Has the Loop Finally Arrived as a Residential Neighborhood? A 2/2 at 212 W. Washington
This 2-bedroom at City Center Lofts at 212 W. Washington in the Loop just came on the market.
Built in 1913, this unit was converted into condos in 2000. It’s a full service building with 183 units and deeded garage parking.
This building was sold as “lofts” but other than 10 foot ceilings a large windows, it doesn’t have any other industrial features associated with most lofts such as exposed brick walls or beams.
But this unit is a corner home with north and west views and a private balcony.
The unit has an open kitchen with wood cabinets, granite counter tops, including on a kitchen island, and stainless steel appliances.
There’s a master suite with a “spa caliber” master bath which has a separate shower and corner jet tub.
While the master bedroom has a window, the second bedroom does not appear to have a window in it.
It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit in its own laundry closet and attached heated parking for two cars for $40,000 extra.
When this building was converted in to condos in 2000, developers had to convince people to live in the Loop.
Now, there are food halls, new apartment buildings, and coffee shops are actually open on the weekends.
Nearly 19 years later, is the Loop now a destination for buyers?
Mario Greco at Berkshire Hathaway Koenig Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #2005: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1550 square feet
- Sold in February 2000 for $387,500 (parking included)
- Currently listed at $449,500 (heated parking for 2 cars at $40,000 extra)
- Assessments of $995 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $8293
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 16×13
- Bedroom #2: 11×11
- Laundry room: 6×3
- WIC: 6×5
I was working two blocks from here back in 2000 when the building was converted, so I watched as it happened. This is the first interior I’ve seen, and it’s actually better than I would have expected. Nice finishes, and bright. I think you could do a lot worse if you really wanted to live in the Loop, though that wouldn’t be my preference.
I go to that Protein Bar across the street sometimes, and the Hannah’s that is also super close, but never paid attention to the fact the featured building was residential. Extremely convenient to my office, but I can’t imagine living in that location. In favor of it becoming more residential.
I work on the weekend a lot and it’s still pretty dead, especially on Sunday.
Drawback to me of that part of the Loop (apart from feeling like I was always at work and no neighborhood feel) is that if I choose a high rise it’s for great views, and those views are basically just the same as my office views, which are nothing special. Loft in the West Loop is different because the West Loop has much more of a neighborhood feel.
A friend of mine is a partner at a law firm. His company bought one of these apartments for corporate use. Partners used it for working late nights, clients used it when in town, it was a very good investment.
Good question, the answer is yes.
It does seem like a great location for corporate use, actually.