By Kerrie Kennedy

Contributing writer

East Rogers Park
Boundaries: The Lake, Ridge, Devon and Howard

Price: $150,000 and up

Character: Long known as a renter’s neighborhood, East Rogers Park boasts a large number of courtyard rental buildings. Today, however, many of them have been converted to condos.

Although there’s been a plethora of rehabs and new construction throughout Rogers Park over the past eight years or so, the real boom has taken place in East Rogers Park, where property values have more than doubled. Many people felt it was inevitable.

“East Rogers Park was undervalued,” says Regent Realty agent Eric Janseen. “It’s close to the lake and well-located between Lakeview and Evanston.”

Despite all the new development, East Rogers Park has maintained its status as a progressive, eclectic neighborhood that marches to the beat of its own drummer. More racially diverse than nearly any other community in the country, the neighborhood is home to large groups of South Asians, Orthodox Jews, Middle Easterners, Hispanics and African Americans. In fact, East Rogers Park prides itself as a place that welcomes people from all cultures, races and economic situations, including first-time homebuyers, who are finding that East Rogers Park is one of the few places in the city where you can still find a reasonably priced condo.

Features: Ask an East Rogers Park resident what he most likes about the neighborhood, and you’ll nearly always hear the same answer—the lake. The fact that there are some 12 streets in East Rogers Park that dead-end into the lake might explain why many residents feel a special connection to Lake Michigan. Perhaps it helps foster a spirit of conviviality in East Rogers Park, a neighborhood where residents work together to fight crime and maintain racial and economic diversity. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the Heartland Café, the longtime social and political center of the neighborhood, which owner Michael James describes it as a “gathering place for people trying to do good in the world.” Besides the Heartland Café, East Rogers Park boasts a large variety of health food restaurants, numerous Mexican restaurants on Clark Street and Indian restaurants along Devon. Loyola University provides a wonderful intellectual resource for the neighborhood, and transportation is plentiful—there are four CTA Red Line stops and a Metra stop in East Rogers Park. Although it’s easy enough to get downtown, there’s enough distance to give East Rogers Park its own feeling of small town separateness.

Significant Developments: Construction is underway at Renaissance Lofts, a six-story, 37-unit adaptive-reuse loft condominium development at 1791 W. Howard St. on the northern edge of East Rogers Park. Prices start in the low $200,000s for one-bedroom loft condo units. The building features a historic grand lobby, two elevators, a rooftop deck and views of the Chicago skyline, downtown Evanston and Lake Michigan.

Hot Properties: More than 60 percent of the properties at The Grove at Greenleaf, 1358-66 W. Greenleaf have sold. Priced from $169,800, the two-bedroom rehabbed residences feature Brazilian cherry flooring throughout and kitchens with cherry cabinetry, granite countertops and a stainless-steel appliance package. Garden units are available for $134,950. Almost half of the units have already sold at the Yellowstone, a 27-unit renovated vintage courtyard condominium at 1667-73 W. Farwell. Remaining condos are base priced from $169,800. The development features a landscaped courtyard and condos feature rear decks and upgraded kitchens and baths and exposed brick walls. A few units remain for sale at North Beach Lofts, a 43-unit adaptive-reuse and new-construction loft condominium development at 1225 W. Morse Ave.—only one block from Lake Michigan—in East Rogers Park. Priced from $289,900, immediate occupancy is available in this five-story elevator building. Garage parking is extra.

Bluewater 5440

Edgewater/Andersonville
Boundaries: Edgewater is from the lake to Ravenswood, Foster to Devon. Uptown is from the lake to Ravenswood, from Irving Park to Foster.

Price: The average price for a two-bedroom condo in Edgewater (which includes the pocket of Andersonville) is $318,000. One-bedroom condos along the lake in Edgewater start at around $150,000.

Character: Edgewater is a sprawling but close-knit North Side community. The best-known Edgewater neighborhood is Andersonville, which developed in the mid-1800s as a Swedish community. Today it still showcases its Swedish heritage but also caters to a solid women’s population and one of the largest GLBT populations in the entire country.

Features: The lake, of course, is the area’s top draw. But settlers also buy and rent for the entertainment amenities—the Aragon, where Frank Sinatra once sang, for example; the diverse population—Clark Street here has a Scandinavian feel, Argyle Street is fondly called Little Saigon; the eclectic housing stock-luxurious mansions to Spartan studios. The dining is also an attraction—from sushi to burgers, fine Italian to carryout Lebanese.

Significant Developments: Construction has not yet begun, but Bluewater 5440, located at the site of the former Lakeside Motel, is already generating interest, largely because new construction on the lake in Edgewater is a rare thing indeed. Perched on a quiet stretch of Sheridan Road halfway between Foster Avenue Beach and Hollywood Beach, units in this Booth-Hansen-designed glass high-rise are sure to feature some jaw-dropping views. In addition to a fitness center, spa and dog run, the condo building is featuring a large green roof garden and is to be one of the first condo buildings in the city to offer residents exclusive use of an I-GO rental car (perfect for residents who only need a car for trips to Ikea, etc.). Construction is set to begin late this year and first move-ins are slated for 2010. Prices begin at a very reasonable $180,000.

Hidden gems: A three-bedroom, three-bath duplex unit remains at Wayne Manor West, a highly successful rehab project located on a quiet tree-lined street at 5630-32 N. Wayne. Just a quarter of a block away from the exclusive neighborhood of Lakewood-Balmoral, the extra-wide duplex residence features a large living/dining room with fireplace and a huge front sunroom along with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The lower level, which has been plumbed for radiant heat, features a media room with custom bar and wine cooler, guest bedroom and bath and separate laundry room. The unit offers abundant storage, a large rear deck and two-car tandem-style parking included in the price. The 2,700 square feet duplex unit is priced at $499,000 and immediate occupancy is available.

Uptown
Boundaries: The lake to Clark St.; Irving Park to Foster.

Price: The average price for a two-bedroom condo in Uptown is $370,000.

Character: Uptown was built in the late 1800s as a lakeside resort community for the moneyed seeking luxury, celebrity and recreation. Once home to such glamorous residents as Bob Hope, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, Uptown’s star began to fade by the 1930s, when the neighborhood experienced an exodus of its wealthy residents. But over the past 15 years, Uptown has slowly but surely built itself back up.

Features: Uptown’s best feature is its location along the lake, just a hop, skip and a jump from Lakeview. Until somewhat recently, Uptown’s commercial sector consisted mainly of small, ethnic, owner-operated businesses. While it was possible to get incredible barbequed Chinese duck in Uptown, for years residents had to go elsewhere to get their clothes dry-cleaned. Perhaps it was inevitable that Uptown’s commercial sector had to grow along with its new residents. Today, Uptown boasts a Border’s bookstore, a new Aldi and numerous restaurants and coffee bars that cater to the neighborhood’s new upscale residents. Once the center of a bustling entertainment district, Uptown is home to several historic venues, including The Green Mill, the Riviera Theater, the Aragon Ballroom and the Uptown Theater.

Significant Developments: Without a doubt, the best feature of 4601 N. Dover, a 19-unit condo conversion in Sheridan Park, is its dramatic, lush courtyard, complete with a central fountain. One- to three-bedroom units at 4601 N. Dover start at $169,000 and feature balconies, washer/dryers, Hunter Douglas blinds on the windows and a 37-inch LCD TV (hey, it’s a buyer’s market). The building features a workout room.

Hot Properties: It’s not easy to find new construction in conversion-heavy Sheridan Park—much less extra-wide new construction—but Beacon Hill Condominiums, 4708-10 N. Beacon, is both of those things. Situated high atop an extra-large landscaped lot, the stately building features eight extra-spacious two- and three-bedroom residences with wide-plank walnut-stained hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplaces with custom mantels, large front terraces, a high-end trim package and one parking space per unit. The two penthouse units feature private stairs to amazing private roof decks, the perfect place for summertime entertaining. There’s one finished model unit, but buyers still have time to pick out many of their own finishes. Prices range from $350,000-$510,000.

Fountain View

Ravenswood/Lincoln Square/Albany Park
Boundaries: Ravenswood is from Irving Park to Lawrence, Clark to the Chicago River. Lincoln Square is from Montrose to Peterson, Ravenswood to the Chicago River. Albany Park is bounded by Foster, Pulaski, Montrose and the North Branch of the Chicago River.

Price: $335,000-$394,000

Character: Lack of congestion, low-density housing and plentiful green space make Ravenswood feel like a breath of fresh air for people wishing to escape the rat race of the city without actually leaving. Not only do the condos and homes in Ravenswood tend to be spacious, lots are typically larger than those in Lakeview and other parts of Chicago. Much of the housing stock consists of vintage condos—mostly renovated—as well as bungalows and single-family homes, both vintage and new construction. Settled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Germans and Scandinavians, the area was once home to the silent film industry and drew such stars as Gloria Swanson and Ben Turpin. Affordable prices are what originally attracted so many people to Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, a smaller community within Ravenswood, but no longer. In Lincoln Square there’s a large pocket of single-family homes in the $1-million plus range and $1 million-plus single-family homes are no longer uncommon in Ravenswood, especially in areas like Graceland West, a district of vintage homes near Graceland Cemetery. Luckily, there’s plenty of well-priced new construction in nearby Albany Park, a longtime haven for Chicagoans seeking affordable housing in the city.

Features: The heart of Lincoln Square—at Lincoln, Lawrence and Western Avenues—is a step back in time. From the 3,000-square-foot outdoor mural of a German landscape to the 19th century Lombard street lamps donated by the city of Hamburg, the 34-year-old Brauhaus Restaurant and the neighborhood’s annual German-American fest, there is an authentic German charm in Lincoln Square that many buyers find appealing. Recently, a 12-foot tall, three-ton graffiti-ridden chunk of the Berlin Wall (donated to the City of Chicago by the Federal Republic of Germany and citizens of Berlin) was installed at the Western Avenue Brown Line CTA station in Lincoln Square, a new symbol of freedom in a neighborhood once known as Germantown. In Albany Park’s multicultural haven, residents can get a taste of many other countries within its boundaries, from Mexican bakeries to Middle Eastern restaurants to the many Korean shops that line Lawrence Avenue, the “Koreatown” of Chicago. Cultural enrichment can also be found at the Conrad Sulzer Library, the Old Town School of Folk Music (4544 N. Lincoln) and the Davis Theater (4614 N. Lincoln), which always reserves one of its four screens for art films. Transportation is plentiful, too—there are three CTA stops and one Metra stop.

Hot Properties: Price reductions are being offered at the 36-unit mixed-use new-construction Lincoln Center Condominiums at 2472 W. Foster Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. The development, which features five retail spaces on the first floor, is 80-percent sold. Remaining residences range in price under $250,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit. Two-bedroom layouts with two baths start under $270,000 and go to $329,900. Pricing includes indoor heated parking in an elevator building. Only two residences remain for sale at Paulina Ridge Court, a rehabbed vintage condominium at 5909 N. Paulina in Ravenswood. The landscaped courtyard development features two-bedroom, two-bath duplexes and simplexes and two-bedroom, one-bath simplexes base priced from $229,900-$279,900. Free parking is being offered until April of 2008. All of the condos have private balconies, oak hardwood flooring, marble baths and kitchens with granite countertops and a stainless-steel appliance package.

Hidden gems: The Fountain View, a new 18-unit masonry condominium building under construction at 2326 West Giddings, features a huge landscaped courtyard and with fountain that wraps around the north side of Giddings Plaza. Perhaps one of the best locations in Lincoln Square, two-bedroom, two-bath units are priced at $424,000 and three-bedroom units are $499,000. The first units are scheduled for delivery late summer/early fall.

The Grand Briar


Halsted Row

Lakeview/Wrigleyville/Roscoe Village
Boundaries: Lakeview is from Lake Michigan to the Chicago River, Diversey to Irving Park. Wrigleyville is from Halsted to Clark, Addison to Irving Park. Roscoe Village is from Ravenswood to the Chicago River, Belmont to Addison.

Price: Resale/vintage units range from $350,000-$400,000; new-construction two-bedroom units are $450,000 and up.

Character: Ask someone where Lakeview is and you’ll probably get five different answers. Why? Lakeview is as big as it is diverse. From Boystown in East Lakeview to “Jock Town” in Wrigleyville, the hot Southport area with its boutiques and restaurants to the decidedly more laid-back Roscoe Village, there’s a little something for everyone in Lakeview. The housing stock runs the gamut as well—from vintage high-rises along the lake to Victorian greystones in Wrigleyville, single-family homes in West Lakeview to two-flats in Roscoe Village and, of course, condos of all shapes and sizes everywhere. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago, Lakeview hasn’t always been a hot neighborhood. In fact, Lakeview owes much of its current success to GLBT pioneers who reclaimed East Lakeview from urban decline in the 1970s, transformed it, and, in many cases, left it. But no matter where the GLBT community chooses to live, Boystown—with its rainbow pylons, gay bars and sparkling new Center on Halsted—is still the city’s gay mecca.

Features: It’s easy to understand why so many people enjoy Lakeview. It’s close to the lake and the park, where there’s a running path, bike path, driving range and beach volleyball. Transportation is plentiful and it’s easy to get downtown. And whether you live in Boystown, Roscoe Village, Southport Avenue or Lincoln Avenue, restaurants, shopping and entertainment are all just a step or two away.

Significant Developments: Halsted Row, a collection of five new construction condo buildings located at 2905, 2901, 2859, 2853 and 2847 N. Halsted, is just a short hike to all the action along Halsted Street and the shopping, restaurants and movies located on Clark Street. Units in the 44-unit elevator building feature private outdoor space, heated garage parking, walnut kitchen cabinets and stone bathrooms. Prices for a two-bedroom unit start at $459,000; three-bedroom units start at $569,000.

Hidden gems: Sales are currently underway at The Grand Briar Condominiums, 433 W. Briar Place, an 11-story vintage boutique building originally built by the Wirtz family as their private residence (can you imagine?) in the 1920’s. Completely updated and restored, the building exudes the elegance and style of days gone by. With just three units per floor, residences offer large living spaces, private elevators and fireplaces. The building features an elegant lobby, an exercise room and a bike room. Units start at $230,000.

Hot Properties: Two professionally decorated and furnished model townhomes have grand-opened at Fletcher Row, a 20-unit new-construction development located at 2424 W. Fletcher quiet enclave in the West Roscoe Village neighborhood. The three- and four-bedroom brick townhomes offer an attached two-car heated garage, hardwood floors, fireplaces, tech centers, island kitchens, large balconies, large master suites and upstairs laundry centers. The townhome project features a private courtyard garden and an optional solar panel roof system. Prices start at $650,000.

Lincoln Park
Boundaries: Lake Michigan, Clybourn, North Avenue and Diversey

Price: The average price for a two-bedroom condo in Lincoln Park is $493,201.

Character: Lincoln Park is the quintessential yuppie Chicago neighborhood, for better or worse. It is also one of the city’s most expensive neighborhoods. Home to the largest park in the city (3,000 acres), much of the housing in Lincoln Park is low-density, which gives the neighborhood a quaint residential feel. There are high-rises located along the park, but the majority of the housing in Lincoln Park consists of two-flats and three-flats-as well as multi-million-dollar, new-construction, single-family homes, emphasis on the multi. Thanks to R4 zoning (translation: build big), many Lincoln Park streets are beginning to look like a modern version of Astor Street. Most of the upper-end homes are constructed and planned around highly developed, highly stylized themes—from English country to French chateau—and feature underground heated garages, elevators, libraries and full-floor master suites. In neighboring DePaul, things are a little more down-to-earth. Here, you’ll find single-family homes, historic Chicago row houses with Victorian facades and multi-unit housing. DePaul students help keep things casual, although most of them commute from less expensive neighborhoods.

Features: Bring your Gucci shades, your chic little dog and above all, your wallet—Lincoln Park boasts some of the best shopping in the entire city. Along Armitage Avenue, you’ll find a collection of independent boutiques and national boutique-scale retailers. Some, like Cynthia Rowley and Benefit, are one of only a few in the entire country. A few blocks over on Clybourn, you’ll find the kind of shopping that not too long ago only existed in the Gold Coast—chains such as Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and much more. It must be said that the shopping has created a bit of a traffic nightmare on Clybourn, which is becoming more and more SUV-congested every day. And parking is no longer necessarily free, unless you get lucky (watch the signs, because they love to tow). Luckily, when the going gets tough, Lincoln Park residents can leave consumerism behind and head east for a run along the lake, a walk through the park or a stroll through the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Significant Developments: From Penny Pritzker’s modernist mansion (which sits on five whole city blocks) to the 13,000 square-foot mansion that Sara Crown Star is building, Lincoln Park has fast become a neighborhood where Chicago’s well-to-do build themselves mammoth mansions, each one larger and more opulent than the next. The Lincoln Park West Collection, an enclave of five luxury single-family homes at 1901-11 N. Lincoln Park West, is a prime example. The five-level, four-five bedroom, five-and-a-half bath, 4,600 to 6,700 square-foot limestone homes range in price from $2.990 million to $4.8 million. The juicy floor plans reveal such luxuries as an upper-level game room with caterer’s kitchen and terrace access; a full-floor master suite with sitting room and wet bar; a media room, den, study and a large workout room, perfect for workouts with your personal trainer. Of course, you could get your workout by walking up five flights from the media room to the game room, but naturally, the homes all have private elevators. Construction is expected to be complete sometime this spring.

Hot Properties: From the lush landscape surrounding the North Pond to panoramic views of Lake Michigan, it’s all about the views at Lincoln Park 2520, the Lucien Lagrange-designed condo and townhome project set to replace the former Columbus Hospital at 2520 N. Lakeview. Alas, such a prime location doesn’t come cheap, as you might guess. Prices of remaining units (the project is nearly 50 percent sold and construction has not yet begun) start at $800,000 and go up. The development features a 625-car garage, a fitness center, indoor pool and private club. Delivery is estimated for sometime in 2010.

EcoLogic

Wicker Park/Bucktown/Ukrainian Village
Boundaries: Ukrainian Village is bounded by Grand, Division, Damen and Western. Bucktown is bounded by North, Western, Fullerton and the Chicago River. Wicker Park is bounded by Bloomingdale, Ashland, Western and Division.

Price: $350,000 and up for a two-bedroom condo.

Character: Are Bucktown and Wicker Park losing their status as Chicago’s cool place to live? Have the once-rough neighborhoods turned into yuppie havens for artist wannabes? One thing’s for certain—the only artists who can afford to buy homes in Bucktown or Wicker Park these days are rich ones. The ones with less money—or hipper standards—have been moving next door to Ukrainian Village (also known as “U.K.”), a place where long-time residents (largely Ukrainian) coexist with new ones (artists and yuppies). Charm abounds in the U.K.: Numerous churches are the centers of community activity and the locals gather at bakeries and delis found on every corner.

Features: Although several small chain stores have made their way into Bucktown/Wicker Park’s commercial district over the past few years, that hasn’t affected its rep as one of the best places to shop and eat in the city. In fact, the neighborhood’s amazing array of cutting-edge, independent boutiques and restaurants—many located along Damen/North/Milwaukee—draw shoppers and diners from all over the city and suburbs. Over in the U.K., the dining experience is a little less hip—and a little more ethnic—with options that run the gamut from borscht to sushi; burritos to gourmet Italian.

Significant Developments: A new seven-story, 94-unit loft condo project planned at 2359 N. Seely Ave. in Bucktown, features wind turbines to provide power for the building’s common areas. Ecologic Lofts includes units ranging in size from 690-1,335 square feet with pre-construction prices starting in the low $200,000s. Standard features at EcoLogic include carpet made from recycled water bottles, bamboo floors, Energy Star appliances, energy efficient plumbing and lighting fixtures, low VOC paints, wood products, adhesives and sealants. Dedicated indoor parking is $30,000 for one car. Hybrids earn reserved spaces. A sales center and model at 2023 W. Fullerton Ave. is slated to open in April. The model, done up in a palette of blue, white and gray, was furnished entirely with recycled and refurbished furniture pieces. Even the accent pillows were made from men’s vintage designer suits.

Hot Properties: Located two blocks from the CTA Blue Line at 2738 West Armitage Ave., Armitage Square, a 50-unit new-construction red brick condo development in Bucktown, offers 17 different floor plans to choose from. In addition to private outdoor space, owners have access to a common rooftop deck and social gathering room at the penthouse level. Residences range in size from 900 square feet to 1,800 square feet; penthouse units feature 720 square feet of private terraces with downtown and city views. Pre-construction pricing ranges from $249,900 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom plan to $500,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse. Parking is available from $15,000 to $25,000.

The Spire


Parksides of Old Town

Gold Coast/Streeterville/Old Town
Boundaries: Gold Coast is from Lake Michigan to Clark, Oak to North. Streeterville is from Lake Michigan to Michigan, Oak Street to Grand. Old Town is from Division to North, Clark to Clybourn.

Price: Average price for a two-bedroom condo is currently $522,444.

Character: From the time Potter Palmer began developing there in the 1880s, the Gold Coast has been home to Chicago’s upper classes and hence has always maintained its status as a blue-chip investment. From Beaux Arts Mansions to Art Deco co-op buildings, modern high-rises to greystones, the housing stock in the Gold Coast is some of the most expensive real estate in the city. Nearby in Streeterville, however, there are deals to be found, thanks to the enormous amount of new construction. Some people are less than charmed by the dense housing in Streeterville, which has earned the nickname “high-rise canyon.” Old Town, on the other hand, is nothing if not charming. Once considered a hippie neighborhood, Old Town is home to Second City, the place where comedic greats like John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray got their start. Most of the housing in Old Town is vintage-a mix of cottages, rowhouses, two-flats and condos. The Old Town Triangle, a historic district section of rowhouses on cobblestone streets, is perhaps one of the most charming areas in the entire city.

Features: One reason the Gold Coast is so popular is probably because it offers a little something for everyone. For fashionistas there’s Barney’s, Prada and Neiman-Marcus. For foodies there’s Spiaggia, Tru, NoMi, etc. For sun-worshippers there’s Oak Street Beach. Streeterville has more of the same, along with Navy Pier, the No. 1 tourist destination in the state. If you want to see live comedy, Wells Street in Old Town (Second City, Zanies) is the place to go. Old Town is also known for its annual art fair, one of the largest and most established street fairs in Chicago.

Significant Developments: In a city of big shoulders, big buildings and big—well, you get the picture—nothing is bigger than the rather phallic Chicago Spire. When completed (sometime in 2011) the 150-floor residential condo building, located at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive, will not only be taller than the Sears Tower; it will be the tallest residential building in the entire world. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Chicago Spire, which bears a remarkable resemblance to a drill bit, is bringing some 1,300 new residential units to Chicago (here’s hoping the market picks up by 2011). In the meantime, start saving your pennies, because it’s going to take some serious coin if you want to live at the Chicago Spire. Condo prices range from $750,000 to $15 million—or $1,400 per square foot. Perhaps Oprah might be interested in the 10,000 square-foot, two-story penthouse unit, with a colossal price tag of $40 million? After all, who else in this town could possibly afford it?

Significant Developments: From the projects to the Parkside of Old Town: Construction is well underway at the massive development that replaces part of Cabrini Green. Spanning eight city blocks, the 800-home project consists of condominiums starting at $300,000 and townhomes starting at $499,000. A model unit, featuring a kitchen inexplicably decked out in ugly floral wallpaper, is currently available for viewing (hint to the developers: fire your decorator!). It seems buyers have been able to look beyond the bad wallpaper and focus on the location and prices instead, because the project is 80-percent sold. First deliveries are scheduled for sometime this summer.

Hot Properties: Construction is underway at The St. Clair at CityFront Plaza, a 41-story luxury condominium development at 200 East Illinois, a half-block east of the “Magnificent Mile.” The 253-unit St. Clair is the second phase of CityFront Plaza, a three-tower, $700-million development on a full city block bounded by St. Clair Street, Illinois Street, Columbus Drive and Grand Avenues. Prices start in the upper-$300,000 bracket for in-town studio suites that come fully furnished right down to the sheets and silverware, and range upwards of $3 million for a luxury penthouse. Features include high-end European appliances such as Bertazzoni/Bosch/Liebher, 10-11-foot ceilings and hardwood flooring throughout. The project features Initial occupancies are scheduled for sometime in 2009.

Trump Tower

River North
Boundaries: From Clark to the Chicago River, Division to the Chicago

River.

Price: $431,340 and up

Character: What it lacks in neighborhood charm, River North more than makes up for in style. Once a manufacturing/warehouse district, River North has a sophisticated, European feel, thanks in part to all the art galleries that have set up shop here. There are other businesses in River North as well—many of the neighborhood’s loft buildings now house offices. But plenty of people call it home, too. The housing stock in River North consists of new townhomes, condos and converted lofts.

Features: Not only does River North boast the largest concentration of galleries in the city, it is also home to an amazing array of great restaurants (Frontera Grill, MK, Zealous and Coco Pazzo), the city’s most prestigious health club (the East Bank Club) and the world’s largest commercial building (the Merchandise Mart). With the Loop and the Gold Coast within walking distance, it’s easy to understand why River North has quickly become an expensive, exclusive neighborhood.

Significant Developments: Sales now are underway for The Huron, a 47-unit, 28-story luxury high-rise planned at 4 E. Huron Street, in River North’s exclusive Cathedral District. Located on the northeast corner of Huron and State streets overlooking Holy Name Cathedral, the contemporary glass and limestone building features between one and three residences per floor, all with spacious terraces, and indoor parking for 74 cars. For those who can afford it (prices start at $992,000), the building offers such perks as a private health club complete with steam room, sauna, and changing rooms, plus a pool and deck with fabulous views, natch. Even the dogs are pampered here: The building features a covered doggy run. Of course the kitchen comes with all the latest appliances (pot fillers, warming drawers, wine coolers, freezer drawers) and the over-the-top master bath features heated towel bars, radiant heated floors and a hidden mirror with flat-screen TV. Approximately 30 percent of the units have already sold, including one penthouse unit. First move-ins are scheduled for early 2010.

Hot Properties: He didn’t exactly get off on the right foot in this town, alienating friends and family as it were, but you don’t get to be The Donald by being Mr. Nice Guy. Anyhoo, Mr. Trump certainly hasn’t forgotten one golden rule—location, location, location. Offering killer views of the Chicago River and city skyline, the 92-story Trump International Hotel & Towers, 401 N. Wabash, is all about its location. But views like this don’t come cheap: Tiny condo studios start at a whopping $583,000; cozy hotel studios start at $851,000 (don’t quote us though—best to get that in writing). Whether you buy a condo or a hotel/condo hybrid, you’ll be able to take advantage of 24-hour white glove doorman service; concierge service and other high-end luxury hotel services.

XO

South Loop
Boundaries: Congress Parkway, Cermak Road, the South Branch of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.

Price: $350,000 and up.

Character: Probably no other neighborhood in the city has experienced the kind of growth the South Loop has over the past 15 years. A few developers saw potential, especially in the neighborhood’s boarded-up warehouse buildings, and the boom began. The No. 1 housing market in the city for lofts, the South Loop also offers plenty of new construction condominiums, townhomes and turn-of-the century mansions on Prairie Avenue, once the wealthiest street in the entire country. “Millionaire’s Row,” as Prairie Avenue was called, was home to the Pullman family (Pullman Railroads), the Kimball family (Kimball pianos), the Marshall Fields and the Glessners, whose house, The Glessner House Museum, is now one of the many cultural attractions in the South Loop neighborhood. Today, the South Loop is on a path destined to bring it back to its once-wealthy roots. Numerous developments have been designed to recapture the splendor of Prairie Avenue’s historic mansions, lavish landscaping has vastly improved the look of this once-blighted neighborhood, and a chic, growing dining scene has been drawing people from all over the city.

Features: Recently named one of the 30 best places to retire by Money Magazine, the South Loop is a vital, thriving neighborhood teaming with students (The School of the Art Institute, Columbia College, DePaul University, Roosevelt College, Robert Morris), theater-, museum- and restaurant-goers and, above all, new homeowners. Sweeping lake views are among the most sought-after features here—many South Loop lakefront buildings offer unobstructed views. Lack of shopping was once the biggest drawback of the area but those days are gone. Now there’s plenty of shopping in the South Loop, including a Jewel, a Dominick’s, Target, Walgreens and Starbucks. And there’s an array of great restaurants in the neighborhood, including Opera, Room 21 and Chicago Firehouse.

Significant Developments: If next winter is as bad as this one was, you’ll want to be living at 565 Quincy, because you’ll never have to leave. Just west of the South Loop and steps from Union Station, 565 Quincy houses a private bowling alley, a putting green, a movie screening room, a fitness center, lounge, and heated garage princess parking. Order your groceries from Peapod, and you’ll never have to brave the cold again. Currently under construction, 565 Quincy consists of a glass and steel new construction condo building that sits atop a vintage brick and concrete building. Buyers can choose from among 18 renovated loft floorplans and 17 new construction condo floorplans, priced from $217,000. The building also features a 24-hour doorman (becoming a rarity) and a roofdeck with cooking area. First deliveries are scheduled for November 2008, just in time before winter rears its ugly head again.

X/O Condominiums, a 485-unit, two-tower development at 18th Street and Prairie Avenue, is one of the largest planned developments ever proposed in the South Loop. Named Chicago’s “Best New High-Rise” by New Homes Magazine this year, the development is to adjoin a 10,000 square-foot park along Prairie Avenue. Lucian Lagrange designed the highly contemporary glass and concrete high-rises, which feature three green roofs. The development includes a 13,000 square-foot lifestyle center with a fitness spa, sun deck, swimming pool, and aqua grotto with cascading waterfalls, misting park and social sauna. Plans include a screening and performance theater, social lounge, game room, private café and wine bistro. Residences range in price from the $300,000s to more than $2 million. Approximately 600 parking spaces are also planned.

Hot Properties: The former storage facility of the Lyric Opera of Chicago is currently being transformed into Opera Lofts, a loft condo building located at 2455 S. Dearborn in the South Loop. The building is retaining many of its original warehouse features, including exposed columns, brick walls, and 13- to 30-foot ceilings. Condo residences feature high-efficiency appliances, duel flush toilets, Pella windows and large balconies. Building amenities include a fitness center, dog and common roof deck with barbeque. Prices start at $249,000.

Hidden gems: Lakeside Lofts, a 96-unit green new construction low-rise loft development, located at 2025-2035 S. Indiana in the South Loop, features two five-story boutique buildings with two large botanic gardens on top of the parking garage and a 35-by-125-foot four-season garden with trees, bushes and other greenery all year and flowers in the spring and summer. Prices of remaining units start at $266,800. Immediate occupancy is available.

RD+659

West Loop
Boundaries: Halsted, Ashland, Randolph and the Kennedy Expressway.

Price: $350,000 and up.

Character: Chicago’s West Loop has often been compared to New York’s hippest neighborhood, SoHo, and it’s easy to see why. With its gritty industrial buildings and loft housing, a growing gallery district with more than 30 notable galleries, chic restaurants, numerous photographers’ studios and production houses—not to mention being home to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios—the West Loop has most Chicago neighborhoods beat hands down in the hipness factor. Unlike SoHo, however, the majority of the housing stock in the West Loop consists of new condominium buildings constructed to look like they were originally warehouses. Although the prices here are about the same as the South Loop, units tend to be bigger and developers are more likely to offer free upgrades, free parking and other incentives.

Features: Location is a big draw here—the Loop, Grant Park, the museum campus, the Kennedy and the Eisenhower expressways are all nearby, not to mention Greektown and Little Italy for dining. Of course, there are plenty of upscale dining establishments right in the West Loop, including Marche, Vivo, One Sixty Blue, Blackbird and Sushi Wabi. And no need to leave the neighborhood for shopping either: There’s a Dominick’s at Halsted and Madison and an upscale fruit and vegetable emporium, Cyd and D’Pano, on Randolph. Walgreens, Blockbuster and Starbucks are all recent additions to the neighborhood.

Significant Developments: Waterton Associates LLC recently announced plans to convert Presidential Towers, the freakishly huge apartment complex located on the northwest corner of Des Plaines and Monroe streets. But the apartment building isn’t going condo: In what is certainly a sign of the times, plans are in place to convert a portion of the 600-unit tower into a hotel. If plans are approved, the entire four-tower complex would be redeveloped and retail space would be increased substantially. More than 70 units have been sold at Catalyst, a 212-unit, $100-million Lucien LaGrange-designed high-rise condominium development planned for the northeast corner of Washington and Des Plaines. The sleek and modern building, wrapped in dimensional colored glass pieces, features one-to three-bedroom units based priced from $220,000. The building also includes a 3,800 square-foot spa with state-of-the-art exercise and wellness facilities, a 24-hour Walgreens and an indoor garage. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2009.

Hidden gems: Construction is underway and 18 units have been sold at CA23, located on the corner of Carpenter and Aberdeen Streets, a $35-million development featuring 48 residences in twin five-story buildings connected by a large landscaped courtyard. Only two units are being built on each floor and all residences have private elevators and unobstructed views of the courtyard from the master bedroom. The spa-like master bath features an oversized shower and two floating vanities. Select residences feature 25-by-27 foot landscaped yards. Prices start at $650,000.

R+D659, a new 17-story glass and concrete high-rise underway in the West Loop, was designed to allow sunlight to reach 75 percent of the indoor space, thereby reducing the need for lighting during daytime hours. A green rooftop garden will help reduce energy consumption for summertime air conditioning. Named after its address (659 W. Randolph and Des Plaines), the building features one- to three-bedroom units with sleek European finishes. The building features an outdoor sundeck with swimming pool; an indoor lounge and entertaining area with media room and kitchenette; a fully-equipped exercise room; and a dog run. Prices start in the low $200,000s and first move-ins are slated for this summer.

Hot Properties: If it has a hip name and modern aesthetic, it’s probably a West Loop development. A case in point is Mod, a 92-unit new-construction glass and steel two-building development at 1222-24 W. Madison, offering the latest in modern design, including polished concrete floors; quartz countertops and teak, aluminum and glass cabinets. One-, two- and two-bedroom-plus den residences range in price from $284,900-$499,900 and parking spaces are an additional $35,000. The building also features 5,014 square feet of ground floor retail space. All residences feature European-style finishes and a private balcony or large terrace area. With a focus on the universal concepts of harmony, balance and home, Zen, an 82-unit mid-rise condominium now rising at 225 S. Sangamon in the West Loop, has generated sales surpassing the 85-percent mark. Named “Best New Mid-Rise Condominium” by New Homes Magazine, the building features tinted floor-to-ceiling glass set in steel metal frames, rows of recessed balconies and a decorative open canopy. Base prices on remaining one-bedroom, one-bath units with 810 square feet of living area start at $251,900, including parking; available two-bedroom, two-bath residences with 971 square feet of space start at $291,900, including parking; remaining corner two-bedroom, two-bath residences have 1,180 square feet of space and are priced from $334,900. The building features a private fitness center.

Bridgeport
Boundaries: Bridgeport is from Stewart Avenue to Racine, 26th Street to Pershing Road.

Price: The average two-bedroom condo is just under $300,000.

Character: Bridgeport, the prototypical tough, working-class neighborhood, is best known for its collection of brick bungalows, as well as its large collection of taverns and pubs. This Irish-American enclave is also home to a large number of Lithuanian, Chinese and Mexican immigrants. There are slightly more owners than renters here.

Features: Bridgeport is the famed kingdom of the Daley dynasty, as well as the site of several city parks and the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club. U.S. Cellular Field, where the White Sox play ball, is nearby on 35th Street.

Significant Developments: Seventeen three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath townhomes are planned for Phase II of the 37th Place Townhomes at Halsted Street, a $5.5 million development at 3746 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. The townhomes, which overlook a courtyard, feature a whopping 2,900 square feet of living space. Prices are expected to start at $399,000. A furnished model is available for viewing. Sales are currently underway at The Residences at 500 West, an 18-unit condominium development 500 W. 31st St. in Bridgeport. Prices on two-bedroom, two-bath units start in the mid-$300,000s. Private indoor parking is being provided. Delivery is planned for late 2008 or early 2009.

Hot Properties: Two three-bedroom, two-bath 1,650 square-foot condominiums priced at $359,000 remain for sale at Vision Condominiums, 3465 S. Lituanica Ave. in Bridgeport. Fifteen loft condos remain for sale at Morgan Street Lofts, a $15-million 50-unit loft-style condo development at 3531 S. Morgan in Bridgeport. The remaining one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus den and two-bedroom units feature 833-1,059 square feet of living space plus a private balcony. Prices range from $196,000-$300,000. Riverside Homes, an $18.5 million new-construction development in Bridgeport, features one remaining three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhome with 2,200 square feet of living space priced at $485,000. Seven remaining Phase I single-family homes are priced from $629,900. A furnished single-family model home at 2836 S. Lock St. is open Saturday and Sunday 1-3 p.m.