Showings of the Week:Jefferson Park

Lee Diamond worked hard this week to get three amazing showings for me of historic bungalows  in Jefferson Park. What's most interesting about the houses we saw was the degree of rehabilitation and how buildings with similar exterior can have starkly different interiors. Plus, one had a really amazing garden.

The three-bedroom, two-bath at 4663 N. LeClaire is priced at $329,000, which includes a fully finished garden and half-finished basement. The current owner used reclaimed bricks from when Milwaukee Avenue was repaved to create a sidewalk on one side of the house, and a washbasin from the inside of the house to create this fantastic backyard fountain

The 1928 house has a detached garage and great access to the highway and public transit. One of the perks of Jefferson Park, Lee says, is the great reputation of Beaubien Elementary School, which children in this house wouldattend. The renovation of the house is sensitive  to the original history, but still has modern convenienceslike a diswarsher and two air conditioning units. On a quiet tree-lined street, it doesn't seem to need any work and is at a sensible price for its size.

The second unit Lee showed me has been almost completely overhauled over the last seven years. At 4718 W. Waveland Ave, it's a 1902 house, but it looks like it could have come out of Better Homes and Gardens in the last five years.

The Pergo floor are only about two years old, and the place has new copper pipe plumbing, central air, hot water heater, dishwasher, washer and dryer and  finished basement.  At $299,000 for 1195 square feet with three bedrooms, it's a good deal if you're looking for a mix of historic and new. I was especially a fan of upstairs office, which included a lofted ceiling and one partial exposed brick wall. The only thing I might change: two of the bedrooms are connected by an open space in the walls without a door on it, but this works for the couple who currently live there with their baby. Easily changed if you love the other things about it.

The last house Lee showed me was the truest to the original form. At 5224 N. Monitor Ave., the 1920 home still has original wood molding and stained glass. The same family has lived in it since 1969, but its surprisingly clean and well-kept.

The space where there's some room for creativity is the second floor. Another Realtor was vacuuming up the last remnants of what had been blue and green shag carpeting in the top two rooms, so now the unfinished wood is open for possibilities. The front half of the second floor could use some light colored paint or drywall, but the space is large and welcoming. The back half would make  a great office  or studio, and there's potential for refinishing the bathroom as well.

Just reduced to $299,900, the three bedroom, two bath will need some work, but has a lot of character. But a few things to consider as well: there's no garage, so you'd have to build one. Also, just one lot seperates the house from 90/94, so at almost any time of day there's at least some traffic noise.

Thanks, Lee, for the showings! So cool to see  so many different ways to rehab.