Penthouse Living in the West Loop: 849 W. Monroe
What if you want space in the West Loop but don’t want to live in a townhouse?
This 3-bedroom penthouse at 849 W. Monroe may be for you. It has 3 exposures and a private elevator to whisk you to your unit.
It also has two terraces, a 240 square foot north facing terrace and a 480 square foot south facing one.
It also seems to have room to spare as the unit has a 24×24 family room in addition to a spacious living/dining space. Two heated garage parking spaces are included.
Charles Gullett at Best Chicago Properties LLC has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #PH5: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2160 square feet
- Sold in March 2000 for $527,000
- Sold in April 2002 for $690,000
- Currently listed for $750,000 (2 heated parking spaces included)
- Assessments of $672 a month
- Taxes of $8345
- Central Air
“a private elevator to whisk you to your unit.”
So, how many of these “private” elevators are really solely for the use of one unit? And if they are for only one unit’s use, are repairs and maintenance still a common element? Or do you get the whole bill?
The listing says it is 2610 square feet – that’s a pretty big place. Not convinced that this is a “chef’s kitchen” and I don’t dig all the track lighting. Not a fan of the west loop, so I don’t think I’d consider this place even for far less.
My guess is that the elevator services the units below you as well – it’s the entry (door that opens to your place) that is private. I don’t love the idea of an elevator opening directly into your place. The outdoor spaces seem nice and the master bedroom is a nice size.
never understood why the west loop seemed to develop quicker than the south loop. Oprah maybe?
After all of the talk about vermin in the wall vines of vintage homes, this place is looking mighty fine to me. 🙂
“I don’t love the idea of an elevator opening directly into your place.”
Why not? I think it would be way cool.
me likey the place alotz, me scared of price. (Tarzan/vine joke/reference)
“JPS on August 13th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
“I don’t love the idea of an elevator opening directly into your place.”
Why not? I think it would be way cool.”
Hypothetical: You live in the 6th floor penthouse. You get in the elevator with 3 other people, 2 of which get off on floors 1-5.
How do you feel about the dude that’s riding up with you to your place? Maybe he forgot his groceries in his trunk and just wants to go back down. Or maybe he wants to bumrush you and steal everything you own.
I can see how it would create some strange situations.
Better than that cottage in bucktown for nearly the same price…
“Better than that cottage in bucktown for nearly the same price…”
I think you mean Ukranian Village – the house in Bucktown on Churchill doesn’t seem to me to be a cottage. No wonder everyone trashes Bucktown – they don’t know where it is. Groove talked about some Burger King in Bucktown where he got beat up… Not sure where that is, but probably not Bucktown (not that I would eat there if it were).
“How do you feel about the dude that’s riding up with you to your place? Maybe he forgot his groceries in his trunk and just wants to go back down. Or maybe he wants to bumrush you and steal everything you own.”
Like he couldn’t do any of that if you took stairs up, or an elevator that opens ono a hallway?
jon,
home slice that burger king was south east a block on milwaukee from damen. i went in there to get some tissue from the bathroom for the bloody nose ant then jumped on the damen stop to get home.
bradford… probably one or the other… If it is not a completely private elevator than non-residents or guests not phoned up by the tenant take the service elevator or the apartment has a vestibule between the elevator and the front door of the apartment. I noticed many people who have this arrangement open the vestibule up into a foyer anyway. This requires good bldg security but hell if you are 1 apt per floor you probably have damn good security.
Anon. speaking for myself it is a common element as the elevator company is contracted for the bldg but my monthly assessments definitely look more than a touch different for it since I have to pick up a large % of the contract.
I think the point is a good one. He would already be inside your unit. At least with a shared hall or stairs he might not know where you live and you don’t have to enter your unit. Also, someone might hear you in those common areas.
The only elevator I would want opening directly into my unit would be a completely private one. Now, that would be cool.
My guess on this one is the elevator is shared and has a key lock for your floor. If you are on the top floor and someone is in there as you pass the 4th floor something is not right and you don’t open the damn door!! Just ride back down with them.
“home slice that burger king was south east a block on milwaukee from damen.”
I call that Wicker Park. South of North Avenue. Next diag street behind Milwaukee is actually called Wicker Park. So you got beat up in Wicker Park, not Bucktown.
“it is a common element as the elevator company is contracted for the bldg but my monthly assessments definitely look more than a touch different for it since I have to pick up a large % of the contract”
That makes sense. Will the special for an overhaul (if needed only for yours) be completely your responsibility?
“He would already be inside your unit. At least with a shared hall or stairs he might not know where you live and you don’t have to enter your unit. Also, someone might hear you in those common areas.”
That’s what I think, too. Plus, there’s more than one way out of the stairs or a hallway, but only one way out of an elevator.
“If you are on the top floor and someone is in there as you pass the 4th floor something is not right and you don’t open the damn door!! Just ride back down with them.”
And never get on the elevator with someone you don’t know carrying a large object, even if they look like they’re just back from a softball game. Sounds like fun, needing to (potentially) be as wary inside your building as one would be on the street.
jon, technicaly you are correct but back then we all just called it bucktown.
so let me correct my statement. i was in bucktown visting a girlfriend walked a few blocks to go do graffiti on a wall in wicker park, then got jumped in wicker park by gangbangers then took the el to logan square 🙂
I would be responsible if it needed an entirely new elevator but major service is under contract so it would really be an entirely new elevator or I don’t get hit for it. Elevators here are not nearly as pretty as the ones in new condos in the states. I am almost sure the bldg we are discussing is shared. Look at the satellite roof picture. It appears to have 5 elevator shafts, 1 for each tier.
Now i need to go clean some windows or my wife is going to beat me. 🙂
back to the property here, its beautiful and two terraces even better now $671 ass and 750k purchase price? i dont know comperable comps in west loop is this price high? or does the amount of outdoor space and sq ft justify 2002 price of 690k?
Besides the elevator, what do you all think about the unit? What are your opinions on the current pricing?
Also, does anyone know if the sq. footage listed (2610) includes the terraces? I’m assuming it does.
“Sounds like fun, needing to (potentially) be as wary inside your building as one would be on the street.”
I agree with you 100%. Only difference is here they don’t even pretend to play the politically correct game. The chance you get even near the front door of my bldg without being a resident is somewhere less than 0. I have not been let in myself a few times (when i first moved in, when a new person was put on staff, or when I got a new car)
Actually it was only in 2003 that they passed a law against discrimination against servants using main elevators. And even with that law no servant will ever take anything but a service elevator. It just simply is how it still is here. 2 completely different worlds with no absolutely no false pretense about it. In the banks it’s even funnier. Different floors for different class customers.
Oh and I think this is a very nice unit if you like the west loop.
Even if there are no sinister intentions, I don’t want my neighbors being able to look inside my condo just cause they’re in the elevator with me.
Elevators aside this is a very nice unit. Those terraces are pretty cool.
Yes, I don’t want my neighbors seeing my place either. I’m don’t want them to see my meth lab and numerous pot plants. I fear they will expect me to share.
“The chance you get even near the front door of my bldg without being a resident is somewhere less than 0. ”
And the doorman’s armed, too, right? And if they shoot a burgler, there isn’t going to be a special for the wrongful death suit either?
First picture of the tour shows the elevator opens into a hallway in the unit (or foyer).
anon.. not sure if you say that joking or not… but I am literally laughing… The sincere answer is the body wouldn’t even show up at a morgue. I am not joking either when i say pretty much every marginal the cops pick up during a gun fight strangely seem to “die on the way to the hospital”
Livin in the wild wild west!!
private elevator to your unit is awesome, even if you have to share it with some. there’s no one that’s going to look into your unit, you’re on the top floor. if someone rides up to the top next to you, ask them what they are doing and just ride on down with them if you feel uncomfortable. same thing you should do if you are on any elevator with someone who you think might harm you.
if you are that worried about getting robbed then you are in the wrong neighborhood or the wrong building, it’s not the elevator.
Ze, I don’t think that’s right. The body *would* show up at the IML. But there would definitely be no legal action, criminal or civil.
The elevator is shared with the other floors. On floors 2-4, the elevator opens into a common hallway. The 5th floor is the only floor where the elevator opens into the unit. For security, the elevator has a key system. There is one key to gain entry to the elevator and another to get access to the 5th floor penthouse. It opens into a foyer area inside of the unit. It is a cool place and a really great building.
Thanks for clearing up the elevator issue Chuck.
Roma.. I’m impressed. I still vote 50/50 on IML vs over the side of the road in Tijuca Forest. 🙂
I didn’t even see this when I made my earlier comment. http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2009/08/13/policia-faz-operacao-na-favela-da-coreia-em-senador-camara-757384696.asp
1st sentance second paragraph…
“Um menor de 16 que portava uma pistola morreu a caminho do hospital, após ser baleado em troca de tiros com a polícia”
Translates to…
“A minor of 16 who carried a gun died on the way to hospital after being shot in an exchange of gunfire with police.”
Amazing how they are always alive getting into that ambulance..roflmao!!
Thanks Chuck.. that makes sense.
Chuck… any comparables trade in this place? appears from the satellite that their are 4 others? Violates my walking distance rule, but I agree very neat place.
‘Tay’ = Cardrunners Tay?!
Do you guys think this place will go for close to the asking price?
Chuck, is also possible to walk up to the unit?
I live in a boutique building where the elevator goes to everyone’s unit. Just all have individual codes to get to our units, and the elevator opens on both floors of my unit. It’s definitely a nice element, and the cost is shared in the building, which is about $3k/year in warranty. A bit much for a 5 unit building, but I don’t think anyone would get rid of it.
Hoosier. Has to have second entrance/exit or would never pass fire code.
Usually if a building is going to offer an elevator that opens directly into your unit, the security is especially tight. In these buildings where the elevator opens directly into your unit there will be only one dedicated elevator that you can use.
If it is a common elevator that all floors have access to (rare), it will not go to your apartment without your personalized security card or key inserted and will either stay on the (in this case) 4th floor or will return immediately to the lobby.
When I lived in an apartment in NYC that used the common elevator for all floors and someone I did not know (or knew them but did not care to have them see my foyer) got on in the lobby with me, I simply would not insert my card until everyone got off on the floors below me. A few times riders stayed on, so I merely reached out and pressed the button for a floor that was a few floors below my own and got off there, letting them pass by. Problem solved.
I do know the W Loop very well, and have to say, for $750k you should be expecting one of the best apartments available…which I do not think is the case with this particular place.
Hoosier I am sure you can walk up to the apartment, but the same thing would hold true for the stairs in that you have to use your security card or special key for entrance….and yes all units must have a minimum of two exits.
“Do you guys think this place will go for close to the asking price?”
Yes.
Good finishes = check
great area that is conveinent to work, food, travel & fun = check
fair assessments = check
non rediculous ppsqft = check
outdoor space = check
I would totally consider this place if I made about 4x what I currently make 🙂 Hopefully it will be in the market in 10 years when I may be looking again!
Hoosier there are two walk up entrances/ exits as well.
Ze Carioca you are correct, there are adjacent penthouse units at 847, 845, 843 and 841 W Monroe. All have separate entrances from the street, but share the same parking garage.
Oh and thanks Chuck for not being a tool and actually including the price of parking in the listing price.
This chatter interests me being the condo I’m currently under contract for is also a west loop ph and this may (or may not) be a comparable property.
(Westloopelo, you probably have some insight into this. I have a feeling you may have looked at my unit.)
RD659. 3/3, 2150 sqft. East/South facing PH. Paid $599k including 1 parking spot, bought 2nd for 20k.
IMO, I paid fmv, and this may be where this unit is headed.
Kind Regards
Ze: “not sure if you say that joking or not”
Not joking, but trying to be funny about it.
kinghippo, u bought PH13 not 1813? i’m in the unit next to PH13. lol
your unit has the best/biggest balcony in the building. very nice.
Yep. 1806.
Nice unit Hippo. I think your price was fair in this market.
Floorplan for others: http://www.rd659.com/img/pdf/RD659_PH13.pdf
you called it a 3/3 – are you taking out the wall between the living room area and the Eastern bedroom? I’d probably open it up that way if it were me, or at least do a large sliding panel there.
Thankyou. Yes, wall is already gone. Now a 3/3.
Still needs about $50k in upgrades IMO. (Floors, window treatments, paint, etc) where as the Monroe unit looks move in ready.
Was it offered as-is? Why no floors and/or paint included?
Was “as is”. Floors are in but not to my liking. Technically it is in move-in but I will do some reno work right off the bat.
Nice pad hippo! Looks like you got a solid deal!
This property (and kinghippo’s) seem much more reasonably priced than a lot of smaller units I see in the West Loop.
Though neat in a way, the private elevator does make me think it’s one of those things that’ll increase emergency response time should I need the police or fire department.
Great decision Kinghippo on the R&D PH!
As a matter of fact I did tour that particular unit and was (and still am) very impressed with it and the building. IMO, it is a far better deal than this place…the location, the building and the deal on the parking space that was included and the second one for $20k. I don’t remember any place in Chicago where a parking spot has been that low.
While both have some unique features, you made the right decision by going with R&D and to me, there is no comparison between the two.
Keep us updated on the progress of your move in…I really do like that building and your unit! Good Luck!
The locations aren’t even similar- in my opinion. Living on the highway isn’t for everyone (and their lungs). 849 W. Monroe is at least a block or two off of the expressway.
Why do buildings right on the highway even bother with balconies? No one goes out there.
Uhh for smoking and grilling out?
Even a balcony on a unit on the highway is better than no balcony. About the only kind of useless balcony are the “juliet balconies” which aren’t balconies at all they’re just bars on a window.
Chicago is obsessed with balconies. It’s comical. The difference is so striking compared with other cities.
But anyway, I’ve had friends that have lived in those buildings along several of the major highways (and Lake Shore Drive). The ones with balconies don’t even go out there to grill by Year #2. So it ends up being a waste.
By the way, you’d be surprised at the corrosion that is done to a grill by the pollution. It’s pretty gross.
Smoking, I’ll give to you.
Thanks Wloop.
Sabrina and Bob, Chicago is balcony obsessed, me included. I do enjoy the occasional cigar, and my wife enjoys having a few plants out in the summer months.
Also, the unit isnt directly on the highway. The balcony is not on the highway. Its on the east side of the building, balcony SE, on desplaines, about a block off the highway.
Are you suggesting that an east side unit facing des plaines is the same as having a west side unit facing the highway? Or that being 1/2 block or so more off the highway makes a big difference?
I agree pollution is an issue, but pollution in general is an issue for everybody living within the city limits.
Kind Regards.
Sabrina i totally agree on the strange obsession with balconies. I see it as if you want to live in a high rise and an area thats walking distance to everything, then why worry about outdoor space, your whole hood is outdoor space to walk to. if you want to lounge and read a book, walk to the park. come on people get out the house and enjoy!!!! that the reason you moved there. if you want to grill buy a SFH.
i have been to many dinner parties at places with balconies, and all they have there is a table and two chairs. i ask the owners the same question “you guys must love to eat breakfast out here on summer weekends?” i get the same answers “we have done it twice but its too noisy to be relaxing”
Besides noise, wind can be an issue too. That’s why I prefer a shaded backyard deck to a balcony.
I love my balcony, I use it all the time, but its more of a cubby than a balcony since its really well enclosed. If you don’t like noise don’t move to the city near a busy street!
HD,
with that shaded back yard comes raking leaves, i hate raking leaves
“i hate raking leaves”
Dude, if you have enough cash to rent a weekend place, you have enough cash to pay someone to rake your leaves.
its really not that much extra cash, its a quick splurge to help us feel better about being stuck in the hood for another 5 years.
its just renting a one bedroom for 6 months.
i have paid the neighbors kids cash to rake many many times 🙂
“Dude, if you have enough cash to rent a weekend place, you have enough cash to pay someone to rake your leaves.”
anon, its not like i am “pullin in the franklins”, we are just a frugal modest family that lives way below are means.