What better way to kick off a long weekend and celebrate the freedoms at the heart of Independence Day than with a tour of a brand new rental high-rise (ok, give us a break, it’s 6 p.m. and we should be out barbecuing by now). Today we took a stroll ’round Sky55, the prominent new apartment tower at 1255 S Michigan Ave, in the South Loop. The development had earlier piqued our interest with its condo-worthy amenities, such as automotive detailing and dog walking, and location in Central Station, clearly visible from Lake Shore Drive. Click “More” to get take a peek inside and get the inside scoop on the future of one of the rare rental developments in condo town.
The 40-story tower is about 30 percent occupied, according to Leasing Manager Dawn Walsh, with 10 percent of current renters leasing an apartment as a second home. The building has a big landcaped patio with an outdoor fireplace, a pool, a movie room, a conference room, a party room, a library and three separate lounges, one reserved for the residents of the 21 penthouses.
Families have taken a particular shine to the development, said Walsh, and sports fans excited by Sky55’s proximity to sports venues.
As we toured several of the units, we couldn’t help but be taken by the fantastic views of Grant Park and the lake. The building is all rental and the plan is for it to remain a rental building, according to Walsh, though she imagines many renters will eventually move to condos in other buildings in Central Station.
