A 2-Bedroom Loft Penthouse With Roof Rights: 215 W. Illinois in River North
This 2-bedroom penthouse loft in the Anchor Lofts at 215 W. Illinois in River North came on the market in June 2021.
Built in 1925, Anchor Lofts has 17 lofts and garage parking.
It was converted into lofts in the 1980s.
It does not have a doorman nor other amenities.
This penthouse has a lot of authentic loft features includes 14 foot ceilings, timber columns, exposed brick and a unique stone archway that frames the foyer.
It has an open concept layout with a “recently renovated” kitchen with light wood cabinets, high end stainless steel appliances and quartz waterfall counter tops on the island, which seats 3.
There’s a wall of built-in bookcases and a wood burning fireplace.
The primary bedroom has a renovated en suite bath.
There’s a spiral staircase that accesses the second floor office and the 54×27 terrace, which has not been developed. You have to build out your rooftop terrace.
The loft has skylights.
It has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one “unassigned garage space.”
The last time this loft sold was in 1996.
Listed at $895,000, do you expect the rooftop deck to be built out at this price?
Marc Kaufman and Jean Emeson at Baird & Warner have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Or see it at the Open House on Sunday, July 18, from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Unit #6A: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet, loft
- Sold in September 1984 for $222,500 (per Redfin)
- Sold in August 1996 for $277,500
- Originally listed in June 2021 for $895,000
- Currently still listed at $895,000 (includes one unassigned garage space)
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Wood burning fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 12×14
- Bedroom #2: 12×13
- Foyer: 13×9
- Loft office: 12×17 (second floor)
- Living room: 29×17
- Dining room: 25×10
- Kitchen: 9×16
- Undeveloped rooftop terrace: 54×27 (second floor)
A tastefully finished loft that doesn’t look like an unfinished basement! I didn’t realize such properties existed. 🙂
This building is full of rentals and they have a finished rooftop deck for the building to use, I would imagine the noise is pretty loud too but maybe you can’t hear it over the EL screeching by every 2 minutes
Unit would look really nice with some new wide plank flooring. One garage spot is a downer at this price, also unassigned parking ensures some unnecessary inconveniences. I wouldn’t pay 900k to be making tradeoffs.
C unit asking the same, listed as a 3 bed, but currently a 1+den:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/215-W-Illinois-St-60654/unit-5C/home/14101096
2d bath is gross (ie, required full gut), and has sonies favorite thing–a demi-juliet balcony.
Another C unit asking $100k less, listed as 2 bed, but currently laid out as a 1+2-dens.
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/215-W-Illinois-St-60654/unit-4C/home/14101060
Has a soft-loft feel, imo.
6B just sold for $1.75m:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/215-W-Illinois-St-60654/unit-6B/home/14101063
and is pretty killer, but at the tippy top of 1 bed pricing in Chicago–yes there’s a 2d bedroom, but not a practical one–it isn’t an every night room, but any stretch.
Have to scroll down to prior listing to get pix.
3A, which has a decent sized private terrace, with zero view, sold for $1.1m in Dec-18:
https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/215-W-Illinois-St-60654/unit-3A/home/14101059
Has IDGAF’s wide plank flooring, and a much higher end kitchen, but appears to be laid out as a one+office.
I’d imagine that every past buyer of this place couldn’t wait to finish off that roof. I’m sure finishing off 1400 sf of roof deck is pricey but I’m a little surprises at least a small portion of it hasn’t been decked.
“every past buyer”
Dude, same over for a quarter century, and the prior owner held for 12.
How much demand for roof decks when Mondale was campaigning for POTUS?
There are no past buyers who matter.
“finishing off 1400 sf of roof deck is pricey”
as one would likely be trying to keep up with the joneses (6B), indeed it would. And that’s *before* the $100k pergola.
” has sonies favorite thing–a demi-juliet balcony.”
those are terrible in addition to those super dark floors
extra hate points if diagonal
This is an interesting space and will probably go for close to asking, but I can’t help but think a lot of what you’re paying for is the undeveloped roof space. I know others will disagree, but that sort of space is probably unusable for almost 1/2 of the year, unless you’re willing to hang out when the temps are below 60 (and often below 40).
My experience is that I use my outdoor space mostly in May-September. When temps fall below 60, I’m much less likely to want to sit outside working or reading. Taking a walk is different because I’m moving, but decks are for sitting. Others might be heartier, of course. Maybe someone who doesn’t mind cool temps will pay $895,000 for this unit.
But the inside space isn’t really that impressive, either. Both bedrooms are on the smaller side. No doorman or other amenities, and I’m guessing from the photos that your primary view is pretty much right into another building. And there’s the additional cost to build out the roof space, as Sabrina noted.
“Maybe someone who doesn’t mind cool temps”
aka “real Chicagoans”.
You don’t want to sit outside when it’s 59?
Are you one of those people who will wear a parka when its 72 in April, just in case the wind comes off the lake?
Anyway, if you’re spending $900k on the unit, and $100k+ on building out the deck nicely, running some 220 for some infrared heaters wouldn’t be a big deal. And then makes it usable anytime it’s above freezing and dry, even for lizard people.
Assessments are $817
Why are parking spaces unassigned? Seems like it would make it easier for everyone if the condo board assigned spaces, even randomly, to units with parking.
“I would imagine the noise is pretty loud too but maybe you can’t hear it over the EL screeching by every 2 minutes.”
It’s hilarious that sonies makes these comments about a property that hasn’t been on the market in 25 years.
Yes, Anon, you’re the one who always brings up my dislike of the cold.
The fact is, I find 59 a bit chilly to sit outside writing on my laptop (I work from home). Trust me, I’ve tried it. I can do it, but it’s not ideal.
Right now it’s 69 degrees with a breeze off the lake as I sit on my porch. I could honestly use a jacket. I’m always someone who’s felt the cold more acutely than others because of my low body fat percentage (I’m a marathon runner and body fat is less than 8%). For most people a temp of 60 would probably be fine. I’m just a scrawny little guy.
“you’re the one who always brings up my dislike of the cold”
You, and everyone else here who suggests that outdoor space is usable 3-4 months a year, as opposed to the 8-9 (but, of course, not every day of those months) that is truer for most people who choose to live here.
I promise, I’m not picking on you.
Sold TODAY for $855k.