Chicago Real Estate News & Neighborhood Notes

One of the many things that help define Chicago in the summertime are all the unique festivals that fill the neighborhood streets. Food vendors, arts and crafts dealers, and all kinds of live music and entertainment make for a pretty awesome scene at many of these local events, and although the weather isn’t quite as ideal in December, the holiday season in the Windy City is also loaded with all kinds of fun-filled festivals and events that help make winter just a little more tolerable.

So instead of being stuck indoors all month long, get out there and embrace what many consider the most wonderful time of the year by checking these and other great holiday festivals and markets happening all over town:

Christkindlemarket Chicago  - November 20th to

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Nothing says brightens up the holiday season like festive holiday lights—literally. Starting around Thanksgiving time, cities all over the U.S. host any number of festivals, parades, and events that usually revolve around lighting up a Christmas Tree or putting on a festive light show to ring in the new holiday season, and here in Chicago, we take it to a whole new level.

As many of you know, this weekend is the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which of course is one of the Windy City’s most anticipated holiday events of the year, but along with that, there’s also plenty of places to check out some holiday lights and Christmas decorations, starting with these most-visited locations:

The Mag Mile Lights Festival - November 21

Although we

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In many ways, it’s hard to believe the holiday season is once again upon us, but here we are, already halfway through November. Over the next couple weeks, we’re going to get you all caught up on what’s happening in Chicago during the 2015 holiday season and where to make the most of the most wonderful time of year.

To kick off our 2015 Chicago Holiday Guide, we’re going to feature all the best spots in the city to go ice skating this year, which truly is a favorite wintertime activity for Chicagoans near and far. And whether you’re quick on the ice or still a little dicey, these Chicago ice skating spots welcome anyone looking to have a little outdoor fun over the next few months:

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink  - Millennium Park

Probably Chicago’s

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By now, most people have at least heard of 4 E. Elm and 9 W. Walton—two of the largest Gold Coast condo developments currently in the works. What some people may not be familiar with at this point, however, is 101 North, which seems to quietly be flying under the radar in a market that’s starving for new construction condos

Having been listed on the MLS now for just under a month, 101 North is a luxurious new boutique building that will stand 10 stories high once completed, while offering a location that puts residents just steps from where Chicago’s Gold Coast, Old Town, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods intersect.

With an elegant brick and limestone exterior, there’s no denying 101 North will blend seamlessly into the historic Gold Coast landscape. On

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New construction around downtown Chicago has been on the rise for awhile now, especially when it comes to large-scale rental and apartment developments. Hundreds of high-end residences have been delivered all throughout the downtown area in 2015 and as we inch closer to the beginning of a new year, things don’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

In fact, according to some reports, new construction in the entire Chicago metro area has seen constant progress over the past 12 months, with residential new construction at its highest level since the third quarter 2008. Recent statistics from MetroStudy—a Houston-based market leader in real estate stats and analysis—show developers in the Chicagoland region have started construction on 6,143 new residences

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Not long ago, LG Construction + Development proposed plans for a 15-story, 90-unit apartment building that’s unlike many other high-end rental projects we’re used to seeing built out here in downtown Chicago. First of the all, the site for the new development, which is located in Printer's Row, is only a quarter-acre, meaning living spaces will also be a bit smaller than what you might expect.

Being called micro-apartments, units at this new Printer’s Row apartment building will only average around 350 square feet, but inside, only top-of-the-line finishes and features will be offered, providing those who live here an upscale, luxurious look and feel at a price that won’t break the bank.

The compact design of micro apartments is meant to attract young

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As first reported by Curbed, construction can now officially begin on the new 41-story, 444-unit tower that’s planned for the old Gino’s East site in River North. Just last week, the city finally issued permits that will allow the foundation of the new structure to be built out, meaning it’s only a matter of time before we start to see the area’s next residential high-rise to come to fruition.

Demolition for the old eye-sore of a restaurant started back in July and now as we approach the end of 2015, this long-awaited project finally seems ready to get rolling, which should be wildly popular despite the luxury rental market in the city being flooded with new development.

Located at 167 W. Erie, the impressive new tower was designed by Loewenberg

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The most expensive condo currently for sale inside Trump Tower right now is listed for $4 million. A spectacularly remodeled three-bedroom, four-bathroom unit with over 3,100 square feet of living space, the attention paid to all the little details inside this 69th floor unit is, in many ways, unparalleled and won’t leave potential buyers disappointed.

High quality wood work, motorized curtains, and a custom designed lighting package are just a few of the noteworthy finishes that you’ll find here in 401 N. Wabash #69E, but like most units this high up in the building, the real treat is with the stunning city, lake and, river views that are among the best you’ll find in any building the city.

Detailed by a recent piece in Crain’s, the owners are a couple

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Over the past 3 to 4 years, the city of Chicago has really made a strong effort to improve its biking infrastructure, and now, reports are surfacing that Mayor Emanuel’s ambitious goal of installing more than 100 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of 2015 has officially been reached.

The goal, which was set back in 2011, is a testament to the mayor’s passionate devotion to making Chicago America’s most bike-friendly city, and today, there are now nearly 300 miles of designated bike lanes in Chicago, with construction continuing on even more lanes well underway.  

In fact, the plan is to install 50 more miles of better biking lanes over the next 4 years, which couldn’t come at a better time. According to a recent article from The Chicagoist, biking

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In many ways, 2015 has been the year of new development in downtown Chicago, but with so many large-scale projects underway, much of the city’s new construction will undoubtedly carry into 2016, and even beyond for some of the mega projects that have either been proposed or are already in the works.

As of today, 21 high-rises are currently under construction somewhere in Chicago, ranging from apartments to condos, and even a few hotel developments mixed in as well. And while that number is certainly impressive on many different levels, some of the city’s most impressive projects could still be on the way, like Wanda Vista, 113 Roosevelt, or the massive River South development that could potentially bring 900 more residences to the South Loop riverfront.

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