When I first wrote about these developments two months ago, @properties agent Mike Vesole said that deliveries were set for late spring, but today he says that timetable has extended into late summer.
The building in the top row of the above photos is located at 2001 W Race Ave in the Ukrainian Village. The six two- and three-bedroom condos in that development have 1,600 to 2,100 square feet of space and are priced from the $480s to the $640s.
The building shown in the second row photos is located at 1445 W Thomas St in Noble Square, just a few blocks from the Polish Triangle. Those six three-bedroom condos are priced from the $470s to the $760s.
Aside from having the same number of units and being represented by the same agent, a common feature that these two buildings share is that they both have “smart home” technology. That technology will enable buyers to “control your lights, heat / air, sound appliances, etc from anywhere around the world,” according to the specs sheet for 1445 West Thomas.
I’ll admit that when I visited the Museum of Science and Industry‘s Smart Home exhibit last year, I smiled and nodded as they demonstrated the building’s home automation system, but secretly, I thought it seemed like pie-in-the-sky gadgetry that few home buyers would need or want (except for Eli Manning, of course).
Now, after getting a more thorough demonstration from Ken Johnson, president of Premiere Systems at 50 East Chestnut a few weeks ago, I have a better appreciation for the utility of these wired homes (although I’m still unclear on why anyone would need to control their lights or heating from a remote location). These high-tech systems are still relatively rare, but as they grow in popularity I can’t help but wonder when we’ll start seeing home automation systems offered in standard condo packages across the city.