We hear plenty of assurances from developers that things are going smoothly in today's market. But when pressed to back their claims, many of those developers fall silent. Not Brian Giles of Kargil Development and Frankel & Giles. In the August issue of New Homes, Giles says things are going just swimmingly at his companies' two South Loop projects, Prairie District Lofts and X/O Condominiums.

“I have the numbers right here, so I can tell you that as of today, we’ve sold 72 of the 116 units at Prairie District Lofts, and we’re averaging about a sale a week these days,” Giles said in late July.

Prairie District Lofts, one of two developments Frankel & Giles is marketing in the South Loop, is one of the neighborhoods last “true loft” projects, Giles says. The timber and concrete lofts are inside a 103-year-old brick building in the 1700 block of South Indiana Avenue. The building was home to a commercial photography company before being converted into rental apartments; Kargil spent $36 million transforming those units into one- to three-bedroom condominiums.

The lofts range in price from the $200s for a one-bedroom/one-bath, single-story unit to the $520s for a three-bedroom/four-bath duplex. Each home has exposed brick walls, timber or concrete elements per plan, fireplaces, hardwood floors, and ceiling heights of 12 to 20 feet. Features in upgraded homes include GE stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, Grohe chrome fixtures and 42-inch Cardell cabinets.

Some as-is units are available for immediate delivery. Buyers who desire upgraded units can be in their homes within eight weeks.

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In condo construction, timing is essential. Terrie Whittaker, president of sales and marketing for New West Realty, says that her company acquired the land at 1555 S Wabash Ave in the South Loop at just the right moment.

“We were just finishing up a very successful project close by, and we had a solid handle on the neighborhood," she says.

In the August issue of New Homes, writer Dan Schuyler interviews Whittaker and architect Jonathan Splitt about 1555 Wabash, New West's new 14-story, 176-unit condominium tower. In the story, Splitt explains how he came up with the building's eight-cornered design.

While the location did not lend itself to a specific type of structure, the proximity of the train tracks and several contemporary buildings helped Splitt formulate a design scheme for 1555 Wabash.

“We wanted to borrow from the solid, massive image of the trains by keeping the base of the building fairly dense,” Splitt explains. “From the third floor on up, we went with all glass and steel in a unique criss-cross design that provides eight corner units per floor and allows for larger, yet more intimate terraces, while taking advantage of the gorgeous views. It also gave us the opportunity to use two shades of tinted glass, depending on the direction of the outside exposure.”

The result is a gorgeous structure that is as functional as it is pleasing to the eye. But there’s more. Images of Lake Shore Drive in the 1930s come to mind as one approaches the building via a covered vehicle turnaround that invitingly guides the user to the entrance.

“The driveway serves to shorten the distance to the soul of the building once you’re inside,” says Splitt. “And the interior glass lobby wall serves an informative function. The user doesn’t just enter and scan around to figure out where to go. It’s all very gracious and natural.”

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In a soft market, judicious buyers want to have as much say in the look and feel of their new homes as possible before they sign on the dotted line. This isn't a problem for Jon Zitzman. In fact, the head of JFJ Development welcomes buyers who wish to customize their condos.

In the August issue of New Homes, writer Andrew Peck talks to Zitzman about his new River North tower, Superior 110, a place where homeowners have the ability to customize every inch of their living space.

“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.”

According to Eldridge, Zitzman’s unique attention to the needs of his buyers allows JFJ to provide a “wildly unique” personal touch to their projects.

“Because we pay an enormous amount of attention to the construction and finishes, our team grew accustomed to entertaining buyers’ specials requests,” Zitzman says. “As a developer, I’m involved in the construction process. So I spend a lot of time looking at new technologies and products on the market, which affords us the opportunity to do more custom finishes.”

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The stretch of LaSalle Street from Lincoln Park to the heart of the Loop is one of downtown Chicago's classic drives, and at its midpoint stands KLB Construction and Affinity Development’s new boutique condo building, The Superior at LaSalle.

In the August issue of New Homes, Dan Schuyler talks to the team behind The Superior at LaSalle about the design of this 15-story, 54-unit tower in River North and asks why the building is attracting such a broad spectrum of buyers.

“The team put together a terrific package,” says sales and marketing manager Eric Dick, “Features like 15-foot ceiling heights, two walls of glass in each unit, and finishes that are a step above the competition. They explain why we are attracting buyers ranging from working professionals to empty nesters to second-home seekers. It runs the entire gamut.”

The area has undergone rapid change, according to Hartshorne Plunkard partner Tom Pope, who says that The Superior’s beige limestone and the fusion of neo-classical and art-deco looks capture the surrounding color palette and building shapes.

“The building program really drove the design in the long run,” says Pope. “The structure is a series of three projections with emphasis on verticality, and it includes a lot of reveal detail. The solid glass corners define large duplex units that have the feel of townhomes and are appealing to the multi-level market. And the painted limestone façade and champagne-tinted glass blends in with the surroundings and gives the building a warm, intimate feel.”

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

In the July issue of New Homes, Dan Schuyler talks to Andy Zajac, Optima's vice president of sales, about the project's one-of-a-kind design.

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.

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Three years ago, the village of Lemont and The Marquette Companies joined together to promote the Lemont Downtown Redevelopment Project. It's unusual for a developer and a small town to co-promote a development, but the city leaders felt that the vision for their downtown deserved a unique type of project.

That project is the Front Street Lofts, an 82-unit development on Lemont's Stephen Street. Dan Schuyler writes about these homes in the July issue of New Homes.

“When we first started this project, the town had kind of a ‘show me’ attitude,” says project manager Art Betuzzi. “But now that the lofts are a reality, there is a real air of excitement.”

When complete, the four buildings will house lofts ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, including one building containing only duplex units. The studios and one- to three-bedroom residences range in size from 836 square feet to just under 2,000 square feet and are priced from $219,900 to $495,000, with one exception - a three bedroom residence priced at $628,000 and containing 2,323 square feet.

The four buildings are built around a 262-car parking facility, and each unit is allocated one free parking space.

“The design process for this project was somewhat unique,” says Chris Payne, a principal with Sullivan Goulette, the project’s architecture firm. “The exterior is what I would call a 'new urbanist' aesthetic in that it tries to get away from the Chicago styles of architecture by incorporating architectural cues such as motif and stone work from some of Lemont’s older historical structures.”

Payne goes on to explain that the “loft” characteristics of the interiors are not consistent. “Some units are almost completely finished, while others are true all-concrete with completely open designs,” he says.

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Although many new residential developments try to nod to the Chicago architectural aesthetic, few have hit the nail on the head the way S&S Home Builders has with a townhouse development in West Ridge, writes Dan Schuyler.

In the July issue of New Homes, Dan profiles Sacramento Square, a 30-unit project on Sacramento Avenue, between between Devon and Peterson avenues.

Location and appearance are critical factors in the eyes of a prospective buyer, but Sacramento Square offers much more.

“With prices from $389,000, we are offering 2,400 square feet of townhome living at condominium prices,” says Michael Schwartz, a principal at S&S. “We are unique in that we are the only new-construction townhome project in the entire area, and we are offering a level of value that cannot be matched by the masses of condominium units that are so prevalent on the North Side.”

The experienced developer is right on the money on both counts. From a price-point perspective, Sacramento Square will definitely turn heads, and with respect to style and type, the development is the only one of its kind in the area.

Although Sacramento Square pays considerable homage to the historical architectural heritage of the neighborhood and the city, the unit design and amenities accommodate the desires and tastes of today’s forward-thinking buyers.

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Everleigh, a condominium project under construction in Des Plaines, represents Sertus Capital Partners' response to the demand for luxurious living in the Chicago's suburbs. In the June issue of New Homes, Sertus principal Michael Glazier explains his building philosophy and how it ties into his decision to build 144 urban-style condos on Des Plaines' River Street.

“‘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 Des Plaines for those who work downtown or want proximity to O’Hare or the expressways.”

The downtown Des Plaines setting provides an ideal location for a building that is truly the first of its kind for the area. The warm masonry glass and renaissance exterior creates a new architectural context between the downtown area and the forest preserve that borders one entire side of the building.

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Just 10 units remain at The Gammonley Group's Prairie Pointe at Central Station, according to sales consultant Emma Kinnison. In this sponsored article from the June issue of New Homes, Kinnison explains why the 24-story condominium building in the South Loop has been such a success.

“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.

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An uncertain real-estate market has left some developers tapping their toes and twiddling their thumbs as they wait for potential buyers to arrive. Not so at Kargil Development's Prairie District Lofts, writes Dan Schuyler. In the June issue of New Homes, Schuyler talks to Kargil vice president Brian Giles, who sounds perfectly happy with the sales at the South Loop loft project.

“In this market, it’s all about price point,” says Giles. “We’re 50 percent sold and averaging about one sale a week, and it’s because our loft conversion has a price point that is at least 30 percent and in some cases 40 percent less than new construction. As a result, we haven’t been caught up in the slowdown that has affected so many others.”

Giles could not be more straightforward. What goes unsaid, however, is that the five-story building, erected in 1905 for Kodak and later converted into a rental apartment building, has been transformed into a gorgeous, $36-million loft condominium in one of Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods.

Don’t forget the historical angle. It plays a big part in the minds of some buyers, according to Giles, who says that the building’s brick and timber have an appeal to many who can find all kinds of steel and glass wherever they look.

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