Start Your Life in Chicago in the Iconic Marina Towers: A 1-Bedroom at 300 N. State
This 1-bedroom the corn cob Marina Towers at 300 N. State in River North came on the market in mid-February 2016.
Designed by Bertrand Goldberg and built in 1964, the Marina Towers, built on the Chicago River, have become part of popular culture, having starred in television commercials, television shows and films.
The complex has two 65 story buildings.
This unit is on the 56th floor and faces north with John Hancock and city views.
The listing says it is a gut rehab. It has new wood floors in the living/kitchen areas.
The kitchen has new cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
The bathroom has been renovated and has a custom shower.
There’s no central air, just wall units, and there’s no in-unit washer/dryer, but the listing says it can be installed.
Parking is rental in the building.
Originally listed at $279,900, it has been reduced $14,900.
If you’re new to Chicago, is this a good starter condo?
Michael Michalak at Re/Max Exclusive has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #5619: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 725 square feet
- Sold in March 1999 for $110,000
- Originally listed in February 2016 for $279,900
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $265,000
- Assessments of $515 a month (includes cable, doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care)
- Taxes of $4090
- Parking available to rent in the building for $239 a month
- No central air- wall units
- No in-unit washer/dryer but listing says it can be installed
- Bedroom: 15×11
I find the exterior of these buildings so repulsive. I just cannot get over how ugly they are.
Is there a chance someone would demolish them? Actually I wonder if they ever demolish high rises in Chicago.
No way, these are gorgeous landmark buildings. They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Disagree.
While not my favorite buildings in the city, these have aged well and are part of the cities rich skyscraper landscape
The dark fake wood floors are hideous. Other than that, would be a nice place in the city
They look like they have a skin condition and the skin is peeling off. Of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Finshed well -for Marina- but aren’t the hallways and common amenities really old and dated or has it been updated?
Been in many units here ova da years. compared to the ones i have been in this is BY FAR the nicest one i have seen. None of it is my taste and totaly think the white glass cabinets in the kitchen are hideous when paired with the floor and other kitchen cabinets. Even with that taste choice still the best unit i have seen there.
“If you’re new to Chicago, is this a good starter condo?”
Even if your not new, still a great apartment. If i was just out of school working in the loop this would be the first place i would look. its still if not more iconic.
Listing calls this a “great renovation”, yet they didn’t install a washer/dryer when it can be done? Love the views and location, but the finish choices are a bit off. Would be great if more units in these buildings are renovated now that we know they won’t ever be torn down.
If you’re starting your life in Chicago, choose a lower floor. The lower floors are more commonly rentals and attract younger and noisier people. As the floor level increases, the average age goes up and the noise level goes down. Price increases by floor number as well.
This is a nice unit. I’d say it will more likely attract a retired couple moving into the city.
“The lower floors are more commonly rentals and attract younger and noisier people”
being old and pervy now, i dont mind being around the younger college folk
What is the rental % in this building? To me it seems all units there are rentals?
what are you smokin miumiu, this is the only goldberg building that has stood the test of time IMO
now the rest of his stuff is ugly AF but marina towers are beautiful and unique
I dislike these buildings too, but they add something unique to Chicago. I would hate to live here though. The last time I checked, the building doesn’t allow dogs.
I lived in these buildings for a number of years as a young professional working in the loop… LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!!!! The central location, access to work/north, etc. The balconies are HUGE – tables, grills, etc (fun) and the views are incredible. They have done extensive renovations to common areas, and the commercial areas are now well occupied/maintained.
Question the finishes of this unit if you choose – but the buildings themselves are classic!!! I’d move back in a heartbeat.
I find the exterior of these buildings so repulsive. I just cannot get over how ugly they are.
Is there a chance someone would demolish them?
You obviously have no idea how the “arts” work in America. If you call anything by Bertrand Goldberg, Frank Gehry, or Daniel Liebskind “ugly” or repulsive, you will be called either an anti-Semite or hopelessly out-of-touch, or be accused of being a lover of kitsch, which ironically is what their novelty based garbage is
You have to learn how this game is played. Look at Citadel’s Griffin who just paid gay Geffen $500 million for some Jackson Pollack scribbling. [Removed by the editor]
Personally, I agree that the Marina City corn cobs are totally ugly, but they do make good starter apartments.
‘gay Geffen’? WTH?
“WTH?”
Kevin–you new around here? That’s a core piece of the persona of the guy who adopted as his screen name a homage to the dude discussed in this:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-12-31/features/9512310398_1_murder-civil-trial-olds-children
Not new to the chaterati but still surprised when someone is an open homophobe in 2016. Believe what you want but have the common sense to keep your stupid opinions to yourself.
“these are gorgeous landmark buildings”
huh… landmark yes, gorgeous?!
I think majority of 60th architecture is just ugly so are these.
I am glad the rest of Chicago highrises don’t resemble hese guys, otherwise it would have been so depressing looking.
Great space and decent for MC. In the lTe 90’s I almost bought here. Could have assembled two 1 beds and a studio for $250k + Reno costs facing the river. Would have been 3.5 or 4 balconies in a row which could have been pretty cool!
Someone actually did it as during the holidays you can see the same Christmas lights on the multiple balconies in a row suggesting same owner.
Back the I had a membership to the HOB foundation room. Appeal was the eSy stumble home after a night of music and hard drinking. Those days are long gone! Ha haaaaa.
Fifteen years ago Marina City was a borderline slum due to serious HOA mismanagement among other things. But now it’s back to its original place as one of Chicago’s “legacy” in-town residences. I especially recommend units here to clients who love to live on their balconies for the better part of warm seasons; the outdoor space is almost equal in size to the living room! No, you cannot add an in-unit laundry; that’s typical for buildings of this age. And why would you want to sacrifice valuable closet space for a stackable w/d anyway? Better to use the common Laundromat, meet your neighbors, and get done with two or three loads at a time!
And don’t we all looove the way those balconies look during December (and sometimes other months as well), with the colorful lights surrounding the balconies?
MC does allow W/D. However you are required to drain your washer into a laundry sink – not directly into the main drain stack. I’ve been in the building for 15 years and it has never been better. A competent condo board, healthy reserves and great restaurants/grocery in the complex.
No bathtub?! Where am I going to unfurl my tail?!!
It’s utterly ommon knowledge that David Geffen is gay. He’s an activist. It’s not opinion or “stupid”. What is the problem with some people here? Do they live in caves?
“It’s utterly ommon knowledge that David Geffen is gay. He’s an activist.”
so? Who cares? Why does it bother you that some rich dude that lives 2 thousand miles away from you prefers the company of men?
ok pal
I think you’re just jealous you aren’t one of the men David keeps close to him
You know helmethofer, I actually feel sorry for you. I can’t imagine going through life seeing the world with such hate tinted glasses. It has to be depressing.
I don’t know what your deal is, but I can only hope that one day you make peace with whatever demons are troubling you.
Back in the 1970s Geffen dated a number of high-profile ladies. One of them, Carly Simon, referenced him (along with Warren Beatty) in “You’re So Vain.”
Thanks for the clarification regarding laundry. I still say in a building like this it’s better to just go ahead with the Laundromat.
Regarding bathtubs…the plumbers giveth, and the plumbers taketh away. You can re-install the tub that the prior owner removed; the original units all came with tubs.
“Thanks for the clarification regarding laundry. I still say in a building like this it’s better to just go ahead with the Laundromat”
Even though i have visited many people in this building over the years. Are the communal laundry on every floor, or scattered on different floors, or one floor? If on each floor, no need for a in unit one.
Each tower has a common laundry room on the 20th floor. They have good views of the river – not a terrible place to do laundry.
Liked the speed and ease of the communal laundry thing and those multiple w/d rooms so much that I offered to put in two washers and dryers for the wife when doing our remodel. She decided one washer and two dryers was the perfect setup. Made it happen and the. covered them in a plywood frame. That gave her a 9×3 foot sorting and folding table. Gentlemen, let me assure you that she he loves it! Mother’s Day is just around the corner. And many of you have extra space in the basement. Hint hint.
Can’t understand why more of those uber expensive homes with the super expensive Sub Zero and wolf appliances In their kitchens only have one washer and dryer in the laundry room. It’s a fairly cheap upgrade (compared to kitchen appliances) but has a really great roi for time. Especially for families like ours with a few little ones!
screw the extra cost and extra energy used for two sets of machines. Just buy 1 large capacity set.
what i really need is a home dry cleaner, the swash we bought didnt live up to the hype.
“Can’t understand why more of those uber expensive homes with the super expensive Sub Zero and wolf appliances In their kitchens only have one washer and dryer in the laundry room”
On a city lot? You don’t understand it?
Now if HD, out in Log Grove, doesn’t have the double-laundry set up, it’s just bc he’s cheap.
It’s fairly common in many new large homes to have a w/d on the second floor as well as the basement. never saw multiple units in one laundry room though.
“never saw multiple units in one laundry room”
I had two washing machines for a couple of years. The reconfigured the space and had to go to one.
If you’re doing a remodel, put the w/d on the second floor. It’s so much better than the basement.
“If you’re doing a remodel, put the w/d on the second floor. It’s so much better than the basement.”
I agree second floor is the most ideal, as that’s where 80% of the laundry comes from.
Still an average chicago lot is only 25×125 and a decent washer and dryer with drainage and venting is going to take up significant amount of sqft most city homes cant really spare. Add to the fact every bedroom needs its own full sized bathroom nowadays, basement still is gonna be the only spot.
I’m not talking condos in the city. That makes no sense.
Laundry machines as a Mothers Day present? Better be prepared for divorce papers on Fathers Day!
OTOH, There’s a new fragrance in the Thierry Mugler “Angel” line coming to department stires soon…hint, hint.
“Laundry machines as a Mothers Day present? Better be prepared for divorce papers on Fathers Day!”
haha…I don’t get anything for mothers day. A laundry machine is better than nothing 🙂
One year I ought the wife weathertech floor mats for her new car that we had purchased the month prior. She had hinted and mentioned it three or four times so I thought that I was on the right track. She was not that thrilled with that one….
But she did love the extra dryers!
You sound like a great husband. It is the thought that counts after all.
That said, I maintain a wish list to help the husband (and other family members and friends) to choose gifts. It always includes way more items than I would get; so problem solved 🙂 Although, I have to confess I prefer cash gifts; you can pool the donations and get something much better than any of the individual stuff.
“haha…I don’t get anything for mothers day.”
Neither do I, my petition for that to change falls on deaf ears.
closed for 265K the other day