NEW HOMES WINTER 2006-2007

Progressive design not just for the young at Mesirow's R&D659

If the West Loop's R+D659 condo development, planned for 659 W Randolph St., can teach us anything, it's that cutting-edge architecture isn't just for the young. Since sales at the project opened in mid-summer 2006, Gavin Stein, vice president of developer Mesirow Financial Real Estate, has noticed a large number of older buyers.

"We were surprised. We've been getting about 40 percent empty-nesters buyers, which is higher than we expected," he said.

Empty nesters plan ahead and they have pockets deep enough for new construction, Stein said in explaining their strong showing well before the I5-story condo project had broken ground. Whatever the reasons, their attraction to the project goes a long way toward dispelling the myth that older buyers have eyes only for staid, vintage-looking architecture.

Brininstool + Lynch, a firm known for its progressive, modern architecture designed the 15-story building with clean lines, floor-to-ceiling glass and a horizontal emphasis. The cantilevered balconies will use perforated metal and opaque glass to maximize light in the condos, which will have eucalyptus floors, honed granite countertops and other unique touches. The L-shaped building has the simple, elegant sense of proportion that has won Brininstool & Lynch critical praise on other projects.

Progressive design was once seen as a risk in Chicago, but along with the hot West Loop location, it's been a major draw, according to Stein.

"With the West Loop being more trendy, having more art galleries and nightlife, we felt it was the right place to go for a very contemporary building that would be differentiated from most of the other stuff that's out there," Stein said. "There are a lot of older loft buildings [in the West Loop), but Skybridge is right across the street, and in certain respects, I think the buildings are going to have an architectural dialogue with one another.

Condos in the 236-unit building will have one to three bedrooms. The second-floor amenity level includes an outdoor pool and a sundeck landscaped with prairie grass and a Japanese-themed garden. The building also will have 13,000-square-foot retail area on the ground floor, and Stein said Mesirow was in talks with a pharmacy, restaurants and other retailers about filling the space.

At press time, with about 30 percent of the units sold, condo prices ranged from the $210s to the $740s.

The previous building on the site, the Catholic Charities headquarters, has been demolished, and Stein said Mesirow anticipates a February ground-breaking with first deliveries in May 2008. A sales center and furnished model are located at 626 W. Randolph St.