We Love 3-Bedroom Penthouses With Plenty of Outdoor Space: 3823 N. Ashland in Lakeview
This 3-bedroom top floor unit at 3823 N. Ashland in Lakeview came on the market 10 months ago.
This building was completed in 2008 and has an elevator.
This unit does NOT face Ashland but has a city and Wrigley Field view.
It has two outdoor spaces including a terrace off the family room and a rooftop deck.
The unit has crown molding and millwork in the living/dining room.
The kitchen has upscale finishes with Subzero and Wolf appliances, cherry cabinets and granite counter tops.
The unit has 2-car heated garage parking (although it appears that the second space is available for $15k extra.)
Has the market improved enough to see the sale of this upper bracket condo close to 2008 price?
Richard Kasper at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #503: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet, 2 car parking
- Sold in August 2008 for $725,000
- Originally listed in June 2011 for $725,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $699,000 (parking included but $15k for 2nd spot)
- Assessments of $314 a month
- Taxes of $7335
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 14×15
- Bedroom #2: 11×15
- Bedroom #3: 12×15
Not really a penthouse, in my opinion, but we’ll agree to disagree.
Maybe some people will like this place, but I feel like I’ve seen it over and over again. The open kitchen that already looks dated; the combo LR/DR, the small bedroom with a crib, the TV above the fireplace, the “old fashioned” crown molding. The same exterior architecture that’s all over town and will not age well. Yawn.
I will say the outdoor space looks nice, and I’m glad it doesn’t front on Ashland. But would I pay $700,000 plus for it? Definitely not.
Nothing says high class city living quite like a Kitcchen/Living/Dining combo!
“This building was completed in 2008 and has an elevator.”
” 2 CAR HEATED & ATTACHED GRGE”
Nice amenities.
I think it qualifies as a penthouse, esp. because it’s “an apartment that sits on the roof of a building”, and the wrap-around deck is basically the roof of the rest of the structure. It’s a nice place, the price seems high, but when you start looking at SFHs in Lake View, it’s not. If you’re not a handy person, or don’t like dealing with yards, SFH maintenance, etc. and have 2 or less kids, this place is a pretty good alternative.
“Nothing says high class city living quite like a Kitcchen/Living/Dining combo!”
I don’t get this criticism at all. What’s the alternative, the railroad style with walls everywhere like you see in rowhouses and TH’s? That’s not preferable. Who needs a separate dining room and kitchen area seating in a 3/2 condo? You only need one spot for dining, otherwise it’s wasted square footage. You might as well eliminate the “dining room” and have eat-in, or adjacent, spot for the table.
My living room, dining room and kitchen are railroad style but open floor plan without walls.
#403 sold earlier this year for a little more than 25% off the ’08 price:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3823-N-Ashland-Ave-60613/unit-403/home/26808116
Why should this do that much better, percentage-wise? The same markdown = $537,500. Maybe uniqueness of the deck gives a ~10% premium, and you can justify $599.
Living on Ashland = external obselesence.
Pretty nice, and certainly nicer than most recent condo buildings in LV. Curious as to the orange pillows on the couch, the orange painted wall behind the t.v./above the fireplace, and the huge orange towel hang-drying on the shower wall/door in one of the bathroom shots.
sorry fail 100%
failed on ashland
failed layout
failed calling it a penthouse
failed on ashland
Failed Tv over fireplace
Failed 3rd bedroom
failed bathroom count (needs .5 more per CC)
failed on ashland
Pardon the question, but I’m not familiar with the area. What’s wrong with Ashland?
“Curious as to the orange pillows on the couch, the orange painted wall behind the t.v./above the fireplace, and the huge orange towel hang-drying on the shower wall/door in one of the bathroom shots.”
Maybe they just like orange. Does this not fit into your unicorn criteria?
Do you think that painting the wall above the fireplace/behind the t.v. that way was a good idea? Maybe so. But I can’t imagine that you think leaving a big/unfolded/drying towel hanging that way in the bathroom was a good idea.
The problem I have with Ashland (say all you want it’s not on Ashland, it is) is that this should afford a buyer a nicer unit if they are willing to compromise on the immediate location. i.e,, the condo costs X% higher if you plunk it down on a nearby side street but you really like the space and the general locale, so are willing to get that same unit for less since it’s located on a busy street bc that is a worthwhile tradeoff to you. i.e,, Ashland is not definitively fatal, but you need to price accordingly bc people are not willy nilly lunging to buy these days. The pricing on this unit does not seem to take this concept into account.
“I don’t get this criticism at all”
Scares me every time I agree with Helmut. Now I must go say Kaddish. Yis’ga’dal v’yis’kadash…. Join in Helmut.. in honor of the 600.. I mean 6 million… wow I almost slipped and gave it away.
Does anyone know which part of the building this unit is in, i.e. which street it faces? I don’t see any mention of this.
Ze: I have an idea, let’s string an eruv around the entire Green Zone and then it’ll be really easy to cheat at religion!
With an elevator, this penthouse-unit facing east, five floors up, isn’t affected one-bit by it’s Ashland location, other than the negative vanity that’s associated with it, and that’s minor. In Lake View, you have to be on a main street for this kind of height.
“Do you think that painting the wall above the fireplace/behind the t.v. that way was a good idea? Maybe so. But I can’t imagine that you think leaving a big/unfolded/drying towel hanging that way in the bathroom was a good idea.”
Sure, the towel just looks sloppy. I blame the realtor and/or the photographer for that. It just has no bearing on the real estate. I really don’t have an issue with the orange TV wall. It’s a small area and not too obtrusive since most of it is covered by the TV. It can be painted over in less that 15 minutes.
Rooftop appears to be accessed via common stairs (and maybe elevator, too). And then a fairly long walk to your not-very-private corner. I doubt most people would use it much, given the other outdoor space.
Wow. I was expecting to see some excited commentary here. $700K for this place on Ashland this far north? That’s some Cray-Z! I always wonder why if you have enough $$ to pay for a place like this do you leave the deck so 1/2-azz done. The deck won’t sell this place unless it’s to someone with vision that knows what to do with it.
“I always wonder why if you have enough $$ to pay for a place like this do you leave the deck so 1/2-azz done. The deck won’t sell this place unless it’s to someone with vision that knows what to do with it.”
It costs a lot to “do” up a rooftop deck. People THINK they’re going to put some new decking, build some built-in planters (with water, of course), build some structures so there’s shade. Only, then they find out it’s $50,000 and they never do it.
“Does anyone know which part of the building this unit is in, i.e. which street it faces? I don’t see any mention of this.”
The listing says it does NOT face Ashland.
“I always wonder why if you have enough $$ to pay for a place like this do you leave the deck so 1/2-azz done.”
The answer to that is given by the bedroom photo with the crib in it. These parents aren’t outside getting drunk on margaritas anymore, they probably never go out there with all the wind 5 stories up. They probably have a deep fear of taking the baby out there in the first place……if they have a toddler, they aren’t out there at all.
“The answer to that is given by the bedroom photo with the crib in it. These parents aren’t outside getting drunk on margaritas anymore, they probably never go out there with all the wind 5 stories up. They probably have a deep fear of taking the baby out there in the first place……if they have a toddler, they aren’t out there at all.”
I realize this type of thinking and behavior exists and is probably common. But I think that is a pretty sad way to live your life. You can have kids and still have something of a life, though many parents seem not to realize it. Helicopter/overbearing parenting is ruining a generation of kids and ruining the parents lives.
“You can have kids and still have something of a life, though many parents seem not to realize it. Helicopter/overbearing parenting is ruining a generation of kids and ruining the parents lives.”
yeah and the “saturday” parent thing is a great way to improve your kids life.
ask any adult or kid if they enjoyed the “saturday” parenting, then ask the adult or kids who had there parents around and see which ones is well adjusted and happy.
p.s. extremes either way are bad so leave those out.
They’re worried about the baby or toddler somehow falling off the balcony/deck. You don’t need to be out on that deck to live a good life, most of the time it’s too cold and windy out there anyway. Decks are overrated in Chicago. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more outdoor umbrella accidents, with wind ripping the things right out of their bases, and sending them flying off like a parachute.
“the “saturday” parent thing”
Please to explain.
Only seeing your kids one day a week.
“anon (tfo) (April 26, 2012, 10:37 am)
“the “saturday” parent thing”
Please to explain.”
“JJJ (April 26, 2012, 10:46 am)
Only seeing your kids one day a week.”
its the im to busy with work and my own life so i really only spend time with the kids on partly Saturday but only to take them to games and parties and on bit on Sunday for church and games.
and the biweekly pizza and movie on saturday night.
Ohfercryinoutloud if you can afford a fancy place like this you can afford some inexpensive fencing to keep kids/pets/tipsy adult guests from falling off the roof!
And I agree about the irony of these “upscale” condos having the “great room with kitchen” layout that evokes those affluent urban sophisticates, Ralph and Alice Kramden.
“evokes those affluent urban sophisticates, Ralph and Alice Kramden.”
Apparently, a rental in Jackie’s childhood building can be had for about $1400/month:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/328-Chauncey-St-APT-1B-Brooklyn-NY-11233/2122530141_zpid/
helmethofer: “They’re worried about the baby or toddler somehow falling off the balcony/deck.” And that is a rational concern? I second Local Lassie’s answer, but would add that most decks or balconies don’t need the extra protection. Mine sure doesn’t.
helmethofer: “You don’t need to be out on that deck to live a good life, most of the time it’s too cold and windy out there anyway. Decks are overrated in Chicago.” I disagree strongly. I was using my deck in *March* this year, for chrissake. And, yes, my kid had a good time in the sun and I was sipping a beer. No worries or stress for us, thanks.
Groove: “yeah and the “saturday” parent thing is a great way to improve your kids life.” I view helicopter parenting as less an investment of time and more of an investment in anxiety. In other words, you can be a saturday-only helicopter parent if you are constantly worried about every single decision related to your child, whether you are present or not. Some of the most controlling, obsessive parents I know are also workaholics who constantly pester their spouses about how they are raising their child.
In any case, I don’t really see the point of being around your kids if you aren’t going to enjoy it. Obsessing about what might happen to your child on a secure deck to the point that you won’t use it seems like a thoroughly unenjoyable way to be with your child. To me anyway.