About Chicago's Hamilton Park

Chicago Blackhawks left winger Bryan Bickell has paid $510,000 for a new-construction town home in Hamlin Park.

Bickell, 24, becomes the fifth Blackhawk to own a home in a 1-square-mile North Side area that encompasses parts of the Hamlin Park, West Lakeview and Roscoe Village neighborhoods, joining teammates Brent Seabrook, Troy Brouwer, Duncan Keith and Dave Bolland.

Located in a 10-home development, Bickell's four-bedroom, 2,522-square-foot, corner-unit town home has 3 1/2 baths, a fireplace, hardwood floors, a master suite with a soaking tub and a separate multiple spray shower, a gourmet kitchen with a balcony, custom cabinets, granite counters and stainless steel appliances.

Bickell's purchase price is illustrative of the significant decreases homebuilders have been making to sell homes in the current market.

The town home first was listed in May 2008 for $750,000 and was quickly reduced to $699,900 and then to $647,900. In December 2008, the price fell to $615,505. It then rose to $629,900 in April 2009 before dropping three times in September 2009 to $624,900, $619,900 and $599,900. More reductions followed in November 2009, to $589,900 and $584,800, and again in January, February and March 2010, to $579,800, $574,900 and $549,900, respectively. The town home then was reduced to $535,000 in April and finally to $529,900 in June. For those keeping score, that's a whopping 14 price changes in 2 1/2 years.

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