Progress on new, cool row house development on Damen Ave in Ravenswood

I took a quick photo of the former C-M Motors Body Shop.  The commercial building is being re-developed into three "single family homes".

A developer received it's variances last October and progress has been made on three new residential homes at 4534-4542 N Damen Avenue in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Lincoln Square. 

The available architect plans and survey show homes that will likely be on 30'x170' (plus) lots making these probable million dollar homes in the current market.

The address is fairly convenient to the new  Lycée Français de Chicago campus

Update photos! New City in Lincoln Park

Looking down at New City progress in Lincoln Park (All photos Bob DePalma, Broker, Kale Realty)

Curbed Chicago posted the most recent renderings of the massive New City development in Lincoln Park.

Bob took some photos of the New City work site last week after some showings at out new listing at 1307 W Wrightwood 106

Breaking the Mariano's habit with... Tony's

Photo, Eric Rojas

Some friends, family, fellow school parents and neighbors think I have a problem JUST because I'm at the new Ravenswood Mariano's every other day. Well, there may be hope.  The new signs are up at the new Tony's Fresh Market at 5233 N Lincoln in Lincoln Square.

My fun facts on Ravenswood Manor in Chicago Mag

Chicago Magazine interviewed about Ravenswood Manor homes sales last week. Read their story HERE

North Branch of Chicago River. Photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

Here's some recent and interesting home sale facts I gathered for the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood in Chicago.

2 homes have closed in Ravenswood Manor neighborhood boundaries from Jan 1st-April 28th, 2014.  The average price for the traditional, similar sized Chicago bungalows that sold is $515,000.  Both had unfinished attics.

The $480,000 house needed everything updated.  The $550,000 house had a nice kitchen update, attractive main level and finished basement space.

Currently, there are 3 homes listed for sale in the Manor from $499,000 to $1,375,000 and one home under contract with a a list asking price of $795,000.

Same period in 2013, 5 houses sold with closed prices from $425,000 to $895,000.  There is simply low inventory in the small manor thus far in 2014.

A Ravenswood Manor house (Photo, Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

 In all of 2013, twenty-one houses closed in the relatively small neighborhood. The median price was $475,000.  A home sold at the median price or lower can be "move in ready", but would be on the smaller side without a finished attic or basement. Most homes sold under the median price are likely a vintage brick bungalow that need kitchen and bath updates.

In 2012,  12 houses closed all year with a median of $535,000.

The standout qualities of Ravenswood Manor are several: The leafy, quiet setting near the Lincoln Square retail and entertainment district, the many tile roofs, the river, the well defined close-knit neighborhood, a well regarded public school in Waters Elementary and most notable:
In the last 15 months there have been 23 single family home sales. NOT one new construction home was sold in the lot.  All were re-sale homes built in the early 1900s of varying degrees of renovation (closed prices from $375,000 to $1,035,00).

The consistent character and architecture, yet individual attractiveness of the brick single family homes, is unique to the North Side so close to Lincoln Square.

Video! Our new three bedroom condo listing at Lincoln Park's Wrightwood Crossing $629,000

1307 W Wrightwood 106 asking $629,000 is located in a modern boutique elevator building in leafy Lincoln Park.  The high first floor unit provides the option of NO STAIRS by taking the quick elevator or just going up a short fight of stairs.  Three parks within two blocks and Mayer School District.

Attached garage, laundry room, good sized terrace and concrete between floors compliment the luxury finish.

Watch the video tour!

This is a great value.  Unit 104 with the same layout and western exposure closed for $649,000 in 2013.

Features

Completed in in 2010

Three bedrooms

Two baths

Terrace

Laundry room

Stone and marble finishes

Master suite

Master bath w/ double vanity, separate steam shower and over-sized jet tub

Home faces quiet courtyard on leafy block

Concrete between floors

Garage parking included

Elevator building

Mayer School District

Assessment $276.00

Taxes $7,471 (no Homeowners exemption taken)

 

Listed by Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

548 W Roosevelt Road

Chicago, IL 60607

Do your Lake View Township property TAX APPEAL now (you have until May 12th!)

Doing my civic duty and appealing my property taxes along with other Lincoln Square and North Center neighbors at the 47th Ward office.

Last week I stopped by the 47th Ward service office to take advantage of a property tax education program sponsored by Bridget Gainer's 10th District Cook County Commissioner's office.  Appealing your taxes can be done easily at home online but I took the opportunity chat up the Alderman's office and ask some questions of the commissioner's aides on hand.

**Check your property tax bill for your township (upper right hand corner of your bill) and note your window for appeals at  the Cook County Assessor's web site.  You can appeal twice a year.  Once with the Cook County Assessors Office and once with the Cook County Board of Review**

I was given a nice Citizens Guide to Property Tax Bills handout provided by Bridget Gainer's office.  Please contact them at 312-603-4210312-603-4210 or info@bridgetgainer.com

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Renting Streeterville now!

We're in Streeterville showing rental apartments to future Chicagoans today (right now!).  The clients have narrowed it down to 222 East Pearson or 253 E Delaware to be super close to work.  The units average about $1,600 a month and tenants usually pay electric and Internet.

222 East Pearson.  The units here are smaller than others we looked at but feature IN UNIT WASHER/DRYER. The building amenities include doorman, fitness room, roof deck, bike room and laundry facility.  No pool and no balcony with the unit.

253 East Delaware. The units here are good sized one bedrooms. Amenities include 24/hour doorman, fitness room, sun deck, bike room and laundry facility. No pool and no in-unit washer/dryer or outdoor space with the unit.

Once they decide on a unit we make an offer with terms (years, pets etc...) and the rent price.  If accepted the tenant will fill out an application and credit check typically provided by the owner or broker.  Typical fee for this is $50.00.  We also have our own application and credit check service at Kale if the lessor wants to use it.

If all is clear, we tender the actual written lease and City of Chicago disclosures, cut checks and get signed off.  There is a lot of paperwork involved in renting Chicago homes "above board".

Which Gold Coast view would you choose?

Big city view from a terrace at 71 East Division (ALL photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).  The location is a quiet block by the lake just far enough from mostly bustling State and Division.

I spent Saturday afternoon in the Gold Coast showing condos. Our buyer client is moving here to start a residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is looking for a great location for his busy lifestyle. We've narrowed the choice to about a half-dozen places, each with their own unique view (or lack there of).

The lake and beach action view from the second floor at 1150 N Lake Shore Drive. The stream of people walking and biking the lake is mesmerizing.

A view of other peoples' rooftop decks from the back of 1150 N Lake Shore Drive.  Although the building sits on busy LSD, the rear unit location is quiet and the view urban.

Dreamy row house view from 59 East Cedar (soon to be leafy treetop view).  This block of East Cedar is "movie set" perfect!

 Would you take the busy beach, the city or the classic row house views?  

All the one bedroom condos were pried under $225,000 and were relatively close in size and finish level (with assessments and prices factored in all came out close in monthly payment).  The exception was the beach view unit at 1150 N Lake Shore Drive that was the largest but needed more extensive renovations.

Wicker Park doughnut wars in the flesh

I was picking up out-of-town clients Saturday morning and got caught in the very real crossfire of the Wicker Park doughnut war on North Damen Avenue.

It was standing room only at about 10:00am at Stan's Donuts just north of the Damen Blue Line stop in Wicker Park Saturday morning.

Chicago gourmet doughnut powerhouse Glazed and Infused is directly across the street.

If you have not been, please stop by this very amusing location on a Saturday or Sunday morning for donuts and people watching.

The Milwaukee/North and Damen intersection long known for counter culture, artists and music (and crime) is now a circus of old school residents, "hipster" parents, immediate post college renters, bums, hippies, yuppies and tourists... fueled on fancy doughnuts and expensive coffee.

It's a pretty great show.

Donate NOW for Chappell School Garden Project in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

Neighbor have launched an Edible Garden Project for Chappell School here in the neighborhood.  They are half-way to her fund raising goal!!  Any amount will help.

Chappell School (Photo, Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker, Kale Realty)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROJECT AND DONATE