I may spend more time on more Chicago rooftops than anyone who isn’t in the roofing business. The reason is simple: I love being on rooftops, and seeing Chicago from rooftops.
My roof romance recently took me to the 8th floor amenities deck atop the garage at Kingsbury Plaza, a luxury apartment tower at 520 N Kingsbury in River North.
The deck has a large swimming pool fringed in greenery, a whirlpool, a latticed pergola adjacent to stainless steel grills, a variety of seating areas – and a large expanse of thick, lush grass bordered by flower beds, ground cover and the inevitable stand of prairie grass.
The green lawn is by far the largest I’ve seen, on site or by helicopter, on any residential Chicago rooftop. It’s a very special amenity in River North, a neighborhood notable for its scarce park space.
Colorful floral plantings, which vary seasonally, add to the space’s attractiveness.
The feeling of openness on the deck is enhanced by views of River North’s varied architecture in the foreground and the skyline in the background.
The amenities deck at Kingsbury Plaza is on the south side of the building. Surrounding buildings are mostly below the deck’s level ensuring sunlight when the sun is shining. If you’ve visited a number of Chicago high-rises you’ve probably noted that the sun only occasionally bathes the sundecks at some of them.
Note: Kingsbury Plaza is the sponsor of our Guide to renting in River North.