Re-Visiting American Invsco’s Loftominium World
If you were in Chicago in 2000, you would have seen the ads for Loftominium World, a loft conversion by American Invsco, in the real estate section.
It had the coolest pictures of brick and timber lofts with spiral staircases.
The Loftominium Conversion consisted of seven buildings:
- Heartbreak Lofts, 17 N. Loomis in the West Loop
- Hale Lofts, 14 N. Peoria in the West Loop
- Warehouse Lofts, 312 N. May in the West Loop
- Union Park Lofts, 1327 W. Washington in the West Loop
- 11th Street Lofts, 1020 S. Wabash in the South Loop
- Morgan Town Lofts, 11 N. Morgan in the West Loop
- Acorn Lofts, 1017 W. Washington in the West Loop
The sales staff would drive you from property to property to look at units.
These were “real” lofts, and even today, some of them are the largest and most unique you’ll find the west loop.
At the time, American Invsco had one “upgrade” of the kitchen (no choice- it was the same cabinets, granite etc in every unit if you chose to upgrade.) And I don’t remember there being a bathroom upgrade.
Some of the original kitchens and baths still exist- even nearly 10 years later.
Take this unit at the Hale Lofts, at 14 N. Peoria. It has both the original white kitchen AND the original bathroom.
14 N. Peoria Unit #4G: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1900 square feet, timber
- Sold in June 2001 for $373,500
- Sold in October 2004 for $390,000
- Currently listed for $450,000 plus $10k for parking
- Assessments of $414 a month
- Keller Williams Realty – West Loop has the listing
This unit at the Heartbreak Lofts at 17 N. Loomis has the “upgraded” kitchen that was available but the bathroom is still in original condition.
17 N. Loomis Unit #3H: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1650 square feet, concrete
- Sold in September 2001 for $334,500
- Currently listed for $375,000 plus $25k for parking
- Assessments of $424 a month
- Keller Williams Realty – West Loop has the listing
17 N Loomis seems priced okay.
The seller of 14 N Peoria 4G seems delusional. The bath looks okay but those white cabinets turned out to be a passing fad and didn’t age very well. They’ll be lucky to get 390k with the parking.
Why on Earth would anybody name his development “Heartbreak Lofts”?
That is like calling your used-car lot “The Lemon Grove”.
But I guess there’s a lot of heartbreak at Heartbreak Lofts these days, what with exploding mortgages and monthly heat bills that cost as much as a new furnace.
Who hangs their television like that in the bedroom of their home? Or ANYWHERE in their home?
I’d take the white cabinets over the “upgraded” kitchen at the other place. Not my style at all.
Does anyone know if there are any problems with the building at the Heartbreak lofts?
I know the owners at the Warehouse lofts each got hit with a hefty (as much as $30K) special assessment for repairs to the roof and atrium.
I dont think there was a lot of “tuckpointing” or repairs prior to the conversions done on the buildings. Some of the spaces are dramatic though in the right building/layout. I saw these back with a friend in 2000.
Bob on June 19 seems delusional, 4G closed in 30 days at 435K. Pretty good for this market. Unit must show better in person.