1236-1238 West Carmen Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 1236-1238 West Carmen Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 12 permits, 6 not closed, and 21 violations, 18 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 1236-1238 West Carmen Avenue at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively moderate overall, with elevated tornado and heat wave risk.
Permits and code violations
6 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 18 open violations.
- Permit - easy permit process Apr 2020
Replace existing roof siding & garage door, repair windows
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2020Complete
Upgrade electrical service to 200a underground
- Permit - easy permit process Jun 2017
Tuckpoint approx 625 sq ft from w elevation parapet wall. all work same as existing. no structural work. subject to field inspections.
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2015
Revision to permit# 100556582 to change plumber contractor to goralsky plumbing, inc. & pay uncollected swo fee issued on 10-21-15
- Permit - easy permit process Nov 2015
Revision to permit# 100556582 to change the general contractor to amazing painters. plumber to aquarius and hvac & refrigeration to green air heating & cooling.
- Permit – express permit program Oct 2015Complete
Repair and replace switches , outlets and fixtures through out three story building. provide adequate lighting in all public areas.
- Permit - easy permit process Jun 2015
Revision to permit #100556582 to change the hvac/refrigeration contract to argelio's heating & air conditioning.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Apr 2015Complete
Convert existing 3 units into 4 units. renovate basement floor to create a two-bedroom unit. **self-certification project - conditional permit: subject to audit & field inspections**
- Permit – express permit program Nov 2014Complete
Remodel garden apartment and install new panel.
- Permit - easy permit process Jul 2014
Remove\replace common brick on the north end west elevation & the south end east elevation.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Jun 2014Complete
3 story brick building w bsmt - replace existing rear open wood porch with new open wood porch same size and location - permit to cover 1236-38 w carmen ave, chicago
- Permit – express permit program Feb 2006Complete
Low voltage burglar alarm
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Highest for this area: tornado, heat wave, cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
9 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Broadway Foster, Llc, 5206-5246 North Broadway Street (950 ft), open. 2 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
3,750 ft
Delta Precision Circuits and 1 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
West Argyle Street Historic District (Boundary Increase). 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
1,000 ft
Goudy Technology Academy (1,000 ft), McCutcheon Elem School (2,300 ft), Peirce Elem Intl Studies School (3,400 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
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
Have you lived here? Share your experience.
Leave a reviewThe Address Story
Every address has a context. Read its story.
How much it costs to live here
Price, rent, mortgage, and the city's economic context, all in one place.
The money at this address
Renting, buying, and investing, on the same numbers. Enter the listing price to see all calculations.
Enter a rent and the yield calculation fills in on its own.
Loan calculator for this address
Enter the listing price. The calculation uses only your numbers.
Rough estimate, with a fixed rate. The bank's offer may include fees and insurance.
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 Carmen Avenue
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.
- 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.
- 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.
The year built, height regime, structure, and elevator for this address are being indexed right now, city by city. Save the page and check back: it fills in over time. If you live here, you can fill it in yourself in a minute by leaving a review.