Chicago public art: Calder, Chagall, Miro, Picasso... more!

Calder's Flamingo in Federal Plaza

The list of artists goes on and on... the "accessible" art available to Chicagoans and it's visitors helps define this city. Be it a Picasso in Daley Plaza or painted trees along the lakefront lagoons of Lincoln Park, there are abundant familiar pieces and little surprises to keep things interesting. While you are out this holiday season, stop...look...be reminded how lucky we are.

Chagall Four Seasons at Chase Tower Plaza

One of the real joys of this career is crisscrossing the city and simply taking a moment to enjoy the new and old art installations.  Bob took the above photos while downtown after a recent closing.

 All photos Eric Rojas and Robert DePalma, Real Estate Brokers unless otherwise noted.

"One of a Kind Show" now at Merchandise Mart, Chicago!

Bob just reminded me he'll be going to one of his favorite retail events tomorrow... the "oneofakind" Show and Sale Chicago 


600 plus artists and their original work December 1st-4th at the Merchandise Mart, Chicago

Photo from last year's oneofakind show

We had another great year...pick me up something nice!

Views in Lincoln Park

Looking west from Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Surprising city views from Lincoln Park Zoo's Nature Boardwalk

Looking south from the Nature Boardwalk: Photo Bob DePalma, Real Estate Broker

I was looking through our photos and just had to post this. Bob took this shot during the summer while walking through Lincoln Park Zoo's Nature Boardwalk. Living in Lincoln Park has many intangibles...including this scene! It's time to start looking and planning now to close a home by the spring.

For Rent in Old Town: 4,000 sq/ft true penthouse with spectacular roof deck

The skyline view from 1438 W Wieland private roof top deck.

Private full roof top deck

Living room facing east

Living room, dining room

Great room

Master bedroom

Penthouse level leading to large terrace

$5,500 a month. Executive space. Heart of Old Town! Spectacular and wide 3 level penthouse over 4000 sq/ft. Private elevator, 4 bed rooms, 4.1 baths, 2 family rooms. Huge living/ dining Rm, 4 fireplaces, 3 decks, private roof deck w/360 views, 2 balconies=1,500sqft of outdoor space. Granite and stainless steel kitchen, marble "his and hers" baths, wet bar on penthouse level, attached garage for 1 car, pad for 2nd car. Close to train, Second City, Zanies, Top-rated restaurants, boutiques & all that Wells Street, River North and Gold Coast have to offer. On the doorstep of downtown. Owner is licensed broker in Illinois, however, not the listing agent.


Call Eric at 773-510-1597.  Available January 1st.  One month's security deposit, strong credit.  Pets OK with owner approval, prefer one year or more lease (possible shorter term with premium). 48 HOURS NOTICE please.

Lakeview "Palatial Manor" now a short-sale at $1,449,999

1725 W Belle Plaine Avenue in far north Lakeview is now listed as a short sale at $1.5 million.  The stark castle-like brick extra-wide home has garnered attention in the past for it's unique and vast design in this North Side location dominated by frame Victorian and "Queen-Anne" style homes on leafy lots.  The homes are mostly original or renovated with a handful of new construction.


You can view the property photos here.





This is a green, leafy attractive area located between West Irving Park Road and West Montrose Avenues where Lakeview meets the Ravenswood neighborhood east of North Ravenswood Avenue.


Here are a few photos I took a while back of homes on the nearby blocks.

A nicely renovated house around the corner

Another luxury new construction home more traditional to the surroundings

If you have questions concerning homes in the area, please contact us directly.

More Lakeview posts here

Foreclosure deal: Andersonville contemporary single family home $699,900

1708 W Winnemac pictured on the right is now a foreclosure sale for $699,900

It's generally rare to find contemporary to modern style single family homes in the Lincoln Square and Uptown Community Areas. It's certainly more rare to find a good sized contemporary home in excellent condition for under $700,000.


1708 West Winnemac is a single family home foreclosure now listed at $699,900 by Chicago Realty Partners (a professional firm that's a pleasure to do business with). I've always liked these twin contemporaries on the 1700 block of West Winnemac...where the Ravenswood neighborhood meets Andersenville.  At the end of the day, the openness and clean lines are more my style. These homes feature a terrific loft-like room at the top level and rear of the house that has wow factor. That room would be my wow office.

The old water tower at the south end of Andersonville

This is an excellent value.  The location is at the foot of the fantastic Andersonville retail and restaurant district. To view the home with a qualified buyer's broker from the neighborhood, please give me a call at the contact information in the side bar.  This is not my listing, however, I feel it is a good fit for someone who would like a more modern style home in this quiet location that's near the action.

Buying local at Gene's Sausage Shop, Lincoln Square

Gene's Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square is a must stop before holiday parties. Wine, beer, deli, prepared foods and European flare will make gift giving and house warming easy.

State Farm in Lincoln Park bringing sexy back... to insurance?

Bob snaps a photo of "Next Door" on our last warm day of the fall.

We like the modern facade and interior of State Farm's pseudo community space "Next Door" where Lakeview meets Lincoln Park.  The cafe concept is both a full functioning coffee shop and community business center.  State Farm offers free financial "coaching" classes which many of these local young patrons could benefit from.

The cafe/ community center is part of the thriving commercial strip along West Diversey Parkway, home of the crazy popular Trader Joe's Grocery, between North Halsted and North Clark Streets. The area is as young, vibrant and as fully rented as we've ever seen it over the past 10 years or so.

Click for more Lincoln Park and Lakeview posts

Lincoln Park multi-unit building sales in 2011 (two, three and four flats)

 It's been a very tight and competitive market for Lincoln Park multi-unit buildings this year so far.

Vintage multi-units along North Halsted in Lincoln Park

Where have all the two flats gone? Only 7 two-unit buildings have been sold in Lincoln Park this year from January 1st to November 1st, down -46% from 13 sold last year same period. 


The median price was only $300,000, down $100,000 from 2010... which suggests that most buildings were in bad shape, not choice locations or small lots for Lincoln Park. The number of unit sales is a little lower than expected considering all the renovations and new construction build going on.



17 three-flat buildings sold this year from January 1st to November 1st, up +54%.  The median price was about $600,000.  In 2010 same period, 11 three-flat buildings sold with a budget busting median of about $960,000.

Multi-units in East Lincoln Park

Only 2 four-unit buildings were sold thus far in 2011.  They varied greatly with one building being all one bedrooms for $557,000, and another having one, two and three bedrooms units for $1.1 million. 10 four-unit buildings sold in the same period in 2010 with a median of $1 million.


All building sales counted were structures on single lots (of various sizes).  All statistics gathered from MREDLLC.com and analysis by Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker. All photos Eric Rojas and Bob DePalma, Real Estate Brokers.

More of our Lincoln Park information, property tours and market statistics HERE