Chicago had a big year in real estate and development, and we spent the entire year covering everything from the madness of parking dibs to the Trump Tower sign fiasco. There were some notable moments in listings and sales, including the record breaking sale of the big 89th floor penthouse space at the Trump Tower and the sale of a handful of Frank Lloyd Wright homes. So, what are Curbed readers most interested in? Posts concerning celebrity home purchases, Wrigley Field drama and offensive maps are a few of the most read and shared items from this year.
10. Frank Thomas' Former Ultra-'90s Mansion Finds Buyer
Although Frank Thomas had washed his hands clean of his old suburban mansion years ago, the place looked like an untouched relic from the '90s when it listed in October. The home's theater room and basement bar still had the signs and marquee that bore the Big Hurt's moniker and jersey number. After only spending a week on the market, the then-bank owned property found a contract.
9. Check Out the Lincoln Park Home Joakim Noah Just Bought
Chicago isn't known for having a whole bunch of celebrities living here like New York, LA and Miami are. Our big celebrities are our athletes. And one of the city's most beloved athletes is the Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah. Shortly after the Bulls opened their new training facility within city limits, Noah ditched his suburban home and scooped up this manse in Lincoln Park.
8. This Map of Chicago Will Offend Pretty Much Everyone
As the title of the post suggests, this offense map really isn't the most politically correct thing we've featured this year.
7. Here's the Lincoln Park Mansion Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews Just Bought
Harkening back to the notion of Chicagoans loving their athletes, there is perhaps no other athlete in the city (besides Derrick Rose) that is as adored as Jonathan Toews. And in doing a major solid for the City of Chicago and its sports fans, the Blackhawks locked up both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews by extending their contracts for another eight years at $84 million each. Shortly after inking the deal, Toews dumped his penthouse condo at Lakeshore East and joined Joakim Noah in Lincoln Park.
6. The Five Most Anticipated New Parks Chicagoans Can't Wait For
New parks and public green space have been an important ongoing narrative to this year's development boom and real estate resurgence, and Chicagoans have a lot to look forward to including the upcoming 606 trail, the Chicago Riverwalk extension and the Northerly Island renovation. The Grant Park Skate Park and sections of Maggie Daley Park have recently opened to the public.
5. At $18.75M, Chicago's Priciest Home Officially Hits The MLS
Earlier in the summer, the city's most expensive single family home formally hit the market at $18.75 million. However, after the recent sale of the penthouse space at the Trump Tower, the estate on Burling Street in Lincoln Park has officially become the city's most expensive residential property of any kind currently up for grabs.
4. The Famous Ferrari House From Ferris Bueller Has Finally Sold
2014 will be remembered for many things, but as far as Chicago real estate is concerned, it will also be remembered as the year that the famous modernist home that played an important role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off finally sold. Similar to other Hughes movies, Ferris Bueller was filmed almost entirely in the Chicago area, and after languishing on the market for five years, the Highland Park home that housed Cameron Frye's father's favorite Ferrari has finally found a new owner.
3. Here Is Your First Look Inside Chicago's Most Expensive Home
Before it was officially made publicly available, the bonkers Burling Street estate was quietly listed by its broker who sent out an electronic brochure to a select few in the industry.
2. Wrigley Field Rooftop Owners Owe $36M, Facing Foreclosure
One of the greatest sources of drama this year was the renovation plan of Wrigley Field. And throughout the year, the drama never ceased. From threats of legal action from rooftop owners to selling pieces of the Wrigley bleachers to rooftop owners actually facing foreclosure, the fiasco at the Friendly Confines never seems to really end.
1. This Infographic of Chicago Neighborhood Stereotypes Nailed It
Yes, this post was actually the most read piece published on Curbed Chicago this year. There's nothing that Chicagoans love more than eating Chicago style hotdogs, drinking fancy cocktails and stereotyping one another.
·Curbed's 10 Most Read Stories of 2013 [Curbed Chicago]
·The Most Read Curbed Chicago Posts Of 2012 [Curbed Chicago]