Three years ago, RDM Development announced that Trio would change the tenor of the West Loop, particularly in the Fulton River District where the project is located.

That seemed to be a given at the time, since Trio introduced an ultra-contemporary 209-unit condo complex into the heart of a former industrial area where new residential developments including many loft conversions were popping up on quiet streets between Halsted Street and the Chicago River.

“I think of Trio as a small Millennium Park," says Jim Plunkard, whose architectural firm, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, designed the project. “I mean that in the sense that it repairs the site and the neighborhood both structurally and functionally, and I would hope that others will continue this trend."

(more…)

The Chieftain Group’s Lexington Park Condominiums at Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue in the South Loop bespeaks a lifestyle that is a far cry from the misdeeds of Al Capone and his cohorts, who claimed the site’s predecessor, the infamous Lexington Hotel, as their hideout during the Roaring Twenties.

Chieftain has taken great care to offer a balanced yet diverse panoply of features in this eco-friendly, LEED-certified residential complex. The diversity begins with the design, which consists of a 35-story glass-and-concrete condo tower connected by a parking structure to a neighboring seven-story low-rise loft building.

The two buildings are wed by a 15,000 square-foot park atop the parking decks. The park is heavily landscaped and features grilling and picnic areas and a dog run. Inside the tower are a number of amenities, such as a kitchenette with dining area, a well-appointed party room with a fireplace, and a fully-equipped fitness center.

The ground floor of the tower houses 18,000 square feet of retail space and an ultra-contemporary tower lobby made welcoming by a blend of stainless steel, stone and soft-colored millwork.

“The lobby is very inviting,” says Britta Rivera, vice president of sales for Chieftain’s U.S. branch. “And the retail space brings to the building a number of daily conveniences in order to accommodate the residents.”

(more…)

RDM Development President Robert Mosky is a delightful guy who loves to go against the grain. A few years ago he began a condo development at Division and Wells streets. He liked it so much that he started another one right next door, in a kind of “Burger King/McDonald’s approach,” as he would undoubtedly say.

Now, despite a shaky economy, RDM is creating Vision, a four-story contemporary glass, steel and concrete boutique condominium building located at 1624 W Division St in Wicker Park, just a stone’s throw from the Polish Triangle.

Slated for completion in late summer of 2009, Vision includes 33 condos, about 9,000 square feet of commercial space and roughly 111 parking spots.

“Vision really attempts to add some new architectural context to the area,” says Mariano Barrigan of Wallin Gomez Architects, who designed the project. “On the one hand, we wanted to pay homage to the colors and materials that surround the building, but the structure really makes its own statement.”

The expansive use of glass and metal adds a much-needed contemporary look to the area, but because Vision is a boutique residential structure, it does not overwhelm its neighbors architecturally. The building’s real flair can be found in the interiors, according to Barrigan, who points to the large windows and the high-end finishes as being as stylish as they are functional.

“The floor plans are traditional in the sense that there is no loft design,” he says, “but the unique window designs and the finishes set this project apart from almost everything else. When you add to that the fact that these are large units – 1,300 to 2,000 square feet – RDM has truly come up with a great value.”

(more…)

By Dan Schuyler

It sounds strange, but 1555 Wabash, New West Realty’s latest residential development at 1555 S Wabash Ave, seems to act more like a person than a 14-story, 176 unit condominium tower in the South Loop. The building has its own blog and Facebook profile, and just like a certain hotel heiress, it frequently can be seen on cable television.

“There’s no question that things have been busy around here,” says Terrie Whittaker, president of sales and marketing for New West Realty. “We recently celebrated the topping off of the building just in time to show off the building to a pool of potential buyers from overseas. Meanwhile, we’re squeezing in a commercial shoot for cable TV, and the building is starring in an episode of the 'Project Xtreme' series on the DIY Network.”

In September, 1555 Wabash was over 70 percent sold, with first deliveries scheduled for November or December. Interest in the building continues to be strong despite negative economic signals, Whittaker says.

“It’s easy to understand when you have gorgeous views that blow you away, even on the lower floors,” she says. “But let’s face it, price point is always the driving force, and the efficient use of interior space plus New West’s pricing structure makes this building the top choice when it comes to square-foot price.”

(more…)

By Dan Schuyler

The bustling West Loop continues to fly in the face of the sagging economy, and leading the resistance is the Mod mid-rise condo project at 1222 W Madison St.

The 56-unit first phase of this 92-unit, ultra-modern creation is establishing its own architectural context in the neighborhood, the result of the futuristic mindsets of developers Stillpoint Development, The Pickus Companies and Castlebar Enterprises.

“The developers definitely wanted modern,” says Chris Payne of Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson, architects for the project. “We started with bold red panels and a lot of glazing on the outside and carried the contemporary look into the lobby, and we went with an open floor plan in the unit interiors.”

And it is these unique unit interiors that Stillpoint principal Daniel Boyd says are one of the project’s most salient features. Boyd says the countless hours spent by the developers in designing the floor plans have resulted in the most efficient use of interior space of any building he has ever seen.

“Mod was designed from the inside out,” Boyd explains. “We pored over the floor plans to ensure total functionality in even the smallest units. We definitely didn’t come up with a shell and then jig-saw the units to fit. We let the interiors dictate the exterior.”

Boyd cites a number of examples, such as the minimal use of hallway space and the fact that even the smallest unit has a 20-foot span from the front windows to the kitchen bar, allowing for placement of a table with surrounding chairs.

“Where else can you find a dining room in a 900 square-foot one-bedroom residence?” he asks.

(more…)

By Andrew Peck

With its long list of building amenities, conveniences and customizable options, JFJ Development’s Broadway 3030 truly is a departure from the ordinary.

Located between Wellington and Barry avenues on Broadway, the project is set to break ground in September with a projected opening sometime in early 2010. Developer Jon Zitzman knows that to build an enormous, 53-home concrete structure in Lakeview East is to become a fixture in one of the city’s most vibrant communities.

“With this project, we’re not targeting any specific buyer,” Zitzman says. “This is a neighborhood that is home to an extremely diverse population. We want to be inclusive of all the many different lifestyles and personalities that make this community great.”

As with all of JFJ’s projects, a high level of personal customization is possible at Broadway 3030. For Zitzman, this isn’t just a major selling point – it’s part of his professional philosophy.

“We are dedicated to catering to the lifestyle of the individual,” Zitzman says. “If they want to move walls around or turn a two-bedroom into a large one-bedroom, they have that option.”

(more…)

The intersection of Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue in the South Loop once was home to the infamous Lexington Hotel, a hideout for Chicago’s most notorious gangster, Al Capone.

If Scarface thought his hotel was the lap of luxury, he would be awe-struck by its eco-friendly, LEED-certified successor. The Chieftain Group’s Lexington Park Condominiums is a unique project that connects a 35-story glass-and-concrete condo tower with a neighboring seven-story, low-rise loft building.

“In a way, Lexington Park is still a hideaway or hidden treasure,” says Britta Rivera, vice president of sales for Chieftain’s U.S. branch. “There are not a lot of high rises in this area, and Lexington Park kind of has the place to itself.”

What’s really nice about that, Rivera says, is that Lexington Park has gorgeous views of the city and the lake.

“Remember, the shoreline bends in this area,” she says. “And that gives our residents a truly natural panoramic view.”

(more…)

By Andrew Peck

In a softened market, buyers become more judicious during their home searches. Many prospective home buyers seek the freedom to express themselves through their home, and in today’s real-estate environment, customization is king.

At Superior 110, a glass-and-steel tower under construction at the northwest corner of Superior and Clark streets in River North, homeowners have the ability to customize every inch of their living space with the help of JFJ Development and its president, Jon Zitzman.

“When I founded my company 15 years ago, my mission was to provide more quality construction than a majority of the market was offering,” Zitzman says. “My goal was to build a reputation over time as a developer who doesn’t cut corners and conducts business at the highest level of integrity. Building custom condos is an extension of that philosophy.”

Buyers have a number of options within Snaidero’s standard line of cabinetry and bathroom finishes. But every buyer has the ability to meet with a design coordinator at a design showroom and can choose from literally any of the products found there.

“If somebody wants something specific built in, they can get it,” says Greg Eldridge, the @properties sales agent in charge of marketing Superior 110. “People come in all the time and say, ‘I saw this tile at the Merchandise Mart and I’ve just got to have it.’ And if we can get it, we’ll get it.”

(more…)

Motoring along the Edens Expressway is rarely a pleasant experience, but if a driver looks west at the appropriate time, the gleam and grace of Optima Old Orchard Woods undoubtedly will provide a few moments of aesthetic relief.

Strategically located at 9645 Woods Drive in Skokie, equidistant between four vibrant northern suburbs, this complex of three 20-story, glass-and-steel buildings is nestled between the Edens, the Harms Woods forest preserve, and Old Orchard and Golf roads.

Designed by its developer, David Hovey, the buildings – the Maple, the Oak, and most recently, the Elm – exude a multitude of forms and shapes, the result of Hovey’s ingenious blend of art and architecture and the minimalist style that he developed as a student of Mies Van Der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

“There is no doubt that the design of the project is one of its main attractions,” says Andy Zajac, vice president of sales and marketing for Optima. “Mr. Hovey has created a high-rise complex in the suburbs that has no competition. When you couple that with views that extend 25 miles to the west over the forest preserve and all the way to Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline to the east, you have an unbeatable combination.”

Each Optima tower features such common amenities as a two-story fitness center with a pool and spa and a two-story party room with catering kitchen. There is also an environmentally sensitive green-roof system and sky garden, a reflecting pool and fountain in a grand courtyard, and an exterior color scheme that is in harmony with the building’s natural surroundings. Heated indoor parking is also included with each unit.

Each residence has panoramic views of the city or the forest preserve. The homes are filled with natural light, the result of floor-to-ceiling windows. Units feature state-of-the-art baths and kitchens with stainless-steel appliances, gas ranges, granite counters, and designer cabinets. Window treatments and washers and dryers are included, and an optional gas fireplace is available.

All of these features make Optima Old Orchard Woods a true destination community, explains Zajac.

“What you have here is an urban complex in a suburban setting, yet you are just minutes away from first-class shopping at Old Orchard Shopping Center, a half-hour from the Loop via the expressway, and in a couple of years, the Skokie Swift will likely be extended to stop just two blocks way,” he says.

In June, 430 of the 665 units at Optima had sold. The buyers have represented a broad demographic spectrum, from first-time home owners to empty-nesters who are scaling down, and from single professionals to young married couples with children.

“The complex is beginning to evolve to the point where it is its own community,” says Zajac. “Social groups, fitness groups and others with similar interests are developing close associations now that they have been here for a while.”

Optima’s residences range from one to three bedrooms plus penthouses and vary in size from 700 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. One-bedroom units start in the $250s, two-bedroom units begin in the $310s, three-bedrooms are priced from the $460s, and penthouses range from $1 million to $1.7 million.

A sales center is located at the site and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A condominium in a Chicago suburb is a far cry from an office building in Warsaw. Yet the two are similar in the eyes of Michael Glazier, a principal of Sertus Capital Partners, the developer of Everleigh, a 144-unit, nine-story condominium project under construction at 1646 River St in Des Plaines.

Glazier takes advantage of every business opportunity, whether it’s a project in Poland or a project in Des Plaines. Everleigh represents his response to the ever-increasing demand for luxurious urban-like living in the Chicago suburban market.

“‘Sertus’ in Latin means ‘linked’ or ‘connected,’” says Glazier, who wanted to create a luxury condominium lifestyle near suburban transit systems.

“Everleigh is just a block from the Metra station. That location makes it a convenient extension of city living into DesPlaines for those who work downtown or want proximity to O’Hare or the expressways.”

(more…)