Rare Contemporaine Penthouse Comes on the Market: 201 W. Grand in River North
This 2-bedroom penthouse in Contemporaine at 201 W. Grand in River North recently came on the market.
Contemporaine is a 28 unit building and parking garage that was constructed in 2004.
It won architectural awards and is often considered one of the top modern condo buildings downtown.
This full floor unit has only had one owner.
It has some unique features including a 27 foot glass atrium living room.
The listing calls the kitchen “high end.” It has modern dark cabinets and luxury stainless steel appliances along with a wine refrigerator.
The third bedroom has been opened to the living/dining/kitchen space and is now a study.
There’s some finished ceilings and some concrete ceilings throughout the unit along with floor to ceiling windows.
A second unique feature is the 8×54 private landscaped terrace with city views.
There’s a master suite with a walk-in closet and a large bathroom with dual vanities.
The building doesn’t have a doorman but there’s a private elevator access.
A question I always have is, where do all the package deliveries go? In a room off the lobby? Or what? Many buildings actually log in packages now but that takes staff.
There’s washer/dryer in the unit, central air and 2 parking spaces are available for $100,000, or $50,000 each.
When you think of a downtown penthouse, is this the type of property what fits the bill?
Mary Hanburger at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #PH1: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, penthouse
- Sold in April 2005 for $1.425 million (included 2 parking spots)
- Currently listed for $1.999 million (2 parking spots are $50,000 each)
- Assessments of $1973 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $29,874
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Bedroom #1: 12×20
- Bedroom #2: 10×7
- Bedroom #3 (now a study): 14×16
- Dining room: 10×19
- Terrace: 8×54
Assessments are nuts unless the private elevator entrance means you have your own elevator
I think the Atrium would get old after a week and the blinds would be shut 95% of the time
I’ve always liked this building. I viewed this unit when it was originally for sale by the developer. Can’t recall who it was, but pretty sure the other person touring the unit with me at the time was a Cubs player. The atrium is impressive.
“I think the Atrium would get old after a week and the blinds would be shut 95% of the time”
faces north west so the sunshine isn’t ridiculous, I never saw blinds shut when I could see this place, could literally watch these people watching TV though if you had a telescope or something lol
$100k for 2 parking spaces? What?! Instead you could spend $50 on uber every day for 5 years and still come out ahead while your 100k gets juiced from stock market returns. Absolute lunacy.
Also the taxes seem low; as the property is under-assessed. Hopefully when Berrios is ousted, Fritz will end these free rides.
“Also the taxes seem low; as the property is under-assessed”
Nah. Taxes imply an AV of $1.556m, which is not unreasonable based on prior sale. Their only asking for $1.999m.
*They’re*
When I view the colorful furniture, especially the purple sofas, I can’t help but think that the atrium windows let in too much sun -bleaching/fading the furniture. lol
Isn’t the point of a living in a penthouse to be above everyone else? This seems surrounded by taller buildings that look down on this penthouse. I’m going to live in a penthouse to be looked down on.
“faces north west so the sunshine isn’t ridiculous, I never saw blinds shut when I could see this place, could literally watch these people watching TV though if you had a telescope or something lol”
Thats why the blinds would be shut. You could probably get the privacy/light with the right opacity blinds
“$100k for 2 parking spaces? What?! Instead you could spend $50 on uber every day for 5 years and still come out ahead while your 100k gets juiced from stock market returns. Absolute lunacy.”
At this price point, I dont think $8k is going to move the meter. Clio need a stall for his Lambo or Jan Terri for her Limo
The place looks amazing inside, let’s get that said.
On the other hand, am I going to pay $2 million, and $2,000 a month, and not have a doorman? No. I have friends who live in a nearby building (to this one) who paid less than one-third the price of this unit (though it’s smaller and not as spectacular, but built around the same time – 150 W. Superior). They have a doorman. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.
Why so important? Just because. If I pay $2 million, I don’t think guests should have to ring a bell and get buzzed in. To me, that screams, “$1,200 rental unit in Rogers Park.”
And I’ll add that if you’re paying $2 mln for the unit, the parking shouldn’t be an extra $50,000.
I also agree with the person who said a penthouse should be above other nearby buildings. That said, the view from the porch of this place is pretty great, even though I’d want to be higher up.
“I also agree with the person who said a penthouse should be above other nearby buildings.”
Really?
If that’s the definition for a penthouse now then that means there can be NO penthouses except the very top floor of the John Hancock building which is a restaurant and bar, so it doesn’t count either.
Give me a break already.
Penthouse doesn’t mean “must be top floor of a 50 story building.”
“Assessments are nuts unless the private elevator entrance means you have your own elevator”
The parking garage is probably heated and cooled. That isn’t cheap with just 28 units and a lot of parking spaces.
The assessment also pays the heat and a/c. In a unit like this, what is the cost of the heat in the heart of winter? At least a $1,000 a month with that 27 foot atrium.
And the cooling has to be the same too with that west light. A/C will be running non-stop.
So, suddenly, those assessments don’t seem all that crazy.
“On the other hand, am I going to pay $2 million, and $2,000 a month, and not have a doorman?”
The issue is $$$. The building I lived in had 24/7/365 door staff and the contract cost $140k/yr. On a building of 100+ units, that’s not so bad, but at 28 units that’s >$400/mo in assessments. Would you pay $400/mo not to have to buzz your friends in?
lol heat is not going to cost you $1k a month even in the heart of the January deep freeze
MAYBE $500 at the most… this is a newer modern building and the unit itself is not that large
“If that’s the definition for a penthouse now then that means there can be NO penthouses except the very top floor of the John Hancock building which is a restaurant and bar, so it doesn’t count either.”
sorry but Trump Tower has the highest residence in Chicago (for now) until Wanda Vista is completed
@Sabrina – I think you missing the point of a penthouse not being “surrounded by taller buildings” Not, that there are no other tall buildings in the same city.
I think the definition of a penthouse includes having a view that does not look directly into the windows of another building less than 100 feet away. This unit fails.
A penthouse should have privacy. A penthouse should have a decent view. Otherwise, the luxury is wasted. A penthouse must have luxury.
“sorry but Trump Tower has the highest residence in Chicago (for now) until Wanda Vista is completed”
It does?
I still thought it was the top unit at the Hancock. It’s supposed to be the tallest residential apartment in the world.
Heating and cooling load for that atrium livingroom is significantly higher than conventional large livingroom with one window exposure. I wouldn’t want to be a lower-floor unit-owner subsidizing the HVAC operational costs for this penthouse unit.
At the time of purchase it was the highest residence in the western Hemisphere, let alone Chicago!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-confidential-trump-tower-sale-1209-biz-20141208-column.html
“It is expected to be the second-highest residence in the Western Hemisphere, after a new tower under construction on Park Avenue in New York opens.”
Agree with VB on penthouses. I think Sabrina took me literally. A penthouse doesn’t have to be the highest point in the entire city. Just so long as you feel like you’re relatively high up and have a clear view. A penthouse shouldn’t have you looking into a brick wall or into a neighboring building’s windows.
“At the time of purchase it was the highest residence in the western Hemisphere, let alone Chicago!”
Thanks sonies. Maybe I remember it from before Trump Tower was built.
The article described how people who lived that high up in the Hancock had to call down to the doorman to find out the weather because it was so different up there (i.e. could be snowing up there, but raining down at street level.)
Closed $1,865,000