To understand why we’re so happy about Mangan Builders’ 4750 North Hermitage, a new four-unit condo building nearing completion (above left), you have to get a load of the last new condo building to rise on the block, (above right). Mangan’s structure is modest, with attractive red brick, glass doors leading to wide balconies and some simple ornament. It won’t win any design awards, but it’s unassuming and at three and a half stories, in scale with the rest of the block. Compare this design with the monstrosity across the street. At four and a half stories, it feels completely out of scale, an effect highlighted by the ridiculous turret-like corner with the pointed dunce cap and one of the ugliest two-tone facades we’ve seen in Ravenswood.
Mangan’s three-bedroom condos are priced from about $400,000 to $500,000 and appear to be nearing completion. As an added perk, buyers won’t have far to walk for coffee and doughnuts. One of the biggest drawbacks, however, is that though they’ll live on a beautiful block with a number of historic homes, these buyers will have to stare at the ugly condos across the way.
