Raise Your Kids in This 3-Bedroom Townhouse: 2610 N. Orchard in Lincoln Park
We’ve been chattering about where you can “raise your kids” in the GreenZone in a 3-bedroom for under $500,000.
This 3-bedroom townhouse at 2610 N. Orchard in Lincoln Park fits the bill.
Built in 1978, the listing says it has a “new kitchen”, complete with stainless steel appliances, and “remodeled” baths.
Two bedrooms are on the third floor with the third bedroom on the second floor along with a family room. The main living areas on the main floor.
It has central air and an assigned parking space.
The listing says it’s in the Alcott school district.
Off and on the market for nearly 2 years the price has been both lowered and raised in that time period.
We even chattered about it in October 2010 when the price was lowered to $449k.
Our last chatter was very interesting and once again, it is telling how far prices have fallen in just the last year. Back in October 2010 many thought this townhouse wasn’t priced too far off the selling price at $449k.
It’s now a year later- and here we are with it listed for sale again.
See our prior chatter here.
Is this townhouse a good single family home alternative for someone who wants to stay in this neighborhood?
Sonya Lea at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #D: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed
- Sold in September 1995 for $203,000
- Sold in April 1998 for $269,000
- Originally listed in February 2010 for $479,900
- Reduced to $449,900 in October 2010
- Withdrawn
- Re-listed for $479,000
- Assessments aren’t listed but there appears to be a monthly HOA
- Taxes of $7777
- Central Air
- Assigned parking included (looks to be outdoor)
- Bedroom #1: 14×13 (third floor)
- Bedroom #2: 13×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×12 (third floor)
- Family room: 16×10 (second floor)
hard to guess what comments are coming.. love the price raises!
Another green zombie home. The listing may be active but any chance of selling is dead. What a joke! Look at that 1998 price. That’s where this zombie is headed!
Good location, parking, reasonably sized rooms, nice windows facing private patio. Looks ok to me.
This seems to me to be a good deal for the price. Great location, sufficient space. At 450,000 I’d consider it (were I in the market) The biggest downside to me seems to be the views: from what I can tell your entire back side looks out over an alley and your front isn’t much better. Also, the place seems cavernous; very 1978. But I would choose this place over a bigger house in the suburbs any day of the week for a shorter commute and easy access to cultural amenities. I can’t imagine it going down to the 1998 price, but perhaps I am mistaken. (I realize that in my enthusiasm I sound like Clio–maybe I just have a ‘thing’ for urban townhomes in good neighborhoods!)
Just saw taxes. Very high? Think they could be appealed or would they stick?
I don’t know it feels very claustrophobic which is strange for the amount of windows it has. Is the ceiling too short or something?
This morning’s new SF listings include 3 bedrm/1.5 bath 1232 W Lill at $890,000, which looks like a Morton Grove post-war bungalow air-lifted to GZ short lot. Makes this listing look like a “deal”.
I suspect problem here with this listing is the alley-facing townhouse configuration. All major views look on to alley, a serious real estate flaw for most GZ buyers. That bare brickwalled courtyard doesn’t help. Having toured several of the Grant Place stacked townhouse units that have been discussed at Cribchatter, I noted there’s a huge difference in ambience when your livingroom and master bedroom overlooks a leafy streetscape versus an exposed utility alley filled with poles, garages, cars, and trash containers. I recall one Grant Place unit’s livingroom looked directly upon an alleyside pole-mounted PCP-containing transformer. Not the view for a $450,000 unit.
We’ve been in 2 units in this complex. The ceilings are indeed on the low side, but the windows (in some places) alleviate some of the claustrophobic feelings. Also, re: parking, yes, it is outdoors (i.e., not covered). This particular unit seems to lack the more extensive outdoor space of some of the others (esp the Orchard-facing units), which, to me, is one reason (of potentially several) reasons the asking is too high. Not a terrible complex, but not for everyone (esp at this price).
It is funny to read all the comments from people on this site. It seems as though everyone expects some type of huge mansion with great views, garage parking, great school district in the green zone with very low taxes – all for less than 500k (or whatever number they have in mind). That is fantasy – y’all need to come back to reality if you are serious about buying.
Clio is right. For under 500K in the GZ with 3 BR, you’re not going to get a big yard (maybe no yard at all). And you may have to do some fixing up (per the unit on Stratford I posted yesterday).
But this is the sort of place I was thinking about when I posted on yesterday’s thread. Another example of how a family can live in the GZ without spending a fortune. And if you’re really dedicated to raising your kids with the true “city” experience, this sure would beat raising them in a neighborhood like Old Irving Park or Edgebrook, which have a much more suburban feel.
I like how they raised the ask price from 2010 cuz the market is so much better these days LOL. Lots of SWPL egos are getting bruised when they realize that RE appreciation was fleeting & on paper only when they go to sell.
Take your precious property and pay your 500k mortgage and don’t even THINK ABOUT being a deadbeat.
Oh its a long time owner in entitlement mode regarding their appreciation lol. This one will be fun to follow.
I wouldn’t even bother to go see a place where the listing price had been raised $30k. Let’s see, it didn’t sell for $449k, so let’s raise it to $479k! That will attract lots of buyers!
Did it have the “new kitchen”, complete with stainless steel appliances, and “remodeled” baths before the price increase? I don’t see it going to the 1998 price, but it’s not selling for over $400K either.
$379,500 gets it done.
$425k would be a good price for this. I cannot imagine what they are thinking ‘raising’ the listing price after it sat on the market for 8 months in 2010.
“We’ve been chattering about where you can “raise your kids” in the GreenZone”
just throwing it out there, you guys do know you can raise great kids outside the green zone and the far NW side right?
Well, Unit C (with updated kitchen and more outdoor space) sold for $440,400 on 7/30/09, and Unit A (also with more outdoor space and updated kitchen) sold for $467,500 on 8/15/11. I think these comps are about as good as you’re going to get without being the exact unit itself. So, why does this unit deserve $479K? (Do agree about this being a good place to have a kid in the city — would be crowded w/ 2 kids, but it could easily be done.)
Raising kids in the green zone sucks. Busy streets, riff raff, can’t let kids roam around neighborhood, bad schools in most areas (bell blaine lincoln excluded etc), small expensive homes, crowded, expensive. Over rated in my opinion.
“Raising kids sucks.”
Fixed that for you
ugh, not the city debate again. HD—Ask anyone one of the 41 kids on my block…Yes 41 and to a kid they would say the city (Lakeview) is an outstanding place to grow up.
We had to drive to the burbs a few weekends back and my kids practically begged to get back to the city so they could actually walk somewhere and not be in the car for hours on end or stuck on some cul de sac.
To each their own…
trudi – Ha!! You’re so elite, you’re awesome! Lakeview is superior to the suburbs, of course, and unicorns exist in enchanted forests too.
HD, be nice. She didn’t say which suburb. Maybe she took the kids to Clio’s place? 😀
Thanks HD. I am in fact really awesome 🙂 I said to each their own, which means exactly that. I love Lakeview and would never consider the suburbs (any suburb), but that’s just me.
As somone who grew up in Lakeview, I agree it’s a great neighborhood to raise kids.
DANG IT DONT START! dont start the burbs debate, we heard it enough. I am just saying your kids wont fail in life if you raise them outside the green zone thats all, nothing more or less.
that said, if LP was the closest hood to where i work, i would live in LP same goes for any hood in chicago excluding the top 7 worst (yep we all know which ones).
I say having a dad (mom) home and “interacting” with the kids is more important than a top school or GZ hood.
Find a *safe hood really close to work be involved with your kids and your community all will be fine your kids will be great your quality of life will be great your neighbors will be great.
just quit this, western is scary, if my kids go to Jahn they will end up eating glue and playdo riding the short bus to 10th grade, [insert random burb here] is the solution to all family problems, North Center is evil/unwalkable/sad and all around boring you should live in Highland park because we have a saks 5th ave
Because Skokie has a Nordstrom and a Macy’s as well as a batting cage, it is better than the Green Zone for raising kids. Junior can also learn to ride the El on the Yellow Line. Golf Road >>> Michigan Avenue.
clio: “It is funny to read all the comments from people on this site. It seems as though everyone expects some type of huge mansion with great views, garage parking, great school district in the green zone with very low taxes – all for less than 500k (or whatever number they have in mind). That is fantasy – y’all need to come back to reality if you are serious about buying.”
Is this your way of saying you think the price raise on this property was justified? Beyond trashing your fellow posters, care to make a comment relevant to the property?
Sub 425 would be a reasonable ask on this place, IMO. Close around 400 and it’d make financial sense for a buyer. Sub 400 and you might have a deal on your hands.
RE: suburbs/city
A friend of mine who lives in Lisle lists his residence as “Chicago” on Facebook. No wonder. Most suburbs are boring, homogenous, void of culture, and indistinguishable from other suburbs.
When was the last time someone from out-of-town said: “I’m flying to Lisle this weekend! Can’t wait! I love Lisle,! It’s sooooooo fun!: the museums, shopping, dining, entertainment, and I love that lakefront. Lisle is the bomb!”
Now, is it so hard to understand why people might try to stay in the city…gasp…and raise actual human children there?
This conversation keeps getting dumber and dumber.
especially when it comes to the city vs. suburbs debate, people’s ignorance of the suburbs really shine through. They’re too dumb to even realize how dumb they sound, and the irony is that they think they are smart. it goes both ways though – aka clio.
HD – that is exactly the way I feel about you with regards to real estate……
I understand it’s silly to debate city/suburb again. No one is going to win any converts.
But you sure see a lot of stupid stuff in these threads. “Most suburbs are indistinguishable from others.” Hmm, I guess Plainfield and Evanston are kind of hard to tell apart.
Homedelete: I lived half of my life in the suburbs. I grew up there, went to grade and high school there, so I know them well. And I lived in one of the ‘nice’ ones–i.e. Hinsdale. That is precisely *why* I don’t want to raise my kids there.
Yep. 20 years of my life spent in various Chicago suburbs (Evanston included, which is one of very few with any distinction). Yet, I’m so ignorant of their virtues. Hmmm.
Yeah, these people can’t tell the difference between Harvey vs. Hinsdale, or Elgin vs. Evanston, or Oak Park vs. Oak Lawn.
And choosing to raise your kids in the city because you grew up in Hinsdale makes you sound like an ungrateful arrogant little snob. Hinsdale, one of the wealthier, nicest places to live, priced so exclusively few can afford to live there, safe, with excellent schools, great amenities, open space, less congestion, beautiful, and you say that’s precisely why you won’t raise your children there? DO you know how many hundreds of thousands if not millions of people in the Chicago area would kill to live there, or would trade places to live there? Go move to another town that starts with an H, like Harvey and tell those residents why you’re too good for Hinsdale. You are a product of that town and you don’t even know it.
endora, I don’t know you from jack, i’m just commenting on the often used phrase “i used to live in XXX elite suburbs and that’s why I won’t live there now” and that’s how it sounds to the less fortunate. Millions of less fortunate.
Wow, Homedelete. A lot of undeserved vitriol.
HD- you tool. Visit Evanston west of Ridge or just noth of Howard and ask any of those North Shore Snobs how lucky they are to live there. Actually it looks ALOT like Elgin. Manybe not in the brochure you read about Evanston. but it does.
TB it has nothing to do with that when going to other cities. I don’t tell people I’m going to city of industry when travelling because they dont know where that is I say LA. And your friend in lisle is a poseur/tool. No excuse for lying about town like that.
Ignorance is best fought with ignorance. That’s my motto.
HD dont be a fool you dunno endoras motivations. Maybe there is a valid reason children who grew up in a tony burb don’t want their kids to.
Never been to hinsdale but I read newspaper articles about the ‘Real Housewives of Hinsdale’ & I’m pretty sure I couldn’t live there happily.
If going the posh burb route I’d pick a lower cost metro area & have the same existence but with a 500k mcmansion instead of a 1.2mm+ one.
As a distinguished Big Ten alumnus, I can assure you all that every B10 school within a 300 mile radius is full of folks from Chicago, including the neighborhoods of Aurora, Lisle, West Aurora, Naperthrille, Scumberg, Alsip, Gurnee, etc. My personal favorite is my buddy from Princeton who claims Chicago and has a Chicago tattoo.
By endora, nothing personal, like I said, it’s not directed towards you personally, i dn’t know you from jack, it’s that comment, that dismissive attidude. I heard girl once complain that growing up in a nice suburb didn’t prepare her for the ‘real’ world (which to her was Madison). I told her (on the internet of course) that in the real world 1 in 5 people is on food stamps, tens of millions of children live in poverty, or have no father, grow up in dangerous neigborhoods, live in households that make $50,000 a year and don’t get to go to elite flagship state universities, so she should shut the hell up because she doesn’t know what the hell she is talking about. any kid in my suburban neighborhood would have killed to grow up in hinsale or its equivivent, hell 5 minutes away from me was Long Grove/lincolnshire with huge mansions, better schools and every kid had their own car at 16, went to great colleges, but in my little subdivision kids had to fight tooth and nail for everything they got, and let me tell you, it wasn’t much.
That’s unfortunate, Homedelete, because it prevents rational conversation. The fact is–as others have pointed out–there isn’t necessarily a right and wrong about where one chooses to live. Everything positive that you say about Hinsdale is true. It is also, though, a place where conformity is king and everything is valued by cash payment–i.e. the most important things about a person are how much money they have and what kind of car they drive/ house they own. In the city, there are different problems: less green space, more safety issues, and problems with the schools. But there are also real positives: a child grows up having to encounter more diversity (of race and values) and there is better access to cultural events, so that the arts become a touchstone of what is important in life, not just money. Personally, I choose the latter for my kids, but I can understand why others might choose differently.
Pot meet keddle. You are one.:
homedelete (December 6, 2011, 11:59 am)
By endora, nothing personal, like I said, it’s not directed towards you personally, i dn’t know you from jack, it’s that comment, that dismissive attidude.
homedelete (December 6, 2011, 10:03 am)
trudi – Ha!! You’re so elite, you’re awesome! Lakeview is superior to the suburbs, of course, and unicorns exist in enchanted forests too.
TB: kettle.
Damn suburban public school education failed me again. 🙂
The real question is, given a particular price range and income, where would you live – city or suburbs? In the suburbs, you tend to be surrounded by people of similar incomes/races/sexual orientation. It’s less so in the city. There are lots of wealthy people in Lincoln Park, but there are also lots of middle class people and renters…. people at different stages of their lives… college kids to old people…. less so in the suburbs.
People who live in Harvey would generally be stuck in a poorer area of the city if they chose to move… Hindsdale residents would have many more choices in neighborhoods… you can’t just say suburbs are better than the city or vice versa. It’s completely fair to say that you would rather live in the gold coast than Hindsdale. On the other hand, it would be pretty loony to prefer Roseland over Hinsdale.
I would consider raising kids here, and I like this place at $400K. If it had indoor parking, I would go up to $425K.
Icarus: “I don’t see it going to the 1998 price … $379,500 gets it done.”
1998 price + CPI = $373,660
So, you are sort of predicting the ’98 price.
In 36 to 48 months these will be selling for the 1998 price. You read it here first.
“So, you are sort of predicting the ’98 price.”
I’m not smart enough to make that CPI adjustment. Coincidence doesn’t equal causation or something like that.
“In 36 to 48 months these will be selling for the 1998 price. You read it here first.”
God help me if I’m still hanging around this site in 3-4 years
“In 36 to 48 months these will be selling for the 1998 price. You read it here first.”
Best put your money where your keystrokes are and just boogie out to Brasil right now, then.
Your assumption here looks incorrect. More age diversity in Lisle, for example, than Lincoln Park if you are looking at age demographics. Also, Chicago is one of the most segregated major cities. If you live in Lincoln Park, you are not likely to see a lot of racial diversity among your neighbors. As far as sexual orientation, LP is almost certainly more diverse than burbs.
http://www.zillow.com/local-info/IL-Lisle-people/r_32522/
http://www.zillow.com/local-info/IL-Chicago/Lincoln-Park-people/r_269590/
“In the suburbs, you tend to be surrounded by people of similar incomes/races/sexual orientation. It’s less so in the city. There are lots of wealthy people in Lincoln Park, but there are also lots of middle class people and renters…. people at different stages of their lives… college kids to old people…. less so in the suburbs.”
The main drawback to this unit is the view, as someone else said. But if you are on a budget and want to live in Lakeview, this is a good choice, and you just need to buy some shades.
I meant it’s a good choice for raising kids in Lakeview. Obviously there are far better choices for couples with no children, singles and older couples whose children are out of the nest.
All this talk about Elite Burbs and Elite GZ chicago hoods, we are forgetting about the Morgan Parks, Belmont/Craigns, McKinnley park, Schorsch Village, Hegewisch, Montclaire, Dunning, hoods?
WHY NO LOVE FOR THESE AREAS?????
week get a week full of LP/LV then a week full of river north/south loop then back to LP/LV then a sprinkle of uptown or edgwater then once a quarter a random Peterson woods twice a year.
“Best put your money where your keystrokes are and just boogie out to Brasil right now, then.”
Funny you would say that. Now that I have absolutely nothing to do, I decided to play see which bank will give me the most shit for my $. Well Itaú, part of Unibanco, has a special branch Itaú Personnalité. Ze happens to be near the branch in Copacabana (Ze, doesn’t care much for Copacabana) and asks to speak to the manager. Ze looks up and sees this strikingly hot chick, wearing expensive frame glasses, and an absurdly well filled out Lacoste sweater. (well filled out, up top, in Brasil is kinda rare). I mean she might as well been wearing a catholic school girl or nurses outfit, she fit the fantasy description so well. ANyhow, Ze didn’t care much for the manager, who was a bit fast and loose with his info, for Ze, so Ze left. Ze ain’t bankin in Copacabana anyway.
So today Ze heads into the Itaú Personnalité in Ipanema, it was like having a Seinfeld moment, the episode where Elaine thinks the Diner is only hiring big busted girls. These were actively being promoted, no doubt!! I swear I was looking for the pole and stage. Think they gave coffee and cookies as well, and something about a credit card and interest, but who cares!
So since you mentioned, and a recommendation might help… Ze is a big fan of Itau! (at least til Treasures, in Houston, gets their banking license)
“WHY NO LOVE FOR THESE AREAS?????”
Fear of tehGroove.
Interesting Sunday NYT article features Niles West HS, which draws kids from Lincolnwood, Skokie, and parts of Niles and Morton Grove, and notes that 28% of its students are “free lunch” low-income qualified. NWHS isn’t typically viewed by Chicagoans as a HS with a significant percentage of poor students, but low-income households are now evenly dispersed between suburbs and city. Worth a read.
“week get a week full of LP/LV then a week full of river north/south loop then back to LP/LV then a sprinkle of uptown or edgwater then once a quarter a random Peterson woods twice a year.”
I think there aren’t as many comments, hence not as much traffic, when Sabrina does any of the Parks that aren’t Lincoln (Jefferson, Portage, Norwood, etc). The gal has to eat you know.
What about the Garfield Parks? So nice & affordable they couldn’t fit them into just one community area.
“Fear of tehGroove.”
i guess that hand extends pretty far 😉
“I think there aren’t as many comments, hence not as much traffic, when Sabrina does any of the Parks that aren’t Lincoln (Jefferson, Portage, Norwood, etc). The gal has to eat you know.”
fair enough, just trying to give the new, clueless and ignorant here some extra ejuwmakationz.
Long-time reader, first time poster (well, I may have posted once or twice before, but many moons ago).
I live in Lake View now, East to be exact, and it’s SO annoying that everyone is under the age of 40, wearing a Patagonia fleece, carrying a Longchamp bag and wearing some cool-colored pumas. I’ll miss the express buses and restaurant options, but I won’t miss much else about the ‘hood or “green zone” in general. It’s not culturally rich, AT ALL and I am so tired of reading about how amazing Lake View is. It’s like the Stepford Wives.
Also, I don’t understand why there’s always so much love for Evanston & Oak Park when the “suburbs debate” is brought up. They’re still suburbs. It annoys me more that people try to pretend like they’re so urban and then they move to Oak Park. Evanston is not that distinguishable in most sections. Yes, it’s better than Plainfield, but it’s not Chicago.
Also, I don’t understand why people pretend like they are so cool having grown up in Ohio or whatever, and now live in Lake View and try to talk crap about everyone who moves to the suburbs or non-green zone areas. I’m not necessarily talking about people in CC, but in general.
I grew up in Chicago (proper). I’ve lived in various neighborhoods throughout the North and South sides (GASP!) and I am now considering a move to Portage Park, Berwyn, Bridgeport or Ravenswood/Bowmanville (try not to die of shock @ these choices) in search of a somewhat culturally rich place that is walk-able and accessible to downtown Chicago. Why does it matter if your friends back home haven’t heard of a neighborhood? These are not sketchy places and if you think they are, you should check out Uptown or Bronzeville.
“Everything positive that you say about Hinsdale is true. It is also, though, a place where conformity is king and everything is valued by cash payment–i.e. the most important things about a person are how much money they have and what kind of car they drive/ house they own. ”
I live in Hinsdale and own several rental homes here. There is a lot of stability and security here. Children here feel very safe and are very solid. Sure, they may not be exposed to the things kids in the city are exposed to everyday (swearing, crime, crack dealers, prostitutes, dirt, grime, loud noises, distractions everywhere you look) but why would you want to expose your kids to that? They are going to see that stuff in their life at sometime – but don’t you want to build a strong foundation first? That is what I see in the children of Hinsdale – very secure and solid young people who have a great value system. THAT is how you ensure your kids are going to be stable and upstanding individuals and how you make it easier for them to deal with the riff raff the world will inevitably throw their way.
“Sure, they may not be exposed to the things kids in the city are exposed to everyday (swearing, crime, crack dealers, prostitutes, dirt, grime, loud noises, distractions everywhere you look) but why would you want to expose your kids to that?”
I can understand both HD’s and Endora’s point of view. Endora wasn’t complaining that “gosh, she might have to raise her kids in Hinsdale”- but she was just saying it’s not her preference given the money culture there. Endora, I have friends who live in the western suburbs who steared clear of Hinsdale because they didn’t think the high schools were healthy for their kids. If you’re NOT one of the rich ones- it’s just a really hard environment. Yes- money CAN corrupt the same way poverty can. Plenty of other nice towns and schools nearby.
“WHY NO LOVE FOR THESE AREAS?????”
Groove: I have no problem covering the neighborhoods you listed. But I have a few problems doing so.
1. The inventory is AWFUL. I just can’t bring myself to post about a 3/1 1930s cottage with a 1950s kitchen that’s in foreclosure for $115k in Galewood or Belmont/Cragin.
2. Some of the properties we HAVE chattered about in the last 6 to 8 months are STILL on the market- sitting and sitting and sitting there. Don’t the tudors in Galewood know that buyers can now get the same tudor in nearby Oak Park for the same price or cheaper (with better schools)? At LEAST lower the price. But no. Price is the same. Sometimes for YEARS.
3. There are a few flips of the foreclosures so I try to cover those (at least they’re nicer inside.)
4. I love Schorsch Village but there’s very little inventory on the market (and especially “interesting” inventory.)
I want to showcase what is best about these neighborhoods because many people don’t know about them (and actually might consider them if they knew what the options were out there.) The Lakeview/Lincoln Park dwellers won’t give it a second thought if I start featuring the crappy cottages that are dominating right now. I KNOW there are great houses and blocks. I’ve been out there. But people need to send me the listings to my e-mail address so I can feature them. I can’t keep up with everything going on in this city. There are far too many neighborhoods.
So instead of complaining-get involved.
Believe me- I get tired of posting about the same neighborhoods over and over. I’d love to cover more properties in, say, Bowmanville. Send them to me!
What about Austin? Any interest in Austin?
Sabrina, do you just want a redfin link or is there something else we should do/provide?
All I really need is an address or MLS # so you don’t even need to send me the link. But the link is fine too. Some people send me both and some people just e-mail me with the address in the RE column.
Sabrina,
Have you ever thought of doing one suburban post/day? Try it out and see what kind of response you get. If people don’t like it, they won’t comment. I think, however, that you would be surprised at the increased number of readers you will attract. In addition, it would give some perspective to some of your current readers who don’t know much about the suburbs.
“Have you ever thought of doing one suburban post/day?”
Maybe not that often, but perhaps twice a week? Especially if it could be juxtaposed with a (comparable in some fashion) city property on the same day.
“Have you ever thought of doing one suburban post/day? Try it out and see what kind of response you get. ”
I’ve done posts on both Oak Park and Evanston in the past (as well as a few other suburbs) and unless the house is a historic property of some kind (as that Bertrand Goldberg house was on the south side that I covered years ago- which never sold, by the way) then no one cares.
Readers care more if the house is in Galewood than they do if it’s in Oak Park or Park Ridge (for the most part.) Sorry! The suburbs just aren’t popular enough. You know why? There are too many of them. Most people like to think that everyone is like them and wants to live in Oak Park. But not everyone is. Many people want to live in LaGrange. Or Park Ridge. Or Arlington Heights. Or Highland Park. Or Kenilworth. Or Flossmoor. Or Long Grove. Or Naperville. Etc. Etc.
You see? There are hundreds of suburbs. No one in their right mind could cover them all. So why try? I have enough trouble covering the city of Chicago (as the complaints here attest to.)
Chicagirl, if you think bronzeville is sketchy try Englewood. As a proud resident of Bronzeville, mostly minority does not equal sketchy. Most of the residents here are VERY upstanding and I am quite fine with being a minority in the neighborhood (in more than one way).
You may read many newspaper articles about Washington Park/Englewood etc and think they are Bronzeville, but in reality, Bronzeville while no Lakeview is far from sketchy. (At least the majority of it)
Actually, since I got over the whole northside/southside thing….I feel much safer in Bronzeville than I do in Uptown. Uptown may be more developed/trendy but I feel safer here. *shrugs*
“In the suburbs, you tend to be surrounded by people of similar incomes/races/sexual orientation. It’s less so in the city.”
I don’t buy this. My suburban neighborhood is just as, if not more diverse with respect to race and sexual orientation than what I see in our in-town neighborhood. Incomes, however, seem to be similar.
Last year there was a sign in my son’s suburban junior high that noted that students there came from 19 different countries and spoke 21 different languages.
“You see? There are hundreds of suburbs. No one in their right mind could cover them all. So why try? I have enough trouble covering the city of Chicago (as the complaints here attest to.)”
I dunno, I always enjoy a “what you get for your money” kinda thing, as anon is suggesting. Not all the time but every once in a while. $1MM SFH in (1) nortcenter/lv/lp, (2) Hinsdale/Winnetka/Kworth/whatev, and (3) OPRF/Evanston. Or $500K SFH in (1) logan sq/OIP, (2) old norwood/edgebrook, (3) park ridge (wherever that might be). Something like that.
“I dunno, I always enjoy a “what you get for your money” kinda thing, as anon is suggesting. Not all the time but every once in a while. $1MM SFH in (1) nortcenter/lv/lp, (2) Hinsdale/Winnetka/Kworth/whatev, and (3) OPRF/Evanston. Or $500K SFH in (1) logan sq/OIP, (2) old norwood/edgebrook, (3) park ridge (wherever that might be). Something like that.”
That’s the problem. These are just your biased choices. You could chose between dozens of towns to do a “comparison” of a $1 million house.
It’s not worth my time. I’ve said over and over that this is a blog about Chicago real estate- not the suburbs. Why doesn’t someone start one about the suburbs? I’d love to see it. Heck, YoChicago occasionally writes about the North Shore. But interestingly, that’s the only area that they really cover. I’ve never seen a Barrington post over there. Gee- wonder why? Because no one could cover the entire Chicagoland suburbs effectively.
Oh, and another thing, the “comparison” posts never work (at least on this site.) There’s too much information in a post with three properties. I used to do this when Crib Chatter first started. It got the LEAST amount of interest on the site (although it was comparisons between properties in Chicago neighborhoods). It was just too overwhelming the way this site is set up.
On the Wall Street Journal’s site or the NYT, they can do that because of their interactive photo feature etc. On Crib Chatter, not so much.
“That’s the problem. These are just your biased choices. You could chose between dozens of towns to do a “comparison” of a $1 million house.”
“It’s not worth my time.”
It should go w/o saying that this is your blog to do with as you see fit. However, the suggestion wasn’t for you to try to cover the suburbs remotely close to comprehensively, just throw in some occasional comparisons for entertainment.
“There’s too much information in a post with three properties.”
I was thinking you’d do each of them in a separate post but do them all on the same day.
“I used to do this when Crib Chatter first started. It got the LEAST amount of interest on the site (although it was comparisons between properties in Chicago neighborhoods).”
My concern would be more that it would devolve into the city v suburb shouting match that we often get, than no interest.
Another Lake View native chiming in that it is most certainly a great place to be a kid, and the wife (from the burbs) and I are thrilled to date with Hamilton Elementary, which is just north of the Lake View YMCA on Marshfield. Cementing the Lake View connection there is the Fonseca Martial Arts school took over the JKA dojo on Belmont & Clark, and offers an after school karate program at Hamilton. It is fee-based, as are a ton of similar programs like violin, ballet, etc. but it’s quite reasonable, as is the 2:30 – 6 pm YMCA after school child care which features all the same games we played as kids, but with more imaginative titles (eg, Zombie Dodgeball).
I have a friend who moved to Highland Park last year from Logan Square, and the school was the primary factor – he made the right decision for his family, but I can hear the pain in his voice when he talks about the lifestyle tradeoff. Driving everywhere will suck the life right out of ya.
chicagirl, you are hanging with the wrong people and going to the wrong places in Lake View.
Just in the past month I have met people from Venezuela, Ecuador and Turkey – they don’t all live in Lake View, but it’s a part of their daily life, like it is mine. You need to find institutions (and I include family-run restaurants and other shops in addition to schools/cultural institutions) that are multi-generational and have direct ties to other parts of the planet if you really want culture. They are everywhere, but they get overshadowed by the instant-gratification-based consumer economy and culture that dominates Lake View, Chicago, America, and most of the First World.
“It’s not culturally rich, AT ALL and I am so tired of reading about how amazing Lake View is. It’s like the Stepford Wives.”
“It should go w/o saying that this is your blog to do with as you see fit. ”
As DZ said. Successful websites evolve over time and change is good. Just because something didn’t work in the early days doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work today, given that I’m sure you have a change in readership.
“There’s too much information in a post with three properties.”
Perhaps a slight format change could resolve that if your web templates don’t allow for interactive photos or other necessary coding to make it happen.
You use to have a section where people would chime in on the Open Houses they attended. I’m guessing this didn’t work because people would risk revealing their true identity if the realtor checked the site.
“1. The inventory is AWFUL. I just can’t bring myself to post about a 3/1 1930s cottage with a 1950s kitchen that’s in foreclosure for $115k in Galewood or Belmont/Cragin”
i have been challenged!!!!! you shall now be receiving a furry of email tips of great properties in these areas. (will maybe a day or two until i get my work laptop back)
“Don’t the tudors in Galewood know that buyers can now get the same tudor in nearby Oak Park for the same price or cheaper”
fair, but its about 5k more a year in taxes which is not bad, i see your point
“4. I love Schorsch Village but there’s very little inventory on the market (and especially “interesting” inventory.)”
i know its odd, i swear the average age of the owners there is like 85, you would think that there would be more places for sale (kewl ones)
“So instead of complaining-get involved”
but its only 30 seconds to complain and hours to get involved.
the problem i think with posting a burb house once a week is why stop there Kankekee is a wonderful town so is Savoy why not Idaho or Canada, Netherlands or Mars?
LOFL. curse you and your pithy truths!
“but its only 30 seconds to complain and hours to get involved.”
benjamon9, I grew up on the border of Englewood and Chicago Lawn and know what it is. I don’t feel safe there. Just like I don’t feel safe in Bronzeville. So, I’m totally fine w/ you liking it there, but I gave an example of where I don’t feel safe. I didn’t want to say Englewood because that’s way, way more obvious. Didn’t mean to offend.
“I have a friend who moved to Highland Park last year from Logan Square, and the school was the primary factor – he made the right decision for his family, but I can hear the pain in his voice when he talks about the lifestyle tradeoff. Driving everywhere will suck the life right out of ya.”
Don’t you need to drive your child to and from Hamilton every weekday? Whereas the HP kid could probably walk to school? Just playing devil’s advocate here…
Chris M,
I heard 2nd or 3rd hand that there are efforts under way by some parents to improve Darwin. Know anything about it?
“I heard 2nd or 3rd hand that there are efforts under way by some parents to improve Darwin. Know anything about it?”
I was at a get together in the neighborhood a couple weeks ago and someone mentioned a “Friends of Darwin” group (not sure if that was the exact name). I think the couple that told me about it are involved in some capacity (although they indicated that they prepared to move to OP/RF if necessary). Sounded like it’s a very new group that’s just getting started. I told them I was skeptical of a school like Darwin being quickly turned around like some GZ schools, such as Nettelhorst, because the school isn’t transporting kids in and the surrounding neighborhood isn’t solidly affluent. Seems like a major uphill battle for Darwin.
Yep – but it’s on my way to work, and I carpool with the wife. Definitely a fair point. But honestly, I strongly question the conventional wisdom that every kid in the burbs can walk to school, just based on anecdotal evidence that so many of them don’t have sidewalks or in general are pedestrian-friendly. Are the burbs so littered with good schools that everyone is within whatever we consider walking distance these days?
Also, when my kid gets to middle school age she’ll fine on the bus. I think we could actually qualify for CPS’ busing program, but it seems unnecessary and more trouble than it’s worth.
“Don’t you need to drive your child to and from Hamilton every weekday? Whereas the HP kid could probably walk to school? Just playing devil’s advocate here…”
I have no doubts there are, but the parents working to improve Goethe seem to have a pretty big head start, so a lot of potential Darwin-improvers are going to gravitate to Goethe in the near-future.
“I heard 2nd or 3rd hand that there are efforts under way by some parents to improve Darwin. Know anything about it?”
“But honestly, I strongly question the conventional wisdom that every kid in the burbs can walk to school, just based on anecdotal evidence that so many of them don’t have sidewalks or in general are pedestrian-friendly. Are the burbs so littered with good schools that everyone is within whatever we consider walking distance these days?”
Depends a lot on the burb, right? In some places, you absolutely could choose a home that is within walking distance of elem (and maybe of metra too), but teh attendance boundaries tend to be larger geographically than city, so there are also plenty of homes that are not walkable. Other burbs, not so much.
“Sounded like it’s a very new group that’s just getting started. I told them I was skeptical of a school like Darwin being quickly turned around like some GZ schools, such as Nettelhorst, because the school isn’t transporting kids in and the surrounding neighborhood isn’t solidly affluent. Seems like a major uphill battle for Darwin.”
“I have no doubts there are, but the parents working to improve Goethe seem to have a pretty big head start, so a lot of potential Darwin-improvers are going to gravitate to Goethe in the near-future.”
Good points. I’ve heard some positive things about Goethe, but of the families I know well living in or near Goethe boundaries, very few have chosen Goethe (especially among the middle class+ cohort).
“the problem i think with posting a burb house once a week is why stop there Kankekee is a wonderful town so is Savoy why not Idaho or Canada, Netherlands or Mars?”
I call dibs on property on Kepler-22b.
http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-planet-found-in-habitable-zone-111205.html
“the problem i think with posting a burb house once a week is why stop there Kankekee is a wonderful town so is Savoy why not Idaho or Canada, Netherlands or Mars?”
I’d actually be (voyeuristically) interested in some convenient driving distance to Chicago vacation home properties.
But the logical stopping point would be some radius beyond which it is uncommon (or whatev standard you want) for people to be comparison shopping with Chicago properties. People definitely do compare La Grange or Winnetka or whatev to Chicago.
” park ridge (wherever that might be)”
I just don’t understand why anyone builds houses in a park. Doesn’t it ruin the park?
“I was thinking you’d do each of them in a separate post but do them all on the same day.
My thought exactly. Unsurprisingly.
“My concern would be more that it would devolve into the city v suburb shouting match that we often get, than no interest.”
Also my worry.
“I just don’t understand why anyone builds houses in a park. Doesn’t it ruin the park?”
same here i get lost when the build a house or highrise in lake view, doesnt block the view?
and i have a friend who moved into a subdivsion in Stoneridge Glen, we got drunk one day and searched for Stones, Ridges, or Glens we found the stones but lost his car keys.
Exactamundo – and for the same reasons you can’t generalize about the burbs, you really can’t generalize about the City proper.
“Depends a lot on the burb, right? In some places, you absolutely could choose a home that is within walking distance of elem (and maybe of metra too), but teh attendance boundaries tend to be larger geographically than city, so there are also plenty of homes that are not walkable. Other burbs, not so much.”
We live in the burbs and our kids have always walked or rode their bikes to school (once they were old enough). In the winter, though, they tend to take the school bus.
“In the winter, though, they tend to take the school bus.”
tell those kids to HTFU, i used to walk barefoot in the snow uphill both ways carrying 80lbs of books to get to school