We Love Terraces: Live Above it All in the Loop: 208 W. Washington
This 2-bedroom duplex penthouse unit at 208 W. Washington has one of the larger private terraces I have seen in the loop.
At 370 square feet, it has unobstructed views in several directions.
The unit also has some unique architectural features, including round windows in both bedrooms which are on the second floor of the unit and carved gothic limestone eagles right next to the terrace.
The property has central air and a washer dryer in the unit. There is also a tandem parking spot available.
Brenda Mauldin at Baird & Warner has the listing. See more pictures here.
Unit #2303: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1615 square feet
- Sold in April 2002 for $524,000
- Sold in November 2005 for $455,000
- Sold in February 2006 for $505,000
- Currently listed for $460,000 (plus $45,000 extra for tandem parking space)
- Assessments of $885 a month (includes heat, A/C, gas, cable and doorman)
- Taxes of $5840
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- Duplex Up
- Bedroom #1: 15×14
- Bedroom #2: 14×12
I like the fact that the bedrooms are bedrooms instead of walk in closets with big dreams. But what is with the sky high assmt and rental quality finishes throughout the place? This place waneeds to be staged to distract from the fact that the sellers want 460k for a rental.
*needs. Sorry for the BB typos
Why the appreciation since 2006? Doesn’t look like any improvements were done at all… also LOL at those circular windows in the bedrooms, its like living on a cruise ship
Even including utilities and such, those assessments are a bit hard to swallow. The tiny, circular windows in the bedroom are also odd. That aside, it’s a great location if you want to live in the loop.
Yeah it will probably sell for about 10-15 percent under the 2006 sale (including the parking). The assmt seems in line to me if the interior space is really 1600 sq ft. Also the finishes are what I would expect from something built in 2002. Why are the previous posters so surprised?
The assessments are kind of weird in this building – if you look at MLS listings for 2BR’s here, assessments seem to vary from $400-$600 for very similar units on similar floors.
A friend of mine owns a unit in this building that I’m considering renting from him for a while. It’s a nice condo and two blocks from my office, but I don’t think I really want to live in the loop long term. Proximity to Stocks and Blondes is a definite plus!
I’ve looked at a 3BR w/ terrace in the building. The place is nice but it all comes down to price and assessments. The location is great during the week and improving during the weekends. There are already stores in that block that have experimented with weekend hours. And with the rental high-rise across the street just now opening its doors and another rental high-rise two blocks away that will open in about a year, there is going to be a critical mass of local residents that will dramatically improve the weekend options for food and drink.
So basically, get the price right and there is no reason it shouldn’t sell.
Like this place-love the round windows in the bedroom. Love the location and would really enjoy living here.
But $460K might be a bit rich for a 2 bed 2 bath almost anywhere but Streeterville-Near North,unless it is really lavish. The assessments are high, too.
And that tax bill is too low to be true.
“And with the rental high-rise across the street just now opening its doors and another rental high-rise two blocks away that will open in about a year, there is going to be a critical mass of local residents that will dramatically improve the weekend options for food and drink.”
I don’t know if this will be the truth or not. I can see some of the existing local places (of which there are, obviously, many) staying open later to accomodate the extra people that will live in the immediate vicinity, but it’s not like there’s empty storefronts or vacant lots that would be a source for new dining/drinking development.
How is there appreciation from 2006? Did 2006 price include parking?
I’m very interested in the feedback on this unit, the location, and the building. I have a competitive listing in this building right now – unit 1911, 3 beds/ 3 baths, 1850 sq ft, listed at 499,850, no terrace. Planning an open house on Monday 4 -6 PM.
The location is great in terms of being highly functional – right across from the el stop and close to metra market and a CVS and 7-11 right around the corner.
That terrace flanked by the stone eagle is pretty awesome. Though I’d fear some of my more “entertaining” friends may get drunk and climb it so they can stand on it and pretend to be batman.
I don’t know if I’d want to live so close to work. I like having a bit of a buffer zone between professional and private lives. I’m thinking it’s a bit easier to decompress if there’s a decent walk or a short train ride after work. Grabbing lunch at home would be nice, though. Could be perfect, though, for someone who lives and breaths his or her work.
FWIW, the common rooftop deck is right next to the terraces – if these are the terraces I’m thinking of.
“I don’t know if I’d want to live so close to work. I like having a bit of a buffer zone between professional and private lives.”
I totally agree, which is why I’m wanting to try out renting for a bit before thinking at all about moving so close to the loop. I think a two minute walk would end up manifesting itself in much longer work hours. A guy I worked with at 55 E Monroe heavily considered buying one of the condo conversions in the upper floors – not sure I could ever handle that.
“I don’t know if I’d want to live so close to work. I like having a bit of a buffer zone between professional and private lives.”
Stop being retarded, having nearly zero commute is awesome. You don’t have to go directly home ya know and you don’t have to work longer hours to make up for lack of commuting time.
Oh and I wouldn’t personally live in the loop but I can understand why people would
It’s not so bad here on the weekends. You walk four blocks East and you’re at State Street which is loaded with stuff. In fact, in the summer, you might even think there’s too much going on over there with all of the tourists.
Totally agree with Sonies. I save so much time and money from not commuting twice a day that I don’t mind taking taxis to different neighborhoods the once or twice a week that I go out.
Loop living is for losers. Seriously.
Sorry Jon but you aren’t the target for this. This place is okay, the problem is you can get a 2/2.5 at Vetro nearby with parking for 382k. 500k is a joke.
According to Jon:
Loop Living = Loser.
I = Loop Living.
Therefore,
I = loser.
Well I really can’t argue with that. I suck guys…. I really, really suck.
“Loop living is for losers. Seriously.”
Living in Bucktown is for losers. Seriously.
see? words hurt…
Regarding the assessments in this building…I’m looking at the 2009 budget. Looks like about 12% is going to reserve building, 34% is going to utilities (HVAC included), and 24% is going to building services, which includes a lot of labor and cable TV. Those are the big nuts.
“Living in Bucktown is for losers. Seriously.
see? words hurt…”
Nah, I’ve heard it so many times from Groove before that it doesn’t even bother me any more.
“Well I really can’t argue with that. I suck guys…. I really, really suck.”
I never said that you suck or that you are a loser, just that living in the loop is the loser lifestyle. If that’s what you choose, so be it. Maybe you are that one cool person in the loop, I don’t know! I don’t know you, I just know that losers live in the loop, that’s all!
Jon – True you don’t me, but your assessment was still spot on. I’m not the one cool person living in the loop. I am in fact living the exact loser lifestyle that you described. No need to second guess this one. I am a loser by any definition or sense of the word.
“I never said that you suck or that you are a loser, just that living in the loop is the loser lifestyle. If that’s what you choose, so be it. Maybe you are that one cool person in the loop, I don’t know! I don’t know you, I just know that losers live in the loop, that’s all!”
What an odd point of view. What exactly makes people that live in the loop losers?
Love unit an building
for 10k I could jazz the heck out of that place
Read people. What I said is that “Loop living is for losers,” not that everyone that lives in the loop is a loser.
If you need me to explain why living in the loop isn’t really all that great, then you should just move there.
Loop restaurants?
Loop nightlife?
Being around a whole lot of people that don’t live there.
Try having a dog in the loop. Fun.
It’s just my opinion, so maybe I should have prefaced it with IMO. I’ve lived here 10 years and had a friend that hailed from the loop.
Finally, look at that master bedroom and its Harlem/Value City furniture and tell me who lives here. In the loop.
oops – meant to say “NEVER had a friend that hailed from the loop.”
“Try having a dog in the loop. Fun.”
Cat people and loop losers unite!
I had a non-loser friend who rented a place 2 blocks away from where we both work in the loop. He loved the views, but thought the place was too small, and found himself missing living in a neighborhood. He eventually moved to Bucktown and liked it a lot more.
Can’t speak for everyone, but those porthole windows in the bedrooms would get old REAL quick for me. They’re cool, but I’d have to put some kind of curtains or shades over them… otherwise I’d never get any sleep…….
Totally looked up “Stocks and Blondes” on Yelp after Barry’s comment. Was hoping for swank bondage club. Was disappointed by what I found. 🙁
How can you be disappointed by the greatest dive bar in the Northern loop (not that that’s saying much)
Another interesting tidbit on the building. There are a number of people renting in the building. The greatest interest in our unit has been from the people already renting there or even people who live there and want to move up. So at least those people like it.
If my memory’s accurate the original developer / converter of this property was a former client of mine, the now infamous Cal Boender.