Back in the day, the loft evolved as a housing style for struggling young artists who needed an affordable space that doubled as a studio and a home. While you’d have to be doing more than selling the occasional watercolor to afford any of the lofts on the market these days, some of current developments have returned to the live/work concept by offering business centers and conference rooms for their young professional buyers.
Mindful of the rise in the number of people working from home and probably eager to add some cachet to their projects to distinguish them in a competitive market, both the No. 10 Urban Courtyard Lofts, an MCZ Development venture at 1040 W Adams, and Shoemaker Lofts, the Dubin Residential conversion of the old Florsheim factory at W Belmont are offering business-amenties in their buildings.
Developer William Warman’s 15th Street Lofts at 1503 S State (see photo) is offering larger and open floorplans which its marketers say make the units suitable home offices. A hair stylist has apparently bought a home there with intentions to also set up shop inside.