Walk to everything Chicago has to offer- downtown, beach, park, restaurants and bars; bring family or friends to this three level home on a quiet neighborhood street. Free parking, back yard, laundry on premises, pets welcome- what else can you possibly need?
Our ideal guests have been groups who want to splurge on premium location and lots of space. This is not a suburban family home nor a resort hotel. This is an original, vintage and quirky Old Town home. We are not offering high end modern amenities or spa level luxury. There are plenty hotels in Chicago that do. What we are offering is truly unique- a spacious home in the heart of the city.
LAYOUT:
The house consists of a duplex up and a fully finished basement level, 3 floors total. There is no internal staircase between the lower level and the two upper floors. You will need to go outside up a few steps to move between those spaces. Main level and upper floor have an internal staircase. It is also immediately behind a train line.
Main floor: a large living room and a dining room as one open floor plan, bathroom (toilet and sink), kitchen, and an amazing covered porch with access to the back yard. The kitchen has a stove, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and a bar-style seating area. It is fully stocked if you wish to cook, host, or just eat take out food with real silverware and dishware.
Second floor: two large bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a third cozy bedroom.
Lower level: two bedrooms, large living/dining room combo, another kitchen and a full bath. The kitchen has a stove, oven, microwave. Also fully stocked.
OTHER AMENITIES:
• 2 washers and 2 dryers
• air conditioning and central heat throughout.
• detached 2 car garage
• free WiFi throughout the property.
BEDS:
Bedroom 1, second floor: 1 king and 1 single bed
Bedroom 2, , second floor: 1 single bed
Bedroom 3, second floor: 2 queen-size beds
bedroom 4, lower level: queen-size bed
bedroom 5, lower level: 2 queen-size beds
lower level living room: 2 double futons
Bedrooms 1 and 3 each have a small double futon that can be opened up. 4 single (sleeps 1 each) floor mattresses and a crib are available in the closet. Clean bedding is provided.
EXTRAS:
• late check out at 1 pm - $125
• early check-in at 1 pm - $125
• daily housekeeping- $40 per day
• worry free cleaning package- $125. This covers any and all cleaning. Just walk out in the morning (you do need to move furniture back if you make any changes to layout). Note that this fee is additional to my regular cleaning fee.
ACCESSIBILITY:
8 steps up to the front door, 15 steps from the main level to second, 5 down to the lower level from the street.
WORRY FREE CLEANING PACKAGE:
At check out you will need to take care of trash overflow, dishes, exuberant messes and any food you brought. The worry free package covers any and all cleaning. Just walk out in the morning (you do need to move furniture back if you make any changes to layout). Note that this fee is additional to my regular cleaning fee you pay when you book the place. This package is best for those who want to decorate, cook a lot, are traveling as a group and would rather split the extra fee than worry about anything in the morning.
HOUSE RULES:
Unregistered guests are not allowed on the property. The presence of more than 22 guests is unlawful. A guest is anyone at the property, staying the night, or just visiting. Minors need to have a responsible adult present. IDs will need to be provided prior to your arrival for everyone spending any time at the property. This includes overnight guests or any visitors. There is a counter installed. I utilize a private security firm. If the counter shows more than the registered number of people or if I get a noise complaint from neighbors, security will be immediately dispatched. A $200 dispatch fee will be charged from your security deposit. Should they be unsuccessful in removing you from the premises, they will involve the police. This is not a place for a local house party.
SECURITY FEE:
Our preference is to have everyone's IDs on file, just like any hotel and most short term rentals around the world. You can forward them through the Vrbo messaging app. We understand that some guests have concerns with how the information is stored. We now offer an option of paying a $20 per person non refundable security fee instead. This fee will apply to any adult visiting the property, even if they are not staying overnight. If you choose this option, you will need to request an invoice from us . All other house rules will continue to apply.
ABOUT THE AREA:
The house is in east Old Town- best neighborhood in Chicago for both families or if you are looking to have fun. While the street itself is very quiet, tree lined and barely has cars passing by, as soon as you turn the corner, you are in the center of everything! Lincoln Park with the zoo, farm, pond, open spaces and farmers market is a 7-10 min. walk. North avenue beach is the same distance. It is perfect for walks, picnics, boat rides or good old fun in the sand. The beaches are free to the public and have breathtaking city views. Grocery shopping is made easy, seeing as Dom Market and Jewel are located right in the neighborhood. Nearby coffee shops include a 24 hour Starbucks and La Fournette. There are 103 restaurants within a 15 minute walk including some of Chicago's top restaurants including Kamehachi, Topo Gigio, Happy Camper, The Fireplace Inn, and Woodies Flat. Bars and lounges are abundant on Wells and are all 1-2 minute walk. Shopping in Old Town is a unique experience; the majority of shops in this neighborhood are boutiques rather than well-known chain stores. Therefore, each and every store is cozy, intimate and filled with one-of-a-kind goods. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Located within a verdant park just minutes north of Chicago, the zoo has been a natural, free oasis for generations of animal lovers, who visit the zoo to hear a lion’s roar echo off nearby apartment buildings, see gorillas climb trees as the Willis Tower looms in the distance, or forget where they are as they immerse themselves in tropical rainforests, dry-thorn forests or spacious savannas. We invite you to visit the wildest spot in Chicago, where each year millions of guests marvel at wild wonders as they play and learn. Free and open every day of the year, Lincoln Park Zoo has something for everyone. Meet animals from around the world, relax among Chicago’s most-visited gardens and join us for exciting daily programs and events. The Steppenwolf Theater, located just a few blocks away from the property, operates as a not-for-profit organization relying on community support to produce, presents up to 16 plays and nearly 700 performances, readings and other events every year on three stages. The theater’s artistic and educational programs draw a multi-generational audience of nearly 200,000 from the greater metropolitan Chicago area, while their impact reaches well beyond this region with productions that tour nationally and internationally. The Second City is another nearby theater that specializes in sketch comedy and improv, and has been delighting audiences for over 50 years. They have had many famous comedians perform at the theater over the years. They have comedy shows seven nights a week on 4 stages; the shows consist of short scenes, songs, and improvised comedy sketches. Cocktails and food are available throughout the show. Get ready to laugh! Oak street and beginning of Michigan avenue is about 15-20 minute walk.
GETTING AROUND:
The house is a six minute walk from the Brown Line and the Purple Line at the Sedgwick stop and an eight minute walk from Red line at Clark. It takes be about 15 min to walk to Michigan Ave and Wells street bars are a minute away. Buses and cabs are also easily accessible. It is about a 3 minute drive to get onto Lake Shore drive at LaSalle and about 8 minutes to Kennedy expressway at North Avenue.
The house is best for bachelor, bachelorette and friend groups as well as business travelers. It is not child proof.