539-543 North Wells Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 539-543 North Wells Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 26 permits, 16 not closed, and 59 violations, 15 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 539-543 North Wells Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively moderate overall, with elevated tornado and inland flooding risk.
Permits and code violations
16 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 15 open violations.
- Permit – express permit program Apr 2026Complete
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 400 sq. ft., lintel qty. 0, max. length 0. parapet rebuilding: 280 sq. ft. location: east west and north elevation.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Nov 2025Active
Sc 2019 cbrc: revision to permit 101068486. level 3 joist reframing at east side to include new wood joists and new wood stud bearing wall. supplemental framing at level 2 to support bearing wall, with calculation package updated per code. as per plans. (occ. grp a-2 and r-2: const. type iii-a) **structural peer review**
- Permit - renovation/alteration Jun 2025Active
Sc 2019 cbrc: convert existing 2nd floor restaurant space in 1 dwelling unit and renovate existing 3rd floor dwelling unit as per plans. (occ. grp a-2 and r-2: const. type iii-a) **structural peer review**
- Permit – express permit program May 2024Complete
Installation of low voltage burglar alarm interior work only # 404994292 job # 122439536
- Permit - elevator equipment May 2018
2017 fire service upgrade mandate one one (1) 3000lb.cap, 6-floor, hydraulic passenger elevator consisting of installing overlay to update fire service operation to comply with section 18-30-320. pursuant to the scope of work submitted. ev016278
- Permit – express permit program Jun 2017Complete
Change electrical permit to a restaurant on a basement, first floor and second floor including to correct all electrical and install new electrical according to architectural plans.
- Permit - easy permit process Apr 2017
Revision to permit #100635284 to change the general contractor to mo2 properties, llc & ventilation contractor to dc heating & cooling.
- Permit - renovation/alteration May 2016Complete
Alteration of existing restaurant, space for new tenant including expansion into the basement for new dining area. alteration area is 7,383 s.f. addition of rear one story private dining space. addition area is 135 s.f.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Dec 2015Complete
Interior and exterior alterations, repair building code violations as per plans to existing 3 story masonry mixed use building, provide new exterior non combustible open porch, exit catwalk, and exit stair system to rear of building as per plans. (1 residential unit only, no work to restaurant space on first and second floors nic)**certified corrections- - subject to field inspections & audit **
- Permit - easy permit process Aug 2015
Repair thru-wall crack and tuckpoint at north wall. repair keystone at west wall. no structural, all work sae
- Permit - scaffolding Jul 2015
Erect 1 scaffold from 7/24/15 to 7/24/16
- Permit - signs Oct 2014
Change payor (original permit #187299) for flat wall sign on north elevation.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Highest for this area: tornado, inland flooding, heat wave, cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
24 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Chicago Transit Authority, Lawndale Garage On Cermak Rd. (350 ft), open. 5 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
1,850 ft
Wesley Jessen Corp and 8 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
3,250 ft
Ogden Elem School (3,250 ft), Salazar Elem Bilingual Center (3,500 ft), Payton College Preparatory HS (3,550 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
9.5 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 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.
- Schedule a viewing on a weekday too, between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, the window when the building is busiest: neighbors, parking, elevator.
- 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.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.
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