We Love Private Indoor Pools: 821 S. Bell in Tri-Taylor
This 4-bedroom home at 821 S. Bell in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood is among the more unique I’ve seen in the city.
At 4300 square feet, it was built in 1990 on an oversized 50×125 lot.
It has a two level master bedroom, 3 fireplaces, maple floors throughout with cherry inlaids and, according to the listing, a $90k studio/workout room.
3 out of the 4 bedrooms are on the third floor.
But its best feature may be the rare indoor swimming pool that looks out onto the backyard.
What more could a buyer want?
Bill Altier at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.
821 S. Bell: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4300 square feet, 3 car garage
- Sold before 1992
- Currently listed for $1.099 million
- Taxes of $11,008
- Central Air
- Indoor Pool
From the look of the exterior, I think that house is made of Legos.
pretty interesting and will definitely appeal to some buyers (who have never owned pools before!!). In my neighborhood, most people have pools (mostly indoor) and they are a PAIN IN THE NECK!!! Most of the time, the pools are not used and upkeep/repairs are ridiculously costly. I have an outdoor pool which costs roughly 7-12k/year to maintain. I have been in the pool once this year.
I can say without reservation that that is one of the FUGLIEST houses I’ve ever seen in my life.
*BARF*
The pool money would have been better spent on hiring a decent architectural firm…
New construction in Chicago has to be some of the ugliest I have seen around the country. This place definitely fits the description of a McMansion.
” I have an outdoor pool which costs roughly 7-12k/year to maintain. I have been in the pool once this year.”
So you spend all your time in your house in the burbs, but never use any of it?
you are one strange dude
I like the exterior color of this house, it will blend nicely with the chicago winter sky
“So you spend all your time in your house in the burbs, but never use any of it?
you are one strange dude”
It’s amazing – but you will hear this time and time again from pool owners. When they first move in, they use the pool all the time. However, as each year passes, they use it less and less (unless, of course, they have kids). I am not sure why this happens, but it does!!
I can smell the chlorine already just looking at the pictures. Talk about lack of taste- why this house, why this neighborhood? 700K would adjust for the 30K per year in upkeep.
I think I am going to have a bad dream about that garage coming to life and killing me. We have an inflatable kiddie pool on our roof and use it all the time. The maintenance costs are close to zero.
clio, maybe you would use your pool more often if you didn’t spend all day posting on cribchatter 🙂
i kid, i kid.
i personally am not a fan of this house, the only thing i love is the upstairs master suite, but im just so fascinated by the indoor pool.
the interior is not well thought out at all. and you would think the kitchen would be more upscale if you were going to appeal to buyers who want the luxury of an indoor pool. the studio above the garage also looks like the underbelly of a boat.
The more I look at this house, the more I think it is a great buy. Seriously, where else can you get all of this in the city at this price?!!!
Wow finally a million dollar house that looks it and with amenities as such.
Speaking of indoor pools, R Kelly’s house has an open house this weekend.
Dear God, how long is that spray nozzle hanging above the kitchen sink? Does it reach the pool?
There is not a neighborhood or suburb in Chicago where most of the neighbors have pools, and most are indoors. It simply doesn’t exist. Is it possible this ruse is the anti-HD but using the same hyperbole?
I bet that pool would be full of water if it pool didn’t make the whole house smell like chlorine.
A million dollar home surrounded by 400/500k homes… nice.
“There is not a neighborhood or suburb in Chicago where most of the neighbors have pools, and most are indoors. It simply doesn’t exist.”
Oak Brook – check it out. Actually, on my street of 18 houses, 15 of them have pools (11 indoor, 4 outdoor). I don’t know why, but when houses pass the 2million mark, builders/people think that a pool is necessary.
“What more could a buyer want?”
An exterior that doesn’t look like the result of Stalinst central planning?
There’s something “off” in every single room pictured: weird built-ins, undersized mantels, bad transitions between different flooring, cheap lighting fixtures. And nothing matches in the kitchen.
An indoor pool AND you can walk half a block south to hang out with the CHA kids from Claremont/Polk as they harass passersby on Taylor.
That’s simply not true Clio. Unless of course you’re in a McMansion subdivision where the builder decided all 3 of the “unique” home models needed them and your only intelligent neighbors are the 3 that have taken them out.
Indoor pools can end up a disaster for the entire house unless systems are installed to mitigate i) cholorine evaporation, ii) persistent humidity and iii) partition the pool from the rest of the living space. There is a special reason why most houses for sale with indoor pools show them drained.
You can get a 10k ozone system and not have to use much chlorine but I doubt the buyer of this place is going that direction.
“That’s simply not true Clio. Unless of course you’re in a McMansion subdivision where the builder decided all 3 of the “unique” home models needed them and your only intelligent neighbors are the 3 that have taken them out”
WTF are you talking about. I am sorry that you don’t believe me. I don’t live in a McMansion subdivision either. Everyone in my neighborhood lives on between 1.5 and 7 acres…. and, at the risk of sounding like a snob, nobody has a McMansion – they have true mansions!!!! One of my neighbors has their house listed and you can look it up on line – 204 canterberry, oak brook, 60523 on sale for 8.5 million)
“clio on August 12th, 2010 at 11:12 am
“One of my neighbors has their house listed and you can look it up on line – 204 canterberry, oak brook, 60523 on sale for 8.5 million)”
LOL.
Looks like the Liberace estate. Awful.
Looks like that Oak Brook house is situated right next to the Tri-State Tollway.
But for the low taxes, Oak Brook is sort of forgettable. Plus who wants to live next to a freeway? Not an impressive home for the list — one would do much better in Lake Forest.
“Not an impressive home for the list — one would do much better in Lake Forest.”
sure… if you want to spend 3 hours getting to chicago. I am actually getting a little nauseated from the back-and-forth on this site. On one thread, everyone is bashing the suburbs and outlying areas stating that nobody is going to want to move out there, on another thread, they are bashing L.F. w/regards to over-extended people, and now this…. come on people – make up your mind!!!
ok – i get it. you guys don’t like that house. how about another one down the road from me (3015 lincoln, oak brook 60523 – on sale for 5.75 million unfinished). surely, this screams class and good taste!!!!
Clio–fantastic!
I especially love the Michelangelo-painting-the-Sistine shot!
isn’t that canterburry house Frank Thomas’s house?
There are three wildly different types of flooring visible from the entryway. And the windows in the master bedroom would be impossible to cover (although I guess weird remote controlled blinds could be installed). I guess if they’re appealing to people with kids, they assume that no adult in the house is ever going to sleep past 6 am, anyway….
“isn’t that canterburry house Frank Thomas’s house?”
no – his is on midwest road and is a little bigger!!
“(3015 lincoln, oak brook 60523 – on sale for 5.75 million unfinished). surely, this screams class and good taste!!!!”
That is so damn ridiculous that it goes full circle to being awesome
I like Clio. She is the most optimistic person I know!
“at the risk of sounding like a snob, nobody has a McMansion – they have true mansions!!!!” … “I am actually getting a little nauseated from the back-and-forth on this site.”
I think everyone (well me, for one) is tiring of hearing how rich and fabulous you are. Even the douchiest of rich folk have pseudo-friends that would rather listen to it because at least you would pick up the tab for drinks or an expensive dinner. We get double-f’ed because we have to listen to it all and you never pay for shite.
For some reason, I like the house with the indoor pool. It seems goofy and I like goofy. The neighborhood might be a little too far west for comfort though.
“I think everyone (well me, for one) is tiring of hearing how rich and fabulous you are.”
I never said i was fabulous…..
“(3015 lincoln, oak brook 60523 – on sale for 5.75 million unfinished). surely, this screams class and good taste!!!!”
The problem with this house would be families showing up at your door thinking that they were at the Renaissance Fair.
“The problem with this house would be families showing up at your door thinking that they were at the Renaissance Fair.”
yeah – but you could charge admission and pay down your debt!!!
“I think everyone (well me, for one) is tiring of hearing how rich and fabulous you are. Even the douchiest of rich folk have pseudo-friends that would rather listen to it because at least you would pick up the tab for drinks or an expensive dinner. We get double-f’ed because we have to listen to it all and you never pay for shite.”
I’m actually kinda enjoying it, not so much clio per se, but his/her interactions with others. It would be nice if clio would either invite us out for a labor day bash or prepay a bar tab somewhere if wanting to remain anonymous.
“I’m actually kinda enjoying it, not so much clio per se, but his/her interactions with others. It would be nice if clio would either invite us out for a labor day bash or prepay a bar tab somewhere if wanting to remain anonymous.”
actually, what would be interesting if we got together and had a contest to see who could correctly match the most people to their online moniker. Maybe we could give the winner a foreclosed property or something…..
Clio: “actually, what would be interesting if we got together and had a contest to see who could correctly match the most people to their online moniker. Maybe we could give the winner a foreclosed property or something…..”
Don’t wear your red socks or it will be far too easy!
“Even the douchiest of rich folk have pseudo-friends that would rather listen to it because at least you would pick up the tab for drinks or an expensive dinner.”
So true.
Clio I live in the suburbs. My only complaint is the aging housing stock and the fact that people our town make you wait 2 years to tear down a completely unliveable home because some WASP businessman who made his fortune in a railroad or a steel mill lived there 75 years ago.
No disrespect to my grandfather, mind you, but he wasn’t that important…
clio,
Do you think you could please list all of your homes (and their special features including but not limited to pools) as well as your cars and other personal assets on one single blog entry and be done with it? So that I do not have to read about them day after day after day? I promise that I will read your list and be reminded of all the worldly goods you have that set you apart from myself and the rest of the common folk.
I grew up in Glencoe, and most of our neighbors had indoor pools. I’m on Clio’s side this time!
My daughter has nine (!) friends who built houses in the city over the past 2 years, and they all included indoor pools.
I am surprised at the lack of thought that went in to the floor plan of this house…the kitchen alone makes me feel like I can’t breathe. I wonder what the thought process was on the design.
Please be sure to list how much you paid, of course, how much they cost you to maintain, the “reaction” people give you on a sliding scale of one to ten, and how much they disappoint you and fail to live up to expectation.
i, for one, am tired of every thread being hijacked by clio-talk. either him posting endlessly about items barely relevant to the property or ppl calling him out. its hard to filter thru the garbage to see actually relevant, valuable comments.
can we continue to discuss the property @ hand?
JMM – I totally agree w you on why the pool is empty. I had 4 guy friends after college who ended up renting a SFH in Old Town with an indoor pool because the builder couldnt sell it. well, after they moved in it became insanely apparent why it wouldnt sell. the room with the pool was SOOO damp and disgusting it was like swimming in a cave. there were also tiny bits of mold starting to form on the walls. then, water would also randomly come gushing out of the can lights on the ceiling (this was probably plumbing issues and nothing to do w pool itself). in addition, the 2nd and 3rd floor were EXACTLY the same floor plan. it was the same situation as this house where the interior was poorly thought out, attention to detail was not paid, but HEY it had a private pool in the city! it was an excellent party house as renters. yikes.
now it just remains to be seen if this house will move. it is also priced about $2M less than the one my friends lived in old town. i will try to hunt the address down to see if it ever sold, they dont live there anymore.
whitecity, I am schooled. Sorry; that was my visceral reaction. I agree with you and am making a pact to ignore clio and clio-talk henceforth.
I love you Clio…. girl power!
“We have an inflatable kiddie pool on our roof and use it all the time. The maintenance costs are close to zero.”
Ditto. This house reminds me of why the phrase “Bomb the Suburbs” was so popular amongst angst-ridden urban youth in my day.
there’s trying to hammer a square peg in a round hole, and then there’s this place, which takes that metaphor and raises it several layers of inexplicable, incompatible geometric shapes.
“This house reminds me of why the phrase “Bomb the Suburbs” was so popular amongst angst-ridden urban youth in my day”
Upski, great book!
going forward I will now refer to this blog as
ugly as shlt houses for people have no f$ckin taste chatter
this place is pretty neat though for a mil I would expect a little more backyard..
“i, for one, am tired of every thread being hijacked by clio-talk. either him posting endlessly about items barely relevant to the property ”
One of the most important tenets of a meaningful discussion/debate is the validation/qualification of one’s opinion/point of view. When I mentioned that I have a pool earlier in this thread, it was not to brag about the pool, but to qualify my comments about the pool in THIS house.
but, I DO understand your point and appreciate it. Thank you again, white city for bringing “relevance” back into this thread with your rambling story about your 4 friends in Old Town… (just kidding around).
I actually kind of like having the perspective of a wealthy suburbanite about the north side. I now feel pretty confident my neighborhood won’t be gentrifying too insanely, at least in the indefinite future. : O
otoh, I am starting to see – gasp – JOGGERS. that’s something old timers just don’t get. “you’re running? and not for the bus, or to catch a kid who you just caught breaking one of your windows? what the hell for?”
Is the Oak Brook castle clio posted a prank? Seriously, is someone really building that shit? It looks like MC Escher designed a set for a Monty Python movie. A picture of this house should be the end of every debate we have about city v. suburbs.
kingwanted.com = epic lol
I mean the seller is advertising their limo company AND trying to sell a 5.5 million dollar castle in the burbs!
I, for one, think this house is pretty decent and I really like the indoor pool (apart from the possible mold / dampness issue). I would get something similar to this house if I have the money
Secondly, I never understood the need to group together to bash Clio. If he / she was honest about everything, good for him/her. I never saw it as being arrogant or wanting to show off. Perhaps all the chatter audience here are just envious?
clio, how many drugs do you take in any given day? you are incredibly entertaining, but so completely full of shit its oozing from your posts here on cribchatter.
good catch, Sonies
You couldn’t make this stuff up:
http://kingwanted.com/page6.html
Ha! I love the “portolio” page – featuring this single castle. I always thought portfolio implied more than one.
“clio, how many drugs do you take in any given day? you are incredibly entertaining, but so completely full of shit its oozing from your posts here on cribchatter.”
Not quite sure what you mean – everything (and I mean everything) I post is true. I am sorry that it doesn’t fit into your mold of person you think should post on this site, but there are a lot of people out there like me…..
Horses!
Sorry. I couldn’t stop myself.
Barry: “Speaking of indoor pools, R Kelly’s house has an open house this weekend.”
I do NOT want to look in those closets.
Poor little rich cliche.
“Not quite sure what you mean – everything (and I mean everything) I post is true. I am sorry that it doesn’t fit into your mold of person you think should post on this site, but there are a lot of people out there like me…..”
“I do NOT want to look in those closets.”
and I sure as hell don’t want to swim in R-Kelly’s pool…
Pretty sure the utility shed behind my high school was made of the same type of building material. I know a sterile look appeals to some people but I think they missed the mark here. It doesn’t look contemporary, it looks like a municipal building.
I’m thinking this place has a very specific type of buyer – somebody who grew-up-in/loves that area but has done well and would like to stay/go back.
I’m not sure what the design or size of this house has to do with the suburbs or McMansions or why that continually creeps in. There are beautiful, huge houses built in the west and south burbs and big, awesome homes built in the city. This was also built in 1991, so well before the McMansion craze, which I would define as giant, bland houses built with cheap money in the boom, bought with 100% financing in far flung burbs.
Than there’s this house.
It’s just ugly and poor choice of cheap material. That’s basically cinderblock exterior. I mean you can see the settlement cracks in the photos. It’s meant to look like stone…fail.
This will be a challenging sale for location, price, and many of the construction and style issues pointed out legitimately above. The highest sale in this distinct two block radius in the past year was 828 S Bell for $472,000(!), a 3 beds, 2 1/2 baths attractive home (at least better lookin’) built in 1991 (and has a rental apartment for $1000/ month). The 828 South Bell home is on a standard lot 25 feet wide, and 126 long. Not a double lot like 821 S Bell here, but no way this house featured is worth twice the money!
Second highest priced home in this loaction is a nice looking late 1800s row house for $599,000 and been on the market for 122 days.
“…but there are a lot of people out there like me…..”
Yes there are and I am one of them. Jadore clio…simply jadore
But I am still richer than you and my cars are better.
Especially the new one. It would eat your Lambo for breakfast.
Oh yeah, someone will be lucky to live in this house!
You know I am kidding with you clio, don’t you? It is all said in jest.
I admire the way you put it out there and do not feel you need to defend you words…just plant the seed, let others water and fertilize it and then we get to sit back and watch how it grows!!
Fun Place we have built for ourselves, huh?
WL:
Mind providing an address for the OT SFH with a pool?
I’m really curious given that I wander OT at all hours and can’t imagine a place with an indoor pool. Then again, I don’t know if we are talking 25m lap pool, deep end, etc.
Clio – Don’t get all upset and leave CC. We would be bored without you!
BTW I’d move to Oak Brook as I was in a beautiful home (both husband and wife were in top mgt. at McD’s) and was blown away. It was one block off of I88 and the on ramp was literally at the end of the street. The home was on a corner lot overlooking that golf course. It was AWESOME and on par with anything built in LF or HP. While I do not think that everything in OB is that nice it made me rethink the area.
Keep posting and take the heat and understand that just like your Lambo, your opinions are on the edge of most people that post on CC.
“(3015 lincoln, oak brook 60523 – on sale for 5.75 million unfinished). surely, this screams class and good taste!!!!”
Huh, $5.5M – and no pool? rediculous.
Whoah. I haven’t read comments on CC in a while and this gave me a big fat slap in the face as to why. I as much as anyone have strong tastes/distates and like to share them, but seriously, this sounds like a bad gradeschool playground. Grow up folks. You’d NEVER have the balls to say these things to each other in person, and hide behind your computers. That’s not what this site is for.
“Huh, $5.5M – and no pool? rediculous” – w/regard to 3015 lincoln in oak brook, il 60523
– Actually, the original plans included a small indoor pool but the builder decided to cut down costs (and pass the saving on to the buyer).
– thanks Jp3chicago and westloopelo for the kind words – however, I am used to these type of comments. Not sure why, but everywhere I go, I am met w/ the same reactions (makes going out to bars very interesting – and dangerous!!!).
“thanks Jp3chicago and westloopelo for the kind words – however, I am used to these type of comments. Not sure why, but everywhere I go, I am met w/ the same reactions (makes going out to bars very interesting – and dangerous!!!).”
It’s because you are douchetastic.
clio do you wear striped shirts?
http://www.lookatmystripedshirt.com/articleLAMSS.asp
“You’d NEVER have the balls to say these things to each other in person, and hide behind your computers. ”
You clearly aren’t from Chicago. This site is actually amazingly civil, go to citydata.com and check out some of the arguing back and forth between north and south siders.
“clio do you wear striped shirts?”
I am too good looking and fashion conscious to wear such clothes – but the rest of the description pretty much sums up my weekends. actually, very funny and amusing!!!! thanks for the laugh
Lol, it gets more outrageous. Could it be Joe Z?
Did we ever establish whether Clio was male or female? If female and single, I could use a sugar-momma. I’ll even clean the pool…
“Did we ever establish whether Clio was male or female”
sorry, I’m male – but always looking for help.
“Not sure why, but everywhere I go, I am met w/ the same reactions”
I thought that you bought the Lambo to *get* that reaction. Didn’t you specifically say something to that effect?
“I thought that you bought the Lambo to *get* that reaction. Didn’t you specifically say something to that effect?”
I experience both good reactions and bad reactions from people:
me in my lambo (or anywhere) w/ my mouth shut = good reaction
me opening my mouth anywhere = bad reaction
‘I experience both good reactions and bad reactions from people:
me in my lambo (or anywhere) w/ my mouth shut = good reaction
me opening my mouth anywhere = bad reaction”
Appears you’re a smart guy–you should be able to figure it out.
How’s that neighborhood where this subject house is located at?
“me in my lambo (or anywhere) w/ my mouth shut = good reaction
me opening my mouth anywhere = bad reaction”
sounds like you suffer from halitosis