Chicago Free Press - April 2007

WEST LOOP

Boundaries: Halsted, Ashland, Randolph and the Kennedy Expressway

Price: $350,000 and up.

Character: Chicago's West Loop has often been compared to the New York's hippest neighborhood-Soho-and it's easy to see why. With its gritty industrial buildings and loft housing, a growing gallery district (with more than 30 notable galleries) chic restaurants, numerous photographers' studios and production houses-not to mention being home to Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios-the West Loop has most Chicago neighborhoods beat hands down in the hipness factor. Unlike Soho, however, the majority of the housing stock in the West Loop consists of new condominium buildings constructed to look like they were originally warehouses.

Features: Location is a big draw here-the Loop, Grant Park, the museum campus, the Kennedy and the Eisenhower expressways are all nearby, not to mention Greektown and Little Italy for dining. Of course there are plenty of upscale dining establishment: right in the West Loop, including Marche, Vivo, One Sixty Blue, Blackbird and Sushi Wabi. And no need to leave the neighborhood for shopping either: There is a Dominick's at Halsted and Madison and an upscale fruit and vegetable emporium, Cyd and D'Pano, on Randolph. Walgreens, Blockbuster and Starbucks are all recent additions to the neighborhood.

Hidden Gems: Part of the problem with many new construction condo projects is that after a while they all start looking alike. Not so with R+D659, a 17-story glass and concrete high-rise featuring one- to three-bedroom units with sleek, European finishes. Named after its address (659 W. Randolph and Des Plaines), building features include an outdoor sundeck with swimming pool; an indoor lounge and entertaining area with media room and kitchenette and a fully-equipped exercise room. Prices start in the low $200,000s and first move-ins are slated for summer of 2008.