636-638 North Racine Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 636-638 North Racine Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 16 permits, 5 not closed, and 24 violations, 18 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 636-638 North Racine Avenue at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
5 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 18 open violations.
- Permit – express permit program Apr 2023Complete
Install an electric car charger in garage.
- Permit - easy permit process Apr 2022
5 unit bldg: repair/replace drywall, flooring, cabinets, counter tops and plumbing fixtures and associated piping in (4) kitchens. (no ductwork) no floor plan alterations; roof replacement ***subject to field inspection*** permit does not verify or confirm unit count
- Permit – express permit program Apr 2022Complete
Install new switches, outlets, lights and run electrical line for laundry for 5 unit building.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Sep 2014Complete
Replace existing rear wood porch with new for 3 story residential building - same size and location
- Permit - easy permit process Jul 2012
Masonry repairs and tuckpointing
- Permit - easy permit process Jan 2011
Revision to permit # 100351896 to change the plumber of record to georges's heating & plumbing and the hvac contractor of record to cora heating & cooling.
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2011Complete
Electrical contractor name change
- Permit - renovation/alteration Nov 2010Complete
Remodel of existing 1st floor and basement office space for new specialty cake production shop in existing 4 story buiding with basement; cake shop has no seating capacity; no consumption of food on premise
- Permit - easy permit process Mar 2010
Revision to permit # 100326483 to change plumbing contractor
- Permit - renovation/alteration Mar 2010Complete
Interior remodeling for basement and first floor with electrical, plumbing and hvac work as per plans. convert office space into photostudio
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2008
Reviosion to permit #100192889 to change mason contractor to bga contruction.
- Permit – express permit program Mar 2008Complete
Repair violations for previously unfinished work
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
18 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Public Bldg. Commission Of Chicago, 1250 West Erie (400 ft), open. 4 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Brownfield site
1,650 ft
951 W Huron. Former industrial land in EPA's cleanup and reuse program.
EPA ACRES Brownfields
Toxic release facility
1,650 ft
Sherman Reynolds Inc and 31 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
300 ft
Ogden Int High School (300 ft), Noble St Chtr Rauner College Prep (1,050 ft), Noble St Chtr-Golder College Prep (2,000 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
8.8 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 Racine 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 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.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
- Schedule a viewing on a weekday too, between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, the window when the building is busiest: neighbors, parking, elevator.
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.