1162-1174 East 55th Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 1162-1174 East 55th Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 21 permits, 14 not closed, and 9 violations.
- What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Cook County?
- $832,750 for a single-unit home, per FHFA. Larger loans are jumbo loans.
- Is radon a problem here?
- EPA radon zone 2, moderate potential.
- What natural disasters is 1162-1174 East 55th Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
14 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. No open violations.
- Permit - signs Jun 2025
Non-illuminated blade sign; south elevation; e/w facing text; 5 sq/ft
- Permit - signs Mar 2024
21 sq/ft illuminated wall sign; south elevation
- Permit - signs Nov 2018
Non illuminated projecting sign on the south elevation facing east and west onto 55th.
- Permit - signs Nov 2018
Led lit channel letter set on the south elevation facing south onto 55th.
- Permit - signs Nov 2017
South elevation: 2'-6" x 1'-2" d/f non-illuminated sign "the revival"
- Permit - signs Nov 2017
South elevation: 13'-11" x 2'-11" led illuminated flat wall sign "the revival"
- Permit - signs Sep 2016
Double sided non illuminated blade sign. 18"h x 33"w x 1-3/4" depth
- Permit - signs Sep 2016
Reverse lit channel letters. 2'-11"h x 13'-10 3/4"
- Permit – express permit program Sep 2015Complete
Revision to permit #100605001 to change the electrical contractor to electrical design systems corp.
- Permit - easy permit process Sep 2015
Revision to permit # 100605001 to change the plumber of record to warren f. thomas plumbing, co.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Aug 2015Complete
Self-cert for interior alteration of existing storefront to develop 149 seat cabaret for comedy club; occupancy class c-2 small assembly.
- Permit - signs Apr 2014
Install (1) set internally illuminated flush mount reverse lit channel letters above storefront on south elevation and connect to supplied leads.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Highest for this area: cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
5 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Bbs Associates, Inc., 505 East 57th Street (1,400 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Historic listing nearby
400 ft
St. Thomas Church and Convent. Exterior changes can need preservation review; listed buildings can qualify for rehabilitation tax credits.
National Park Service, National Register
Radon potential
Moderate
Average indoor levels of 2 to 4 pCi/L. EPA still suggests testing ground-floor and basement units.
EPA and USGS Geologic Radon Potential Map
Nearest public schools
1,300 ft
Ray Elem School (1,300 ft), Murray Elem Language Academy (1,650 ft), Kozminski Elem Community Academy (1,850 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
8.0 mi
Chicago Midway (MDW). Aircraft may be audible under approach paths.
FAA large-hub airports
Sinkhole-prone ground
Limestone karst
The bedrock here (dolostone (dolomite), Silurian) can dissolve and open sinkholes. Ask for a geotechnical report and check whether sinkhole coverage is in the insurance policy.
USGS Karst in the United States (OFR 2014-1156)
Conforming loan limit 2026
$832,750
Cook County. Mortgages up to this amount qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing. Above it, the loan is a jumbo with stricter terms.
FHFA Conforming Loan Limit Values, one-unit
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Who lives and works in Chicago
Trading floors, logistics and the deepest architecture stock in America
Chicago carries a full corporate economy at a price the coasts do not match. Neighborhoods are distinct and walkable, two and three flats are everywhere, and the Loop still sets the commute for finance, law and consulting.
- $71,673
- median household income
- 18.9%
- residents aged 25 to 34
- 45%
- households that own their home
What pays the bills
- Finance and trading
- Logistics and rail
- Law and consulting
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
Who anchors the economy
CME Group · Boeing suppliers · University of Chicago · Northwestern Medicine · United Airlines
The market is shaped around
- Young professionals
- Families buying space
- Two and three flat owners
More on East 55th Street
All addressesViewing recommendations
What's worth checking in person before deciding.
- The building has commercial space on the ground floor. Ask about their hours, check where the ventilation or refrigeration units are, and what time deliveries happen in the morning.
- Test water pressure and temperature at the tap, in the bathroom and kitchen, for at least a minute.
- Ask specifically where you'd park: is there paid city parking, who currently holds it, what the permit costs, and how long the waitlist is.
- Knock on a neighboring door and ask two things: what bothers them most often, and what work is planned for the building.
- Schedule a viewing on a weekday too, between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, the window when the building is busiest: neighbors, parking, elevator.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
- Ask for the latest maintenance bill from a winter month, not a summer one: that's where the real cost of living there shows up.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.