The Gammonley Group’s Prairie Pointe at Central Station is almost sold out, with just 10 residences remaining for sale. The marketing program has been a howling success, according to Emma Kinnison, a sales consultant for the developer of the 24-story condominium tower at 1600 S Prairie Ave in the South Loop.

“There are so many reasons why this building has been so popular,” says Kinnison. “Besides the wonderful construction quality and all of the amenities, buyers love the location on Prairie Avenue, where so much of Chicago’s history was recorded. It has once again become an intimate, quiet neighborhood, yet it’s just a stone’s throw from the lake and minutes from all that the city has to offer.”

Kinnison has another theory about Prairie Pointe’s popularity.

“About 40 percent of our units are one-bedrooms, and they are the most spacious of any in the area. People really appreciate the roominess of the units, and that has given them an edge over a lot of other buildings,” she says.

Designed by Fujikawa Johnson Gobel Architects, Prairie Pointe really introduced a new architectural aesthetic to the neighborhood, according to Jerry Johnson, the firm’s president.

“We had no context to guide us with this project,” says Johnson. “There was a lot of vacant land and railroad tracks, and really nothing else, though by the time we finished, activity in the area had begun to pick up.”

The dearth of buildings in the neighborhood actually worked to Prairie Pointe’s advantage, Johnson says, because it afforded unobstructed views for virtually all of the residents.

“You can literally look into Soldier Field from many of the residences,” he says. “Obviously we planned the footprint of the building to take maximum advantage of the available vistas.”

In May, 10 of the original 156 luxury townhouses and condos remain available, led by a 2,700 square-foot penthouse that features a 1,500 square-foot terrace and is priced at $1.82 million. Five one-bedroom units in the $380s remain, along with a one-bedroom-plus-den in the $550s and three two-bedrooms in the $450s.

The Gammonley Group has been developing quality projects in the Chicago area for two decades now, including nearby 1111 Wabash. A mixture of traditional, contemporary and a touch of ultra-modern architecture appeals to a wide variety of buyers, according to Deborah Chiet, director of sales and marketing for Gammonley.

“The design of the building has attracted a diverse group of buyers,” says Chiet. “But I have to emphasize that the location, away from the hustle and bustle, yet with views that include the lake, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, the museum campus and much more is a huge draw.”

Building amenities include an elegant lobby with 24-hour door staff, entertainment room, an adjacent park and dog run, conference room, fitness center, and a sundeck with whirlpool.
Some of the unit amenities include nine- and 10-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring in living areas, spacious balconies or terraces, gas log fireplaces, and multimedia wiring.

The kitchens come fully equipped with granite countertops, 21.6 cubic-foot refrigerators, built-in gas cooktops and self-cleaning ovens, 42-inch upper cabinets, and double-bowl, stainless-steel sinks.

The master bedroom has a spacious walk-in closet, and the baths have cultured marble vanities, designer wood cabinetry, and ceramic tile flooring.

The sales office is located at the building in suite 1707. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

It’s clear what co-developers Stillpoint Development, The Pickus Companies and Castlebar Enterprises had in mind when they baptized Mod, a nifty 92-unit, contemporary-style condominium development under construction in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop.

“The developers definitely wanted modern,” says Chris Payne of Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson, the architects for the project, emphasizing that “contemporary” was the order of the day both inside and out.

“We started with bold red panels and a lot of glazing on the outside and carried the look into the lobby,” Payne continued. “And we went with an open floor plan in the unit interiors. Lots of clean lines and a very contemporary look.”

Planned in two stages – a 56-unit building at 1222 W Madison St and a 36-unit property next door at 1224 W Madison St – the developers clearly created the Mod design for the upwardly-mobile young professional, though the location and the development’s eco-friendly features appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers.

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What better way to size up a new building than to listen to those who will make it their home?

A “straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth” survey of Emerald buyers turned out to be music to the ears of all who had a part in making the project a reality.

Emerald recently began welcoming its first residents into its two 12-story glass-and-concrete towers at Monroe and Green streets in the West Loop. Among those buyers are Scott and Margaret Verhey, who work in the city and wanted to purchase an in-town home.

“Everything went right,” says Scott. “We like the fact that common amenities such as the fitness center are all useful and don’t unnecessarily inflate the costs to the residents. Most important though was the seamless, competent service we received from the entire staff. It’s almost unheard of for a new building to deliver on all of its promises and to do everything on schedule.”

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In the boom of new construction throughout the West Loop, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. But one development has found a way to make its mark. C/A 23 is making a splash by offering full-floor 1,900 to 4,000 square-foot condos.

“If you’re looking for this kind of square footage, you’d usually have to buy a townhouse, which is very vertical,” says Geoff Ruttenberg, CEO of The Brixton Group, which is developing the property.

“From a practical standpoint, having this amount of square footage on one floor means a convenient, enjoyable lifestyle. It’s a unique option in a very urban, hot neighborhood.”

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From the green roof Mayor Daley installed on top of City Hall to Oprah’s insistence that her staff bring in reusable mugs for their morning coffee, Chicagoans are doing their part to help the environment. But few places deliver on the promise of green living like Senco Properties’ EcoLogic Lofts in Bucktown.

The 94-unit building, which will start welcoming residents in fall 2009, combines an environmentally sensitive design with top-of-the-line, modern amenities. The result? Urban living you can feel good about.

The building’s green credentials start at the very top. Rooftop wind turbines – a rarity in Chicago – will help generate power for the building. The roof will also be covered with low-maintenance plants, which help insulate the building and soak up rain, lessening wasteful water runoff. Thanks to these and other features, the building is expected to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, signaling the development’s commitment to environmentally sensitive design.

LEED-accredited professionals were consulted throughout FitzGerald Architects Associates’ design process. The construction itself will be eco-sensitive, from on-site recycling programs to filtering water runoff. More than 20% of the building materials will be recycled components, and many materials were sourced from suppliers within 500 miles of Chicago to conserve fuel and transport-related pollution.

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How does an up-and-coming developer stand out in a neighborhood filled with new condominiums? For Sunrise Equities, the answer was simple: Choose a building design with clean, modern lines and set out to make homes finished with elegant European materials.

That’s the approach Sunrise has taken with its first major West Loop project, a boutique condominium building called Pure. The 67-unit mid-rise at 24 S Morgan St is still under construction, but its glassy exterior already stands out in a neighborhood that for years was defined by cookie-cutter, red-brick condos.

Architect Steve Weiss, the creator of Crate and Barrel’s distinctive storefront on Michigan Avenue, designed Pure’s translucent glass facade. The result is something that is “a little of Vegas and a little of New York in the Midwest,” says Suzy Grossman, Pure’s director of sales and marketing.

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Change is in the air at the corner of Randolph and Desplaines streets, the future site of R+D659, one of the West Loop’s most exciting new condo developments.

As the unabashedly modern building takes shape on the eastern edge of the neighborhood, it’s difficult not to marvel at the sleek new development and its contrast to the surrounding Randolph Street market district.

The building design is the handiwork of award-winning Chicago architecture firm Brininstool + Lynch, which is credited with designing some of Chicago’s most ambitious residential developments in recent years. The large, L-shaped building features architectural metal and concrete with clear and translucent glazing on its façade, accented by spacious inset and cantilevered balconies. The balconies will be constructed of metal and opaque glass, which will maximize the natural light inside the condos.

R+D659 refers to the building’s address, 659 W Randolph St, near the intersection of Randolph and Desplaines streets. It’s no accident that the name is geographically inspired, because location is one of its greatest assets.

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There is an air of excitement at Monroe and Green streets in the West Loop, where Emerald prepares to welcome its first residents this month.

Of the 212 residences housed in the two 12-story glass-and-concrete towers, more than 80 percent are already sold, according to Patrick Hawkins, a member of the Emerald sales team for Property Consultants Realty, the exclusive marketing agent for Emerald.

“We’re definitely riding the green wave,” says Hawkins, who, in the early stage of Emerald’s development, would have been alluding to the eco-friendly lifestyle afforded by finishes like bamboo and Brazilian eucalyptus flooring, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, and myriad recycled materials.

But as the project has evolved, both the experienced property consultant and potential buyers have become equally attracted by Emerald’s style and design.

“Just watching the creation of the lobby was jaw-dropping,” says Hawkins, who points to the two-story entry with a glass terrazzo floor, furnishings clothed in recycled polyester fabrics, and a lighting system that weds function and art.

The lobby is the brainchild of acclaimed designer John Robert Wiltgen, who says its inspiration came from the piazzas of Rome and Florence, where social intercourse has been the order of the day for centuries. The atrium entrance leads to three satellite suites – the contemporary Green Room with big-screen TV and surround sound, a Board Room, whose fireplace is the centerpiece for meetings and home-office use, and Club Emerald, a state-of-the-art bar offering space for private parties.

Built at a cost of over $4 million, the 8,000 square-foot Emerald lobby is by far the largest and most extravagant of any residential building ever designed by Pappageorge/Haymes, the architects for the project, according to the firm’s senior associate, Steven Rezabek.

“The lobby is just one of the features of the Emerald that made it a pleasure to work on,” says Rezabek. “With the sentiment in the West Loop running against tall buildings, the large site enabled us to go to twin tower rather than a single high-rise, and this affords much more flexibility for both the developer and the architect.”

As an example, Rezabek cites the 40-percent corner-unit ratio, which results in many more of these desirable units than would have been the case with just one tower.

“From the developer’s standpoint,” Rezabek continues, “the option was there to stagger the construction of the buildings, although as it turns out, the popularity of Emerald made that virtually unnecessary.”

Rezabek is right on the money. It’s safe to assume that the joint development team of Senco Development, Harlem Irving Companies and New Frontier Companies is more than pleased with Emerald’s continued popularity. Bill Senne, the managing partner of the team, attributes Emerald’s success to its spectacular views, desirable location, and of course, the stunning lobby.

Richard Shanks, president and creative director of Upshift Creative Group, Emerald’s advertising and brand consultant, emphasizes that Emerald is a natural draw for people who want to be downtown.

“There is a lot of diversity among our buyers,” says Shanks, emphasizing that while “eco-friendly” was once a trend, it is now expected. “Emerald represents a luxury urban lifestyle, so we see a particularly strong interest from the young professionals who work in the Loop area and want to walk home to very classy luxury surroundings.”

Emerald’s one- and two-bedroom homes vary in size from 765 to 1,297 square feet. All have balconies, and gorgeous views abound, due in part to the neighborhood’s low-rise nature, which will probably remain for a very long time.

Prices range from the $280s to the high $520s. Deeded indoor parking for one car is $35,000.

The Emerald sales center is located at 120 S. Halsted St. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In these times, when the environment has risen to the forefront nationwide, Dynaprop Development has brought the issue home with Eco18, its 93-unit, environmentally responsible building at 1818 S Wabash Ave in the South Loop.

“You can’t pick up the paper today without seeing something about eco-friendly living,” says Dynaprop Vice President Howard Adelstein. “This way of life is not just trendy, it’s an inevitability.”

Knowing this, the developer is taking Eco18 to the limit by fashioning a 12-story building with a number of firsts, not the least of which is the first residential tower in Chicago to employ a large-scale geothermal energy system and the first large-scale condominium development in the city to seek LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The geothermal energy system uses the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool the building. In summer, the system taps into the cool ground temperature as an energy source for the air-conditioning system. In winter, the system picks up the warm ground temperature as an energy source for the heating system.

In addition to geothermal technology, Eco18 is incorporating many other eco-friendly systems including a central hot-water system heated with solar panels and an elaborate green rooftop garden.

Eco18 could rest on its eco-laurels alone, but it comes at you with many other outstanding features. Design-wise, it establishes its own architectural aesthetic in a bustling and rapidly changing neighborhood, according to architect Jason Dwyer, a project executive with Wight & Company.

“Eco18 has a nice contemporary, yet classic look,” says Dwyer. “Inside and out, we made use of many locally harvested materials to make this a truly earth-friendly project.”

Clad in a classic stone façade with wrought-iron railings, the building features a fourth-floor fitness room and dog run adjacent to a green roof and an inviting lobby entrance with a secured keyless-entry intercom system. In April, the building was also offering one free parking place in the heated indoor garage to those who purchase a residence, plus $10,000 off the purchase price for the next 10 buyers.

The unit mix consists of one- and two-bedroom residences with and without dens, containing one-, 1.5- and two-baths. They range in size from 808 to 1,583 square feet.

Some of the unit features include generous balconies, bamboo flooring in living areas, choice of stainless, black or white kitchen appliances, granite or limestone countertops, stainless double-bowl sink, subway surround tile in primary bath, Toto dual-flush toilets, granite, marble or limestone bathroom countertops, ceramic bath tile floors, washer/dryer hookups, and multimedia wiring.

“A lot of thought went into the interior design of the residences,” says Adelstein, who says that particular emphasis went into assuring the openness of the living areas and the gourmet look of the kitchen with its breakfast nook.

“While in a way you could describe these homes as traditional, the finishes certainly give the residences a contemporary flair.”

In April, prices ranged from the $270s to the $650s. Approximately 25 percent of the units had been sold, according to Jason O’Beirne, a sales associate with Jameson Realty Group, exclusive marketing agent for the building. He says that the residences will be ready for delivery in the spring of 2010.

“Eco18 really raises the bar and goes far beyond any other development, both environmentally and otherwise,” says O’Beirne, who encourages buyers to come and visit the model designed by the world-famous John Robert Wiltgen design firm.

The sales center and model located at 1830 S Wabash Ave are open from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Steve Golovan has been developing projects in Lake View and the surrounding neighborhoods for more than 25 years – so long that it’s becoming difficult to get an accurate count of all the projects that bear his name.

Suffice it to say that The Chelsea at 2921 - 2927 N Lincoln Ave, a joint venture between Stillpoint Development and Castlebar Enterprises, Inc. (of which Golovan is chairman), will be the latest in a long line of successful residential projects.

The brick and masonry exterior of the 12-unit development partners well with the neighborhood’s architecture, but the project acquires a style of its own through the placement of large balconies along the street line above 3,700 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The irregular lot and the first-floor retail character of the neighborhood presented challenges, says project architect Jeff Goulette, a partner in the firm of Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson Ltd, but the factors also enhanced the design possibilities.

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