4551 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 4551 South Prairie Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 10 permits, 7 not closed, and 2 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 4551 South Prairie Avenue at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
7 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. No open violations.
- Permit - new construction Nov 2025Active
New three story 3du with rear porch with stairs, and three car parking pad ( construction type 5a, occupancy group r-5) per plans **certified plans corrections: conditional permit subject to field inspections **
- Permit - new construction Nov 2025Active
New three story 3du with rear porch with stairs, and three car parking pad (construction type 5a, occupancy group r-5) per plans **certified plans corrections: conditional permit subject to field inspections **
- Permit - new construction Mar 2022Expired
Spr 2019 cbc:erect a new 3 story 6 unit building with front balconies, 6 parking spaces, trash enclosure , 5 ft high fence ( construction typ 3a, occupancy group r-2)
- Permit - easy permit process Oct 2021
Revision to permit # 100768432 change of plumbing contractor to zryw plumbing inc.
- Permit - easy permit process Oct 2021
Revision to permit # 100768408 change of plumbing contractor to zryw plumbing inc.
- Permit - reinstate revoked pmt Aug 2021
Reinstate permit no.100768408 must start work and request inspection no later than 04.10.2022; change plumbing contractor to sse mechanical a
- Permit - reinstate revoked pmt Aug 2021
Reinstate permit no 100768432 and change plumbing contractor to sse mechanical; must start construction and request inspection no later than 04.10.2022
- Permit - new construction Jan 2019Complete
Erect 2 story 2 d.u. building (4a construction), detached 4 car garages (4a construction), 6' high wood fence as per plan.
- Permit - new construction Dec 2018Complete
Erect 2 story 2 d.u. building (4a construction), detached four car garage (4a construction), 6' high wood fence as per plan.*conditional permit subject to field inspections.
- Permit – express permit program Jun 2009Complete
Install low voltage security system
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
3 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Chicago Public School District, 4415 South Martin Luther King Drive (1,250 ft), open. 3 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
5,150 ft
Dubois Chemicals Chicago. 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
1,450 ft
Mollison Elem School (1,450 ft), Beethoven Elem School (2,450 ft), Williams Medical Prep High Sch (2,850 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
7.1 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 South Prairie 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.