clear from the pictures about the second main floor bedroom.

The third bedroom is on the second level, accessed via a spiral staircase, and has a wet bar.

The rooftop private deck with south facing city views is accessed off the third bedroom.

The loft also has a south facing balcony off the living room.

The kitchen has charcoal gray 42″ Brookhaven cabinets, Calcutta Marbled Classique Quartz counter tops with a waterfall edge, all new Samsung stainless steel fingerprint resistant appliances, including a 5-burner stove.

There are 2 marble and granite bathrooms.

It has an extra walk-in-storage room in the basement.

The loft has all the features buyers look for including central air, side-by-side laundry in the unit and 2 garage spaces are available for $30,000 each.

This loft last sold in 17 years.

It has come on the market at $719,000.

For loft lovers looking for outdoor space, does this loft fit the bill?

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

Unit #408: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1700 square feet, duplex penthouse loft

• Sold in August 2001 for $370,000
• Sold in September 2004 for $370,000
• Listed in January 2021 for $719,000
• 2 garage parking spaces available for $30,000 each but don’t have to be sold with the unit. Each rented for $200 a month.
• Assessments of $754 a month (includes parking, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $9133
• Central Air but the listing also says there’s a window unit. Does the top floor bedroom have a wall unit?
• Side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 13×14 (second floor)
• Living/dining room: 15×26 (main level)
• Kitchen: 12×9 (main level)
• Laundry room: 8×5 (main level)
• Rooftop deck: 17×10 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom penthouse in 55 E. Erie in River North came on the market in July 2020.

55 E. Erie was built during the housing boom in 2004. It has 214 units and a parking garage.

It’s a full amenity building with a 24-hour doorman, a pool, an exercise room and a clubhouse.

This half floor listing is a “custom end penthouse” on the 53rd floor.

The listing says it has unobstructed north, east and west views.

It has three private recessed balconies.

There are 3 entrances to the barrel vaulted hallway with archways and moldings.

All doors and trim work are custom from Muench Woodwork.

There are motorized blinds throughout.

The penthouse has 2 gas fireplaces.

The kitchen has Clive Christian French Oak and Yew Wood custom cabinets with black granite limestone countertops and Paris Ceramic French Refined Limestone floors along with a double Subzero refrigerator freezer, a 60″ Viking Range and Perrin and Rowe faucets.

The kitchen overlooks the family room and has coffered ceilings.

The living and dining room rooms have hand-carved mahogany cabinetry with a gas fireplace which was built from Clive Christian Cabinetry from London.

There is also a mahogany bar with a Subzero wine cooler and refrigerator and built-in TV.

The primary suite has arched double doors, 2 walk-in closets and a spa-like bathroom with heated limestone floors.

There’s a laundry room in the unit, central air and 2 “prime” side-by-side parking spaces are included.

At 4200 square feet, it’s as large as many city single family homes.

Listed at $4 million, is this a good single family home alternative?

Joshua Lipton and Heather Ditlevsen at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #5302: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4200 square feet

• Sold in April 2004 for $2.12 million
• Originally listed in July 2020 at $4 million
• Currently still listed at $4 million (but is listed as “temporarily no showings”)
• Assessments of $3075 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, exercise room, clubhouse, pool, exterior maintenance, snow removal, lawn service, scavenger)
• Taxes of $60,830
• 2-car side-by-side parking spaces included
• 2 gas fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 32×17
• Bedroom #2: 12×18
• Bedroom #3: 13×18
• Living room: 22×20
• Family room: 23×14
• Dining room: 15×12
• Kitchen: 16×11
• Laundry room: 11×5
• Walk-in-closet: 11×13
• Bar: 15×16
• Balcony: 23×8
• Terrace: 14×14
• Balcony: 20×8

This 3-bedroom penthouse in The Neapolitan at 1212 N. Wells in Old Town came on the market in August 2019.

The Neapolitan was built in 2001 during the housing boom. It has 95 units and garage parking.

It’s a full amenity building with 24-hour doormen, tennis courts, dog run, clubhouse and exercise room.

This penthouse has new hardwood floors throughout and a gas fireplace.

The listing says there is a “newly updated gourmet kitchen” with white cabinets and Lapis Lazuli countertops, Subzero appliances, and a 6-burner stove with a pot filler.

There’s a primary suite with a walk-in-closet and en suite bathroom.

It has a full-sized washer/dryer in the unit, central air, and 3-car parking is available, including a 2-car tandem space and one single space.

Parking is extra at $45,000 for the tandem space and $30,000 for the single space.

The unit has two outdoor spaces which the listing calls “oasis terraces.”

The building is located amidst the restaurants and shops of Old Town.

Originally listed in August 2019 for $1.099 million it has been under contract once, in July 2020, but has now been reduced to $840,000.

The penthouse originally sold in 2001 when it was “new” for $865,500, and it included the parking.

Is this a deal?

Howard Thomas at Re/Max Premier has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1701: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in November 2001 for $865,000 (3 parking spaces included)
• Sold in May 2016 for $905,000 (3 parking spaces included)
• Originally listed in August 2019 for $1.099 million
• Reduced
• Under contract in July 2020 listed at $840,000
• Currently still listed at $840,000 (parking is $45,000 extra for the tandem space and $30,000 extra for the single space)
• Assessments of $1563 a month (includes parking, doormen, cable, clubhouse, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $20,347
• Central Air
• Full-size side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×13
• Bedroom #3: 10×12
• Living room: 12×29
• Dining room: 11×20
• Kitchen: 11×10
• Terrace: 10×10
• Terrace: 10×10

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 2044 W. Roscoe in Roscoe Village came on the market in January 2021.

Built in 1893, this building was converted into 6 townhouses in 1999.

It has heated garage parking and there are multiple decks.

This townhouse has a first floor living area that is 22 feet wide with a wall of windows, exposed brick and 10 foot ceilings.

There’s a first floor fireplace that has a sitting area in front of it.

The kitchen has white cabinets which the listing says are “newly refinished”, along with stainless steel appliances, quarter countertops and a 6 foot island with seating which is open to the dining room.

There are oak hardwood floors throughout the first floor and designer lighting.

The first floor has a half bath.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor along with the two full baths.

The primary bedroom is en suite and has a walk-in-closet.

There’s a small patio area off one of the secondary bedrooms which leads to stairs, which are outside, up to the rooftop deck on the third floor.

The townhouse has central air, a washer/dryer and heated garage parking spaces for 2 cars are included.

This building is surrounded by the shops and restaurants of Roscoe Village.

With Roscoe Village single family home prices usually well over $1 million, is this an affordable single family home alternative?

Mathew Boemmel at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #3S: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2100 square feet, townhouse

• Sold in July 2005 for $582,000
• Sold in May 2012 for $515,000
• Listed in January 2021 for $679,990
• Currently still listed at $679,990
• Assessments of $265 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance and snow removal)
• Taxes of $13,123
• Central Air
• Heated garage parking for 2 cars included
• 1 fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 22×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)
• Living room: 24×11 (main floor)
• Dining room: 18×11 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 17×11 (main floor)
• Sitting room: 14×11 (main floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 7×6 (second floor)
• Foyer: 20×7 (main floor)
• Deck: 28×22 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom vintage single family home at 306 W. Concord in Old Town came on the market in January 2021.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in June 2019.

You can see our chatter here.

It didn’t sell in 2019 and was withdrawn from the market.

Built in 1896 on a smaller than average 24×94 lot, it has a 2 car garage.

The listing again says the house was “totally renovated” in 2006/2007.

A great room and master suite were added on to the back of the house which expanded the square footage to 2500 square feet.

The kitchen has white cabinets, black counter tops, white subway tile, a farmhouse sink and luxury stainless steel appliances.

There’s a separate breakfast room and an office, with French doors, on the main level.

All three bedrooms are on the lower level including the master suite which has a spa bathroom.

You’ll recall, that there’s a deck on top of the 2-car garage but because of the addition, and the smaller lot, there’s no backyard.

The house has central air.

It also literally has a white picket fence on the front of the property.

Originally listed in September 2018 for $1.35 million, it de-listed in August 2019, but it has now come back on the market and been reduced to $1.195 million.

With the pandemic putting outdoor space at a premium, does a home on a smaller than standard Chicago lot have a disadvantage?

Or will ANY single family home do right now? (especially one with 2-car parking in Old Town)

Emily Sachs Wong at @Properties still has the listing. See the pictures here.

306 W. Concord: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2500 square feet

• Sold in July 1996 for $290,000
• Sold in December 2005 for $643,000
• Sold in April 2016 for $1.25 million
• Originally listed in September 2018 for $1.35 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2019 at $1.295 million
• De-listed in August 2019
• Re-listed in January 2021 at $1.195 million
• Taxes are now $21,770 (they were $20,402 in 2019)
• Central Air
• 2-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (lower level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×7 (lower level)
• Living room: 12×11 (main level)
• Dining room: 12×10 (main level)
• Office: 10×9 (main level)
• Kitchen: 12×9 (main level)
• Family room: 17×15 (main level)

This 4-bedroom in 399 W. Fullerton Parkway in East Lincoln Park came on the market in June 2019.

Built in 1926-27 by McNally & Quinn, according to Chicago Apartments, it’s in the French Renaissance style.

It’s an exclusive building with just 2 units per floor and just 32 units in the 17 story building.

It’s also unusual for a building in this period in that there’s a garage on the first floor. Garage and guest parking is available in the building.

It has 24-hour door staff.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: the building stands on the site of the former Loeb estate which stretched along Fullerton Parkway.

Nellie Loeb was the daughter of Adolphus Busch, the St. Louis brewer.

This unit has views overlooking the park and lake.

It has wood crown molding in the living room along with a gas fireplace.

There are hardwood floors in the living and dining room.

The listing says there are hardwoods under the carpet in the bedrooms.

The kitchen has white and black (gray?) cabinets along with Subzero appliances.

It has central air and radiant heat along with washer/dryer in the unit. Valet garage parking is available for $300 a month.

If you’re thinking about what this apartment could look like remodeled, the sister unit, #14E, is also available.

It’s gone under contract at $1.495 million but you’ll get some ideas of the possibilities.

You can see the pictures here.

Originally listed in June 2019 at $899,000, it has been reduced $224,000 to $675,000.

Given the price of the sister unit, is this a deal for someone who wants to do a renovation?

Randy Nasatir and Jeremy Steward at @Properties have the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #14W: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3000 square feet, co-op

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price as it’s a co-op
• Originally listed in June 2019 at $899,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed at $675,000
• Assessments of $4549 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care scavenger, snow removal and taxes- which the listing says was $1856 a month. That means the rest of the assessment is $2593 a month)
• Taxes included in the assessments
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Valet garage parking for $300 a month
• 1 fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 19×12
• Bedroom #2: 20×13
• Bedroom #3: 16×12
• Bedroom #4: 13×9
• Living room: 29×16
• Dining room: 19×14
• Kitchen: 17×13
• Foyer: 14×8