“Spared No Expense” on Vintage 2-Bedroom in Streeterville: 257 E. Delaware
This 2-bedroom in 257 E. Delaware in Streeterville came on the market in January 2023.
Built in 1917, 257 E. Delaware is a condo building which only has 13 units (although this listing says it’s 12.)
It does not have a doorman nor parking. The elevator opens by key on each floor.
The listing says the owners of this unit “spared no expense” in renovating it. Yet it still retains many of its vintage features.
It has French oak floors in the Chevron pattern throughout, plaster ceiling medallions and custom moldings.
There’s a wood burning fireplace in the living room along with a custom built-in dry bar.
The Chef’s kitchen has blue(?) designer cabinets, imported European hardware, stainless steel appliances, open shelving, Brizo faucets, and Calacatta Borghini marble on every surface.
There’s a separate dining room.
Both bedrooms have custom designed built-ins and wardrobes. The second bedroom is currently being used as an office.
The primary bedroom has the full bathroom with an “enormous” 67 inch soaking tub and oversized waterfall shower along with a Calacatta Gold marble sink honed from one solid piece of stone.
The listing says the half bath has “an Art Deco-styled classic sink in Nero Marquina marble, Lefroy Brooks hardware, an Audubon Society floor to ceiling mural (imported from London), custom Kelly Wearstler lighting and an intricate mosaic pattern by Artistic Tiles cover heated floors.”
The unit has the features buyers look for including Space Pak cooling and Aprilaire whole home humidifier system which are all controlled via a Google Nest smart home system.
It has a family sized washer/dryer but there’s no parking.
If you are marveling at the windows in the living room, that’s because they have been restored along stringent requirements:
The entire home is insulated, and every window and door has been upgraded to new, fire-rated glass and hardware. The five large windows along the northern exposure, along with the exterior north facade are protected and subject to the Landmarks preservation review board.
Restoration Works’ skilled craftsmen fitted the windows to incorporate double-glazing on each individual pane, matching the exacting standards of the Landmarks Preservation board.
All of the windows are operational, tightly weather sealed and offer great soundproofing.
Additionally, all window and exterior door hardware is polished nickel, in keeping with the custom brass and nickel hardware throughout the home.
This building is near the shops and restaurants of Streeterville and the Mag Mile.
Listed at $1.125 million, is this a dream home for vintage lovers?
Carrie McCormick at @Properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).
Unit #2BD: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. 1800 square feet
- Sold in March 1988
- Bank owned in July 2008
- Sold in December 2008 for $375,000
- Sold in April 2009 for $395,000
- Sold in April 2015 for $510,000
- Sold in July 2019 for $471,000
- Currently listed at $1.125 million
- Assessments of $1337 a month (includes heat, gas, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
- Taxes of $8790
- Space Pak cooling
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- No parking- but it’s available in the neighborhood
- Wood burning fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 15×15
- Bedroom #2: 16×12
- Living room: 21×20
- Dining room: 13×13
- Kitchen: 12×9
- Walk-in-closet: 3×6
Would make a nice ‘guest house’ for this one upstairs:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/257-E-Delaware-Pl-60611/unit-3/home/14118371
2BD is far more accesibly finished.
10th floor units were fairly recently combined:
https://www.blitzcapitalgroup.com/257-e-delaware
The design aesthetic on these two is completely different. Wow. Can’t get more different.
But both have those fantastic Chevron wood floors. Love those. You don’t see Chevron very often. It’s always Herringbone.
I love the industrial look they added to 2BD. Those interior doors to the primary bedroom are awesome. Very modern and matches perfectly with that wall of windows.
I also love the modern kitchen. It’s contemporary without being stark so it doesn’t clash with the vintage feel of the unit with crown moldings etc.
This unit is a competitor for the Tribune building, but it’s even prettier and more modern, in my opinion. Wonderful rehab.
No amenities in the building, however, and no parking.
Also, some people do want door staff. But you can see how NOT having door staff really saves you on the monthly assessment. I can’t even imagine what it would be if they DID have one with only 12 units. You couldn’t afford it. It would be an extra $1,000 per month, at a minimum.
Very tasteful unit, though I’d prefer to be higher up (even though no unit here really has a view). Just think it would be sunnier. Parking is pretty easy in this neighborhood. The lack of a doorman and amenities definitely saves money, and I suppose if you have to have vintage and be in this neighborhood this would make a good place (for a retired couple, perhaps).
However, for me the point of living in a high rise is to have the advantages of a high rise, including amenities and parking. A view would be a plus, as well.
This place is fab, yet I feel like a need a robe…so cold…do people live here? No parking and no real AC…cmon.
Beautiful apartment in fine building, and the upgrades are tasteful and attractive. I’m pleased to see that the fine millwork original to the unit was preserved. The HOA is reasonable for an 1,800 unit in an older high rise.
But I fail to see how the unit is worth nearly 3X its 2019 sales price. I could see $600K, or even $750, but $1.2M is way over the top. And it’s not even on a high floor.
The apartment itself is beautiful, and the upgrades are tasteful and high-quality. I’m glad the beautiful original millwork has been preserved, and the HOA is reasonable for a 90-year-old high rise building with a stone facade.
However, I fail to understand how this unit could be worth 3X its 2019 sale price, for nothing more than a nice decorating job and $150K or so in upgrades. I could see $600,000 or even $750K, but $1.2 Million is way over the top for a place with no parking, no doorman, and no other building amenities.
Laura, I couldn’t agree more!
GORGEOUS UNIT! No way this is $150k in upgrades, new kitchen, new mechanicals, new windows and top dollar everything. While expensive for a 1880 soft 2br, this is so well finished, I think it’s a great deal you want a place like this.
24hr door staff would likely add close to 2k/mo to the unit
FYI, here are the before pics
https://www.compass.com/listing/257-east-delaware-place-unit-2bd-chicago-il-60611/257968253823889313/
“GORGEOUS UNIT!”
It’s stunning. I like it more than those in the Tribune Tower, especially the kitchen. But it’s two different types of buildings as Tribune has massive amenities including a huge exercise room and indoor/outdoor pool. But you’re also living right on Michigan Avenue in that building, which some may not want to do.
“No parking and no real AC…cmon.”
I think we have concluded here that space pak IS “real” air conditioning.
“nearly 3X its 2019 sales price”
3 x 471 = $1.413
The ask isn’t even 2.5 times the prior price. 239%
They are clearly trying to make some money on the trade, of course, but I’d bet they spent something like $200 psf doing the reno.
“no real AC”
Why did anyone ever think high velocity a/c isn’t real a/c?? If it’s multiple minisplits–even with centralized controls–I get the argument, but a HC-a/c system has always been ‘real a/c’.
“No parking and no real AC…cmon.”
It has Space Pak, which is not only “real” AC, but is the best system you can install. Moreover, it’s the only system you can install that does not destroy the interior architecture and trim of these beautiful old apartments, which is why it was developed to begin with. The only issue with it is the cost- the system in my 1100 sq ft unit cost the previous owner about $20,000 over 20 years ago. A system for a large unit like this probably runs $50,000 these days, but if you can afford to pay 7 digits for a place, it should be no problem for you.
Under contract but has reduced to $1.095 million.
With full floors in this building asking north of $2.3M, and what looks to be a high end renovation, there’s no way this isn’t worth every penny they’re asking. I wish I had picked it up in the 4’s! The key with vintage buildings is finding the untouched, originals for under $500K, and staying somewhat faithful to the original charm once it’s improved – there probably aren’t many untouched units left.
After seeing the before pictures, I don’t think what they did was worth the effort. A lot of smaller upgrades would have been better on this property. The laundry room design is laughable and totally out of place. The American flags and eagles are not decor and a huge turn off. So tacky. The MLS listing states two “perfectionists” did this…but I see so many oddities that a true perfectionist would never allow in their home.
I absolutely love this style within a home, but they didn’t do it right. Far too many poor design choices that missed the mark. It was rushed, the owners don’t have style, and it shows.