Thrush’s 740 Fulton sits head and shoulders above West Loop neighbors One of the best places in Chicago to linger over lunch or an after-work drink is the roof deck at Pegasus, the Greek Town restaurant at 130 S. Halsted St. It’s not so much the food, which is terrific, as the breathtaking views of downtown that make the experience. From this third-floor space, the Sears Tower looks close enough to touch and the sun playing on one of the world’s great skylines is worth a trip to the West Loop no matter where you live.
Now, consider that at The Thrush Companies 740 Fulton high-rise development, several blocks north, the first residence doesn’t start until the fifth floor, and you might be tempted to join the 100-plus condo buyers who decided to live where they could enjoy similar views without leaving their living room.
At 14 stories, 740 Fulton might be a petite high-rise, but it’s the perfect height for dramatic views of the Loop skyline above its predominantly mid-rise West Loop neighbors. The Thrush Companies bills its new-construction development, which sits on the cusp of the vibrant Fulton Market District, as a “boutique high-rise,” with killer views and “lofty” features that nod to the neighborhood’s artistic-industrial aesthetic.
The 175-foot glass, steel and concrete structure rises six to eight stories higher than the West Loop’s traditional loft buildings, offering remarkable views in every direction, according to architect Patrick FitzGerald, of FitzGerald Associates.
The fact that 740 Fulton has a maxiumum of 14 units per floor adds to the boutique ambience, says David Chase, president and CEO of The Thrush Companies, which won the Community Vision Award for previous West Loop developments.
There isn’t another high-rise within three blocks of 740 Fulton, according to John Schall, vice president of marketing for The Thrush Companies, emphasizing, like everyone associated with this project, the spectacular views the location allows – and their attraction for buyers.
The skyscrapers containing Loop offices, however, are within walking distance, Schall points out, and Chase agrees that 740 Fulton’s West Loop location is about more than views.
“Fulton Street is going right off the charts,” Chase says, referring to the influx of art galleries, top-flight eateries and swank nightclubs, which have been moving next door to Fulton Street’s wholesale purveyors of meat and produce. It’s a combination with a distinctly urban flavor that frequently draws comparisons to SoHo in New York.
“It’s like Randolph Street was eight years ago, and we all know what’s happened there,” he says of the famous restaurant row.
The building, which will be entered through a dramatic two-story lobby with limestone floors, has 132 residences that begin on the fifth floor, above the parking garage. Amenities include a business center, a private fitness room, a 24-hour concierge, a bicycle storage room, private storage lockers, digital satellite television service and high-speed Internet access.
“The building definitely embraces today’s technology,” says Chase, adding that high-tech options include flat-screen TVs, surround-sound and wireless Internet connection.
The residences, which range from 715 to 2,215 square feet, have one to three bedrooms and one to 2.5 baths, and some of the one- and two-bedroom units have dens. Many of the two-bedrooms are corner units with floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls, providing panoramic city views. The condos are priced from the $280s to the $860s, parking included.
A three-bedroom, 2.5-bath penthouse unit with 2,215 square feet, 18-foot ceiling heights and a rooftop terrace is still available, priced at $869,900 with two parking spaces included.
Seven-forty Fulton is brand new construction, not another West Loop loft conversion, but Thrush has imbued the development with plenty of “lofty” features, including 11-foot ceiling heights, exposed spiral ductwork and floor plans that include partial walls. Track lighting adds to the “soft loft” feel.
Other features include oak floors; bedroom carpet in a range of colors; washers and dryers; granite countertops; white, black or stainless steel appliances; Grohe faucets and marble tile master baths. Every unit has a balcony.
At press time, about 80 percent of the units were sold and first occupancy was slated for early 2007.