Goodbye 1441 W. Augusta Blvd

Leaving 1441 W. Augusta is both bitter and sweet.  We're ready to get out of the city and condo living, but at the same time sad to leave all the city has to offer and enter the unknown of suburbia. Despite leaving with $0 in profit, we're walking away with many good memories and life experiences that we'll always cherish.

The Good:

• The place we returned the morning after we were married, the place we brought home our first two precious babies, and the happy place we've called home for seven years together.
• The rain shower and spa bathtub in our beautiful master bathroom.
• 2400 square feet of living space with plenty of room for the kids to run around and play.
• Living within a mile from my sister and her kiddos.
• Having three bathrooms (which I predict any future home will lack).
• Our favorite neighbor: Jonah!
• Being within 15 minutes of all the city has to offer from museums to beaches to stores and restaurants.
• Our weekly summer and fall trips to the Green City Market and Lincoln Park Zoo.
• Being able to walk to every errand, from the post office to Starbucks to parks and grocery stores.
• New construction that eliminates some of the worry of of huge housing costs arising.
• Sam's quick 5 minute commute to and from work each day that allows him home before bedtime.

The Bad:

• Sharing a building with neighbors, particularly those with drug problems, verbally abusive couples and young 20-somethings who leave beer cans in the lobby.
• Getting our cars broken into on a quarterly basis.
• The variable neighborhood characters- from shouting drunks to ding-dong ditching teenagers to late-night partying neighbors.
• The UPS and Fedex men always buzzing our unit no matter who the delivery is for.
• The terrible, overflowing garbage situation in our alley and the people who dig through it on a daily basis.
• The next door neighbor whose alarm clock goes off every afternoon for hours.

The Familiar

• The ease and familiarity of my day-to-day existence and routes throughout the city.
• The friendly staff at our local Trader Joes (yes this is weird, but I will miss them)
• Fire trucks and ambulances racing down Augusta on a daily basis and the excitement it brings to my little people.
• The unique characters and variety of people we encounter throughout the city.
• Seeing all the trains, planes, helicopters, buses, construction trucks and more that delight the kids.

Thanks 1441.  You've been a great home and hope you are for the next owners as well. We will miss you.