Live in the Penthouse of an Old Cold Storage Warehouse: 345 N. Canal on the Near West Side
This 3-bedroom corner penthouse in Fulton House at 345 N. Canal on the Near West Side came on the market in May 2019.
Built in 1903, Fulton House was originally an old cold storage warehouse.
It became apartments in the 1970s and was converted into condos in the 1990s. There are 104 units. However, it’s also a live-work building where businesses can operate.
It has a doorman.
This penthouse is a southeast corner unit with views down the Chicago River.
The listing says it’s the former unit of architect Harry Weese.
It has double height ceilings.
One bedroom is on the main level and two are on the second floor which is accessed via a modern spiral staircase.
The kitchen has white cabinets, a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances and what look like black stone counter tops.
It has the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. There’s no parking.
As a penthouse, the listing says it has roof rights where you can build a deck or more living space.
Originally listed in May 2019 at $725,000, it has been reduced to $700,000.
Is this a chance to create your own custom rooftop oasis in one of the hottest areas of the city: on the Chicago River?
Ryan Prevett at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1608: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, duplex up, penthouse, 2202 square feet
- Sold in July 1999 for $240,000
- Sold in May 2006 for $415,000
- Sold in June 2015 for $620,000
- Originally listed in May 2019 for $725,000
- Reduced
- Withdrawn in November 2019 at $715,000
- Re-listed in February 2020 at $710,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $700,000
- Assessments of $898 a month (includes doorman, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $4482
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- No parking
- Bedroom #1: 11×17 (main floor)
- Bedroom #2: 14×20 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×12 (second floor)
- Living room: 30×15 (main floor)
- Dining room: 11×13 (main floor)
- Kitchen: 14×9 (main floor)
But the market is HAWT ™
Bedrooms are depressing and they didn’t bother to even show the DR
As a plus it should be well insulated and pretty soundproof. Might make a good BDSM club
Why is everything prison-colored?
Someone forgot to convert this unit to a living space. It still looks like it’s designed for cold storage.
1. The views shown in the last pictures are fantastic, but its hard to tell if you can see much through the small windows unless you’re standing right by them? Those views may only be from the roof (which as we all know will cost $100,000+ to build out)
2. How are the taxes only $4400 ?!! was their historic tax freeze or something? They should be more like 3X of that!
3. Love that this was Harry Weese’s apartment, but can’t believe a world class architect didn’t do more with this? Lots of it looks very awkward.
4. What was done in the recent renovation?
“(which as we all know will cost $100,000+ to build out)”
there’s obviously a reason why, over 20 years and 3 owners, it’s never been built out.
Marco–I was trying humor- based on prior roof deck estimates. But it’s likely that with “after the fact” construction on a building like this, a reasonable deck would cost well above that amount (with a lot of time dealing with the Board, hassles getting materials up there, etc.). An amazing deck appropriate for that view (and with electric, water, shade, kitchen) could easily run hundreds of thousands, and would likely not make sense with this type of unit & building.
Also, as you suggest, there may be obstacles (what is the access point? do you need to install stairs/doorway/structure to enclose, what “area” of the roof goes with this home and what obstructions (for utilities/vents/anchors for window cleaners) exist.
So, great potential, but lots of time, effort & $$
Did Weese actually live here (unless it was one of his kids)? They had a townhouse up in Old Town.
Worked for Harry years ago, during Fulton House conversion. This isnt his former home, but he was owner-partner in original project. Talk about broker misrepresentations!
“there’s obviously a reason why, over 20 years and 3 owners, it’s never been built out.”
Here, unlike on a 3 or 5 story building, using a crane or hoist to get the materials to the roof isn’t a realistic option, so it would be considerably more labor intensive. Plus you probably have some challenges using non-union labor that you don’t in a West Town 3 flat.
Rent a helicopter
Might get lucky if there’s a freight elevator w/ a doghouse
“Plus you probably have some challenges using non-union labor that you don’t in a West Town 3 flat.”
Usually you have to hire those contractors who have been approved by the building and have the requisite insurance, which can be quite arduous. And if you’re dealing with a structure on the roof of the building, even more so.
This build-out is not going to be cheap. A big project. That’s why no one has done it yet.
I wonder how you get up there? There’s no floor plan so it’s unclear if there are stairs going up there and from where.
“Worked for Harry years ago, during Fulton House conversion. This isnt his former home, but he was owner-partner in original project. Talk about broker misrepresentations!”
Interesting.
Maybe he got a unit as part of the deal?
“Usually you have to hire those contractors who have been approved by the building and have the requisite insurance, which can be quite arduous. And if you’re dealing with a structure on the roof of the building, even more so.”
Yeah calling your insurance co, potentially upping the limits, adding additional insured And getting a new Accord form isn’t arduous. If there’s a bunch of Karens on the HOA, all bets are off
This is a old Whse building, loads aren’t an issue (prob 200-250psf), Carlisle et al will give you all the details you need
The issue is who “owns” the roof if you modify it.
This building had a HUGE tuckpointing renovation a few years ago. They had scaffolds for almost 2 years. I screwed a hot chick here, she moved back to Tampa though.
^said the self-loathing, closeted homosexual…
Closed for 615K
LMFAO
“Is this a chance to create your own custom rooftop oasis in one of the hottest areas of the city: on the Chicago River?”
Is this area still HAWT ™? I guess with the $100k savings adding a pergola is possible
“Is this area still HAWT ™? I guess with the $100k savings adding a pergola is possible”
Downtown, it is not about the “area” so much as the “building.”