Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom in Aqua at 225 N. Columbus in the New East Side (also known as Lakeshore East) came on the market in May 2019.

Aqua was built in 2009 and has 262 units and a parking garage.

It’s a full service building with doormen, a pool, exercise room, and clubhouse.

It has won architecture awards for its distinctive design.

This unit is on the 76th floor and, according to the listing, has “amazing views” of the Lake, Chicago River and skyline (see the listing pictures).

The kitchen has custom cabinets, stone countertops, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar.

The primary bedroom has an en suite bath and walk-in closet.

There is a second bedroom which looks like, from the listing pictures, it doesn’t have a window. It does have French doors which open onto the living/dining room.

Aqua has those famous curved balconies. This unit has one that measures 20×7.

It has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking (which looks like it is included in the list price. Maybe?)

In the listing pictures, you can see the new St Regis Chicago to the right of the building.

Originally listed in May 2019 at $749,900, it has been reduced to $699,900.

That’s $130,100 under the 2016 price of $830,000.

It’s listed for $595 per square foot.

The St. Regis is selling for $1,000 and up.

With similar views to the St. Regis, but at a lower price point, is this a deal?

Sohail Salahuddin at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #7603: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1176 square feet

• Sold in May 2011 for $659,500 (included the parking space)
• Sold in October 2016 for $830,000 (included the parking space)
• Originally listed in May 2019 for $749,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,900 (does this include the parking space? It isn’t clear)
• Assessments of $995 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, clubhouse, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $16,343
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living/dining room: 20×18
• Kitchen: 10×9
• Walk-in-closet: 10×5
• Foyer: 9×7
• Balcony: 20×7

This 6-bedroom vintage penthouse in the Jackson Shore Apartments at 5490 S. South Shore in Hyde Park came on the market in May 2019.

Jackson Shore Apartments was designed by Rapp & Rapp in 1917. The Rapps mainly designed cinemas in the 1920s.

According to the Chicago Apartments, A Century of Lakefront Luxury, it was the first tall luxury building in East Hyde Park and had the largest units in the neighborhood.

The 12-story building has 20 apartments and a top floor that was meant to be servants quarters.

It’s most distinguishing feature are the cylindrically shaped windows on the north and south sides of the building which were designed to be orangeries (or “sunrooms” in todays parlance).

The 20 units were designed to be like single family homes and are over 5,000 square feet each.

It has a 24-hour doorman. There’s no parking but there is an exercise room and a private enclosed yard with grills.

The building remains a co-op.

If this building looks familiar, that’s because we last chattered about it in September 2019.

See our chatter here.

The listing says there are 6 bedrooms. On the original floor plan there were 4 bedrooms and 2 smaller maid’s rooms with their own “service hall” area.

There still aren’t any pictures of the kitchen in this unit.

If you recall, it has some of its original features including a wood burning fireplace in the living room and original plaster.

There’s no central air but there’s a washer/dryer in the unit.

There’s no parking.

Originally listed in May 2019 for $575,000, it has been reduced to $299,500.

It went under contract shortly after the reduction under $300,000 but has fallen out of contract and has been re-listed.

The HOAs are now $6836 a month and include the property taxes.

This building is in the center of East Hyde Park and is walkable to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, the University of Chicago campus and the Museum of Science and Industry.

At $299,500, is this a deal?

Robert Sullivan at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #10N: 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 5000 square feet, co-op

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price as it’s a co-op
• Originally listed in May 2019 for $575,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in September 2019 at $399,500
• Reduced
• Went under contract in November 2020 listed at $299,500
• Re-listed in December 2020 at $299,500
• Assessments are now $6836 a month (they were $6409 a month in September 2019) (includes heat, property taxes, doorman, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are included in the HOA
• No central air
• Washer/dryer hook-ups in the unit
• Wood burning fireplace
• No parking but available in the neighborhood for rent
• Bedroom #1: 16×20
• Bedroom #2: 13×20
• Bedroom #3: 15×15
• Bedroom #4: 15×15
• Bedroom #5: 10×16
• Bedroom #6: 9×12
• Living room: 19×28
• Dining room: 18×24
• Kitchen: 16×16
• Reception Hall/Foyer: 12×15
• Orangerie: 19×20

This 3-Bedroom in the Park Monroe at 65 E. Monroe in the Loop came on the market in August 2020.

Built in 2013, the Park Monroe has 216 units and garage parking.

It takes up the top floors of the building and has an indoor pool and rooftop sundeck.

This unit is on the 40th floor and has direct Lake and Millennium Park and Grant Park views.

The listing says it has 55 feet of open glass with views from the floor to ceiling windows.

It has 10 foot ceilings.

There are walnut floors.

The unit has a Control 4 plus Lutron smart home system, surround sound and electronic shades.

The listing says the kitchen was “totally remodeled” in 2018 by Victoria Revzin of Avanti.

It has a full Viking commercial kitchen with Subzero refrigerator and wine chiller, quartez waterfall countertops and an island that seats four.

The primary suite has 2 walk-in-closets and an en suite bath that has 2 separate sinks.

One of the other bedrooms is also en suite.

There’s a library.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car garage parking is included.

However, it doesn’t have any private outdoor space.

Listed at $2.9 million, does the lack of a terrace or balcony still matter to buyers with the vaccine being rolled out?

Patricia Young at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #4021: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3575 square feet

• Sold in January 2014 for $2.1 million
• Sold in January 2017 for $2.2 million (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in August 2020 for $2.9 million
• Currently still listed at $2.9 million
• Assessments of $2217 a month (includes a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, indoor pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, scavenger)
• Taxes of $36,017
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car parking included
• Bedroom #1: 24×14
• Bedroom #2: 18×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Library: 17×13
• Living/dining combo: 32×24
• Family room: 28×13
• Kitchen: 19×17

This 2-bedroom in The Legacy at 60 E. Monroe across from Millennium Park in the Loop came on the market in July 2020.

The Legacy was built at the end of the housing boom, in 2009. It has 355 units and a parking garage.

It’s a full-service building with doormen, an exercise room, a pool and sundeck.

If this unit looks familiar, it’s because we last chattered about it in June 2017 when it had first come on the market.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, it is a corner unit with 10 foot windows in the primary bedroom which has a walk-in-closet and an en suite bathroom with a dual vanity.

It also has a unique 10×5 separate office space, a rare amenity in a high rise unit during the pandemic.

The kitchen has dark Brookhaven cabinets, Subzero refrigerator, a Bosch dishwasher and granite counter tops.

But it’s big selling point in 2020 is that it’s just one of 6 units with private terrace space in the building.

It is a big terrace at over 400 square feet with enough space for a grill, a table and other furniture.

All of those units are on the sundeck level which has full landscaping, including trees.

This unit has central air and washer/dryer in the unit but there doesn’t appear to be any parking.

It’s been on and off the market since we last chattered about it in 2017.

In 2019, it was listed for rent for $4200 a month.

It came back on the market in July 2020 for $749,000 and has been reduced to $725,000.

It last sold in 2016 for $725,000.

Have East Loop prices fallen to 2016’s level?

Catherine Arslanian at @Properties still has the listing (as she did in 2017). See the pictures here (sorry- no floor plan)

Unit #1504: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1428 square feet

• Sold in October 2010 for $649,000
• Sold in December 2012 for $580,000
• Sold in November 2016 for $725,000
• Was listed in June 2017 at $749,000
• Withdrawn
• Available for rent in 2019 at $4200 a month
• Re-listed in July 2020 at $749,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $725,000
• Assessments are now $780 a month (they were $684 a month in 2017) (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes are now $12,805 (they were $11571 in 2017)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×15
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Living/dining combo: 22×19
• Kitchen: 14×9
• Office: 10×5
• Laundry room: 4×4
• Walk-in-closet: 8×7
• Terrace: 28×8

This 3-bedroom in 6 N. Michigan across from Millennium Park in the Loop came on the market in July 2019.

6 N. Michigan was built in 1898 but wasn’t converted into condos until the housing bubble years in 2007-2008.

It is a full amenity building with a 24-hour doorman, an exercise room and sundeck. It also has heated garage parking.

This unit is a northeast facing corner unit with direct views of the Lake and the Park.

It has dark stained wood floors in the living/dining rooms, custom Holly Hunt wall coverings along with recessed lighting.

There’s also an electric fireplace in the living room along with built-ins.

The kitchen has white Scavolini cabinets with granite counter tops, Wolf, Subzero, Affinity and Bosch appliances along with a built-in wine cooler and a breakfast bar with sitting for four.

There’s a separate dining room and breakfast nook.

The primary bedroom has 12-foot ceilings, a walk-in-closet and en suite bathroom with dual vanity and shower with rainfall head.

It also has a balcony, which is rare for this historic building.

Of the other two bedrooms, one of them is en suite and one is on the northeast corner, with lake views.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and there are 2 heated garage parking spaces available for $45,000 each.

Originally listed at $1.575 million, it has been reduced to $950,000.

It sold in 2011 for $1.17 million.

If you recall, 2011-2012 was the “bottom” of the housing bust.

Is this condo a steal at $950,000?

Leigh Marcus at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1601: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2500 square feet

• Sold in December 2011 for $1.17 million
• Originally listed in July 2019 for $1.575 million
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed at $950,000 (plus $45,000 each for 2 deeded garage spaces)
• Assessments of $2562 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $27,886
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Electric fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×17
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Bedroom 33: 14×13
• Living room: 22×34
• Dining room: 20×13
• Kitchen: 11×15
• Laundry room: 6×6
• Foyer: 8×19
• WIC: 10×7
• Balcony: 7×11

This 2-bedroom in the Metropolitan Tower at 310 S. Michigan in the Loop came on the market in May 2020.

Built in 1924, according to Wikipedia, Metropolitan Tower was the first building over 30 stories in Chicago.

It was converted to 235 condos during the housing boom in 2007-2008.

It’s a full amenity building with a 24-hour doorman, a roof deck with grills and lake views, a fitness room and garage parking.

The listing says this unit has had an “exquisite renovation” costing over $140,000.

It has crown molding and wainscoting throughout.

The entry foyer and hallway is a black and white marble checkerboard floor from Paris Ceramics.

The kitchen has white Wood Mode cabinets with crystal knobs, Carrera marble counter tops and backsplash, Subzero and Wolf appliances and a kitchen island with seating.

There are Wenge hardwood floors.

The living room has a gas fireplace with a mantle.

The primary suite has custom closets and a marble primary bath with dual vanity and soaking tub/shower.

The second bedroom doesn’t appear to have a window.

There’s recessed lighting throughout.

It has all the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1 garage parking space for $35,000.

This unit originally sold in April 2008, the height of the housing boom, for $965,000.

It is listed at $575,000.

With the pandemic and the summer looting scaring off downtown buyers, is this a deal?

Nancy McAdam at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1401: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1270 square feet

• Sold in April 2008 for $965,000
• Listed in May 2020 for $575,000
• Currently listed for $575,000 (plus $35,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $1004 a month (includes heat, a/c, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, roof deck, 24-hour doorman)
• Taxes of $11,947
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 12×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Living/dining room combo: 19×14
• Kitchen: 12×9
• Laundry room: 5×4

This 5-bedroom in 2450 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park came on the market in January 2020 but has been on, and off, the market since 2014.

2450 N. Lakeview is a 13-story neoclassical co-op designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw. It was his final building and was constructed between 1922 and 1924.

It has a 24-hour doorman, private parking, a barbecue area and an outdoor basketball court.

The building contains just 12 units.

At the time, it was considered the most prestigious building in the city with full floor units of 8,000 square feet which also had a separate service wing.

The units were custom built to owner’s wishes and original buyers included two Art Institute presidents.

It has a 100-foot wall of windows that over look Lincoln Park and has Lake views.

Many of the original vintage features remain nearly a 100 years later.

It has a private elevator opening into a vestibule which leads to a massive 40×12 gallery.

The unit has the original moldings and trim.

It also has 5 wood burning fireplaces.

There is a French hand-polished mahogany library with one of the 5 wood burning fireplaces as well as mahogany doors.

The kitchen has white cabinets, stainless steel and custom white appliances, stone counter tops and a kitchen island.

There appears to be a butler’s pantry with more cabinets and prep area.

4 out of the 5 bedrooms are en suite.

In one of the pictures of the bathrooms (the primary bathroom?) there is a wood burning fireplace.

There’s a walk-in-closet.

It has a wine cellar and 2 wet bars.

The service quarter wing has been turned into an exercise room, an office and a full size laundry room.

According to Chicago Apartments, this was a rare building that was built on a big lot and that had extra landscaping which was later turned into stylish private garages. This unit has a private garage.

There are also 3 large storage rooms with windows totaling 636 square feet.

According to the listing, this is a rare co-op building where the property taxes are NOT included in the assessments. They are separate (listed below).

Listed at $5.8 million, does this building compete with the luxury buildings going up downtown or is it a different kind of buyer?

Millie Rosenbloom at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan, darn).

Unit #10: 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, no square footage listed (but other listings were 8,000 square feet)

• No prior sales price as it’s a co-op
• Has been on and off the market since 2014
• Listed in January 2020 for $5.8 million
• Still listed at $5.8 million
• Assessments of $5965 a month (includes heat, electric, gas, security, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $78,505 (not included in the assessment)
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Private garage
• 5 wood burning fireplaces
• 3 large storage rooms with windows totaling 636 square feet
• Bedroom #1: 17×20
• Bedroom #2: 13×14
• Bedroom #3: 13×16
• Bedroom #4: 12×9
• Bedroom #5: 14×19
• Living room: 29×20
• Family room: 15×15
• Dining room: 16×27
• Kitchen: 16×18
• Library: 14×19
• Gallery: 40×12
• Exercise room: 10×10
• Laundry room: 12×7

This 3-bedroom in 1325 N. Astor in the Gold Coast originally came on the market in August 2019.

According to Chicago Apartments, 1325 N. Astor was built to be lavish.

Designed by Rebori, Dewey and Wentworth and built by Dahl-Stedman in 1928-29 it is only 14 stories with 12 units but has full-time doormen and a live-in engineer.

It also has some attached parking.

The lavishness extended to the size of the units.

The listing says its 4270 square feet. In the original floor plan, there were 2 servants bedrooms and a servants hall with its own elevator and staircase entrance, in each unit.

There’s also a vault listed on the original floor plan.

The living room is 30 feet long and has one of two wood burning fireplaces, with the other in the library.

The listing says there’s a “brand new kitchen by Neff” with stainless steel appliances.

The listing says there is “plenty of room for a breakfast table” as there is no seating at the kitchen island.

The primary suite has a “brand new” bath with a dual sink.

The apartment has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and it has 1 car parking included.

It also has a unique feature of a 200 square foot “bonus room” on the first floor of the building which the listing says has a new bath and wood floors. (the square footage is not listed in the square footage on the listing)

It faces Astor and has 2 windows.

The listing says it could be used for an exercise room or an office.

But there are no pictures of it in the listing. Why not?

It also has 2 large storage rooms.

This is an exclusive building where Nate Berkus lived when he was in Chicago.

We chattered about the sale of his unit here.

Originally listed at $2.2 million in August 2019, it has been reduced $301,000 to $1.899 million.

With so many new luxury buildings in other neighborhoods of the city, can the Gold Coast even compete anymore?

Janet Owen at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan).

Unit #4: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 4270 square feet, condo

• Sold in November 1983 for $462,500 (per Redfin)
• Sold in December 2013 for $1.82 million
• Originally listed in August 2019 for $2.2 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.899 million
• Assessments of $3810 a month (includes heat, doorman, cable, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal and Internet)
• Taxes of $32,649
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1-car parking included
• 2 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 18×15
• Bedroom #2: 18×15
• Bedroom #3: 16×11
• Living room: 30×18
• Dining room: 22×16
• Family room: 22×14
• Kitchen: 23×15
• Gallery: 19×10
• Library: 19×17
• Laundry room: 8×6

This full floor 3-bedroom vintage unit at 707 W. Junior Terrace in Buena Park came on the market in July 2020.

707 W. Junior Terrace was built in 1927 and is on the National Historic Register. It only has 14 units.

There’s no parking.

The listing says this unit has been “rehabbed and reconfigured” by combining 2 units.

The elevator opens directly into the unit’s foyer.

It has tall ceilings, hardwood floors and a wood burning fireplace with a marble surround.

The kitchen is 25 feet with an 8 foot island that seats three.

It has green cabinets and granite counter tops.

There’s a custom butler’s pantry and a powder room nearby.

Two of the bedrooms have en suite bathrooms including the primary suite which also has a walk-in-closet.

There’s also an additional room which could be used as a family room.

The apartment has washer/dryer in the unit and there’s space pac cooling. Rental parking is nearby and the listing is offering 6 months free. It also says the parking is $100 a month.

This property is a rare mid-rise with multiple walls of windows.

Originally listed at $725,000, it has been reduced to $699,900.

It sold in 2006, at the height of the housing bubble, for $690,000.

Is this building finally back to peak pricing?

Maureen Murnane and India Tougne at @Properties have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #5: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2735 square feet

• Sold in March 1996 for $168,000
• Sold in February 2000 for $308,000
• Sold in May 2004 for $665,000
• Sold in July 2006 for $690,000
• Sold in September 2013 for $450,000
• Originally listed in July 2020 for $725,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,900
• Assessments of $1506 a month (includes heat, gas, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9323
• Space pac cooling
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking- rental in the neighborhood
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×8
• Living room: 19×15
• Family room: 19×15
• Dining room: 17×12
• Kitchen: 25×12
• Foyer: 10×8
• Gallery: 12×5

This 3-bedroom in The Renaissance at 5510 N. Sheridan in Edgewater just came on the market.

According to the Chicago Apartments, A Century of Lakefront Living (a MUST buy for a holiday gift) the Renaissance was designed by Quinn & Christiansen and built by H. Janisch in 1926-27.

At 17-stories, it was built with a gabled mansard roof in the French Renaissance style (hence, the name.)

There are 32 units and two automobile portals lead to a 3-story garage.

The listing says this unit was “completely renovated” in 2017. I recommend checking out the listing pictures from 2016 to see what was done.

It has hardwood floors throughout and recessed lights.

It still has vintage features including crown molding, arched doorways, a decorative fireplace in the living room and a formal gallery and entry foyer.

There’s no floor plan with the listing, but it appears they shrunk the dining room and stuck an office along the front of the unit.

The listing says there is a breakfast nook, but the kitchen doesn’t have one in the current pictures.

The kitchen has the features today’s buyers look for including white cabinets and black cabinets on the island, black (gray?) quartz counter tops, Subzero and Wolf appliances, a white subway tile backsplash and a wine refrigerator.

The primary suite has a walk-in-closet and a bathroom with a heated towel rack and floors along with a carrara marble shower with a bathtub.

The unit does not have central air or washer/dryer in the unit. The building has a laundry room.

The listing says there is unlimited homeowner parking and guest parking and also says the homeowner parking is $95 a month.

There’s a party room with a roof deck and storage.

Listed at $449,000 for 2400 square feet, does this unit check all the vintage lover’s boxes?

Timothy Sheahan and John Barr at Compass have the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #8B: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2400 square feet

• Sold in May 1992 for $150,000
• Sold in October 2016 for $338,000
• Currently listed at $449,000
• Assessments of $1377 a month (includes heat, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $7071
• No central air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Parking is available for $95 a month
• Decorative fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×12
• Bedroom #3: 10×9
• Gallery: 15×10
• Foyer: 8×5
• Breakfast room: 8×6 (?)- old floor plan?
• Living room: 26×16
• Dining room: 20×14- old floor plan?
• Kitchen: 16×14