It all started with an interview with CNBC

News Release

Chicago, IL – April 6, 2010 - Matt Garrison, Managing Director of the Coldwell Banker/Matt Garrison Group in Chicago, announced today that 5040 South Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, which is located right next to President Barack Obama’s Chicago residence, sold for $1.4 million.  The Matt Garrison Group was the exclusive listing agent for the property that was marketed as ‘The World’s Ultimate Gated Community’ because of the high-level of security on the street.

The name of the buyer of the turn-of-the-century home will not be released at the request of the buyer.

“The original strategy was to try to get a record-breaking price," said Garrison, who is one of the top Coldwell Banker Real Estate agents in the world.  “Having a home directly next-door to the home of a sitting President is an unprecedented situation.  We exposed the property worldwide, without a sales price, to see if buyers would step-up and pay a big price.  We had conversations with buyers as far away as Saudi Arabia, China, Australia and all over Europe, thanks to the excellent media campaign designed by Blitz Group.  We had over 100,000 hits on our website.  At the end of the day, the property traded to a local buyer for what we felt was a very fair price. The seller is comfortable that we didn’t leave any money on the table after all of the interest and exposure we received.”

Garrison added, “Overall, we are very pleased with the sales price. The one million-plus price point in Chicago has been soft for the past three years, and this property needs a full gut renovation. We knew it would take a special buyer, and we found him."

The gracious, turn of the century home sits on an oversized lot in the historic Kenwood/Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.  The home is situated directly next to 5046 South Greenwood, President Obama’s Chicago residence.

This historic pocket of Kenwood has long been home to Chicago’s business, political and intellectual elite, boasting some of the largest and most ornate residences in the City of Chicago.

Many turn-of –the-century details remain in place in the 6,000 square foot, 17 room home, including spacious dimensions, preserved woodwork, plaster-detailed molding and ornate original stained glass windows.

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September 11, 2009

Click here for CNBC story with Diana Olick

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September 11, 2009

Local Chicago Television Stations

Click here for ABC 7 story & video

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September 12, 2009

Click here for story & video

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September 12, 2009

 Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

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September 15, 2009

Click here for NY Times story

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September 15, 2009

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September 16, 2009

The London Times

Feature story with interview with Trish Hoffman
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September 18, 2009

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September 18, 2009

Story in Tokyo featuring an interview with Jeff Fisher

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September 18, 2009

Click here for NPR story and audio

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 October 12, 2009

Click here for Alina Cho story

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October 19, 2009

Click here for Dean Reynolds story
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October 27, 2009

Click here for ABC.com story

NATIONAL MEDIA COMES TO AMERICA'S

"ULTIMATE GATED COMMUNITY"

Grimshaws on their front porch preparing for interview with Inside Edition.  President Obama's Chicago home is behind them

When Bill and Jackie Grimshaw put their house on-the-market, they knew it was special. 

What they didn't expect was the national and international media attention they would receive. 

Matt Garrison, co-founder of the Matt Garrison Group, hired Blitz Group to promote his listing at 5040 South Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, which just happens to be the house right next-door to President Obama's Chicago residence. 

The story was launched exclusively on CNBC with Erin Burnett and Diana Olick on September 11, 2009.  What followed was a feeding frenzy by the media to get the latest greatest news from the Grimshaws, who bought the home in the early 70's. 

Led by the phrase, "Live in the World's Ultimate Gated Community", which was coined by Blitz Group co-founder Trish Hoffman, media from around the world came calling for five weeks for the Grimshaws' story. 

The World's Ultimate Gated Community" was so catchy that Time magazine cited it as one of its Quotes of the Week in its September 28th issue.