8853 South Houston Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 8853 South Houston Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 10 permits, 5 not closed, and 42 violations, 33 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 8853 South Houston Avenue 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
5 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 33 open violations.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Oct 2024Active
Deconvert 5 d.u. to 4 d.u. interior rehab per plans. new mechanical electrical and plumbing. north elevation replace stair. east elevation replace porch and stair per plans.
- Permit – express permit program Feb 2022Complete
Installing 200 amp, single phase, 120/240 volt , single phase service. 4 residential and one puplic meter.
- Permit - reinstate revoked pmt Nov 2015
1st reinstatement of permit #100457115 issued 5/20/2013 for 50% of the original cost + a $50 processing fee and change the general contractor to manuel alvarado general cont. & plumbing cont to c & m plumbing
- Permit - renovation/alteration May 2013Complete
Deconvert 5 d.u to 4 d.u. full interior rehab. new mechanical, electrical and plumbing. replace existing north porch and east porch with new, same size/location as existing.(certified corrections. conditional permit)
- Permit – express permit program Jan 2013Complete
Correct electrical violations per, doc#1563786 and perform electrical installations as per proposal/contract..install new 100 amp. 120/240v service, add 6 new 20a 120 circuits, install emt. and wiring where bx cabling once existed,install arc-fault breakers for ea bedroom, hard-wire smoke detectors as required, install new grounding system , inside/outside the house, install appropriate circuit breakers as required..
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2012
Total roof tear off.
- Permit - easy permit process Dec 2011
Repair existing front wood porch and replace existing side wood stairs.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Sep 2011Complete
Replace existing concrete and wood deck that connects to existing vaulted city sidewalk with new wood deck
- Permit - easy permit process Jun 2011
Replace same size and location of front porch.
- Permit - wrecking/demolition Aug 2008Complete
Wreck & remove 1 story frame 2 car garage only
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
1 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Clark Refining & Marketing, Inc., 2924 East 87th (1,500 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Brownfield site
950 ft
Calumet Region Area Wide Planning and 4 more within half a mile. Former industrial land in EPA's cleanup and reuse program.
EPA ACRES Brownfields
Toxic release facility
2,750 ft
Nalco Chemical Co. 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
1,350 ft
Thorp J N Elem School (1,350 ft), LEARN Chtr - South Chicago Campus (1,350 ft), Mireles Elem Academy (1,350 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 South Houston 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.