Once home to great American author Ernest Hemingway and walking distance to Chicago's amazing lakefront, 1239 N. Dearborn St. is a 7 bed/6.5 bath, historic brownstone in the heart of the Gold Coast with three decks, a patio, a coach house and a two-car garage. Originally built in 1898 and located on a 3,300-square-foot lot that sits on a lovely, tree-lined stretch of Dearborn, amid some of Chicago's finest homes, the literary history here is enchanting: After their honeymoon in 1921, Hemingway and his wife Hadley lived in an apartment on the fourth floor before moving to Paris, where he wrote "The Sun Also Rises," "A Farewell to Arms," and his memoir, "A Moveable Feast." Most recently situated as a multifamily divided up into rentals, the entire brownstone plus coach house is now for sale, presenting endless possibilities as an investment property including the option to renovate to transform its beautiful bones into a multilevel, single-family home. The brick and limestone exterior has been maintained to uphold its stately, turn-of-the-century character, including tall arched windows and decorative stonework. Inside, the main level flaunts high ceilings, original hardwood floors and millwork details across a foyer, a light-filled formal living room, a dining room with fireplace, a back-of-the-house kitchen, and a bonus space that links to two decks (9'4" x 15'2" and 12'7" x 7'4"). Upstairs, the second level is perfect for a deluxe primary suite and currently features three bedrooms (two that are ensuite, one with a balcony and another with a walk-in closet), two full baths, and upstairs laundry. The top level reveals three additional bedrooms, two more full baths, and a bonus space that's ideal for a den or office. Downstairs, the ground level features two studio spaces (one with a kitchenette) that connect to a large outdoor patio (23'5" x 24'10"). Plus, there's a basement level with more bonus space, yet another full bath, a laundry room, utilities, and abundant storage. Situated above the detached garage, the bi-level coach house features a foyer, a living room, a kitchen, three bedrooms and a full bath, and has the potential to be a fabulous standalone apartment for in-laws, extended-stay guests or an au pair. With a spectacular location that's steps from the 3 Arts Club and Green City Market's outdoor farmers market, not to mention Chicago's most prestigious schools and world-class dining and shopping along the Mag Mile and Oak Street, 1239 N. Dearborn St. is a truly one-of-a-kind property with untapped potential and incredible value built right in.
*Taxable value of land and structures on it ("additions") is determined regularly by local assessors and does not affect market price.
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Beds
2
Baths
2
Stories
3
Lot width
—
Lot depth
—
Lot size
3,300 Sq. Ft.
Year renovated
—
Sq. Ft.
937
Year built
1898
Style
Multi-Family (5+ Unit)
County
Cook County
APN
17042240090000
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Apr 22, 2026.
RM-5
Residential Multi-Unit District 5
The RM5 districts are intended to accommodate multi-unit residential buildings. The RM5 district differs from the RM5.5 district only in terms of the maximum building height allowed. Applicable height limits in RM5 generally limit buildings to a maximum of 3.5 to 4 stories structures.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Religious facility
Day care facility
Hospital / medical center
Housing-Group
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Senior
Housing-Other
Bed & breakfast
Educational / school
Property details
Parking
Parking Information
# of Garage Spaces: 2
# of Parking (Total): 2
Parking Features: Garage, On Site, Garage Owned, Detached
Interior
Bathroom Information
# of Baths (Full): 6
# of Baths (1/2): 1
Bedroom Information
# of Bedrooms: 8
# of Bedrooms Possible: 8
Additional Rooms Information
Basement: Unfinished, Partial
Interior Features
# of Rooms: 20
Multi-Unit Information
3 Br Unit(s) In Bldg: Yes
Community Information
Community Features: Curbs, Gated, Sidewalks, Street Lights, Street Paved
Unit Type 1 Information
Floor Number: 1
# of Rooms: 2
# of Bathrooms (Total): 1
# of Full Bathrooms: 1
Appliances and Features: Stove,Refrigerator,Washer,Dryer,Dishwasher,Microwave
Security Deposit: 0
Tenant Pays: Electric,Gas
Lease Expiration Date: VAC
Unit Type 2 Information
Floor Number: 2
# of Rooms: 9
# of Bedrooms: 5
# of Bathrooms (Total): 5
# of Full Bathrooms: 4
# of Half Bathrooms: 1
Appliances and Features: None
Rent: $2,000
Tenant Pays: Electric,Gas
Lease Expiration Date: MTM
Unit Type 3 Information
Floor Number: 1
# of Rooms: 5
# of Bedrooms: 3
# of Bathrooms (Total): 1
# of Full Bathrooms: 1
Appliances and Features: Stove,Refrigerator
Security Deposit: N/A
Tenant Pays: Electric,Gas
Lease Expiration Date: VAC
Exterior
Exterior Features
Patio And Porch Features: Deck
Building Information
# Of Units in Building: 3
Age: 100+ Years
Built Before 1978 (Y/N): Yes
Construction Materials: Brick
Property Information
Property Type: Two to Four Units
Ownership: Fee Simple
Rebuilt (Y/N): No
Rehab (Y/N): No
General Information: Historical District
Parcel Number: 17042240090000
Fencing: Fenced
Lot Information
Dimensions: 26 X 125
Lot Size: Less Than .25 Acre
Financial
Tax Information
Tax Annual Amount: $46,381.54
Tax Year: 2023
Financial Information
Finance Code: Conventional
Special Service Area: N
Utilities
Utility Information
Water Source: Lake Michigan
Sewer: Public Sewer, Storm Sewer
Heating & Cooling
Heating: Natural Gas
Location
School Information
Elementary School District: 299
Elementary School: Ogden Elementary
Middle Or Junior School District: 299
High School District: 299
High School: Lincoln Park High School
Location Information
Township: Lake
Corporate Limits: Chicago
Directions: North of Division Street on the east side of Dearborn.
Public facts
Beds: 2
Baths: 2.0
Sq. Ft.: 937
Stories: 3.0
Lot Size: 3,300 square feet
Style: Multi-Family (5+ Unit)
Year Built: 1898
Year Renovated: —
County: Cook County
APN: 17042240090000
Home facts updated by county records on Apr 21, 2026
Other
Listing Information
Holds Earnest Money: Yes
Possession: Closing
Some Photos Virtually Staged?: No
Teams Information
Buyer Team Name: THE JILL SILVERSTEIN GROUP
Around this home
Schools
Places
Transit
Ogden Elementary School
Public PreK-8 • Assigned • 0.3mi
4/10
Lincoln Park High School
Public 9-12 • Assigned • 1.2mi
7/10
Provided by GreatSchools
Lifestyle
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
2/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 100° expected this year, 13 days in 30 years
2/10 Wind Factor
0% chance of strong winds in next 30 years
3/10 Air Factor
3 unhealthy days expected this year, 4 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Chicago, IL • 60610
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
31
18
38
26
53
36
60
45
65
52
80
66
83
71
81
69
77
65
67
54
52
41
37
25
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
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Sun exposure
In this area, properties receive around 10.3 hours in
June and 3.3 hours in December, placing it below the
U.S. average for solar exposure.