542-544 West 119th Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 542-544 West 119th Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 6 permits, 2 not closed, and 60 violations, 10 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 542-544 West 119th Street 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
2 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 10 open violations.
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2016
Permit for existing 6.0 ft high wood fence only (appx 75lf) at rear of lot- per building violation; no work to be performed under this permit
- Permit - easy permit process Nov 2016
Correct all plumbing violations. remove all pvc pipe replace flexible water lines. install mixing velve on lav. remove sump pump from meat room.
- Permit – express permit program Nov 2016Complete
Correct code violations only.
- Permit – express permit program Mar 2016Complete
Installation of low voltage burglar alarm interior work only # 4018-73509
- Permit - renovation/alteration Apr 2008Complete
Install two (2) rtu on existing grocery store.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Aug 2006Complete
Interior alterations to existing structure for grocery store occupancy w/ exterior modification for new storefront, parking, driveway and landscape improvements as per plans.
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
3 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Big Sam'S Properties, 333 West 119th Street (1,400 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
2,300 ft
Calumet Heat Treating Corporation and 3 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
3,100 ft
Haley Elem Academy (3,100 ft), Higgins Elem Community Academy (3,200 ft), Metcalfe Elem Community Academy (3,200 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
9.6 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 119th 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 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.
- 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.