5532 S Dorchester Ave.

This is the house everyone has been waiting for: a freestanding, brick house on a beautifully landscaped lot with a 2 car garage right in the heart of the University of Chicago campus neighborhood. Lovingly maintained by very few owners over the past 60 years, it has been improved often, yet always the vintage character of the home has been preserved. The original vintage staircase with the distinctive balustrades and the framing around windows and doors hearken to its early days. Intricate stained glass windows decorate the street facing facade. 2002 was the last big renovation year, replacing the original boiler/radiator system with two forced air heating & air conditioning systems. The 2nd floor furnace was replaced in 2018 and the basement furnace was replaced in 2013. A CAT-5 ethernet/cable/phone system was wired throughout the house. Much of the electric wiring has been replaced over the years. New quartersawn oak floors were added on the first floor, but have the luster of vintage original oak (without the squeaks). The main level front rooms were opened up from the living room to the kitchen entrance, with sculptural columns holding up the ceiling above, creating more light and width in the house. The kitchen was new in the 1990's and looks remarkably contemporary with custom handcrafted maple cabinets (some with glass fronts), a 2020 dishwasher, a big SubZero fridge/freezer, 5 Star gas range with built in open grill with bricks and a super powerful Thermidor fan with heating lamps which exhausts outdoors. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The master bath was completely rebuilt in 2018. This level is brilliantly bright because of 3 well placed skylights: one in the landing, one in a bedroom and one in the hall bath. Both the front bedroom and the living room below have woodburning fireplaces set in original mantelpieces with striking vintage tile surrounds and bay windows overlooking the deep front yard. In the basement is a generous sized family room with refrigerator and sink, a big laundry room and a huge storage space under the kitchen with stairs leading out to the back yard. Both the front and back yards in this 175' long lot (an additional 10 feet more of front yard is city's) have been lovingly planted and nurtured with perennials and flowering trees. There are wonderful plants to discover as different species bloom from early spring to late fall. Located in the heart of the of U of Chicago, you can walk or roll just about everywhere. It's just a couple of blocks east to the Trader Joe's, shops and restaurants at the Hyde Park Plaza. Go south 2 blocks and you are at the 57th St row of restaurants and booksellers. Just west are more restaurants. The 55th bus goes right to Midway from the stop just steps away and you are close to the Metra and express buses to the Loop. If you are at the University, it's a lovely stroll down tree lined streets to your office, the hospitals and the Lab School. And of course, the Lakefront and the beaches and bike path are just blocks to the east.