5400 South Dorchester Avenue, Unit 3Chicago, IL 60615Price: $235,000

Rare unit available in the historic Dorridge Condominiums across from the Murray School encompassing the entire south end of the 54th St. block between Ridgewood Court and Dorchester. This top floor home has unrestricted views to the north and the east with wonderful light pouring in through large windows. It is the footprint of a 2 bedroom, but the wall was removed to make a glorious space of the living room with an adjacent office/den. The den still has a closet, so it could be easily closed up again to create a 2nd bedroom. The gas fired fireplace is the original brick surround and mantle with built-in shelves flanking each side. Off the living room is a door to the 47 sq ft balcony in the northeast corner of the building which affords the best views. The dining room has a triple bay window and is open to the kitchen through an opening finished with serving shelves. The genuine hardwood floors in all of the common areas gleam. The bedroom is covered in carpet and the kitchen and bath have ceramic tiled floors. The eat-in kitchen has stainless steel appliances, stainless steel and granite countertops and room for a table and chairs near the door leading out to the back porch and stairs to the basement. In the basement of the building is a common laundry room and individual storage rooms for the owners as well as space for bicycles. Owners are permitted to install washers and dryers in their units as well. The location is unbeatable. Just a block to the north is the South Side's foodie heaven of 53rd with restaurants ranging from coffee shops and ethnic fare to Michelin noted fine dining. Target, CVS and the Kimbark Plaza are close by. The Nichols Park, known for its wildflower gardens, playgrounds and dog walkers is just two blocks away, with the Hyde Park Neighborhood Center at the 55th St end of the Park. To the east is the Hyde Park Shopping Center with the Ace Hardware, Trader Joes, Walgreens, the recently opened Barnes and Noble and more delightful restaurants. It's an easy walk or roll to the University of Chicago and Hospitals, the Lakefront and Promontory Point, the Museum of Science and Industry and the soon to open Obama Center. The building is in the Ray and Kenwood Schools' boundaries. The Murray Language Academy across the street is not a neighborhood school. Applicants are selected by random computerized lottery. However, it has queue priorities: Sibling Preference, Staff Priority, and Proximity Preference coming in 3rd. There wouldn't be a location with more proximity than the Dorridge! Buses and the Metra trains are all easy to reach including the University's campus buses. Altogether a great condo in a great spot in Hyde Park.