This Week in NY
ASK A LANDLORD Can you handle the truth?
N PINE GROVE, LAKEVIEW $1,800, 1-BED/1-BATH Hey, when you live in Lakeview, you pay for it. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially in the Brewster building. The lobby leads to a stylish maze of metal stairs and halls that wind their way to the skylit ceiling. As for the apartment, the beauty lies in the details—
N CAMPBELL AVE, UKRAINIAN VILLAGE, $2,000, 3-BED/2-BATH This second–floor unit straddling the border of Wicker and Humboldt Parks was recently rehabbed—and you can tell. A quick look inside reveals an open floor plan and a kitchen with granite counters and flawless cabinets. Custom lighting runs throughout the sunny three- bedroom, two-bathroom flat. The best feature is the emptiness: Its 1,500 square feet offers a blank canvas. Listed by Fulton Grace Realty. Contact Nedra Johnson (773-412-9873).
HOME HA CK: Deck the walls
“My fiancé and I love limited-run artist screen prints of our favorite bands. Even though we can’t make it to all the shows we’d like to see, we’ve made it a habit to hit up Flatstock at Pitchfork Music Festival and other local art fairs to cover our home in prints from our favorite artists. It’s a great way to chat up the creators and, if you’re lucky, catch a deal on multiple prints. To get more bang for our buck, we keep an eye out for frame sales at Michaels (3131 N Clark St; 773-327-7127 · 1101 S Canal St; 312-435-1843 ·
michaels.com) and Jo-Ann Fabric (2639 N Elston Ave; 773-227-7874•555 W Roosevelt Rd; 312-243-0771 · joann. com) to spruce up the newest additions to our ever-growing collection.” —Elise, Avondale
a subtle range that blends into the kitchen counter, the plentiful cabinetry, the bay window, the bathroom’s full-tiled walls. Sure, at about 800 square feet, it’s relatively small for the cash you’re splurging, but just think about the location: It’s a 10-minute walk to the beach! Score. Listed by Fulton Grace Realty. Contact Nedra Johnson (773-412-9873).
I just moved into a new building and the management won’t fix anything and never returns my calls. How can I get out of my lease?—Kristi, Lakeview It’s easier to sublease than to break your lease entirely. There’s a provision in the tenant ordinance that you can sublease your apartment to a “reasonable” tenant. Management could say no, but they would have to give a valid reason. Most will work with you. There’s really no point playing hardball, as it’s easy to rent an apartment to somebody else.
Why do Chicago landlords have so much beef with dogs? Everywhere either doesn’t allow them or wants a pet deposit?— Kellye, Avondale
A bigger dog can scratch up the floor, and smaller dogs tend to bark more. Dogs barking when their owners go to work is a huge issue. Most dog owners will swear, “No, of course my dog doesn’t bark!” Then you keep getting calls from tenants saying otherwise.
For more
property stories go to
timeout.com/ chicago.
My landlord has some shady dudes making major repairs in my apartment. What kind of repairs do you need permits for?—Adam, Wicker Park For changing a light fixture, you need an electrician by law, but no landlord is going to hire one. If there is an overhaul where utilities are being moved, like running new wires or plumbing, that’s where you need a licensed contractor. Not with general repairs though. If your landlord doesn’t respond to your complaints and you feel it’s shoddy work harming your quality of life, you should go to City Hall to file a complaint.
Got a burning question? Email
property.chi@
timeout.com
September–November 2015
TIMEOUT.COM/CHICAGO 65
Property
PHOTOGRAPHS (FROM TOP): MILOŠ OTIč; landlord: shutterstock; home hack: nick kotecki
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