Masterpiece Transformation in the Sky: A 2-Bedroom in Olympia Center at 161 E. Chicago in Streeterville
This 2-bedroom in Olympia Center at 161 E. Chicago in Streeterville came on the market in June 2025.
Olympia Center was built in 1985 and was, at the time, one of the top luxury buildings in Streeterville/River North. It has 292 units and attached rental parking.
It is a full amenity building with the following features:
- Sundeck
- Party room
- Exercise room
- Indoor pool
- Whirlpool
- Sauna
- On-site management
- Maintenance staff
- Engineering staff
- Full time concierge
- 3 door staff each shift
- Dogs allowed
The listing says this unit is a masterpiece transformation. It has undergone a “complete 2025 total renovation from the concrete and the studs.”
It’s a corner unit with South and East views which includes Lake Michigan, Navy Pier and the southern skyline’s high rises.
The listing calls it a 3/3 unit but it is also listed as a 2/2.5. Prior to the transformation, it was a 2-bedroom. The old “breakfast room” is now a “den.”
The den has no closet, however.
The third bathroom is a full bathroom now. A walk-in-shower was added to the half bath location.
The unit has 7″ white oak hardwood floors throughout.
It has all new single panel doors with black door hardware.
There is a primary suite with a walk-in-closet and an en suite bathroom with a floating dual vanity with LED lit mirror and a LEIVI toilet with electric bidet.
The listing goes into a LOT of details about each bathroom, which I’m leaving out.
There is an open kitchen with wood and white cabinets, an “enormous” island with custom waterfall edge, 1.25 inch Quartzite counter tops, custom gold hardware, a stainless steel Bosch appliance package with French door refrigerator with ice/water dispenser.
It has a stove hood.
The unit has the features buyers look for including central air and a laundry room with a full size stackable washer/dryer and a storage cabinet. Parking is available in the building.
There is no private outdoor space.
Olympia Center is above the Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue. It is near the shops and restaurants of Michigan Avenue, Streeterville and River North as well as numerous bus lines.
There are currently 13 units for sale in the building.
Buyers love “new.”
This unit has come on the market at $1,195,029.
Did this renovation get the finishes right for this building and price point?
Nicholas Colagiovanni at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Unit #53B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2154 square feet
- I can’t find an original sale back in 1987
- Sold in December 2024 for $580,000
- Currently listed at $1,195,029
- Assessments of $2179 a month (includes a/c, doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance)
- Taxes of $18,494
- Central Air
- Full-size stackable washer/dryer
- Parking is rental in the building
- Bedroom #1: 20×15
- Bedroom #2: 17×11
- Den/Bedroom #3?: 11×11
- Living room: 20×17
- Kitchen: 18×9
- Dining room: 14×15
- Foyer: 5×10
- Walk-in-closet: 5×5
- Laundry: 5×4
“Olympia Center”
CentRE–built by Canadians.
Not exciting (discounting the view), but nothing to hate, either.
Induction range a great choice for a high rise.
Are those access panels in the kitchen ceiling? If not, then what?
Should have gotten one of the laundry stacks with the controls in the middle. On sale this week at costco!
Looking at the floorplan, the single pic of the closet doesn’t do it justice. BUT they 1000000% should have trimmed out the top, rather than leaving those dust crevices.
Love the digitally staged closet, with the identical piles of clothes on every shelf.
Is staging a closet really necessary? Is someone looking at the pictures and thinking, “OOOOOHHHH, you put folded clothes on the shelves! I assumed I would put my cookware in there”?
This is the size and price of a condo my wife and I might ultimately buy if we ever downsize, though we’re not keen on Streeterville. Whoever pays $1 million for this might want to spend some time there before buying. With the hospitals so close, sirens never stop. Hopefully this unit is sealed enough to keep out the din.
“With the hospitals so close, sirens never stop. Hopefully this unit is sealed enough to keep out the din.”
Honestly, I’ve never heard the sirens next to this building. Don’t they have to stop them a block or two away? I thought they had that rule. They definitely have them on in front of the Water Tower but once they get closer to the hospital, usually don’t have them on.
The bigger issue is the helicopter, isn’t it? Or did they finally get that banned at Children’s Memorial?
“Is staging a closet really necessary? Is someone looking at the pictures and thinking, “OOOOOHHHH, you put folded clothes on the shelves!”
I don’t know. I guess empty anything makes buyers feel less engaged, even in closets.
Lol.
“Induction range a great choice for a high rise.”
Agreed. It should be the first choice in any high rise that doesn’t have gas.
“It should be the first choice in any high rise that doesn’t have gas.”
It should be the first choice when there IS gas, with the limited, possible, exceptions of “gas is included in the assessment” or “unit has separate gas-fired furnace”.
Closed for 1.17
Thanks for the update David. This flipper made some money. Unit was updated. It’s a win-win.