834-842 East 53rd Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 834-842 East 53rd Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 14 permits, 5 not closed, and 43 violations, 37 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 834-842 East 53rd Street 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. 37 open violations.
- Permit - easy permit process Jul 2016
Work in units- 836( 1n, 2n, 3s, 2s), 838 (3w, 2b,3b) & 840 (1,3), 842 (1n,2n,2s,3s)- buff flooring. paint. replace plumbing fixtures. countertops & vanities- all work same as existing
- Permit – express permit program Jul 2016Complete
Replace outlets, switches and lights in 836 1n, 836 2n, 836 2s, 836 3s, 838 3w, 838 3e,838 2e, 8401, 840 3, 842 1n, 842 2n, 842 3s.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Apr 2016Complete
Work is for interior duplex down of single unit within a twenty two unit apartment building. current use a-2/residential, proposed use a-2/resdiential.
- Permit – express permit program Feb 2016Complete
Upgrade the electrical service from 600 amp to 1200 amp 1-phase and reconnect existing circuits.
- Permit - easy permit process Feb 2016
Interior renovations to units #838 1w & 838 2w. drywall patching, plumbing fixture, kitchen & bathroom cabinets. electrical permit #100634913.
- Permit – express permit program Feb 2016Complete
Apts. 1w & 2w: replace outlets, switches and light fixtures.
- Permit - easy permit process Nov 2015
Repair/replace drywall and plumbing fixtures in units #3n, #g, #1s(836), #2 (840), #3n (842). electrical on separate permit
- Permit – express permit program Oct 2015Complete
Apt #: 836-3n, 836-g, 840-2, 842-3n & 836-1s: replace outlets, switches and light fixtures in 5 apartments.
- Permit – express permit program Sep 2015Complete
Installation of low voltage burglar alarm interior work only # 339-13120
- Permit - easy permit process Aug 2015
Tear off and replace flat roofing with base sheet, insulation, modified bitumen mambrane. flash all openings, silver coating. all work same as existing.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Mar 2011Complete
Partial renovation to repair fire damage as per plans. replace plaster, drywall, interior finishes, flooring, millwork & trim. replace windows - same size & location. replace 12 plumbing fixtures in existing locations. replace electrical circuits, outlets & fixtures. no work to hvac.
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2010
Fire damage repair to units 1,2 & 3 & 1st,2nd & 3rd floor common corridors & stair: replace drywall, doors, window, wood flooring & interior finishes- (no plumbing work) electrical permit # 100375092 all work same as existing
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
6 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Hyde Park West Acquisitions, Llc, 5347 South Cottage Grove Avenue (700 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
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
650 ft
Kozminski Elem Community Academy (650 ft), Reavis Elem Math & Sci Spec Schl (2,050 ft), Walter Henri Dyett HS for Arts (2,250 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
7.7 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 East 53rd 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.
- 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.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
- 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.
- 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.
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