Views as Far as the Eye Can See: A 2-Bedroom in the Gold Coast for $980,500 at 1560 N. Sandburg Terrace
This 2-bedroom in the James House at 1560 N. Sandburg Terrace in the Sandburg Village development in the Gold Coast came on the market in May 2025.
James House was built in 1970 and has 520 units. Parking is leased in the building (attached?).
It has 24/7 door staff and a bunch of other Sandburg Village amenities.
One of the other listings in the building described it like this:
James House is a sought after building with many updates – newly renovated hallways, new boilers, new windows. There’s a beautiful rooftop deck with all-season room and the best views in Chicago. Exercise room, 24 hour door & maintenance staff, additional storage cage.
Sandburg Village amenities include two outdoor heated pools & sundecks, tennis courts, hospitality rooms- (some additional fees), garage parking. The landscaped courtyards, play lot, commercial facilities provide a welcoming community environment. Pets allowed.
This unit is on the top floor and used to be a 3-bedroom which the listing says you could do again by adding some walls.
The listing says it has “views as far as the eye can see” which are south, east and west, including the downtown skyline.
There are remote shades, including blackout shades.
It has an open concept with custom design finishes including Lightology lighting throughout.
The floors are Appalachian hardwood floors by American crafter Sheoga.
The kitchen has custom solid cherry cabinets with wrap around counters that go into the dining room, including a wine refrigerator, and a peninsula which appears to seat 2, along with high end stainless steel appliances.
There is a dining room.
The primary suite has a 15×10 walk-in-closet and an en suite bath with a double vanity. It also has one of the two private balconies.
The second bathroom has a hydrotherapy air tub.
The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, a laundry room with full size washer/dryer and garage parking is available to lease.
All of the closets are Elfa customized.
There are also 2 on-site storage units included.
The listing says this unit is at the intersection of the Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park.
It’s near several bus routes, the subway, Second City and the restaurants and shops of Old Town, as well as Latin School and other private schools.
It has listed at $908,500 for 2100 square feet.
If you are a lover of views, does this unit check all the boxes?
Melinda Jakovich and Frank Jeffrey at Compass have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Unit #4301-03: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2100 square feet
- Unit #4301 sold in May 2003 for $354,000
- Unit #4303J sold in August 2003 for $202,000
- Currently listed for $908,500
- Assessments of $2323 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $11,195
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Leased garage parking is available
- Bedroom #1: 17×16
- Bedroom #2: 12×11
- Living room: 18×15
- Family room: 18×15
- Dining room: 13×19
- Kitchen: 8×12
- Laundry: 8×5
- Walk-in-closet: 15×10
- 2 balconies
Weird layout
Those aren’t East views
“Those aren’t East views”
If you lean over the edge of the south balcony reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyy far, and twist around so you’re facing east, you can see east.
How is that not an “east view”??
Layout is what you get when you combine units and don’t/can’t fully relocate plumbing. A half bath next to the laundry would be a big plus.
Original-ish layout ofthe ’01 tier can be seen in this listing:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1560-N-Sandburg-Ter-60610/unit-2301J/home/14115665
and the ’03s are 2/1s (not quickly finding one with a floorplan).
so they completely elimiated a bath for the laundry room.
Are they really 2/1s? Seems to be large 1-bedrooms that flippers have turned into 2 bedrooms. And that’s why there aren’t any floor plans.
I’m liking the 2/2 you linked to anon(tfo). I wonder what the reserves are in the building? Anyone know?
I like these big buildings. Usually HOAs not too terrible because many units to pay for everything.
This building doesn’t have the ugly wall units like some other 1960s and 70s buildings.
“Are they really 2/1s? Seems to be large 1-bedrooms that flippers have turned into 2 bedrooms”
Could be. Didn’t dig into past sales.
the views are nice.
on the other hand
2003 till March 2025 CPI would be about 996k
so 1) high rise didn’t keep up with CPI plus 2) the renovation costs plus 3) the hOAs
and not cool that the listing mentions parking available separately but doesn’t list prices.
personally at that price point and building age
and yes i understand the location is different, i would take the Hancock but then I really like the Hancock
“on the other hand
2003 till March 2025 CPI would be about 996k”
Nothing in a downtown high rise has kept up with CPI over the last 20 years. If that is what you are basing your purchase on, you will never purchase downtown.
“and yes i understand the location is different, i would take the Hancock but then I really like the Hancock”
Hancock is a unique building which can’t be compared to a 43 story high rise built in Sandburg Village. Both do have views but you don’t have a skyline view IN the Hancock. Very different perspective.
Personally, I prefer the skyline views like you get in this building and others that are just to the north of downtown. Although the skyline views from the west are now also very striking.
One of the good things about James House is that they have replaced all the windows. That’s a huge project. I wonder if they paid for it through reserves?
This seems way overpriced even as a combined unit, especially for one with no lake view. I viewed a unit here a few years ago and was unimpressed with the building. The lobby was dull and the rooftop amenities were in a construction phase which maybe has ended, someone would have to tell me. The rooftop at 1660 LaSalle was far nicer.
ChiChow, I prefer the Hancock as well but this building has some benefits not at the Hancock, especially balconies and a roof deck. The neighborhood is also more interesting here and arguably better. If another one-bedroom with an east view on floors 35 and above becomes available here I might be looking. Our son recently moved to 3660 LSD, obviously a very different neighborhood, but anyone seeking skyline/lake views would find it very impressive. Now it’s on my list, preferably a south-facing unit on floors 40 or above (it’s 47 stories). The roof deck is spectacular.
Dan #2 says: especially balconies and a roof deck
for sure. Different building type. You can have balconies on this 40 story building vs if you are 80 floors up in the Hancock.
so some points (and I’m not disagreeing with what you said – both statements can be correct simultaneously
Yes the neighborhood is more interesting and it’s also more dangerous ish that the mag mile.
but i would still say that at this price point of 900k plus that the if you are paying that much then you are better served in the Hancock which is a higher quality building than this same time frame 70s Sandburg Terrace building.
as for 3660 LSD – I also agree completely different neighbor hood feel. And again, 3660 LSD is a late 80s building and I would suspect that the building is better than Sandburg Terrace.
I’m probably biased toward Sandburg Terrace to the downside. Like Sandburg Terrace is the cheap way to get into that particular area so given that, then don’t overspend there and then build your equity and move to another nicer place in the area
“Our son recently moved to 3660 LSD, obviously a very different neighborhood, but anyone seeking skyline/lake views would find it very impressive.”
The views rock from this building. Nothing that blocks it. Are they ever going to build that building on the land in front of it along the Lake? It wasn’t going to block ALL of the views. I want to say it’s a 20 story building.
But south views won’t be blocked.
“Yes the neighborhood is … more dangerous ish that the mag mile.”
In which sense(s)?
“Are they ever going to build that building on the land in front of it along the Lake?”
Looks like they got some permits over a year ago:
https://chicagoyimby.com/2024/02/permits-filed-for-mixed-use-development-at-3636-n-lake-shore-drive-in-lake-view-east.html
And looks like the architects filed a lien in Sep-24.
In which sense(s)?
It’s one street away from Wells south of North Ave which just in my opinion is more sketchy than streets like Rush which are one street away from the Mag Mile where the Hancock is located.
I take back my statement and I can’t edit my post
at least based on
https://gis.chicagopolice.org
I don’t see an appreciable difference