Three big Lincoln Square things going on now

 

Several large housing and infrastructure developments at the center of Lincoln Square are being discussed, debated and even facing opposition. Check out three big things affecting the neighborhood now:

Western Avenue Corridor Study 

You may join a meeting to discuss the possibilities for the portion of North Western Avenue that passes through Lincoln Square (basically Montrose to Bryn Mawr). The meeting is led by Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)

From the web site: The study will examine the land uses, development patterns, and circulation along this heavily traveled and diverse corridor. The study seeks to analyze the potential to:

• Increase density
• Promote a greater mix of land uses
• Improve how development relates to the surrounding, lower-scaled residential areas
• Enhance pedestrian safety through a forward-thinking design and planning process.

City owned parking lot at North Western and West Leland

Lot 70 at Leland and Western  image 47th Ward Facebook site.

The 47th Ward has offered a survey and presentation discussing possibilities for the city-owned parking lot at West Leland and North Western Avenue adjacent Lincoln Avenue retail. Local business owners and some neighbors were up in arms about an earlier proposal to build 100% affordable housing on the site ("save the parking lot!" 😂 ). The lot currently services local business (across from another lot) and is used during the many Lincoln Square fests. 

New Grocery Store at Western and Lawrence

A developer plans to bring a large national grocery retailer to the Fifth Third Bank building at 4800 North Western Ave without the need for community input. 

I wrote about the proposal to bring a grocery store to Western and Lincoln a few weeks ago. The developer may redevelop the property "as of right" without triggering the zoning process. The plan is drawing opposition due to the developer's lack of transparency and lack of community input. Local businesses fear a "Whole Foods" would muscle them out. The 40th and 47th Ward are hosting a "visioning session" January 28th.

   

New! South Loop townhouse for sale, great value at $479,900

20 West 15th Street, Unit E, Chicago IL 60605 asking $479,900. Bright living room with wood burning fireplace looks out onto private courtyard. Willis Tower views outside your door. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty and VHT.com

Listing information and more photos here!

We love this townhouse value in South Loop! 20 West 15th Street - Unit E is located in the popular Dearborn Park II development between 14th and 15th streets. It's a true walk-to-everything location. Cottontail Park is just steps away. Endless restaurants, bars and services outside your door. Four blocks from CTA Red Line, one mile from world class Museum Campus, Soldier Field, historic Prairie District, Grant Park and the amazing lakefront.  

Wide open floor-plan with true dining area.

Details include:

Two bedrooms plus large den/office (converted from 3rd bedroom).

Parking space in private courtyard

Wood burning fireplace

New bathroom vanities and lighting

Fresh paint and new carpet throughout

Private fenced in patio

In-unit washer and dryer

Fee-simple ownership with low monthly assessment for Homeowners Association

South Loop School district 

Enormous 3rd floor main bedroom with sitting area, ensuite bathroom and Willis Tower views to the north. Fresh paint and brand new carpet. 

Large brand new vanity and lighting. 

Kitchen completely renovated and opened up about four years ago. Awesome counter space, storage and walk-out patio. 

The South Loop neighborhood is full of great views, restaurants, shopping and parks. 

Miles of lakefront parks, beaches, concert venues and public facilities to get outside!

South Loop is  great neighborhood to bike around... easy to the lakefront paths.

World class art and museums outside your door.

Easy shopping with Trader Joe's, Jewel, Whole Foods, Target and small markets in every direction.

Chicago is known for its great restaurants and South Loop is no different! Eleven City Diner has been one of my favorite spots.

Pre-volleyball meal at the The Weather Mark Tavern last fall.

For sale: East Lakeview heated garage parking space for sale $29,900

Heated garage parking spot for sale at 450 West Briar in East Lakeview

Heated garage parking spot for sale at 450 West Briar, Chicago IL 60657 asking $29,900. (Car not included!)

East Lakeview is a high density neighborhood with little street parking. If you are in need of a parking spot you can purchase this heated garage spot in the heart of the neighborhood for $29,900.

Anyone can buy this parking space and store their car.  As the owner you may also rent out the parking space to outside residents. 

Heated garage parking space for sale in 450 West Briar... the heart of the East Lakeview neighborhood. Asking $29,900

Exclusively listed by:

Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614

PH: 312-939-5253

erojas@kalerealty.com

Car2Go vehicles parked all over Lincoln Square

Car2Go "smart cars" and Mercedes have popped up all over my neighborhood in Lincoln Square 

I had some fun on my personal Facebook page and Twitter account last week after I noticed Car2Go carsharing vehicles suddenly appeared EVERYWHERE in my neighborhood around Winnemac Park.  Several cars were parked on various blocks of Winona, Oakley, Leavitt, Carmen and Western.  A few of the cars were parked in street cleaning zones during prohibited hours.

A Chicago Streets and Sanitation van idles behind a Car2Go vehicle an hour before the no parking hours kick in.

At one point a Streets and Sanitation van seemed to be stalking these strange and ubiquitous cars one hour before the temporary no parking zones took affect. Oh the suspense! Eventually a Car2Go employee moved some cars.  However my neighbors on the case reported one car did get a ticket (I also saw one of the cars with a parking ticket). I did ask Car2Go in a tweet reply if there was a reason for the recent car drop in Lincoln Square. Nothing back yet.  Have you used the Car2Go carsharing company? Are you okay with extra cars parked on the streets for this business model?

Doh! Neighbors love when a car is not moved on street cleaning day! Typically you can knock on a door and remind a neighbor.  However, how annoying is calling/ messaging a car share company to move their cars?

Skip the smart car and pick up a Mercedes near Winnemac Park.

East Lincoln Park traffic madness!

Cars backed up heading west to North Clark Street in the alley today between West Wrightwood and West Deming.

There are some significant renovation and infrastructure projects going on in East Lincoln Park between Diversey and Fullerton and east of Clark. If showing in the area using my car I always stay west of Clark and walk down!

Check back for a post on one of the cooler renovations going on (and traffic killers!) in this East Lincoln Park location at 2700 N Lakeview.

Additionally entire blocks of parking have been eliminated for infrastructure projects. On foot this is one of the best spots to live in the entire city! Great views and and dining along Lakeview and North Clark when out of your car.

Elk's National Memorial

The parks and lakefront east of North Lakeview Ave.

Collectivo Coffee patio is the newest booming outdoor cafe on North Clark Street.

2466 N Lakeview, "The Wrigley Mansion" is now under contract asking over $6 million.

Parking non grata: Lincoln Square ghost town during water main work

Water main pipes sit in the normally full and bustling parking spots of "Giddings Plaza" at 10:30a this morning.  Foot traffic was noticeably down. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

"No Parking" is in effect for a large portion of North Lincoln Avenue through the heart of Lincoln Square's retail district for water main replacement.  I ran some errands in the square and settled into the Wilson/ Lincoln Starbucks for a few hours of work.  Foot traffic on the street - especially at the Starbucks - was light.  It was the slowest I've seen the coffee shop in an afternoon hour, like, ever.

A large portion of North Lincoln Avenue and parts of residential streets have no parking from West Montrose to West Lawrence

Plan ahead (walk or ride a bike) if planning to eat, drink, shop or run errands in "The Square" this month.

Condo Sales 4400-4800 N Lincoln
Only three condos have been recorded as sold directly on 4400 to 4800 North Lincoln Avenue over the past 12 months in the MLS.  All were newer construction three bedroom condos and the average price of sales was about $480,000.  Not many condo buildings are situated on this strip of North Lincoln Avenue despite the primo location.  The buildings have mainly remained commercial with rental units. Many condo buildings spring up to the south.

Three notable sales along Lincoln Avenue along the water main construction.

4736 N Lincoln Avenue #2 closed for $460,000
4736 N Lincoln Avenue #4 closed for $460,000
2326 W Giddings Street #402 (at Lincoln Ave) closed for $513,000.

Chicago parking app is good!

www.parkchicago.com has actually made my life a little more pleasant.  This Zone on a busy commercial stretch of Lincoln Square is saved in my application for easy reference (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

The possible positive fallout from the infamous Chicago parking deal  has been the Chicago mobile parking application www.ParkChicago.com.  I try to walk and ride my bike as much as possible while working.  However there are many times as a real estate broker and parent when I make frequent stops in the car. This is especially true in bad weather.

I can't say if the parking debacle forced the innovation or not. The actual City owned meters on lakefront parks like Montrose Harbor and Recreation Drive by the tennis courts and Sidney Morovitz Golf Course do not have mobile capability.  In any event, the mobile parking app has worked great for me in the neighborhoods. 

Parking in Evanston

I'm in southeast Evanston today prepping a new listing for sale.  You can park for two hours on Chicago Avenue for $1.50 and  you don't need to put the little ticket in the window.  They even retrofitted the old meters to take credit cards along with Internet and phone(!) options to pay. 

Chicago parking

Photo Bob DePalma, Kale Realty

We came across these beauties today.  A parking spot in this Edgewater high-rise heated garage will cost you $10K each.  The cars?  Well...

Garage Parking a premium for Lincoln Square condos sales

We recently viewed a Lincoln Square condo on prime residential West Giddings Street.  The unit comes with garage parking shown above.

In the last 12 months 101 Lincoln Square condos have closed on the MLS with garage parking (either included with the unit or available for lease).  The median price for a condo with garage parking associated with it is about $315,000.

On the other hand, 89 condos sold with outdoor parking associated with them (either included or available for lease).  The median price for those sold condos is only $208,000.  This price also reflects the type of available units.  That is, units with garage parking tend to be larger and/or better finished and in more desirable buildings on average in my experience.  This includes newer construction buildings with heated garages that simply catch more money.

Coincidentally, 89 condos closed over the last 12 months that were listed with NO parking associated with the unit.  The median price for these closed condos is only $137,000.

Good morning Chicago: Security zone

Entering a parking garage near East Ohio Street and the lake in Streeterville.

NATO Summit affecting Chicago real estate; Register for Notify Chicago

No parking in front of our new South Loop listing here at 1020 Wabash over the NATO Summit!

With several of our closings and new home listings for sale in or near the Loop... our real estate business is feeling the affects of the NATO Summit.  Some of the title companies are simply not scheduling closings on Monday (which has moved a couple of our closings).  We also have to be aware of traffic and parking issues for our South Loop and new Bridgeport listings which would have us heading through the most affected traffic areas.

Notify Chicago for emergency updates!
Bob and I pride ourselves on professionalism...which includes flexible logistics and keeping on schedule.  We registered for Notify Chicago to help us with traffic and public transportation issues.

Seen in Lincoln Park

We can only shake our heads.

For Sale: Own your attached garage parking in Lakeview duplex

It's rare to get attached garage parking in a small building in Chicago. We have a Lakeview duplex listing with attached garage parking in a prime locations.

3127 N Clifton asking $424,900
Upgraded kitchen w/ Viking Range
Stone tile master bath w/separate shower
2 beds plus large upper level family room
2 1/2 baths
Attached garage
Private and large common decks
3 unit condo association with great reserves!
Steps to CTA Red Line, nightlife, neighborhood amenities

See more property details HERE!

Watch the Video Tour HERE!

Chicago Local: Garage parking in East Lakeview!

Any major city dweller covets a garage. Our client was looking at East Lakeview condos with garage parking included. These sellers didn't have a car but found another use for their garage.

Oak Park(ing)

Oak Park is the suburb of choice for many that don't want to leave Chicago, but must. There are many things that are Chicago-like... the goofy Cook County Board governs all, taxes and more taxes, dense blocks of single family homes or multi-units, bungalow architecture, people walking rather than driving...and good restaurants.

But when it comes to parking your car...LOOK OUT! Oak Park does not allow parking overnight on most residential streets (which I think is kind of nutty). And I quote:

"Parking is generally prohibited on all streets from 2:30 - 6 a.m., seven days per week, year around, except when allowed by permit or pass. The overnight parking restriction dates back to the late 1920s. Overnight on-street parking of cars bearing permits is only allowed in multifamily housing areas, except in front of churches, schools and parks and on blocks where housing is more than 50 percent single family.In areas of Oak Park not zoned for multi-unit buildings or designated as permit areas, the overnight parking ban remains fully in effect."

It's a little strange going down a dense Oak Park block of homes at night that looks like a Chicago street but with no cars parked anywhere. Few cars are parked on the streets during the day as well. When guests need to park overnight, you must call the car in to the Village.

However, some parking restrictions are worth a look. As the sign above suggests, after two inches of snow cars must move on even or odd calendar days so plows may clear the streets. Sounds like a good idea. I'm talking to you Chicago.

Does anyone think moving cars (like we do on regular street cleaning days) is a good idea during snow storms? I don't know where we'd put the cars, but to me... it's worth the one day of Hell to quash dibs!

Read more Oak Park posts here!

Video: No dibs in Lincoln Park?

Watch the video!

I showed a townhouse on the aesthetically pleasing 2200 block of North Lakewood in Lincoln Park Sunday morning. Unlike much of the city, the block had no "dibs" (no saving of street parking). For this fact alone I suggested my clients buy on this block!

Watch more real estate and blizzard video here.

On Chicago parking "dibs", hoarders and the rest of us

"Dibs" directly in front of my house. These particular neighbors are what I call "dibs hoarders" as they have a garage and take up two dibs spots on the street.

I hate dibs. However, my whole street is dibbed out (even healthy able bodied neighbors) so there is little that I can or want to do. It's tolerated. On the other hand, if someone was visiting us and the only spot available had lawn chairs...well the chairs would be in the garbage. That street is public and paid for by our many transaction and property taxes.

"The Straight Dope Chicago" writes the comprehensive and timely primer on dibs in Chicago. Read it here and draw your own conclusions.

It's 3AM, do you know where your car is? Chicago's Overnight Parking Ban!

From Alderman Gene Schulter's office today:

Dear Neighbors,

Chicago's Overnight Winter Parking Ban begins tonight (12/01/10) at 3:00 am. The ban resumes for 107 miles of Chicago's most critical arterial streets. It will be in effect from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. every night until April 1, 2011. This ban is in effect regardless of snow. Ignoring the Winter Overnight Parking Ban can result in a $150 towing fee, a $50 ticket, and a daily storage fee of $10 that increases over time.

The other pertinent ban that can be activated during a heavy snow at any time of the year is the 2 Inch Snow Ban. This restriction is technically in effect all year round, but realistically only a factor in the winter months. The 2 Inch Snow Ban is not activated often, but does assist in snow removal when more than two inches has been accumulated.

Motorists need to watch for and obey both restrictions.

To learn more or to view maps featuring both the Overnight Winter Parking Ban and the 2 Inch Snow Ban, please visit the News section of our website at www.ward47.com.
Sincerely,

Alderman Gene Schulter's
47th Ward Public Service Office

Is Chicago ready for "green" parking?

In a LEED effort, the "green vehicle" preferred parking sign at my new Dominick's reads "We've reserved parking spots for low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles."

I see a Ford F150, GMC Denali, a V8 Dodge Durango, a Pontiac Grand Am and I think that's a Lincoln Town Car parked over the sidewalk.

Click here for more posts on parking adventures