Distinct Lincoln Square four-flat on Sunnyside will be big house

This interesting project at 2014 W Sunnyside is in progress (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).

The surge neighborhood renovations and developments continues in uber-popular Lincoln Square.  This four unit building shown above at 2014 W Sunnyside Ave , Chicago, Illinois 60625 sold in 2014 for $775,000 cash.  I've always taken long looks at this multi-unit (do I like it, don't like it?).


According to public building permit records the four unit building is being converted to single family residence. The trend in the heat of Lincoln Square is towards large, upscale homes selling well over one million dollars. This extra-wide home with unique brick vintage facade will definitely distinguish itself. 

Lincoln Park single family home sales up in 2015, median price over $1.5 million and two homes top $5 million

 The median price of Lincoln Park single family home is over $1,500,000 as of October 10th, 2015

A gorgeous home located on North Lakeview Ave facing the lakefront parks and North Pond (Photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).

 Lincoln Park Single Family Home Sales January 1st to October 10th, 2015.
163 single family homes (detached) have been recorded as closed in the MLS (MREDLLC.com) so far this year. This includes the historic row houses well known to eastern Lincoln Park. The median price for a house this year is about $1,588,000. 

The lowest sale this year is a coach house (a free standing property located behind the main house) at 218 W Saint Paul Ave , Chicago, Illinois 60614 for $400,000.  The foreclosure sale is in a great Old Town Triangle location. The second lowest sale is also a foreclosure coach house at 2615 N Halsted St, Chicago, Illinois 60614 for $426,000.  The lowest priced free standing single family main house (not a coach house) is 1952 N Bissell St , Chicago, Illinois 60614 for $575,000.  The small three bedrooms, two baths house on a 24'x60' lot backs up to the "L" tracks on Bissel and does not have dedicated parking.

The highest sale this year is  1874 N Orchard , Chicago, Illinois 60614 for $5,927,483. The extravagant 7 bedroom home with classic architecture sits on a 35'x131' lot.  Two homes have sold over $5 million and three homes have sold over $4 million this year.

Traditional architecture (new builds and renovations) dominate the housing sales in Lincoln Park (Photo on North Janssen, Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).

Over the same period in 2014, 156 single family homes sold with a median price about $1,550,000. This is a far cry from 2011 where 115 homes closed with a median price of about  $1,280,000.

Vintage commercial building gets re-do at Halsted and Diversey (and a look at nearby condo sales)

The weathered building at 800 West Diversey looks to be getting a gut renovation

We've had a lot of business lately around the corner of Halsted and Diversey where Lakeview meets Lincoln Park.  This commercial building at 800 West Diversey is yet another commercial building in the area getting a renovation, or in many cases, a complete tear down and redevelopment.

The building was/ is home to Diversey Dental and other medical offices.  I don't know if those businesses remain (email if you know).  My wife use to have a doctor on the second floor and we both used the dentists office for a few visits (years and years ago) before we had some issues and switched. Both those offices were WAY dated and beat up 10 years ago. 

2852 N Halsted, Chicago IL 60657 will be redeveloped into high end condo buildings with ground floor retail.

 My wife's doctor moved to newer, nicer digs around the corner on 2825 N Halsted. That building and parking lot is now being re-developed as well. 

Diversey and Halsted condo sales 

Halsted and Diversey area is a popular place to live.  There have been roughly 172 condo sales in a four block radius over the past 12 months. Sale prices range from $90,000 (!) for a small vintage studio apartment at  925 W Schubert Ave Unit 1E, Chicago, Illinois 60614 to $1,005,000 for a 4 bedrooms duplex down at  2669 N Orchard St Unit 1, Chicago, Illinois 60614 in Lincoln Park.  

The median price of a condo in this 4 block radius is $432,000

Sold! Video tour of our lofty West Loop listing at 420 S Clinton

Watch the video tour of this well located West Loop loft

420 S Clinton Unit #511A listed at $229,900 went under contract the first weekend of showings and closes this Tuesday.  The bright timber loft home at popular Gotham Lofts is an urban commuter's dream. Need trains, buses, highways or the airport... this location is for you!

Gotham Lofts, 420 South Clinton in West Loop (All photos VHT and Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

420 South Clinton 511A, Chicago IL 60607 at popular and well run Gotham Lofts is a great value at $229,900.  Homes have sold very well in the building. The desirable location is steps from the Blue Line, great restaurant and bar scene, the Metra and easy access to 90/94.  Starbucks on the block too!

Open concept true loft with high timber ceilings, gas log fireplace, great balcony and hardwood floors. The entire unit has been freshly painted.

Looks like new.

New appliances and large island in the kitchen.

Great balcony with city views.

Spacious bedroom with new carpet and huge windows.

Great sized bathroom, freshly painted and updated.

Awesome common roof-deck with Wi-Fi

The elevator building has several amenities including roof-deck, bike room and fitness room.

Walk to all West Loop has to offer!

Listed Exclusively by Eric Rojas, Broker
Kale Realty
542 W Roosevelt Road
Chicago IL 60607
(312) 939-5253

Construction begins on new "parks and recreation" in Lincoln Square

One of the main reasons we are raising our family in Lincoln Square is the parks. New play-lot and green spaces are in development in two locations of the large North Side community area.

Henry Vogle play-lot at 2100 West Lawrence Chicago IL 60625 in Lincoln Square has been demolished to make way for a brand new park design!

Photo https://www.facebook.com/AldermanAmeyaPawar/timeline/

The Vogle play lot located at West Lawrence and North Hoyne and services many single family homes, condos and apartments both north and south of the improved pedestrian friendly Lawrence Avenue #ANewLawrence 

Some of us appreciated the "old school" play equipment at Vogle but it had to go!

Welles Park is also experiencing another round of improvements. The "older kids" playground has been raised on the Montrose side and a new play lot pod is under construction at Sunnyside and Western.

The old Welles Park playground on the Montrose side west of the tennis courts has been razed. 

A new play lot pod is under construction adjacent the existing play lot on West Sunnyside just west of the field-house.

The famous Gazebo in the background.

Video! Bowmanville, Lincoln Square top floor condo with huge kitchen $154,900

Bowmanville is booming!  Take a video tour of our new listing in this great Lincoln Square area neighborhood. 2019 W Farragut #3 Chicago IL, 60625 asking $154,900. LIVE FOR LESS IN A GREAT LOCATION!

Bowmanville neighborhood located in northern Lincoln Square

Bowmanville is a caring socially active community enhanced by the longstanding Bowmanville Community Organization. Check out the BCO site for annual events that include a terrific garden walk, ice cream social and Oktoberfest. The BCO has helped secure and develop public green space and advocated for the new West Ridge Nature Preserve. 

The essence of Bowmanville in a sign (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

Huge renovated kitchen was opened up for rare entertaining space in a one bedroom home. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty or VHT.com.

2019 W Farragut #3 Chicago IL 60625 asking $154,900

Lincoln Square, Bowmanville top floor condo with huge renovated kitchen. Well run condo association in attractive vintage building. Unit features hardwood floors, beautiful woodwork, large walk-in closet (7' x 8'), radiant heat, great room sizes. 

The well maintained and landscaped vintage building has great character.

You'll love the open sunny kitchen with breakfast bar overlooking the dining area. Amazing space for entertaining.

Open bright dining and kitchen.

Heat included in assessment. Building roof, electrical upgrades and back exterior stairs all recent improvements. Laundry machines and separate storage closet in the building.

Entry foyer, huge walk-in closet and spacious living room.

Great windows with tree-top views.

Living room.

Bedroom

Bathroom

Hot location a couple blocks from Winnemac Park, new Half Acre Brewing. Walk to Andersonville, Lincoln Square endless shops and restaurants. Close to Tony's Foods, Mariano's, LA Fitness, Damen Brown Line and Ravenswood Metra. Divvy to trains, work. Quiet unit close to all the action of Lincoln Square/ Andersonville.

Live affordable near great parks, restaurants, shopping and transportation!

Assessment: $299.00 (includes heat)
Taxes: $2,700

Exclusively listed by:
Eric Rojas, Broker
Kale Realty
542 W Roosevelt Road 
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 939-5253

Mansueto's huge "Morningstar Mansion" in Lincoln Park

This is a house!

One of my favorite areas in the city since adulthood has been North Clark Street from West Diversey to West Armitage in eastern Lincoln Park. I say as an adult because Foster Beach edged this spot hands down out when I was a kid. I digress. Plenty of bars, restaurants, shops along Clark and the lakefront parks (and all the activities) make a terrific lifestyle. As I got older I became more smitten with the old original architecture of homes packed into this dense area near the lakefront. The area had everything I enjoy about city living.

Over the past few years several city lots were purchased from (the now named)  Lincoln Park 2550 development.  You know, that big luxury tower at... wait for it... 2550 N Lakeview.  The lots on the 400 block of West Deming and the 400 block of West Saint James Place were slated to be town houses originally. Deming is now filled with luxury single family houses developed by LG while the Saint James lots are occupied by one giant house.

The Saint James lots were purchased by a private owner to build one single family home residence.  Various reports suggest the house cost roughly $22 million to build.

I didn't get the shot but my 8 yr old walked up and looked right into the security cameras.  They probably get a lot of that.

The home stretches seven (7) city lots.  My gut feeling is a multiple lot home in these highly desirable locations near the lakefront should not be allowed.  I think it would serve the city better to have more density allowing more homes thus more people to shop, dine, walk, run, ride and work in the city.  It's not the wealth or sheer size of the home I object to... it's WHERE it is.

The charming blocks are dominated by row homes and small multi-unit buildings from the late 1800s. Life, as it were, near the lakefront. I think it's more vibrant and interesting to have more homes. But life goes on.

 

Sales on the 400 Block of West Deming and West Saint James
There are 19 sales recorded on these two blocks in the last twelve months.  The lowest 9 sales are all at 400 West Deming (The Marlborough Building) from $159,000 to $290,000 (mostly one bedroom condos).

The top 10 priciest sales range from $775,000 for a new construction two bedrooms, two baths 1,705 sq/ft to almost $5 million for a new construction 5 bedrooms luxury home on a 41'x83' lot.

Lincoln Square Apple Fest Saturday October 3rd... cider, pie!

Check out the DNAinfo update here!

Inspection time Lakeview!

I was at the property inspection yesterday morning of one our recent condo listings on North Halsted in Lakeview. We ask our clients to have the homes show ready for inspection as the buyers are often spending a lot of time in the house getting orientated.  We arrive to the property early to make sure everything is in place and ready to go.

When prepping homes for the market we often advise on potential property inspection issues. This is not always an easy conversation but it's part of setting expectations for the value and eventual sale of a home. 


Condos line the 2800 block of North Halsted.  17 condo units have sold or are currently under contract over the past 12 months from 2800 N Halsted to 3000 N Halsted. The median price of a condo over the past 12 months is $500,000.



posted from Bloggeroid

"Target" Streeterville for great shopping/ drinking on October 11th

The Target store at 401 East Illinois Street, Chicago IL 60611 taken yesterday on the way to Shakespeare Theatre Navy Pier

I miss the old Fox and Obel at 401 East Illinois Street in Streeterville.  With four kids we make the occasional detour to Navy Pier and enjoyed the café there.  It offered great food choices for the whole family in a nice setting.

In with the new Target store set to open October 11th. Here's hoping they will step up the café food game in this attractive urban location along with serving wine and beer for mom and dad.

Condo units at nearby 160 East Illinois and 240 East Illinois buildings sell at a median price over $500,000.