1706 North Wells Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 1706 North Wells Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 13 permits, 6 not closed, and 4 violations, 2 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 1706 North Wells Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated tornado and heat wave risk.
Permits and code violations
6 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 2 open violations.
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2026Active
Low voltage/communication electrical work. install security. specific location: first floor store area.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Aug 2025Active
An existing retail art galley will be converted to a store selling dance related appeal. the store will be left as-is with the addition of 2 fitting rooms. new store fixtures and displays will be added. all electrical, plumbing and hvac will remain unchanged. the existing track light heads will replaced and a chandelier will be added.
- Permit - renovation/alteration May 2021Complete
Convert existing class e 1,320 sf retail space into a class e hair salon with 5 work stations, 2 shampoo bowls, a new coloring sink, water bottle filler, relocate electrical power outlets and change track lighting fixtures
- Permit - easy permit process Jul 2020
Tuckpointing - no structural work - 1600 sqft - south facade and southeast corner only. all removed masonry to be salvaged and reinstalled. any new masonry to match historic in size, color, texture, and overall appearance.
- Permit – express permit program Apr 2019Complete
Replace existing devices and lighting; interior work only.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Sep 2017Complete
Self certification- convert 2 existing commercial spaces into one retail buildout. interior work only per plans.
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2017Complete
Installation of low voltage camera system. interior work only. customer# 13140554. job# 91083858.
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2017Complete
Installation of low voltage security system. interior work only. customer# 13140554. job# 91083857.
- Permit - easy permit process Nov 2013
Windows (replacement only): qty 8 with clad-wood double-hung windows. no change to existing brickmolds.
- Permit - easy permit process Jul 2013
Replace 3 windows.
- Permit – express permit program Oct 2009Complete
Exchange electrical receptacle and lights
- Permit - renovation/alteration Jun 2008Complete
Replace retail/construction storefronts and bulkheads on first floor as per plans
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Highest for this area: tornado, heat wave, cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
7 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Amoco Oil Co. #5934, 140 West North Ave. (850 ft), no further action. Every release here is closed by the state regulator.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
3,100 ft
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp Chicago Plant and 5 more within a mile. Reports chemical releases to air, water or land to EPA each year.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory
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
750 ft
LaSalle Elem Language Academy (750 ft), Manierre Elem School (2,350 ft), Franklin Elem Fine Arts Center (2,500 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
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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 North Wells 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.
- 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.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
- 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.
- Knock on a neighboring door and ask two things: what bothers them most often, and what work is planned for the building.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.