Chicago Real Estate News & Neighborhood Notes - Leo Clark.

Luxury New Construction Condos For Sale Around Chicago

Posted by Leo Clark. on May 12th, 2015

Generally speaking, everybody loves new construction condos, as there’s nothing quite like all the newest and best interior finishes to compliment the modern living spaces each new development around town has to offer. Over the last 12-18 months, or maybe even longer than that, luxury rentals have dominated the new construction market around downtown Chicago, with literally thousands of new, high-end units hitting the market over that same timeframe.

But now that the luxury market is starting to cool off—if only a little bit—luxury condominium residences around downtown Chicago and the surrounding neighborhoods are finally starting to make a comeback. In the Gold Coast, developments like 4 E. Elm and 9 W. Walton are catching the attention of plenty of…

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Luxe Condos: Top Lakefront High-Rises in the Gold Coast Right Now

Posted by Leo Clark. on May 6th, 2015

Given one of our main areas of focus is the Gold Coast real estate market, it goes without saying that we hold many Gold Coast condo buildings to a higher standard than other buildings across the city, which is especially true for those that sit on the lakefront.

In fact, the real beauty about Gold Coast condos for sale is that not only do units here occupy a place in one of downtown Chicago’s most affluent and historic neighborhoods, but they also offer some of the best unobstructed views of the water that you’ll find anywhere in the city. And if great views are a characteristic that’s especially high up on your wish list, there’s no better place to start your downtown condo search than right here in the Gold Coast.

So while it’s hard to narrow down any…

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Business Update: Amazon Warehouse Coming to Goose Island in Chicago

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 29th, 2015

According to a report from Crain’s Chicago Business, online retail giant amazon.com has leased a warehouse in Goose Island, making its expansion into both Chicago and Illinois official. The space is a nearly 52,000 square foot warehouse at 1111 N. Cherry Avenue, and those close to the deal say Seattle-based Amazon has plans to bring at least 1,000 full-time jobs to its new Chicago location before 2017.

About 6 months ago, Amazon first hinted an expansion to Illinois, and more specifically Chicago, citing the need to keep up with the rising demand for same-day and next-day deliveries. Prior to the new Goose Island warehouse, the nearest Amazon facility, for now, is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, however, Amazon is also planning an even larger distribution…

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Luxury Real Estate in Chicago Sees Healthy First Quarter

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 27th, 2015

According to a recent release from RE/MAX Northern Illinois, the million dollar real estate market in Metro Chicago is alive and well, with transaction activity for luxury homes ($1 million and over) up 16% in the first quarter of 2015 from a year ago.

Along with a higher sales volume, units are also moving slightly faster as well, averaging just 144 days on the market, compared to 158 days during the first quarter of 2014. For those of us working in the Chicago real estate industry and dealing specifically in the luxury sector of the market, the latest quarterly figures are hardly surprising, and that’s of course not even factoring in the luxury rental market in downtown Chicago, which has been especially active since the post-recession development…

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Plans For Chicago's Largest Office Tower Since the Recession Released

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 24th, 2015

Big news was announced this week on the front of Chicago’s commercial side of the real estate industry, as the sleek new design for an office tower at 130 North Franklin was finally released at a public meeting held by the project’s developer. Tishman Speyer, who already owns 13.5 million square feet of office space in downtown Chicago, is planning to add nearly 1.4 million more square feet of leasable space to their portfolio in the form of a very impressive 53-story glass tower that, if approved, will be the largest office building to begin construction since the post-recession development boom began, which is still well underway.

The new building is being designed by Krueck+Sexton Architects, and just going off the new renderings that were released…

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Upcoming Spring Events Around Downtown Chicago

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 13th, 2015

Spring is here, and the fun and excitement is blooming in Downtown Chicago.  Springtime is one of the best times to visit Chicago, with a large variety of festivals and events to fit your interests.

2015 NFL Draft

The clock is ticking on one of the most anticipated spring events for Downtown Chicago.  From April 30-May 2 football fans converge on Auditorium Theatre, Grant Park and Congress Plaza for the 2015 NFL Draft.  A number of fan-centric activities are planned, including some interactive ones.

Click here for more info>>>

Chicago Farmers Markets

If you’re in search of fresh fruits and veggies, look no further than the Chicago Farmers Markets.  Starting in May, more than 70 venders will set up shop, selling fresh produce, along with…

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Construction For NEXT at NoCA Tower in River North Set to Begin

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 8th, 2015

Although luxury condo development is starting to make its way back to the downtown Chicago real estate scene, the luxury apartment boom is still far from over. Initially announced early last year, Fifield Companies is set to begin construction on its impressive 310-unit apartment tower over at 347 West Chestnut St. near the old Calbrin-Green site.

Designed by Pappageorge-Haymes, this incredible new project, being dubbed NEXT at NoCA, will stand 28 stories high and also include 6,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Not to be outdone by other new construction apartment towers around the downtown Chicago area, this sleek new tower will also feature an array of upscale, resort-style amenities like an outdoor pool and spa, an outdoor fire pit,…

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Striking 3-Bedroom Hits the Market at The Contemporaine

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 2nd, 2015

The Contemporaine is one of our favorite modern condo buildings in all of Chicago, so when a unit here hits the market there, you can bet it almost always catches our attention right away. If you’re unfamiliar with this award-winning, architectural masterpiece, few will argue it’s home to 52 of the most spectacular condominium residences you’ll find anywhere in town. Sleek modern finishes, a trendy loft-style design, and a location that’s right smack-dab in the middle of one of downtown Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods, there’s just so much to love about the building located at 201 W. Grand, and unit #803 is just the latest example of exactly why.

A 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom unit, 201 W. Grand #803 is as impressive as it gets when it comes to River North real…

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One of the Truest Lofts You'll Find on the Chicago Real Estate Market

Posted by Leo Clark. on April 1st, 2015

In an area as vast as downtown Chicago, lots of different housing options are available to home buyers, including a wide range of residential lofts that are as fashionable as it gets. Among all the different styles of loft condos in Chicago are concrete lofts, timber lofts, soft lofts, work-live lofts, and any number of other loft options that have a distinct or unique style.

For some home buyers, finding a nice blend between a classic residential loft and a nice, clean, and comfortable living space is ideal, while others specifically want an authentic Chicago loft residence in its truest form.

If you think you may be someone who prefers the latter, there’s an opportunity over at 727 South Dearborn Street that you just don’t see very often, and is…

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Fabulous 2-Building Development Proposed for 215 W. Hubbard in River North

Posted by Leo Clark. on March 20th, 2015

More possible large-scale development could be coming to River North, and this time it involves both commercial and residential real estate. First brought to our attention by our friends from Curbed Chicago, the new plan, which involves an 8-story office building and a 22-story residential tower, will be presented later this month during a public meeting by its would-be developers, Centrum Partners.

If approved, the new project would take the place of a parking lot that currently occupies 215 W. Hubbard, but unlike many new developments going on around downtown Chicago, this one poses some unique challenges.

If you refer to the renderings, you’ll see that elevated L tracks curve directly through the northwest corner of the lot, and as a result, the…

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