Elston Timber Lofts …and now for something completely different

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We stopped by the Elston Timber Lofts to check in, and gee they’re looking swell. The great appeal here is that these are all-new construction, but they look like old-time lofts. Heavy raw beams and posts, exposed brick, low-rise walls – everything you’d expect.

Typically we only call buildings “lofts” if they’ve been converted from old factories or warehouses, but this company bends the rules. Developer Victor Ayala at Blue Slate Properties constructs new lofts using traditional timber-beam construction, leaving ductwork and pipes exposed, and cladding the ceilings (soaring 12 feet overhead) in rough pine.

The result is a condo with all the benefits of brand-new, including pre-wiring, elevator service and many finish and upgrade choices, but with the character and flow of an authentic loft. Oh, and soundproofing, too – something loft shoppers especially need to keep in mind.

With all the cookie-cutter condos now on the market, this design approach is a breath of fresh air, especially since real loft conversions are now few and far between, and other units called “lofts” sadly lack that label’s defining characteristics. If you’re pining (ahem) for a loft and can’t wait for (or afford) the new Lofts at 1800, these may be worth checking out.

At Elston Timber Lofts, 3641 N Elston Ave, all units are compact two-, or two-plus bedrooms with two baths. The square footage ranges from 1,012 to 1,219. (One promising-looking ground-floor unit is huge at 1,575 square feet, plus a 600 square foot yard, but it has traditional plaster walls and ceilings, and some concrete pillars). Balconies are standard, and the rear units’ decks are a whopping 24 feet, 10 inches by 10 feet. There will also be a common rooftop deck. Elston Timber Lofts

Prices are kept low by the location’s slight remove from the hot-zone neighborhoods. The current asking price for most units is between $284,900 and $329,800, with heated indoor parking for an additional $20,000 and outdoor parking for an additional $15,000.

Frankly, the exterior design doesn’t inspire excitement, but once inside, we loved the sense of spaciousness and light, as well as all that wood. And the angular shape of the building creates some interesting layouts that add to the feel of a real old-building conversion. Several cleverly configured wedge-shaped units have a deck at either end, a nice touch, and those rear-unit decks will be terrific for outdoor-lovers, since there’s plenty of room for container gardening and alfresco entertaining.

Blue Slate also offers similar units at University Crossing and at Grand Timber Lofts (now sold out).

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