With today’s edition of New Homes we resume publication of the House Hunter column, now written by Sharon Stangenes. The assistant editor of New Homes for the last half-dozen years, Stangenes has written frequent cover stories for the section. With experience on the banking, home furnishings and fashion beats, she is a Tribune veteran. Genevieve Buck, who originated the column, remains on an extended medical leave. Her past House Hunters are available at ChicagoTribune.com/Homes.
It’s easy to assume that when you say a golf course and Lake Michigan are just across the street you’ve said all you need to about prime views from a condominium building.
But that could be a mistake in the case of Lakefront Place Condominiums, 6730 S. South Shore Dr.As salesperson Theo Leonard said when he opened the door to furnished model 1006 at the back of the building, “This is our three-view model.”
Indeed, it is. Stand in the living room of this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo on the northwest corner of the building and you can see a good slice of the lake on the northeast, the Loop skyline and a cityscape of homes, apartment buildings and church steeples warmed by the setting sun to the west.
All this despite a high-rise building next door and the fact that the view straight below is mainly of parking lots. .
A 16-story concrete and glass tower just south of the the intersection of 67th Street and South Shore Drive, Lakefront Place, either through good planning or good fortune, is sited so that most of the units get pleasing views.
Although the model no doubt has been chosen–and much upgraded–to impress, there is much to like in the building, a 28-year-old rental now being converted to 91 one- and two-bedroom condominiums.
Certainly the base prices, beginning at $99,900 for a one-bedroom and $119,900 for a two-bedroom, two-bath condo, catch the attention when compared to some of Chicago’s increasingly pricey North Side and Loop choices. About 50 percent of the units are under contract, says sales manager Monica Johnson.
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The 1970s-era building was designed for maximum light and has a straight-forward six units per floor with a central bank of elevators.
The 960-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom units are at each corner of the building. The 750-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath condos are stacked in a tier both in the front and back of the building.
The rooms in the condos are simple, but thoughtfully planned. The living, dining and bedroom spaces are along the building perimeter so walls of windows bring in the outside vistas to give a feeling of space.
And happily, there are some operable windows so that fresh air is possible. The thermal pane windows and sleeve air conditioning units were installed about three years ago by the previous owner, according to Nicholas Helmer, chairman of Oak Brook-based IGL Real Estate Brokers LP, which is converting the building.
Most appealing of all is the 6-by-18 foot balcony with each two-bedroom unit. Sliding doors from the living room-dining “L” allow residents to step outside onto space that is the equivalent of another room.
Importantly, the balcony on the floor above provides a protected porch-like feeling so you don’t feel like a bird on a perch when you are outside. The kitchens and bathrooms, are all small; so small the floorplans handed out in the sales information don’t bother to list dimensions.
And while attention, such as granite countertop upgrades, has been lavished on the galley kitchens, less is given to bathrooms, which are strictly turnaround affairs with fixtures and faucets that could use some work. With little counter or cabinet space, the kitchens could work for a young professional whose idea of an evening meal is putting a frozen dinner in the microwave.
Closet space is basic, with a closet in the foyer and each bedroom. More storage is costly. A 6-by 4-foot storage locker elsewhere in the building costs an additional $1,200.
And let’s be honest, condo conversions are a dilemma, especially for those just getting into home ownership.
While cosmetic changes such as a fresh coat of paint and new cabinets certainly spiff up the looks of a space, the real costs for a condo owner come when an important system like heating or plumbing needs replacement.
Those most likely to buy in an affordably priced building are just the people who might have the most trouble coming up with the funds for a special assessment in a year or two. I think of my 25-year old single daughter living on a stringent budget.
Improvements listed in the Lakefront Place sales information like a new roof, exterior renovation and almost new windows are reassuring. Several details in the models were not.
An older, battered door in one model had a doorknob so loose it rattled when grabbed and the lock didn’t seem to work. The heat light didn’t work in one of the bathrooms. The baseboard heaters in some models were battered. The cost of those details should be factored into any buying decision, along with the allure of the views.
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Lakefront Place Condominiums
Address: 6730 South Shore Dr., Chicago
Developer: IGL Real Estate Brokers LP
Phone: (773) 955-1086 or www.lakefrontplace.com
Description: Conversion of 16-story rental building to 91 condominiums
Prices: Base-priced from $99,900 to $132,900 for one-bedroom units, all 750 square feet; and from $119,900 to $189,900 for two-bedroom, two-bath units, all 960 square feet. Indoor parking, $20,000, outdoor, $12,500. Monthly homeowner assessments, $247 for one-bedroom units; $329 for two-bedroom units. Prices as of Aug. 11.
Amenities: Fitness room; in-building laundry rooms; new refrigerator, oven, stainless steel sink and faucet; choice of kitchen cabinets, laminate countertops and vinyl tile kitchen flooring; resurfaced balconies. Small animals accepted.
Neighborhood: Facing Lake Michigan across the street from South Shore golf course; near the South Shore Cultural Center, Jackson Park and beach, University of Chicago and Hyde Park.
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Genevieve Buck is taking time off. To read past House Hunter columns, go to CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM/HOMES