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UPDATE wp_24_options SET option_value = 'O:9:\"MagpieRSS\":17:{s:6:\"parser\";i:0;s:12:\"current_item\";a:0:{}s:5:\"items\";a:240:{i:0;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"R+D659 - 659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661 - West Loop\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1880\";s:6:\"author\";s:10:\"joecondo54\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:57:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:307:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars4.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">i know someone that bought a place here, and even though the market has crashed, the below market interest rate doesn\'t seem like a bad deal. can\'t you get funding though the national city program? </div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars4.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:6:\"R+D659\";s:7:\"address\";s:32:\"659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"West Loop\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:307:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars4.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">i know someone that bought a place here, and even though the market has crashed, the below market interest rate doesn\'t seem like a bad deal. can\'t you get funding though the national city program? </div>\";}i:1;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"R+D659 - 659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661 - West Loop\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1880\";s:6:\"author\";s:1:\"m\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:16:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:289:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars1.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Has anyone else been having trouble closing at this building and wants out of the contract? I know a few people who are trying to get out of the contract and am looking for others.</div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars1.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:6:\"R+D659\";s:7:\"address\";s:32:\"659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"West Loop\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:289:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars1.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Has anyone else been having trouble closing at this building and wants out of the contract? I know a few people who are trying to get out of the contract and am looking for others.</div>\";}i:2;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:76:\"Lexington Park Condominiums - 2138 S Indiana Ave, Chicago 60616 - South Loop\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2393\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:51:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2218:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p>Since we classify <a href=\"http://www.chieftain.ie/\">Chieftain Group</a>\'s <a href=\"http://www.lexingtonparkcondos.com/home.asp\">Lexington Park Condominiums</a> as a high-rise development, it\'s easy to forget that it also has a set of new-construction \"lofts\" going up on the opposite end of the tower\'s parking garage. Those homes are nearing completion and will be ready for delivery after the turn of the new year, says Britta Rivera, Chieftain\'s vice president of sales. <p>About 15 of Lexington Park\'s 36 lofts, located at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2138+S+Indiana+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60616,+United+States&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FTihfgIdS_3G-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=2138+S+Indiana+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60616,+United+States&amp;iwloc=addr\">2138 S Indiana Ave</a> in the South Loop, will still be for sale when deliveries begin, Rivera says. Standard features in the lofts include granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and <a href=\"http://www.moen.com/\">Moen</a> faucets in the kitchens, <a href=\"http://www.carrara.com/\">Carrarra</a> marble floors, walls and vanity tops and Nautica, <a href=\"http://mansfieldplumbing.com/\">Mansfield</a> and Moen fixtures in the baths, and a mix of bamboo floors and carpeting throughout, but Chieftain will finish most or all of its unsold lofts with a variety of upgrades, she says.</p> <p>The one- and two-bedroom units have 1,068 to 1,645 square feet and are priced from the $480s to the $720s. Chieftain\'s old incentives - $10,000 off the prices of loft condominiums and parking spaces priced at $17,450 - are still in effect, and the developer will roll out additional deals in January, Rivera says.</p> <p>Lexington Park\'s 35-story tower topped off in October, and its first homes will be ready for delivery around April. One- and two-bedrooms with 656 to 1,346 square feet are priced from the $230s to the $410s.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:27:\"Lexington Park Condominiums\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"2138 S Indiana Ave, Chicago 60616\";s:4:\"area\";s:10:\"South Loop\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.853780000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.622225000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.853780000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.622225000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2218:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p>Since we classify <a href=\"http://www.chieftain.ie/\">Chieftain Group</a>\'s <a href=\"http://www.lexingtonparkcondos.com/home.asp\">Lexington Park Condominiums</a> as a high-rise development, it\'s easy to forget that it also has a set of new-construction \"lofts\" going up on the opposite end of the tower\'s parking garage. Those homes are nearing completion and will be ready for delivery after the turn of the new year, says Britta Rivera, Chieftain\'s vice president of sales. <p>About 15 of Lexington Park\'s 36 lofts, located at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2138+S+Indiana+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60616,+United+States&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FTihfgIdS_3G-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=2138+S+Indiana+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60616,+United+States&amp;iwloc=addr\">2138 S Indiana Ave</a> in the South Loop, will still be for sale when deliveries begin, Rivera says. Standard features in the lofts include granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and <a href=\"http://www.moen.com/\">Moen</a> faucets in the kitchens, <a href=\"http://www.carrara.com/\">Carrarra</a> marble floors, walls and vanity tops and Nautica, <a href=\"http://mansfieldplumbing.com/\">Mansfield</a> and Moen fixtures in the baths, and a mix of bamboo floors and carpeting throughout, but Chieftain will finish most or all of its unsold lofts with a variety of upgrades, she says.</p> <p>The one- and two-bedroom units have 1,068 to 1,645 square feet and are priced from the $480s to the $720s. Chieftain\'s old incentives - $10,000 off the prices of loft condominiums and parking spaces priced at $17,450 - are still in effect, and the developer will roll out additional deals in January, Rivera says.</p> <p>Lexington Park\'s 35-story tower topped off in October, and its first homes will be ready for delivery around April. One- and two-bedrooms with 656 to 1,346 square feet are priced from the $230s to the $410s.</p></div>\";}i:3;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:63:\"Ardmore Academy - 1403 W Ardmore Ave, Chicago 60660 - Edgewater\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2121\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:50:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1886:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p><p>Byrne Development has trimmed the price of Ardmore Academy\'s last unsold townhouse once again, cutting the price from the $590s to the $570s. That represents an overall reduction of more than $40,000 since last December, judging from old Yo posts. Whether that\'ll be enough to attract a buyer right now is anyone\'s guess.</p> <p>The 2,100 square-foot townhouse at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1409+W+Ardmore+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60660,+United+States&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=0,41.988071,-87.665347&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=addr\">1409 W Ardmore St</a> has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths and two rooftop terraces. Byrne has finished it with crown molding, <a href=\"http://www.vikingrange.com/\">Viking</a> and <a href=\"http://www.boschappliances.com/\">Bosch</a> appliances, <a href=\"http://www.canackitchens.com/\">Canac</a> cabinets, and granite countertops and backsplashes. Garage parking is an additional $15,000, and assessments for the unit are estimated at $125 a month, according to <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/\">Coldwell Banker</a>\'s listing.</p> <p>Ardmore Academy Rowhomes is, to our knowledge, is Edgewater\'s only active townhouse development. Its other four townhouses, which ranged in size from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet, sold from the $420s to the $600s between October 2007 and August 2008. Even with the latest price reductions, its one available unit is still priced about $60 above the median price per square foot in the neighborhood, according to <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>\'s neighborhood data. </p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:15:\"Ardmore Academy\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"1403 W Ardmore Ave, Chicago 60660\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"Edgewater\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.988089000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.665042000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.988089000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.665042000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1886:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p><p>Byrne Development has trimmed the price of Ardmore Academy\'s last unsold townhouse once again, cutting the price from the $590s to the $570s. That represents an overall reduction of more than $40,000 since last December, judging from old Yo posts. Whether that\'ll be enough to attract a buyer right now is anyone\'s guess.</p> <p>The 2,100 square-foot townhouse at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1409+W+Ardmore+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60660,+United+States&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=0,41.988071,-87.665347&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=addr\">1409 W Ardmore St</a> has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths and two rooftop terraces. Byrne has finished it with crown molding, <a href=\"http://www.vikingrange.com/\">Viking</a> and <a href=\"http://www.boschappliances.com/\">Bosch</a> appliances, <a href=\"http://www.canackitchens.com/\">Canac</a> cabinets, and granite countertops and backsplashes. Garage parking is an additional $15,000, and assessments for the unit are estimated at $125 a month, according to <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/\">Coldwell Banker</a>\'s listing.</p> <p>Ardmore Academy Rowhomes is, to our knowledge, is Edgewater\'s only active townhouse development. Its other four townhouses, which ranged in size from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet, sold from the $420s to the $600s between October 2007 and August 2008. Even with the latest price reductions, its one available unit is still priced about $60 above the median price per square foot in the neighborhood, according to <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>\'s neighborhood data. </p></div>\";}i:4;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:67:\"2570 W Lyndale St - 2570 W Lyndale St, Chicago 60647 - Logan Square\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2287\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:49:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:3238:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p>How cozy do you like your two-bedroom condos? Because if you\'re looking around Logan Square, you can find at least four two-bedrooms where floor space doesn\'t crack the quadruple-digit mark. <p><a href=\"http://rubloff.com/exit?url=www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne</a> of <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a> said last week that four homes - one one-bedroom / one-bath, two two-bedroom / two-baths, and one \"large\" two-bedroom / two-bath - were still for sale at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2570+W+Lyndale+Ave,+Chicago,+IL&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;ll=41.922812,-87.690232&amp;spn=0.011304,0.027895&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=2570+W+Lyndale+Ave,+Chicago,+IL&amp;iwloc=addr\">2570 - 80 W Lyndale Ave</a>. According to the MLS, however, each of the last four homes in <a href=\"http://rubloff.com/developments/2570-80_W_Lyndale/\">the two-story gut rehab</a> is a two-bedroom / one-bath with approximately 900 square feet. For some perspective, I browsed some of the floor plans and pricing sheets sitting on my desk, and noticed that all of the 900 square-foot new-construction homes I came across were one-bedrooms or one-bedrooms with small dens.</p> <p>Whether that measurement takes the \"mammoth back deck\" into account is anyone\'s guess, as Rubloff doesn\'t feature floor plans for these condos on its Web site, but listings on the MLS offer a few room dimensions: a 13\' x 13\' living / dining room, a 12\' x16\' kitchen, a 12\' x 9\' master bedroom, and an 11\' x 8\' second bedroom. </p> <p>The developer\'s interior design is a kind of \"love \'em or hate \'em\" affair, Browne says. Inspired perhaps by the building\'s age (it was built in 1910, according to <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>), the developer gave the homes \"a whole 1920s feel,\" she says, using finishes like oversized baseboards and trim, oiled bronze light fixtures and hinges, white subway tiles with black trim, and double-row cabinetry. Judging by <a href=\"http://coldwellbankeronline.com/CustomModules/Properties/PropertyDetails.aspx?SearchID=2004819&amp;PropertyID=367748&amp;RowNum=1&amp;StateID=19&amp;RegionID=0&amp;IsRegularPS=True\">the listings\' pictures</a>, they also come with stainless-steel appliances, and newspaper ads mention the presence of washer / dryer hookups.</p> <p>None of the homes have deeded parking spaces, but buyers shouldn\'t have trouble finding a place to park on the largely residential, permit-free street, she says. Monthly assessments are estimated at $200.</p> <p>The homes are priced in the $230s to the $280s, or about $266 to $316 a square foot. (The most expensive unit actually went up in price by $15,000 this summer.) Rubloff is advertising a $5,000 discount, which Browne says can be used in any way the buyer sees fit. </p> <p>According to <a href=\"http://chicagotribune.public-record.com/realestate/search/cook\">Cook County sales records</a>, another seven homes in the 12-unit building have sold from the $210s to the $270s since May 2007.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:17:\"2570 W Lyndale St\";s:7:\"address\";s:32:\"2570 W Lyndale St, Chicago 60647\";s:4:\"area\";s:12:\"Logan Square\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.922444000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.692303000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.922444000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.692303000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:3238:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p>How cozy do you like your two-bedroom condos? Because if you\'re looking around Logan Square, you can find at least four two-bedrooms where floor space doesn\'t crack the quadruple-digit mark. <p><a href=\"http://rubloff.com/exit?url=www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne</a> of <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a> said last week that four homes - one one-bedroom / one-bath, two two-bedroom / two-baths, and one \"large\" two-bedroom / two-bath - were still for sale at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2570+W+Lyndale+Ave,+Chicago,+IL&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;ll=41.922812,-87.690232&amp;spn=0.011304,0.027895&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=2570+W+Lyndale+Ave,+Chicago,+IL&amp;iwloc=addr\">2570 - 80 W Lyndale Ave</a>. According to the MLS, however, each of the last four homes in <a href=\"http://rubloff.com/developments/2570-80_W_Lyndale/\">the two-story gut rehab</a> is a two-bedroom / one-bath with approximately 900 square feet. For some perspective, I browsed some of the floor plans and pricing sheets sitting on my desk, and noticed that all of the 900 square-foot new-construction homes I came across were one-bedrooms or one-bedrooms with small dens.</p> <p>Whether that measurement takes the \"mammoth back deck\" into account is anyone\'s guess, as Rubloff doesn\'t feature floor plans for these condos on its Web site, but listings on the MLS offer a few room dimensions: a 13\' x 13\' living / dining room, a 12\' x16\' kitchen, a 12\' x 9\' master bedroom, and an 11\' x 8\' second bedroom. </p> <p>The developer\'s interior design is a kind of \"love \'em or hate \'em\" affair, Browne says. Inspired perhaps by the building\'s age (it was built in 1910, according to <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>), the developer gave the homes \"a whole 1920s feel,\" she says, using finishes like oversized baseboards and trim, oiled bronze light fixtures and hinges, white subway tiles with black trim, and double-row cabinetry. Judging by <a href=\"http://coldwellbankeronline.com/CustomModules/Properties/PropertyDetails.aspx?SearchID=2004819&amp;PropertyID=367748&amp;RowNum=1&amp;StateID=19&amp;RegionID=0&amp;IsRegularPS=True\">the listings\' pictures</a>, they also come with stainless-steel appliances, and newspaper ads mention the presence of washer / dryer hookups.</p> <p>None of the homes have deeded parking spaces, but buyers shouldn\'t have trouble finding a place to park on the largely residential, permit-free street, she says. Monthly assessments are estimated at $200.</p> <p>The homes are priced in the $230s to the $280s, or about $266 to $316 a square foot. (The most expensive unit actually went up in price by $15,000 this summer.) Rubloff is advertising a $5,000 discount, which Browne says can be used in any way the buyer sees fit. </p> <p>According to <a href=\"http://chicagotribune.public-record.com/realestate/search/cook\">Cook County sales records</a>, another seven homes in the 12-unit building have sold from the $210s to the $270s since May 2007.</p></div>\";}i:5;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:62:\"Shoemaker Lofts - 3963 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618 - Avondale\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1921\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:48:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2116:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p><p>It looks like our old questions about availability at <a href=\"http://www.dubinresidential.com/shoemaker-lofts-avondale-chicago/\">Shoemaker Lofts</a> had some merit after all. According to Steve Samuels of <a href=\"http://www.bearkaufman.com/\">Bear Kaufman Realty</a>, there are 14 lofts left in the old shoe factory at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=3963+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=addr\">3963 W Belmont Ave</a>, eight more than we knew about back in July.</p> <p>Although he hasn\'t adjusted his listings yet, Samuels says he plans to reduce the prices on some of those 14 units within the next week. Following the changes, the homes will range from the $230s for a 1,200 square-foot one-bedroom / one-bath with a den to the $470s for a 1,745 square-foot two-bedroom / two-bath with a den, he says. </p> <p><a href=\"http://www.dubinresidential.com/\">Dubin Residential</a> is also implementing a rent-to-own plan for the homes, in which residents can have half of their rent credited toward the purchase of their homes should they choose to convert to ownership, he says.</p> <p>Outdoor parking, once sold at an additional cost, is now included with every home, but a space in Shoemaker\'s garage still costs an additional $19,900, Samuels says.</p> <p>The 175-unit, brick-and-concrete building is one of the few active loft projects in Avondale. The homes feature 11-foot ceiling heights, 9 x 14\' replica vintage windows, and exposed brick and ductwork, as well as condo standards like hardwood flooring, stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, and <a href=\"http://www.moen.com/\">Moen</a> fixtures. (Interestingly enough, Dubin opted for ceramic tile, not the market\'s ubiquitous stone finishes, for its bathrooms. Color me surprised.)</p> <p>Every loft also has laundry hookups and a balcony or terrace per plan.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:15:\"Shoemaker Lofts\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"3963 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618\";s:4:\"area\";s:8:\"Avondale\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.939120000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.726354000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.939120000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.726354000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2116:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff. </p><p>It looks like our old questions about availability at <a href=\"http://www.dubinresidential.com/shoemaker-lofts-avondale-chicago/\">Shoemaker Lofts</a> had some merit after all. According to Steve Samuels of <a href=\"http://www.bearkaufman.com/\">Bear Kaufman Realty</a>, there are 14 lofts left in the old shoe factory at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=3963+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=addr\">3963 W Belmont Ave</a>, eight more than we knew about back in July.</p> <p>Although he hasn\'t adjusted his listings yet, Samuels says he plans to reduce the prices on some of those 14 units within the next week. Following the changes, the homes will range from the $230s for a 1,200 square-foot one-bedroom / one-bath with a den to the $470s for a 1,745 square-foot two-bedroom / two-bath with a den, he says. </p> <p><a href=\"http://www.dubinresidential.com/\">Dubin Residential</a> is also implementing a rent-to-own plan for the homes, in which residents can have half of their rent credited toward the purchase of their homes should they choose to convert to ownership, he says.</p> <p>Outdoor parking, once sold at an additional cost, is now included with every home, but a space in Shoemaker\'s garage still costs an additional $19,900, Samuels says.</p> <p>The 175-unit, brick-and-concrete building is one of the few active loft projects in Avondale. The homes feature 11-foot ceiling heights, 9 x 14\' replica vintage windows, and exposed brick and ductwork, as well as condo standards like hardwood flooring, stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, and <a href=\"http://www.moen.com/\">Moen</a> fixtures. (Interestingly enough, Dubin opted for ceramic tile, not the market\'s ubiquitous stone finishes, for its bathrooms. Color me surprised.)</p> <p>Every loft also has laundry hookups and a balcony or terrace per plan.</p></div>\";}i:6;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:58:\"Belmont Row - 2734 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618 - Avondale\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1547\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:11:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2636:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Edison Park is part of Chicago, too. We don\'t come across too many new listings in the far-flung neighborhood on the Northwest Side, as evidenced by the seven mentions it has received on Yo in the past two years, but there are some new condos to be found there if you take a look around.<br />Take the <a href=\"http://www.6766onarga.com/\">Edison Park Villa Condos</a>, for instance. Two condos are for sale in this five-unit conversion (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/154/249154.jpg\">see photo</a>) at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=6766+N+Onarga+Ave&amp;sll=42.001777,-87.817745&amp;sspn=0.011704,0.027895&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=42.002366,-87.816918&amp;spn=0.011704,0.027895&amp;z=16&amp;g=6766+N+Onarga+Ave&amp;iwloc=addr\">6766 N Onarga Ave</a>, according to <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/\">Coldwell Banker</a>\'s ads and Web site. One, a two-bedroom / two-bath duplex with 1,200 square feet, is priced in the $290s. The other, a two-bedroom / one-bath with 1,000 square feet, is selling in the $270s.<br />The building\'s three other units closed last month at prices ranging from the $190s to the $280s.<br />According the development\'s Web site and MLS listings, the remodeled brick building has a new roof, windows, wiring, plumbing, gas furnaces, air-conditioning units, and common areas. Home finishes appear to be the norm - new kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors, and the like. (See photos <a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/155/249155.jpg\">one </a>and <a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/156/249156.jpg\">two</a>.) Monthly assessments for each unit come out to around $80.<br />The listings suggest that the homes are near the Kennedy Expressway and Blue Line tracks. However, although it\'s true that the development isn\'t too far north of the Kennedy, it\'s not a quick walk to the Harlem / O\'Hare station. (Walking to Harlem and taking a bus south to Bryn Mawr will take you about 20 minutes, according to <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/\">Google Maps</a>.) Residents at Edison Park Villa will probably opt to ride the Metra into the city, since the <a href=\"http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/cnw_nw/cnw_nw.shtml\">Union Pacific Northwest</a> station at Monument Park (near <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Monument+Park+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A\">the intersection of Olmsted and Oliphant avenues</a>) is a simple five-minute walk away.</div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:11:\"Belmont Row\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"2734 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618\";s:4:\"area\";s:8:\"Avondale\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.939400000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.696091000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.939400000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.696091000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2636:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Edison Park is part of Chicago, too. We don\'t come across too many new listings in the far-flung neighborhood on the Northwest Side, as evidenced by the seven mentions it has received on Yo in the past two years, but there are some new condos to be found there if you take a look around.<br />Take the <a href=\"http://www.6766onarga.com/\">Edison Park Villa Condos</a>, for instance. Two condos are for sale in this five-unit conversion (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/154/249154.jpg\">see photo</a>) at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=6766+N+Onarga+Ave&amp;sll=42.001777,-87.817745&amp;sspn=0.011704,0.027895&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=42.002366,-87.816918&amp;spn=0.011704,0.027895&amp;z=16&amp;g=6766+N+Onarga+Ave&amp;iwloc=addr\">6766 N Onarga Ave</a>, according to <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/\">Coldwell Banker</a>\'s ads and Web site. One, a two-bedroom / two-bath duplex with 1,200 square feet, is priced in the $290s. The other, a two-bedroom / one-bath with 1,000 square feet, is selling in the $270s.<br />The building\'s three other units closed last month at prices ranging from the $190s to the $280s.<br />According the development\'s Web site and MLS listings, the remodeled brick building has a new roof, windows, wiring, plumbing, gas furnaces, air-conditioning units, and common areas. Home finishes appear to be the norm - new kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors, and the like. (See photos <a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/155/249155.jpg\">one </a>and <a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/156/249156.jpg\">two</a>.) Monthly assessments for each unit come out to around $80.<br />The listings suggest that the homes are near the Kennedy Expressway and Blue Line tracks. However, although it\'s true that the development isn\'t too far north of the Kennedy, it\'s not a quick walk to the Harlem / O\'Hare station. (Walking to Harlem and taking a bus south to Bryn Mawr will take you about 20 minutes, according to <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/\">Google Maps</a>.) Residents at Edison Park Villa will probably opt to ride the Metra into the city, since the <a href=\"http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/cnw_nw/cnw_nw.shtml\">Union Pacific Northwest</a> station at Monument Park (near <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Monument+Park+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A\">the intersection of Olmsted and Oliphant avenues</a>) is a simple five-minute walk away.</div>\";}i:7;a:11:{s:5:\"title\";s:46:\"BLU 44 - 4454 S St Lawrence Ave, Chicago 60653\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2199\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:56:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1911:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>“The area has been hit hard, and we’re keeping pace with price reductions,” <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne</a> says of the last three-bedrooms available at <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/developments/BLU_44_Luxury_Condom/\">BLU 44</a>, the eight-unit, new-construction development at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4454+s+st.+lawrence,+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=4454+s+st.+lawrence,+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">4450 - 54 S St Lawrence Ave </a>in Grand Boulevard. “They’re moving down, just as everything else is moving down.”</p><p>Rubloff and developer Mark Construction reduced prices at BLU 44 in August, cutting the prices of the three-bedroom / two-bath condos by as much as $24,000 in at least a couple of cases.<br />One home appears to have gone under contract since that time but has not closed. Another two – a first-floor unit priced in the $230s and a top-floor unit priced in the $260s – remain unsold. The developer is \"open to all reasonable offers\" on those last two units, Browne says. <br /><br />In mid-2007 Rubloff promoted the inclusion of “security cameras for each unit.” There’s no mention of cameras these days, but <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>’s profiles of both units do mention a security system of some sort. And speaking of security, Browne says the homes both come with “secure” parking spaces. <br /><br />The condos have granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, gas fireplaces, in-unit laundry, and outdoor space. Assessments are estimated at $175 a month.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:6:\"BLU 44\";s:7:\"address\";s:37:\"4454 S St Lawrence Ave, Chicago 60653\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.813686000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.611525000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.813686000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.611525000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1911:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>“The area has been hit hard, and we’re keeping pace with price reductions,” <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne</a> says of the last three-bedrooms available at <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/developments/BLU_44_Luxury_Condom/\">BLU 44</a>, the eight-unit, new-construction development at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4454+s+st.+lawrence,+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=4454+s+st.+lawrence,+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">4450 - 54 S St Lawrence Ave </a>in Grand Boulevard. “They’re moving down, just as everything else is moving down.”</p><p>Rubloff and developer Mark Construction reduced prices at BLU 44 in August, cutting the prices of the three-bedroom / two-bath condos by as much as $24,000 in at least a couple of cases.<br />One home appears to have gone under contract since that time but has not closed. Another two – a first-floor unit priced in the $230s and a top-floor unit priced in the $260s – remain unsold. The developer is \"open to all reasonable offers\" on those last two units, Browne says. <br /><br />In mid-2007 Rubloff promoted the inclusion of “security cameras for each unit.” There’s no mention of cameras these days, but <a href=\"http://www.redfin.com/\">Redfin</a>’s profiles of both units do mention a security system of some sort. And speaking of security, Browne says the homes both come with “secure” parking spaces. <br /><br />The condos have granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, gas fireplaces, in-unit laundry, and outdoor space. Assessments are estimated at $175 a month.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";}i:8;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:61:\"Odyssey Lofts - 775 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago 60661 - West Loop\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1829\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:42:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1905:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>When will the <a href=\"http://www.odysseylofts.com/\">The Odyssey Lofts</a> sell? This 60-unit loft conversion at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=775+w+jackson+blvd+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=775+w+jackson+blvd+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">775 W Jackson Blvd</a> in the West Loop has seen less than half of its homes sell since early 2006. Given the current market, it seems unlikely that the building will close out anytime soon. </p><p>According to <a href=\"http://www.jameson.com/\">Jameson</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.jameson.com/agents/profile.cfm?guiAssociateID=49e4cd67-604e-4c07-9f61-f610a01dca7a\">Barbara Buchel</a>, the development was originally designed to have 70 condos, but a single buyer purchased ten units on the first floor and had the space rezoned for commercial use. Now, the building has 60 units, 14 of which have closed. Another 12 are currently under contract. </p><p>Buchel said in April that developer W Developments was still waiting for a certificate of occupancy from the city. Buchel clarified that statement Friday, saying that a problem last year involving a <a href=\"http://www.exeloncorp.com/\">ComEd</a> transformer delayed the development for 10 months. As a result, first move-ins didn\'t start until May. </p><p>Despite the slow sales, the developer isn\'t advertising price cuts, although Buchel says reductions are being arranged at the negotiating table. The remaining one-bedrooms are listed from the $240s, one-bedrooms with dens start in the $250s, two-bedroom / two-baths are priced from the $340s to the $390s, and the last remaining three-bedroom / 2.5-bath condo is priced in the $620s.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:13:\"Odyssey Lofts\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"775 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago 60661\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"West Loop\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.877949103382900\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.646735958031100\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.877949103382900\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.646735958031100\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1905:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>When will the <a href=\"http://www.odysseylofts.com/\">The Odyssey Lofts</a> sell? This 60-unit loft conversion at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=775+w+jackson+blvd+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=775+w+jackson+blvd+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">775 W Jackson Blvd</a> in the West Loop has seen less than half of its homes sell since early 2006. Given the current market, it seems unlikely that the building will close out anytime soon. </p><p>According to <a href=\"http://www.jameson.com/\">Jameson</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.jameson.com/agents/profile.cfm?guiAssociateID=49e4cd67-604e-4c07-9f61-f610a01dca7a\">Barbara Buchel</a>, the development was originally designed to have 70 condos, but a single buyer purchased ten units on the first floor and had the space rezoned for commercial use. Now, the building has 60 units, 14 of which have closed. Another 12 are currently under contract. </p><p>Buchel said in April that developer W Developments was still waiting for a certificate of occupancy from the city. Buchel clarified that statement Friday, saying that a problem last year involving a <a href=\"http://www.exeloncorp.com/\">ComEd</a> transformer delayed the development for 10 months. As a result, first move-ins didn\'t start until May. </p><p>Despite the slow sales, the developer isn\'t advertising price cuts, although Buchel says reductions are being arranged at the negotiating table. The remaining one-bedrooms are listed from the $240s, one-bedrooms with dens start in the $250s, two-bedroom / two-baths are priced from the $340s to the $390s, and the last remaining three-bedroom / 2.5-bath condo is priced in the $620s.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";}i:9;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:68:\"Blues Elegance - 4348 S Prairie Ave, Chicago 60653 - Grand Boulevard\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=3333\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:25:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:3387:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>The ads for the 31 condos at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4348+S+Prairie+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60653&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FXgLfgIdwAXH-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=4348+S+Prairie+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60653&amp;iwloc=addr\">4348 – 58 S Prairie Ave</a> in Grand Boulevard piqued my curiosity this week for a couple of reasons.<br />First, the development’s name is <a href=\"http://rubloff.com/developments/4348-58sprairie/\">Blues Elegance</a>, which isn’t quite as confounding as calling a King Drive project “<a href=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&amp;po=3334\">Logan Square</a>,” or as pie-in-the-sky as christening a conversion “<a href=\"http://yochicago.com/today/condo-conversions/wide-awake-in-pilsen_7518/\">Reawakening Pilsen</a>,” but still a little amusing. <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a>’s Web site wisely tries to explain: “Condominium residents will share their neighborhood with the much lauded Harold Washington Cultural Center and the electrifying birth of the Chicago’s Blues and shopping district along 47th Street.”</p><p>Second, and more importantly, the ads for Blues Elegance promote its lease-to-own program. Lease-to-own isn’t the kind of thing we hear about all that often, so I asked Rubloff agent <a href=\"http://www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne </a>to explain how it will work.</p><p>Browne started by assuring that Blues Elegance’s program is on the up-and-up: “It’s a real lease-to-own program through <a href=\"http://www.wellsfargo.com/\">Wells Fargo</a>, not just a way for the developer to rent out units while things are slow,” she says. Buyers will have to go through a mortgage pre-approval process and will probably take over their full mortgage payments 12 to 18 months after signing their leases. <br />Blues Elegance’s 31 units range from one-bedrooms with dens to three-bedroom duplexes. The homes are priced from the $140s to the $240s and will be leased from about $800 to $1,700 a month, Browne says.</p><p>Rubloff’s listings describe the homes as having new white oak floors, exposed brick walls, granite countertops with back-splashes, stainless-steel appliances, and spa bathrooms with stone, but Browne says that buyers will have the opportunity to finish their units to suit.</p><p>Parking is included for every unit except the one-bedrooms. The buyers of those units can purchase spaces for $10,000 a piece.<br />As I said, we aren’t seeing too many of these lease-to-own programs mentioned in brokers’ new-development ads, but Browne says there’s a good chance that more could pop up over the next year, as buyers and developers both adjust to a changing market.</p><p>“I think it’ll continue for a couple of reasons: It gives buyers the instant gratification of being in the property they want, and it gives them the realistic experience of paying a mortgage - or what’s almost a mortgage - and building up credit. For a lot of buyers, it may be the only option for some time,” she says.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from NewHomeNotebook.com staff</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:14:\"Blues Elegance\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"4348 S Prairie Ave, Chicago 60653\";s:4:\"area\";s:15:\"Grand Boulevard\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.814909000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.619744000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.814909000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.619744000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:3387:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>The ads for the 31 condos at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4348+S+Prairie+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60653&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FXgLfgIdwAXH-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=4348+S+Prairie+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60653&amp;iwloc=addr\">4348 – 58 S Prairie Ave</a> in Grand Boulevard piqued my curiosity this week for a couple of reasons.<br />First, the development’s name is <a href=\"http://rubloff.com/developments/4348-58sprairie/\">Blues Elegance</a>, which isn’t quite as confounding as calling a King Drive project “<a href=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&amp;po=3334\">Logan Square</a>,” or as pie-in-the-sky as christening a conversion “<a href=\"http://yochicago.com/today/condo-conversions/wide-awake-in-pilsen_7518/\">Reawakening Pilsen</a>,” but still a little amusing. <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff</a>’s Web site wisely tries to explain: “Condominium residents will share their neighborhood with the much lauded Harold Washington Cultural Center and the electrifying birth of the Chicago’s Blues and shopping district along 47th Street.”</p><p>Second, and more importantly, the ads for Blues Elegance promote its lease-to-own program. Lease-to-own isn’t the kind of thing we hear about all that often, so I asked Rubloff agent <a href=\"http://www.yourteam.rubloff.com/Michelle_Browne/\">Michelle Browne </a>to explain how it will work.</p><p>Browne started by assuring that Blues Elegance’s program is on the up-and-up: “It’s a real lease-to-own program through <a href=\"http://www.wellsfargo.com/\">Wells Fargo</a>, not just a way for the developer to rent out units while things are slow,” she says. Buyers will have to go through a mortgage pre-approval process and will probably take over their full mortgage payments 12 to 18 months after signing their leases. <br />Blues Elegance’s 31 units range from one-bedrooms with dens to three-bedroom duplexes. The homes are priced from the $140s to the $240s and will be leased from about $800 to $1,700 a month, Browne says.</p><p>Rubloff’s listings describe the homes as having new white oak floors, exposed brick walls, granite countertops with back-splashes, stainless-steel appliances, and spa bathrooms with stone, but Browne says that buyers will have the opportunity to finish their units to suit.</p><p>Parking is included for every unit except the one-bedrooms. The buyers of those units can purchase spaces for $10,000 a piece.<br />As I said, we aren’t seeing too many of these lease-to-own programs mentioned in brokers’ new-development ads, but Browne says there’s a good chance that more could pop up over the next year, as buyers and developers both adjust to a changing market.</p><p>“I think it’ll continue for a couple of reasons: It gives buyers the instant gratification of being in the property they want, and it gives them the realistic experience of paying a mortgage - or what’s almost a mortgage - and building up credit. For a lot of buyers, it may be the only option for some time,” she says.</p><p>Note:  Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from NewHomeNotebook.com staff</p></div>\";}i:10;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:65:\"Farwell at Lake - 1125 W Farwell Ave, Chicago 60626 - Rogers Park\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2116\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:22:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1450:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Prices have dropped steadily at Loyola Vista LLC\'s <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/developments/Farwell_at_the_Lake/\">Farwell at the Lake</a> condos (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/889/187889.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">see image</a>) over the past year and a half, but some of the biggest dips have come in the past month, says <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff </a>agent Michelle Browne.<br />The 12 two-bedroom condos left in the gut-rehab at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1125+W+Farwell+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60626&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FWD3gAIdyGvG-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=1125+W+Farwell+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60626&amp;iwloc=addr\">1125 W Farwell Ave </a>have seen price reductions of 10 to 15 percent, bringing the old $290s-to-$430s price range down to the $250s to $390s, she says. <br />Although the red-brick building has a Farwell address, it actually faces the lake, and all 16 units in it have unobstructed lake views. The available units have 1,000 to 1,400 square feet and one or two bathrooms per plan. Interior features include white oak flooring, stainless-steel appliances, stone or porcelain bathroom floors, double-pane vinyl windows, fireplaces and washer / dryer hookups.</div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:15:\"Farwell at Lake\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"1125 W Farwell Ave, Chicago 60626\";s:4:\"area\";s:11:\"Rogers Park\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"42.006807000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.659603000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"42.006807000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.659603000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1450:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">Prices have dropped steadily at Loyola Vista LLC\'s <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/developments/Farwell_at_the_Lake/\">Farwell at the Lake</a> condos (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/889/187889.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">see image</a>) over the past year and a half, but some of the biggest dips have come in the past month, says <a href=\"http://www.rubloff.com/\">Rubloff </a>agent Michelle Browne.<br />The 12 two-bedroom condos left in the gut-rehab at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1125+W+Farwell+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60626&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;geocode=FWD3gAIdyGvG-g&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=23.875,57.630033&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;g=1125+W+Farwell+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60626&amp;iwloc=addr\">1125 W Farwell Ave </a>have seen price reductions of 10 to 15 percent, bringing the old $290s-to-$430s price range down to the $250s to $390s, she says. <br />Although the red-brick building has a Farwell address, it actually faces the lake, and all 16 units in it have unobstructed lake views. The available units have 1,000 to 1,400 square feet and one or two bathrooms per plan. Interior features include white oak flooring, stainless-steel appliances, stone or porcelain bathroom floors, double-pane vinyl windows, fireplaces and washer / dryer hookups.</div>\";}i:11;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:64:\"North River Court - 2609 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618 - Avondale\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1825\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:16:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2026:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">When I spoke with <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbanker.com/\">Coldwell Banker </a>agent <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbanker.com/servlet/PropertyListing?action=detail&amp;ComColdwellbankerDataProperty_id=14345139&amp;page=agent&amp;brand=CB\">Donna Nugent </a>about Belmont Row (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/186/249186.jpg\">see image</a>) on Thursday, I asked about progress at <a href=\"http://northrivercourt.com/\">North River Court</a>, a larger development that Nugent is also marketing just down the street, at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;q=2609+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;g=2609+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ll=41.942111,-87.692893&amp;spn=0.011699,0.027895&amp;z=16\">2609 W Belmont </a>Ave in Avondale.<br />Nugent says the 46-unit development has been divided into two phases, with first phase including the building located to the east, closest to the river. As I reported last month, a two-bedroom model unit is expected to open in February, and closings should begin in Phase 1 by March 1st, Nugent says. <br />About 30 of the 46 homes in the development are still for sale, but Nugent says she expects sales to pick up once the model opens. \"Once we have a model, I wouldn\'t be surprised if they raise the price, because there\'s just nothing else like it,\" Nugent says. <br />I hadn\'t noticed it before, but the western bank of the Chicago River between Belmont and Addison Street is actually a park called Riverview Park, at least that\'s the title of the green splotch that shows up on Google Maps. In previous eras, that neighborhood was commonly known as Riverview (and it probably still is to some), and the park takes its name from a <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverview_Park\">74-acre amusement park </a>that was located between Belmont and Addison, and from the river to Western Avenue before it was torn down in 1967.</div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:17:\"North River Court\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"2609 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60618\";s:4:\"area\";s:8:\"Avondale\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.939400000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.695198000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.939400000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.695198000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2026:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">When I spoke with <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbanker.com/\">Coldwell Banker </a>agent <a href=\"http://www.coldwellbanker.com/servlet/PropertyListing?action=detail&amp;ComColdwellbankerDataProperty_id=14345139&amp;page=agent&amp;brand=CB\">Donna Nugent </a>about Belmont Row (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/186/249186.jpg\">see image</a>) on Thursday, I asked about progress at <a href=\"http://northrivercourt.com/\">North River Court</a>, a larger development that Nugent is also marketing just down the street, at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;q=2609+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;g=2609+W+Belmont+Ave+chicago&amp;ll=41.942111,-87.692893&amp;spn=0.011699,0.027895&amp;z=16\">2609 W Belmont </a>Ave in Avondale.<br />Nugent says the 46-unit development has been divided into two phases, with first phase including the building located to the east, closest to the river. As I reported last month, a two-bedroom model unit is expected to open in February, and closings should begin in Phase 1 by March 1st, Nugent says. <br />About 30 of the 46 homes in the development are still for sale, but Nugent says she expects sales to pick up once the model opens. \"Once we have a model, I wouldn\'t be surprised if they raise the price, because there\'s just nothing else like it,\" Nugent says. <br />I hadn\'t noticed it before, but the western bank of the Chicago River between Belmont and Addison Street is actually a park called Riverview Park, at least that\'s the title of the green splotch that shows up on Google Maps. In previous eras, that neighborhood was commonly known as Riverview (and it probably still is to some), and the park takes its name from a <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverview_Park\">74-acre amusement park </a>that was located between Belmont and Addison, and from the river to Western Avenue before it was torn down in 1967.</div>\";}i:12;a:11:{s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"1838 W Division St, Chicago 60622 - Wicker Park\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=3309\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:07:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1788:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Last month, I reported that construction was underway on a new-construction condo building in the 1800-block of West Division Street in Wicker Park. At that point, I hadn\'t managed to reach either the developer or the sales team, so I could only report what I had seen at the construction site and what I found on the Web. This week, I got in touch with <a href=\"http://www.primechicago.com/site/epage/60759_424.htm\">Sophie Kos</a> from <a href=\"http://www.primechicago.com/\">Prime Properties Realty</a>, who sent along a full-size rendering and some more details on the project. </p> <p>Contrary to what I had written before, the address for the development is <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1838+W+Division+St+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=1838+W+Division+St+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1838 W Division St</a> - not 1846 W Division St. According to Kos, the building is being developed by ICON Developers, and it will have nine two-bedroom / two-bath condos. </p> <p>Prices for the two-bedroom / two-bath condos start in the $390s and top out in the $790s. While I don\'t have any info on the square footage for any of these homes, I do know that 1,750 square-foot homes sold in the $790s just one block to the west, at <a href=\"http://www.ranquistdevelopment.com/\">Ranquist Development</a>\'s 1711 West Division.</p> <p>1838 West Division is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2010.</p><p><span class=\"DNNAlignleft\" id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\"><span id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\" class=\"DNNAlignleft\">Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</span></span></p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:7:\"address\";s:33:\"1838 W Division St, Chicago 60622\";s:4:\"area\";s:11:\"Wicker Park\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.903229000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.674050000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.903229000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.674050000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1788:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>Last month, I reported that construction was underway on a new-construction condo building in the 1800-block of West Division Street in Wicker Park. At that point, I hadn\'t managed to reach either the developer or the sales team, so I could only report what I had seen at the construction site and what I found on the Web. This week, I got in touch with <a href=\"http://www.primechicago.com/site/epage/60759_424.htm\">Sophie Kos</a> from <a href=\"http://www.primechicago.com/\">Prime Properties Realty</a>, who sent along a full-size rendering and some more details on the project. </p> <p>Contrary to what I had written before, the address for the development is <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1838+W+Division+St+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=1838+W+Division+St+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1838 W Division St</a> - not 1846 W Division St. According to Kos, the building is being developed by ICON Developers, and it will have nine two-bedroom / two-bath condos. </p> <p>Prices for the two-bedroom / two-bath condos start in the $390s and top out in the $790s. While I don\'t have any info on the square footage for any of these homes, I do know that 1,750 square-foot homes sold in the $790s just one block to the west, at <a href=\"http://www.ranquistdevelopment.com/\">Ranquist Development</a>\'s 1711 West Division.</p> <p>1838 West Division is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2010.</p><p><span class=\"DNNAlignleft\" id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\"><span id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\" class=\"DNNAlignleft\">Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</span></span></p></div>\";}i:13;a:11:{s:5:\"title\";s:47:\"1555 N Talman St, Chicago 60622 - Humboldt Park\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=3302\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:02:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2689:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>About a month ago, I critiqued some of the terminology in the <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/uploads/pdfs/7056292_1555_N_TALMAN_AVE.pdf\">marketing brochure (PDF)</a> for these new-construction condos at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1555+n+talman+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=41.907739,-87.69285&amp;spn=0.011705,0.027895&amp;z=16&amp;g=1555+n+talman+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1555 N Talman St</a>. Yesterday, I spoke with <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/\">@properties</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/sabrinabier\">Sabrina Bier</a>, who cleared up the questions I had about the development\'s green features and offered some general information about the building. </p> <p><a href=\"http://www.goodkarmaconstruction.com/site/epage/34490_553.htm\">Shangri-La Developers and Good Karma Construction</a> are developing the eight-unit building. According to Bier, the developer has received Chicago Green Homes certification from the city of Chicago, and they\'re applying for LEED certification from the <a href=\"http://www.usgbc.org/\">US Green Building Council</a>. </p> <p>Bier says recycled materials are a big part of the development\'s green identity. The homes will feature many 100-year-old doors that have been stripped and repainted. Buyers will also be able to select countertops that are made of recycled materials. In addition other features like <a href=\"http://www.energystar.gov/\">Energy Star</a> appliances, green roofs, and an <a href=\"http://www.us.kone.com/\">EcoSpace</a> elevator, the developer also gives buyers a free bicycle at closing and offers six months worth of eco-friendly cleaning solutions and detergents. </p> <p>One interesting aspect of the development that doesn\'t have much to do with its green features - at least as far as I can tell - is that it was built on caissons, which Bier says is common for high-rises but rarely seen in small, four-story buildings. The caisson foundation should prevent the building from settling, which she says can be a problem in this part of Humboldt Park. </p> <p>Two of the eight homes in the building have sold so far, and the developer is listing the remaining six units for sale or for rent. According to the price sheet Bier sent me, the available two- and three-bedroom homes have between 1,537 and 1,938 square feet and are priced from the $480s to the $770s.</p><p><span class=\"DNNAlignleft\" id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\">Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</span></p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:7:\"address\";s:31:\"1555 N Talman St, Chicago 60622\";s:4:\"area\";s:13:\"Humboldt Park\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.909444000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.693306000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.909444000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.693306000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2689:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>About a month ago, I critiqued some of the terminology in the <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/uploads/pdfs/7056292_1555_N_TALMAN_AVE.pdf\">marketing brochure (PDF)</a> for these new-construction condos at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1555+n+talman+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=41.907739,-87.69285&amp;spn=0.011705,0.027895&amp;z=16&amp;g=1555+n+talman+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1555 N Talman St</a>. Yesterday, I spoke with <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/\">@properties</a> agent <a href=\"http://www.atproperties.com/sabrinabier\">Sabrina Bier</a>, who cleared up the questions I had about the development\'s green features and offered some general information about the building. </p> <p><a href=\"http://www.goodkarmaconstruction.com/site/epage/34490_553.htm\">Shangri-La Developers and Good Karma Construction</a> are developing the eight-unit building. According to Bier, the developer has received Chicago Green Homes certification from the city of Chicago, and they\'re applying for LEED certification from the <a href=\"http://www.usgbc.org/\">US Green Building Council</a>. </p> <p>Bier says recycled materials are a big part of the development\'s green identity. The homes will feature many 100-year-old doors that have been stripped and repainted. Buyers will also be able to select countertops that are made of recycled materials. In addition other features like <a href=\"http://www.energystar.gov/\">Energy Star</a> appliances, green roofs, and an <a href=\"http://www.us.kone.com/\">EcoSpace</a> elevator, the developer also gives buyers a free bicycle at closing and offers six months worth of eco-friendly cleaning solutions and detergents. </p> <p>One interesting aspect of the development that doesn\'t have much to do with its green features - at least as far as I can tell - is that it was built on caissons, which Bier says is common for high-rises but rarely seen in small, four-story buildings. The caisson foundation should prevent the building from settling, which she says can be a problem in this part of Humboldt Park. </p> <p>Two of the eight homes in the building have sold so far, and the developer is listing the remaining six units for sale or for rent. According to the price sheet Bier sent me, the available two- and three-bedroom homes have between 1,537 and 1,938 square feet and are priced from the $480s to the $770s.</p><p><span class=\"DNNAlignleft\" id=\"dnn_ctr51013_ContentPane\">Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</span></p></div>\";}i:14;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:53:\"R+D659 - 659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661 - West Loop\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=1880\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:22:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1940:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p><a href=\"http://www.rd659.com/\">R+D659</a>, <a href=\"http://www.mesirowfinancial.com/\">Mesirow Financial Real Estate</a>\'s 15-story high-rise in the West Loop (or the \"New West Loop\" or \"New Loop,\" according to some recent ads) is set to begin the first round of closings this week, according to <a href=\"http://www.mesirowfinancial.com/realestate_development/team/adducci_d.jsp\">Dominic Adducci</a>, Mesirow\'s managing director of real estate. Adducci says buyers could begin moving in to floors four through eight as early as next weekend.</p><p>Adducci says the model unit won\'t move into the building until the beginning of February, but because all of the unsold homes are being finished out, buyers will be able to look around various units to get a sense for the space and to look at the different packages of finishes.</p><p>\"We\'ve provided one of five upgrade packages in each of the unsold units,\" Adducci says. \"We did kind of a market responsive level of upgrade. We took the average amount of upgrade people were putting in, and we did it because we had to make decisions as construction advanced.\" Adducci says people are still selecting a pretty high level of upgrade, with most buyers requesting upgrades in tile, cabinets and flooring.</p><p>At this point, Mesirow isn\'t offering any buyer incentives or cutting the prices, which means that prices still range from the $270s to the $750s. Instead, they\'re offering 1.5 percent discount to current interest rates on a 30-year mortgage with <a href=\"http://www.nationalcitymortgage.com/\">National City Mortgage</a>.</p><p>Adducci says closings on the highest floors will begin in February, and construction on the building will be completely finished by March.</p><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:6:\"R+D659\";s:7:\"address\";s:32:\"659 W Randolph St, Chicago 60661\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"West Loop\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.884396801959400\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.644488825794200\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1940:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p><a href=\"http://www.rd659.com/\">R+D659</a>, <a href=\"http://www.mesirowfinancial.com/\">Mesirow Financial Real Estate</a>\'s 15-story high-rise in the West Loop (or the \"New West Loop\" or \"New Loop,\" according to some recent ads) is set to begin the first round of closings this week, according to <a href=\"http://www.mesirowfinancial.com/realestate_development/team/adducci_d.jsp\">Dominic Adducci</a>, Mesirow\'s managing director of real estate. Adducci says buyers could begin moving in to floors four through eight as early as next weekend.</p><p>Adducci says the model unit won\'t move into the building until the beginning of February, but because all of the unsold homes are being finished out, buyers will be able to look around various units to get a sense for the space and to look at the different packages of finishes.</p><p>\"We\'ve provided one of five upgrade packages in each of the unsold units,\" Adducci says. \"We did kind of a market responsive level of upgrade. We took the average amount of upgrade people were putting in, and we did it because we had to make decisions as construction advanced.\" Adducci says people are still selecting a pretty high level of upgrade, with most buyers requesting upgrades in tile, cabinets and flooring.</p><p>At this point, Mesirow isn\'t offering any buyer incentives or cutting the prices, which means that prices still range from the $270s to the $750s. Instead, they\'re offering 1.5 percent discount to current interest rates on a 30-year mortgage with <a href=\"http://www.nationalcitymortgage.com/\">National City Mortgage</a>.</p><p>Adducci says closings on the highest floors will begin in February, and construction on the building will be completely finished by March.</p><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";}i:15;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:62:\"5771 N Ridge Ave - 5771 N Ridge Ave, Chicago 60660 - Edgewater\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2389\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:13:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:1292:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>This six-unit new-construction condo building at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=5771+N+Ridge+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=5771+N+Ridge+Ave+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">5771 N Ridge Ave </a>in Edgewater has been on the market since the beginning of 2008, and still none of the homes have been sold, so now the developer is renting some of them out. However, for those that are still interested, the option to buy remains open.</p><p>The six units in the development include four three-bedroom / three-bath duplexes and two single-floor units with three bedrooms and two baths each. According to the MLS, units range from 1,750 to 2,600 square feet.</p><p><a href=\"http://www.robbermes.com/\">Rob Bermes</a> from <a href=\"http://www.century21sgr.com/\">Century 21 SGR</a> says prices for the condos range from the $390s to the low $500s. In addition to for-sale listings, the MLS also has listings for five rental units that range from $1,800 to $2,300 per month. One of the first-floor duplexes has already been rented. </p><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:16:\"5771 N Ridge Ave\";s:7:\"address\";s:31:\"5771 N Ridge Ave, Chicago 60660\";s:4:\"area\";s:9:\"Edgewater\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.986863000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.665346000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.986863000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.665346000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:1292:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\"><p>This six-unit new-construction condo building at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=5771+N+Ridge+Ave+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=5771+N+Ridge+Ave+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">5771 N Ridge Ave </a>in Edgewater has been on the market since the beginning of 2008, and still none of the homes have been sold, so now the developer is renting some of them out. However, for those that are still interested, the option to buy remains open.</p><p>The six units in the development include four three-bedroom / three-bath duplexes and two single-floor units with three bedrooms and two baths each. According to the MLS, units range from 1,750 to 2,600 square feet.</p><p><a href=\"http://www.robbermes.com/\">Rob Bermes</a> from <a href=\"http://www.century21sgr.com/\">Century 21 SGR</a> says prices for the condos range from the $390s to the low $500s. In addition to for-sale listings, the MLS also has listings for five rental units that range from $1,800 to $2,300 per month. One of the first-floor duplexes has already been rented. </p><p>Note: Please disregard star ratings accompanying reviews from the NewHomeNotebook.com staff.</p></div>\";}i:16;a:12:{s:5:\"title\";s:66:\"1919 W Crystal St - 1919 W Crystal St, Chicago 60622 - Wicker Park\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=2193\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:57:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2072:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">While I was looking at new-construction in West Town and Wicker Park this morning, I stopped by two developments at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1919 W Crystal St</a> (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/007/249007.jpg\">see photo</a>) and <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;q=728+n+ada+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=728+n+ada+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">728 N Ada St </a>(<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/997/248997.jpg\">see photo</a>) that were designed by <a href=\"http://www.studiodwell.com/index.html\">Studio Dwell Architects</a> and are being developed by the Karma Group. <br />Both of these buildings had new windows installed recently, and when I took these photos this morning both construction sites were dominated by large cherry pickers. <br />Although construction started first on <a href=\"http://1919crystalchicago.com/index.php?show=1\">1919 West Crystal</a>, 728 North Ada looks more like a finished building because most of the metal siding has been added to the facade, while 1919 Crystal still lacks the stained cedar and metal paneling that will be added later. When I spoke with developer Bill Williams in October, Williams said that construction on both projects should finish up in the winter or early spring. <br />When work is finished on the building at 728 N Ada St, Williams expects to break ground on another building next door that will be a mirror image of 728 North Ada. <br />Just one 2,300 square-foot duplex-down is still for sale at 728 North Ada, and it\'s priced in the $580s. At 1919 Crystal there\'s a bit more to choose from, as four of the nine homes in the development are currently listed on the MLS. All of the homes in that building are duplexes, and they\'re priced from the $640s to the $770s.</div>\";s:3:\"url\";s:48:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\";s:8:\"headline\";s:17:\"1919 W Crystal St\";s:7:\"address\";s:32:\"1919 W Crystal St, Chicago 60622\";s:4:\"area\";s:11:\"Wicker Park\";s:3:\"geo\";a:2:{s:9:\"point_lat\";s:18:\"41.904139000000000\";s:10:\"point_long\";s:19:\"-87.675325000000000\";}s:4:\"icbm\";a:2:{s:8:\"latitude\";s:18:\"41.904139000000000\";s:9:\"longitude\";s:19:\"-87.675325000000000\";}s:7:\"summary\";s:2072:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">While I was looking at new-construction in West Town and Wicker Park this morning, I stopped by two developments at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1919 W Crystal St</a> (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/007/249007.jpg\">see photo</a>) and <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;q=728+n+ada+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=728+n+ada+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">728 N Ada St </a>(<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/997/248997.jpg\">see photo</a>) that were designed by <a href=\"http://www.studiodwell.com/index.html\">Studio Dwell Architects</a> and are being developed by the Karma Group. <br />Both of these buildings had new windows installed recently, and when I took these photos this morning both construction sites were dominated by large cherry pickers. <br />Although construction started first on <a href=\"http://1919crystalchicago.com/index.php?show=1\">1919 West Crystal</a>, 728 North Ada looks more like a finished building because most of the metal siding has been added to the facade, while 1919 Crystal still lacks the stained cedar and metal paneling that will be added later. When I spoke with developer Bill Williams in October, Williams said that construction on both projects should finish up in the winter or early spring. <br />When work is finished on the building at 728 N Ada St, Williams expects to break ground on another building next door that will be a mirror image of 728 North Ada. <br />Just one 2,300 square-foot duplex-down is still for sale at 728 North Ada, and it\'s priced in the $580s. At 1919 Crystal there\'s a bit more to choose from, as four of the nine homes in the development are currently listed on the MLS. All of the homes in that building are duplexes, and they\'re priced from the $640s to the $770s.</div>\";}i:17;a:11:{s:5:\"title\";s:43:\"728-730 N Ada St, Chicago 60622 - West Town\";s:4:\"link\";s:57:\"http://newhomenotebook.com/development.aspx?pn=20&po=3332\";s:6:\"author\";s:17:\"New Home Notebook\";s:7:\"pubdate\";s:25:\"Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:54:00\";s:11:\"description\";s:2071:\"<div><img src=\"http://newhomenotebook.com/images/NHN/stars5.gif\"/></div><div style=\"padding-left:5px;\">While I was looking at new-construction in West Town and Wicker Park this morning, I stopped by two developments at <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&amp;channel=s&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=16&amp;g=1919+W+Crystal+st+chicago&amp;iwloc=addr\">1919 W Crystal St</a> (<a href=\"http://wibiti.com/altthumbs/hpmain/007/24