Horrendous. I'd rather have tacky neoclassical design than this.

Anon1,

Is your take based solely on the photo, or have you been to the site?

@ Anon1,

Seriously? I think they look pretty solid and infinitely better than typical pomo. My only beef is with the layout of those "auto courts." I'm sure there was a feasible configuration that would have hidden all of the garages in the back near the railroad.

I love this development!

Initially these homes would have had the "auto court" in the back towards the railroad but there's an easement 15' from the railroad on which nothing can be built. This redesign allowed some units to have backyards. Perhaps I am biased, but I've seen worse developments with no character get built and sell out quick. Check the condo's and town-homes near Ping Tom Park, then come to Union Row, you may have a different choice of words.

Whatever your choice of words to describe Union Row is still a great place, not the best, but a great place!

Keep in mind this is a Winter photo and like everything else it doesn't look as exciting as it would in Spring, Summer and Fall! What a dramatic difference a blue sky makes to any photo.

Just to give folks an idea of what we're talking about, here's a shot of one of the auto courts that faces 16th Street. Hard to imagine anyone spending too much time on those balconies, especially the ones in the back.

Thanks for the photo, Mark. That's one dreary, unfortunate space.

Union Row Owner - you might as well go ahead and put on your development punch list to address the code violation created by the Gas Meter installation. Developers are required to install bumper guards to protect these. See city & Gas Co specs.

I have been in several of these units and like the size and enclosed bedroom option on the first floor. Belgravia also has a good reputation, and pre-market crash, the neighborhood had some momentum, with a long way to go.

That being said, for the location next to expressway (cough), tracks, and East Pilson, I think they are way overpriced, especially when other South Loop Townhomes with better proximity to the Lake and parks, etc. are just as nice or nicer. Ping Tom park is not a comp. comparison as, IMO, Ping Tom development is driven to fill out Chinatown, with a high % of transplanted ethnic Chinese wanting to stay close to Chinatown. The design and space expectations are different.

Hi Anon -
I urge you to stop by the sales center and take a tour. 16 of our homes here at Union Row have the auto courts behind the homes in the back near the railroad as you describe. Feel free to stop by anytime to take a tour, we are here 7 days a week from 10am-6pm.

I agree with Anon, these townhomes are just awful looking. Industrial architecture gone horribly wrong. I also agree that the units are grossly over-priced. Can you imagine trying to sell a place for over 1/2 a mil $ sandwiched tightly between the Dan Ryan, the Metro/Amtrak tracks? I don't envy the owners or sales agents at Belgravia.

Celia,

Judging from your IP address there's a distinct possibility that you're employed by a competitor of this project.

I can't resist punning on the e-mail address you supplied with a quote from the Eagles: you can't hide your lyin' eyes.

If I'm wrong, you can e-mail yojoe at yochicago dot com with your correct identity. I'll keep it confidential, and apologize.

The Internet - I wonder how it ever got this crazy?