5531-5539 North Winthrop Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 5531-5539 North Winthrop Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 8 permits, 6 not closed, and 11 violations, 1 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 5531-5539 North Winthrop Avenue at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area very low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
6 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 1 open violation.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Oct 2020Complete
Spr 2019 cbrc: 1. replacement of in unit kitchen cabinets, countertops,faucet, sink, light fixture and flooring. 2. replacement of in-unitbathroom vanities, light fixture, cabinet, sink & toilet. **all itemsreplaced in existing location** as per plans
- Permit - easy permit process Oct 2020
Remove and replace 252 windows and 6 terrace doors in 24 dwelling units (all same size and location)
- Permit - easy permit process Sep 2019
Remove and replace roof system
- Permit - easy permit process May 2019
Tuckpointing - no structural work - 100 sqft; brick replacement and caulking all elevations
- Permit - easy permit process Jun 2015
Tuckpointing - no structural work - 5500 sqft
- Permit - easy permit process Apr 2015
Rebuild entrance canopy over gate to courtyard. no structural
- Permit - renovation/alteration Jul 2011Complete
Repair 6 open porches per plans
- Permit - scaffolding Apr 2010
Erect 1 hi-lo swing stage scaffold & 1 rolling pipe scaffold from 4-6-10 to 11-15-10
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very Low
Highest for this area: cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
8 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Tubring, Sam, 5734 North Broadway Avenue (1,500 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
4,700 ft
Metalmasters 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
450 ft
Manor House. 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
Wildfire risk
Very Low
Wildfire risk is low enough that standard home insurance usually covers it.
FEMA National Risk Index
Nearest public schools
2,300 ft
Swift Elem Specialty School (2,300 ft), Goudy Technology Academy (2,500 ft), Peirce Elem Intl Studies School (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 Winthrop 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 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.
- 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.