Crib Chatter

The Metro, the nine story building at 1200 W. Monroe in the West Loop, was built in 2003 and is one of the more popular buildings in the area. Four units have already sold in 2008 with prices ranging from $265,000 to $420,000. There are currently eleven units on the market. One two bedroom unit is […]

  Agent Becky Thomson is back with the Trolley Tour, but this time it’s going to the West Loop. Date: June 1, 2008 Time: 1 pm You must go to the website and register: West Loop Tour Here’s what properties you’ll see: 565 Quincy 235 West Van Buren Emerald Trio Will be adding one more […]

There was plenty of new construction that closed during the boom years of 2005-2006. What happens to those who try to sell only a few years later? The Residences at 950 W. Monroe in the West Loop is a good example.  This was the developer’s rendering of the building in 2005 (from the marketing materials). The midrise “soft-loft” […]

The first rentals in The Emerald, 123 S. Green, in the West Loop near Greektown are now appearing in earnest as the first building is nearing completion. Several rentals have popped up on the MLS and several more are on Craigslist. These are pictures from the interiors of a one bedroom and a one bedroom with den. […]

Kinzie Park Station is a gated community of townhouses and a highrise just west of the Chicago River.  When it was developed in 2000, it was in no-man’s land. Today, that’s not so true. And the views from the south facing units are pretty spectacular. One of the bonuses of the building, at 501 N. Clinton, is that due to […]

I feel for sellers and agents as they try and gauge what the market is this spring. It’s hard to price properties right now. All sellers want to make money off their sale.  But what is the “market” price and what is listing too high? 333 S. Des Plaines is a 75 year old brick building in the […]

Only five years ago, you used to have buyers moving to the West Loop because it was considered a “value” compared to the more expensive north side of the city.  You got more bang for your buck. Currently, however, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Is that a good thing or a bad thing […]

  Skybridge, the tallest building in the West Loop at Halsted and Washington, has won architectural awards since its launch in 2003.  You can read about the building’s innovative design at their website. Despite all of the alcolades, the building still is not sold out, four years after closings started in the building. In an […]

According to Crain’s, Greektown in the West Loop could see another 146 condos for sale as soon as the end of next year. My question:  why? They are still selling The Emerald, the two building development right in the middle of Greektown that is already under construction.  The developers can’t even sell many of the projects […]

        This is another home in the category of “they just don’t build them like this anymore.”  Yes, new construction is nice, but you’ll never get anything that looks anything remotely like this beautiful mansion at 1501 W. Jackson. The Jackson Historic District is a strange few blocks of beautiful European row […]