Whether you’re a suburban parent with a newly empty nest or just looking to upgrade to more luxe urban living, these spacious condos and apartments in the heart of downtown Chicago are ideal footholds for living close to all that our world-class city has to offer.
Parkline Chicago, starts at $1.5 million
Designed by Thomas Roszak Architecture, which is know for their glassy high-rises, this 26-story tower sits smack in the middle of the Loop. There are condos and luxury apartments at a number of price points, from $1.5-million condos with expansive terraces to a $3-million two-story penthouse. The interiors are well-lit and modern, and many have a designated workspace. A massive indoor-outdoor amenity space offers a pool, dining and conference room, and a library with panoramic views.
Imprint Apartments, starts at $4,000 per month
Those looking to rent instead of buy should check out this recently opened 31-story tower on Printers Row in the South Loop. The building just released a dozen new duplexes of up to 3,300 square feet to the market. The new duplexes boast airy, high ceilings and personal outdoor spaces with stellar views. With a rooftop deck, fitness center, coworking space and bike storage, the building offers everything that a busy city dweller needs.
One Bennett Park, starts at $1.8 million
This 70-story ultra-luxury tower features condos up to 8,500 square feet. The first and only Chicago high-rise designed by the New York City firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects (a longtime darling of Architectural Digest), the building sits right across from Navy Pier and offers sweeping vistas of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. Perks include an owner-exclusive entertainment lounge, a reservable spa suite and a Pilates room. A major draw is the adjacent Bennett Park, a two-acre park with abundant native landscaping.
Optima Signature, starts at $2,200 per month
This 57-story rental development boasts hundreds of apartments, from studios to three-bedrooms. Just a short jaunt from Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk, the location couldn’t be better. The complex’s 1.5-acre amenity space provides a resort-level menu of activities: heated swimming pools, basketball, squash and bocce ball courts, and a golf simulator.
CA6 West Loop, starts at $850,000
These are the fastest-selling condos in the West Loop—three- and four-bedroom units of up to 3,000 square feet. Buyers have the option to work with an in-house design team to select upscale finishes, so you can truly make the place your own. One of the most popular floorplans is a penthouse-level duplex with an outdoor rooftop terrace. Floor plans include separate bedroom wings, home office spaces and direct elevator access with a private vestibule.
How to Help:
If you’re interested in helping more people have access to design services, you can support the nonprofit Designs for Dignity, which transforms nonprofit environments through pro bono design services and in-kind donations.
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RB Smith is a freelance writer who was born in Chicago and raised in St. Louis. He has worked for The Daily Star in Beirut, Lebanon and The Nome Nugget in Nome, Alaska.
