Vintage Charm in Ukranian Village Cottage: 953 N. Leavitt
This 3-bedroom house at 953 N. Leavitt in the Ukranian Village has the kind of vintage charm many buyers are looking for.
It has built-in bookcases, hardwood floors throughout and a wood burning fireplace.
But it also has some of the modern amenities, like the newer kitchen with stainless steel appliances.
The listing says the house is on a lot and a half. In the backyard, there is a deck with a trellis and professional landscaping.
Patrick Santry at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.
953 N. Leavitt: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed
- Sold in October 2003 for $510,000
- Was listed in July 2009 for $749,000
- Currently still listed for $749,000
- Taxes of $5536
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 14×12
- Bedroom #2: 15×10
- Bedroom #3: 11×8
Lots to like about this place.
ehhh I would put it at about 650.
It is a lot and a half wide (36′), but it’s only 105′ deep.
what is standard depth?
Standard depth is 125′. So this lot is 20′ short.
Standard depth is 125′.
Solid place on a great block in the nicest area of UV. Master might be a little cramped, but that goes with the vintage charm, I suppose — though that basement ceiling has got to go. I think this goes pretty close to ask, say, 725k.
Can someone explain the purpose of a trellis?
this reminds me of houses when i was a little tyke, tad to “vintage for me but Beautiful.
area i am still iffy on, and its not a lot and a half.
“Can someone explain the purpose of a trellis?”
A trellis is for climbing plants to grow up.
I expect your question is actually about the pergola–the structure shown in the pic, with trellis attached. It’s the same thing (tho it works better where you can grow vines better–eg grape vines; ivy works, too), but it also defines the space, allows for mounting of lighting, etc. It’s mainly a landscaping focal point.
What makes this worth over $500.00 per square foot? Quality is not there.
This is definitely a property where I’d like to see a floorplan. It looks like there are 2 sets of stairs: one next to the front entrance and one off the room adj. to the KIT. Not sure a house of this side benefits from 2 sets of stairs, especially when the dormered 2nd floor could benefit from some more room
If i were spending 700k+ on a property, it sure as hell wouldn’t be a cottage, and if it was, it sure as hell would be in a primo neighborhood.
Nice pad but ^^^ ditto what Sonies said.
“its not a lot and a half”
It’s definitely 36 x 105. Lot and a half wide, but short. Check the city GIS if you doubt.
I wouldn’t pay more than $600k for this place.
Well actually, I wouldn’t buy this place, period.
TONS of better options with way more space and new(ish) construction in Ukie Village / West Town for just a little more money than this asking price.
Nicely done (except for the basement ceiling)….but $750K for a 3 BR in this location?
I think it will sell at $650K. Seller apparently doesn’t care if they carry it another year.
the total square ft is about the save a standard lot i think, to lazy to go back to my desk and use a calculator.
bradford thats another why we differ. i would rather pay for vintage the buy new construction. still would not buy at this price in this hood.
“the total square ft is about the save a standard lot ”
If it were 24′ wide, it would be 157′ deep (instead of 186′). So, not fully 1.5x standard, but 1.25x. I’d trade lot depth for width, myself.
You guys crack me up. . . spend some time at the intersection of Leavitt and Walton and tell me more about primo neighborhoods– this one of the nicest spots in the city.
Unless you’re looking for RN or LV/LP. Which this ain’t (thank goodness).
Two real concerns:
1)As noted, it seems disingenuous to list this as an oversided lot. It’s really pretty standard in terms of total area.
2)The funky little bar next to this place tends to supply a crowd of smokers on the sidewalk. Very low key crowd at this bar, but if smokers in front of your house bothers you, this would be a concern.
Also, stiff competition price-wise in the area– right around the corner, 2145 W Walton is $250k less, and at least one other cottage on that area of Walton has sold in the past year in (I believe) the 630s.
Without extensive renovation, the room sizes are usually too small for me in older homes.
anon,
i would rather have/do have width. keeps your neighbors farther away 🙂
i have a 49×124 lot my driveway keeps is my space between my neighbors on one side and the other side is my landscaping, that is extra dry this year, keeps me away from the other.
room sizes in vintage suck,
just like the fricken closet space, my master is only 11×12 and i am doing renovation this winter for closet space.
“i would rather have/do have width. keeps your neighbors farther away ”
There’s a teardown down the block from me for sale–I wish like nothing it were next door so I could buy it and tear it down for extra yard.
No pics of master?
vines can do damage to building materials. looks like a very nice place. far from trains.
I agree with Tom. Looking at the photos, I am not getting the whole stairway placement scheme. And what is the “room” (with the two chairs) on the landing?
Overall, though, for not being the sexy areas near the lake, this is a great location. Close to the markets on Chicago and an easy walk to the action on Division. Can’t speak to the school quality, though.
“Looking at the photos, I am not getting the whole stairway placement scheme. And what is the “room” (with the two chairs) on the landing?”
Looks to me like the stairs are where the back porch was. The raised kitchen counter is the location of the original brick back wall. Not sure what the utility of the secons stairs up is, I would have gotten rid of it. But the stairs down have to go to the back door, and then the basement.
“vines can do damage to building materials. looks like a very nice place. far from trains.”
vines also worry me in chicago with rats in alleys and stuff.
I can confirm that, Groove77. I pulled vines down from a brick wall once that was absolutely loaded with mice. Every yank unleashed the heebie jeebies, if not the little vermin.
keep in mind all all ivy isn’t the same.
I’m growing some boston ivy (fenway park cultivar, it’s beautiful) on our side fencing, it’s not an evergreen (like english ivy) so you get the color change in the fall, and then the leaves drop. I say this as I imagine the vermin problem would be more prevalent on english ivy, where pests could really establish a permanent residence.
“I say this as I imagine the vermin problem would be more prevalent on english ivy, where pests could really establish a permanent residence.”
Isn’t the tradeoff the possibility of attracting massholes?
LOL – and Red Sox fans at that, even worse. : )
Thanks, anon (tfo)…
Ivy on fence is okay, but you don’t want it growing on the side of a building.
While I understand the potential damage issue (which varies by species), doesn’t the fact all of the Ivy League schools are still standing refute that? Or do they just spend tons of money on maintenance/tuckpointing?
Ivy’s: they waste money
I’d pay a bit more for vintage over new construction, which has no character, and probably is built more poorly, sad fact.
The Ivy’s have famously removed the Ivy. Seriously. Harvard’s Soldier Field was completely stripped of it almost 20 years ago.
“I’d pay a bit more for vintage over new construction, which has no character, and probably is built more poorly, sad fact.”
its so true, you see homes built in 1920’s that are still fricken stand even if they are in disrepair for the past 15 years. and when i worked in construction in the 90’s i know for a fact a lot of half azzed work was done for building and Renovations. they just dont build them like they used to!
“they just dont build them like they used to!”
Well for one the wood they use now is about 50x crappier. Have you watched the old logger footage of them cutting down old age trees that are like 20 feet in diameter? Can you imagine how much more dense that wood has to be than the 1-2′ diameter trees they use for lumber now?
That is a point but now we don’t have much old growth forest left especially up north.
“Well for one the wood they use now is about 50x crappier. Have you watched the old logger footage of them cutting down old age trees that are like 20 feet in diameter? Can you imagine how much more dense that wood has to be than the 1-2? diameter trees they use for lumber now?”
“You guys crack me up. . . spend some time at the intersection of Leavitt and Walton and tell me more about primo neighborhoods– this one of the nicest spots in the city.”
AGREE! The house on the SW corner of Walton and Leavitt is phenomenal. The listing we’ve chatted about here is down to $719…
“The listing we’ve chatted about here is down to $719…”
And now it’s down to $699. . . apparently seller is NOT looking keep this on the market for the year.
Almost enough to get me back to my old hood. . . I so love this neighborhood, but the CTA situation is just too tough to deal.