1216-1218 West Lexington Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 1216-1218 West Lexington Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 7 permits, 3 not closed, and 6 violations, 1 open.
- 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 1216-1218 West Lexington Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area very low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
3 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 1 open violation.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Nov 2024Active
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior renovation of existing 1-story church building. work includes new concrete slab on grade and terrazzo finish, new millwork, new mechanical system, and new electrical service, distribution, and lighting. structural peer review. (a3 occupancy; type iiib construction)
- Permit - renovation/alteration Mar 2024Complete
Spr 2019 cbrc: revision to permit no 101013487 to shift the elevator south and minor modification included mechanical, electrical, and plumbing as per plans (construction type: iiia) - no change in use
- Permit - elevator equipment Jan 2024
Installation of one(1) 2500lb capacity, 3-floor, 150fpm, passenger elevator, pursuant to the scope of work plans submitted.
- Permit – express permit program Sep 2023Suspended
**fire alarm permit**renovations to an existing fire alarm system (notifier nfs-320) due to renovations on the 1st floor of a 3 story church.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Jul 2023Complete
Spr 2019 cbrc: interior alterations to 1st and 2nd floors of an existing religious assembly (a-3) use building. scope includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing and new roof mounted mechanical equipment. construction type: iiia. no change in use.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Mar 2022Complete
Work includes interior renovations to create 14 dwelling units in an existing 3-story building w/ partial basement. current use is r-2/convent and proposed use is r-2/residential **certified plans corrections: conditional permit subject to field inspections **
- Permit – express permit program Aug 2013Complete
Replacement of linear fluorescent fixtures in 1st floor rooms. replacement of exit signs and emergency lighting.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very Low
Highest for this area: cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
4 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Perino, Howard, 722 South Aberdeen (900 ft), no further action. Every release here is closed by the state regulator.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
4,400 ft
Produce Terminal Cold Storage and 7 more within a mile. Reports chemical releases to air, water or land to EPA each year.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory
Historic listing nearby
350 ft
Foley, Jennie, Building. 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
1,150 ft
Galileo Elem Math & Sci Schol Acd (1,150 ft), Chicago World Language Academy (1,200 ft), STEM Magnet Academy Elem (2,400 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
7.6 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 West Lexington Street
All addressesViewing recommendations
What's worth checking in person before deciding.
- Test water pressure and temperature at the tap, in the bathroom and kitchen, for at least a minute.
- 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.
- 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.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.
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