We often run across new listings or price changes on smaller developments outside of the downtown area that might not warrant a big post, but might interest our readers nonetheless. Here are just a handful we've seen recently:

1919 West Crystal in Wicker Park
Five of the nine condos in this new Studio Dwell-designed building at 1919 W Crystal St in Wicker Park (shown above) were placed back on the MLS last week. Three two-bedroom / two-baths with 1,633 to 1,725 square feet are now priced in the $560s to $570s, and two three-bedroom / two-baths with 2,125 square feet are listed in the $660s.

Prices in April had ranged from the $590s to the $730s.

The units have floor-to-ceiling windows with ceiling heights up to 20 feet; custom staircases with floating oak risers; white oak hardwood floors; kitchens with SubZero and Miele appliances, Caesarstone and granite countertops, and Arclinea cabinets; baths with limestone and marble finishes, and Hansgrohe, Duravit, and Toto fixtures; private outdoor terraces; and surround-sound wiring.

Sam Tarara of Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate has the listings.

2523 North Southport in Lincoln Park
Rich Kasper of Conlon Real Estate just listed all of the condos in this new six-flat (at right and below) at 2523 N Southport Ave in the Wrightwood Neighbors area of Lincoln Park.

The building’s two duplex-downs have three bedrooms and 2.5 baths and are both listed in the $770s. Two second-floor two-bedroom / two-baths are listed in the $470s, and two “penthouse” two-bedroom / two-baths with rooftop decks are priced in the $570s. When Jeremy toured the building in mid-June, the two-bedroom units ranged from the $490s to $590s.

Finishes include hardwood floors throughout; kitchens with Viking appliance packages; baths with steam showers, rain showers, and body sprays; and garage parking.

Luxhaven in Lake View
Another of Kasper's properties, Trianon Development's eight-unit Luxhaven (seen immediately below and at bottom) at 1740 W Cornelia Ave in Lake View, has six homes on the MLS, including four that have seen modest price reductions ($10,000 to $30,000) in recent days.

Available homes include two one-bedroom / one-baths priced in the $310s and $320s, two two-bedroom / two-baths priced in the $440s and $470s, and three three-bedroom / two-baths, two of which have rooftop access, priced from the $540s to $670s.

In April, when Mark Boyer toured Luxhaven with developer Jody Libman, prices ranged from the $330s to the $720s.

Features include island kitchens with 3-inch concrete countertops and 42-inch flat-panel cabinets; baths with natural stone floors and steam showers; and private balconies and terraces. Garage parking is included.

Bob Mosky – the RDM (Robert D. Mosky) of RDM Development – called me on Monday to offer an update on Trio and Vision. My apologies for being slow to report the conversation.

Mosky reports that the mid-rises at Trio are slowly nearing a sellout. Of the 109 units in the project, 82 are closed, 3 are subject to binding contracts, and 7 contracts are pending approval.

Thirty units are under contract in the 100-unit high-rise. The granite for the lobby was recently delivered, models have opened, and a grand opening should occur within the next several weeks.

Despite rumors of a rental conversion at Vision, RDM is "sticking with the sales program. Vision is about one-third sold. Only one commercial space remains unspoken for. Jameson will begin actively marketing the project within the next two weeks."

There are still a lot of buyers out there, according to Mosky, but "until people see the economy picking up they're reluctant to pull the trigger. Price doesn't seem to be the issue in our projects, and we're competing on location and quality rather than on price. I would like to see the government offer a larger tax credit. Eight thousand isn't enough in a higher-priced market like Chicago."

The following is a list of 2009 Good Neighbor Award winners and nominees on the Far North, Northwest, and South sides that still have homes for sale. These and other residential and commercial developments will be honored by the Chicago Association of Realtors this evening. (See a list of downtown and North Side winners.)

Far North Side:

The Clarovista, 1134 W Granville Ave in Edgewater

• Finalist, Mixed-use New Construction: “…the building promises to be an integral part of the community and has thus far been very well received by residents and aldermen.”
• Listings include one-bedroom / one-baths in the $170s; two-bedroom / one-baths in the $250s; two-bedroom / 1.5-baths from the $270s to $290s; two-bedroom / two-baths from the $240s to $350s; and three-bedroom / two-baths from the $350s to $400s.

Fountain View, 2326 W Giddings St in Lincoln Square

• Winner, Mixed-use New Construction: “The Fountain View complements the historic character of the neighborhood while minimizing environmental impact.”
• Listings include two-bedroom / two-baths with 1,311 to 1,518 square feet from the $440s to $520s, and three-bedroom / two-baths with 1,504 square feet in the $490s.

7446 – 7448 N Hoyne Ave in Rogers Park

• Winner, Residential Multi-unit Renovation: “Built in the 1930s, this property was a current-day ‘diamond in the rough’…neighbors began to upgrade their buildings’ appearances as a result, and the impact was significant: The neighborhood pride seemed to be back and thriving once again.”
• Listings include a 3,200 square-foot five-bedroom / three-bath duplex in the $410s.

Northwest Side:
Estes Villas, 2641 – 2643 W Estes Ave in West Ridge

• Winner, Residential Multi-unit Renovation: “Once the site of neglect and crime… the goal was to preserve the classic architecture while providing residents with modernized amenities…”
• Listings include one-bedroom / one-baths in the $130s, and two-bedroom / one-baths from the $170s to $180s.

Foster Manor, 3115 – 3123 W Foster Ave in North Park

• Winner, Residential Multi-unit Renovation: “Blending old and new, Foster Manor preserves its original vintage charm while providing occupants with updated amenities.”
• Listings include studios in the $90s, one-bedroom / one-baths from the $120s to $150s, and two-bedroom / one-baths in the $160s.

Armitage Square, 2740 W Armitage Ave in Palmer Square

• Winner, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “This location, once occupied by vacant buildings plagued with crime and squatters… has brought new neighbors to the Bucktown / Logan Square area and support to the local community.
• Listings include two-bedroom / two-baths in the $290s.

South Side:
620 – 622 E 42nd St in Grand Boulevard

• Winner, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “Despite the challenge of the smaller-than-average lot size…these two once dangerous and unsightly vacant lots were transformed into homes that reflect the history and feel of the Bronzeville community.”
• Listings include 4,000 square-foot four-bedroom / 3.5-bath duplexes in the $620s.

9128 S Harper Ave in Calumet Heights

• Winner, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “The location, once a garbage-filled vacant lot, now boasts an efficient home with features including bamboo flooring throughout, stainless-steel appliances, a Jacuzzi and separate steam shower, and a terrace.”
• The four-bedroom / 2.5-bath three-story home is listed in the $280s.

Tomorrow I'm attending the Chicago Association of Realtors' Good Neighbor Awards ceremony, where 26 new residential developments will be honored for "encouraging rehabilitation and redevelopment in Chicago’s neighborhoods" and "strengthening community pride."

I browsed the list of winners, honorable mentions and finalists this afternoon and found 13 that still had homes on the market. The following is a list of Good Neighbor Award winners and nominees found in the Loop / downtown area and the North Side, along with excerpts from the CAR's development profiles and current price points.

Check back tomorrow to see the winners and nominees from the Far North, Northwest, and South sides.

Loop / downtown:

ParkView, 505 N McClurg Ct in Streeterville

• Winner, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “This project brought open green space to a neighborhood historically known for parking lots and industrial facilities.”
• Listings include one-bedroom / one-baths with 921 to 1,053 square feet from the $360s to $510s; one-bedroom / 1.5-bath with 1,183 square feet in the $600s; two-bedroom / two-baths with 1,196 to 1,464 square feet from the $550s to $890s; two-bedroom / 2.5 baths with 1,731 to 3,267 square feet from the $850s to $1.93 million; three-bedroom / 2.5-baths with 1,803 square feet from the $870s to $1.02 million; and three-bedroom / three-baths with 2,289 to 2,320 square feet from $1.28 to $1.29 million.

North Side:

Aspen 6, 1915 N Damen Ave in Bucktown

• Winner, Mixed-use New Construction: “This project considerably strengthened the vitality of the block by introducing quality retail and providing the privacy necessary for a residential enclave.”
• Listings include a 1,550 square-foot two-bedroom / two-bath is listed in the $650s.

2041 W Roscoe St in Roscoe Village

• Finalist, Mixed-use New Construction: “Replacing a dilapidated old storefront and multi-unit rental building, Wilkinson Blender (known for its environmentally friendly approach) designed and is constructing an innovative green luxury building with three residential units and retail on the first floor.”
• Listings include a 1,765 square-foot two-bedroom / three-bath in the $590s, and a 4,330 square-foot duplex at $1.45 million.

3218 N Damen Ave in Roscoe Village

• Winner, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “An abandoned residential two-flat once stood at this address… the newly constructed six-flat building, located in a Community Reinvestment Act-approved area, is a big improvement.”
• Listings include a two-bedroom / two-bath in the $460s.

3709 – 3713 N Ashland Ave in Lake View

• Honorable Mention, Residential / Multi-unit New Construction: “Located in the renowned Blaine School District, these homes are a welcome alternative to the more costly single-family homes in Lakeview.”
• Listings include three-bedroom / three-baths from the $490s to $570s.

If you took a break from Yo over the past week, you might have missed our posts on these recent price reductions at three downtown towers:

600 North Fairbanks, 600 N Fairbanks Ct in Streeterville:

• Two-bedroom / two-baths with 1,852 square feet, priced from the $840s to $890s (reduced by $50,000 to $54,000)
• Three-bedroom / 2.5-baths with 1,536 to 1,832 square feet, priced from the $940s to $1.05 million (reduced by $49,000 to $85,000)

Metropolitan Tower, 310 S Michigan Ave in the South Loop:

• One-bedroom / one-baths with 751 to 762 square feet, priced from the $240s to $260s (reduced by 17 to 32 percent)
• Two-bedroom / two-baths with 1,202 to 1,401 square feet, priced from the $390s to the $640s (reduced by 24 to 34 percent)
• Three-bedroom / 2.5-baths with 1,585 to 1,593 square feet, priced in the $640s (reductions of 29 to 32 percent)

Pure, 24 S Morgan St in the West Loop:

• One-bedroom / one-baths with 680 to 822 square feet, priced in the $160s to $180s (reduced by 37 to 39 percent)
• One-bedroom / two-baths with 915 square feet, priced from the $270s to $280s (reduced by 17 to 23 percent)
• Two-bedroom / two-baths with 979 square feet, priced in the $230s (reduced by 33 percent)
• Three-bedroom / 2.5-baths with 2,000 square feet, priced in the $500s (reduced by 20 percent)

Related posts
• "First-ever" price reductions at 600 North Fairbanks (May 7)
• Sales update: Metropolitan Tower slashes prices by 17 to 34 percent for closeout (May 12)
• Sales update: Big reductions afoot at Pure (May 8)

Those of you who don't follow our comments feed regularly might have missed some recent comments from Kevin, a buyer at the Renaissance Lofts in Rogers Park who participates in a Yahoo! group dedicated to that development's "issues and concerns." Regular readers may also remember the networking that went on among frustrated Glashaus buyers in this 100-comment thread.

One of our goals for NewHomeNotebook.com was to give buyers a place to rate and review their experiences with developers and developments. Several people have taken us up on that offer — in the past month and a half, five people with contracts at 1555 Wabash have started airing their concerns over delayed closing dates and apparent contract drop-offs. (A representative from New West Realty said last week that closings should begin any day.) Our next step is to offer buyers the opportunity to create their own blogs about their buying experiences and to communicate directly with other buyers and developments directly. It's not integrated into NewHomeNotebook just yet, but keep an eye out for more information in the near future.

Views from SoNo, 860 W Blackhawk St:

Views from Superior 110, 110 W Superior St:

Views from Legacy at Millennium Park, 60 E Monroe St:

View from my seat at Wrigley Field on April 18:

Miss out on any Yo posts over the past two weeks? Catch up on some recent price reductions at these five new developments:

3133 Lofts, 3133 N Lakewood Ave: Three-bedroom lofts at this Lake View development now start in the $460s, down from the $490s, four-bedrooms start in the $620s, down from the $670s, and a 1,700 square-foot penthouse is priced in the $640s, down from the $690s. Two-bedrooms are also listed from the $370s and $380s. (Rate and review)

340 Evergreen, 340 W Evergreen St: Three-bedroom / 2.5-bath single-floor condos with 2,100 square feet of floor space at this Old Town development are now priced from the $650s to the $680s, and a 4,200 square-foot four-bedroom / 3.5-bath duplex is priced at $1.25 million, representing reductions of $15,000 to $100,000 per unit. (Rate and review)

950 West Leland, 950 W Leland Ave: 30 one- and two-bedroom condos in Uptown are now priced from the $180s to $290s following significant reductions. (Rate and review)

McGill Parc Townhomes, 4926 – 4946 S Drexel Blvd: Eight 2,800 to 3,600 square-foot townhouses in Kenwood are now priced from the $390s to $440s, down 20 to 30 percent from the $490s to $650s. (Rate and review)

Silver Tower, 303 W Ohio St: One-bedrooms in the River North tower now start in the $270s, down from the $290s. Stonegate Development will also give buyers $5,000 towards closing costs and pay the first year's assessments. (Rate and review)

Mark mentioned yesterday that MCL Companies' ParkView was a recent recipient of a 2009 Friends of Downtown award for Chicago's Best Open Space. I checked out the full list of winners yesterday afternoon and found three more new condo developments that the Friends of Downtown honored last month:

• Best new building: 600 North Fairbanks (at right), 600 N Fairbanks Ct (Rate and review)
• Best adaptive reuse: Metropolitan Tower, 310 S Michigan Ave (Rate and review)
• Best window display: Joffrey Tower, 8 E Randolph St (Rate and review)

The annual awards recognize projects that "contribute most to the quality of downtown life," according to the group's Web site.

Related posts:
• MCL's ParkView collects Friends of Downtown and construction industry awards (April 6)

There aren't a lot of options for the new-construction buyer in Old Town, so if you're in the market for a new condo in that neighborhood, there's a good chance that 340 Evergreen is on your radar.

Workers are currently putting the finishing touches on the eight-unit building and installing the elevator. According to Jameson Real Estate agent Mike Hulett, who guided me around the building this morning, four of the eight condos have been sold, and the developer has just adjusted the prices by $15,000 to $100,000, depending on the unit.

Three-bedroom / 2.5-bath single-floor units with 2,100 square feet of floor space are now priced from the $650s to the $680s, and a 4,200 square-foot four-bedroom / 3.5-bath duplex is priced at $1.25 million.

The outdoor spaces, which all of the homes feature, are listed as either 14' x 15' or 17' x 11' on the floor plans, but there's also a long outdoor passageway that connects to the master bedroom. The views to the south, which can be seen in the panoramic image I stitched together below, aren't too shabby either, as you can see most of the Gold Coast and River North skylines from the upper floors.

NewHomeNotebook:
• Rate and review 340 Evergreen