Loft housing in Chicago has been eclipsed in recent years by the new construction boom. But University Commons just south of the University of Illinois at Chicago is a big development–more than 800 units when completed–where loft-style condos are the heart of the project.
The six buildings in this conversion formerly were one of the city’s wholesale food centers. Called South Water Market, the long warehouse buildings, spread over several acres, were built in 1925. The name of the market followed the wholesalers to the Southwest Side from a previous location on the south side of the Chicago River at State Street.
The market was moved to 15th Street between Morgan and Racine Streets when Wacker Drive was built. Fruit and vegetable purveyors, who have relocated to larger and less congested quarters, worked in this complex for more than 70 years.
Though still dotted with public housing, old industrial buildings and railroad tracks, the urban grittiness that once characterized the area is changing quickly. This is a neighborhood awash in new construction, most of it relatively low rise and human in scale.
To the east of University Commons is University Village, the 900-townhouse and condo complex that replaced the Maxwell Street market. Not far to the west along Roosevelt Road is the Roosevelt Square project, planned for 2,400 townhouses, condos and apartments.
University Commons stands as a bridge between old and new. The decorated white terra cotta exterior is a reminder of a 1920s building: think the terra cotta exterior of the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue.
The former warehouses have massive concrete pillars and ceilings up to 12 feet high. Huge windows have been installed and the loading docks have been converted quite nicely to outdoor terraces for street-side homeowners.
A fourth floor has been built atop the original three-story building. It is stepped back from the edge so the building keeps its historical look while providing space for outdoor decks for new residents.
The fourth floor addition has lower ceilings than those in the original structure, and while the model of the 1,217-square-foot penthouse has a good use of space–bedrooms are on either side of the living space–and a stunning view of the city’s skyline, it is indistinguishable from many other new-construction condos.
The added floor did make it possible to have some two-story duplex units on floors three and four, but more about that later.
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Triangular balconies have been added outside the second floor. Give architects Pappageorge/Haymes credit for an ingenious visual slight-of-hand. The balconies are integrated into an open grid that, from the street, mimics the warehouse canopy which protected dockworkers and produce.
This solution should pacify preservationists while insuring second-floor residents have outdoor space and first-floor residents get some sun on their wide terraces.
Sales agent Brad Nugent told me the complex has something like 40 floor plans. Prices vary according to floor, side of building and view–whether city skyline, another building or railroad tracks. That means serious buyers should be prepared to take time to study the models, floor plans and the development master plan because pricing, when upgrades are considered, could get complicated. Base prices begin from about $270 to $300 a square foot and go up from there.
This development has one of the biggest and most elaborate sales offices I’ve encountered, a presentation I don’t necessarily consider a plus. Like the sales office, the sales brochure is large and substantial–the size of a portfolio and about as awkward to handle.
I understand the necessity of making a quality presentation to early buyers who could only see dirty, worn and graffiti-splattered spaces. Still, such elaborate presentations always make me nervous. I wonder how much money was spent to sell me, rather than going toward the construction budget or keeping the unit’s price down.
However, I found it hard to stay skeptical after seeing how the building works as a renovation. Adaptive re-use is a tricky business. A number of beautiful, but outdated, commercial buildings, including some still on the Chicago market, really do not work any better when converted to residential space. This is an exception.
This is a building with good bones, a simple, elegant structure with enough open space to be reconfigured to meet the tastes of many buyers—-though I wish the developer had opted for more spacious condos and far more closet space.
Though not for every taste, there are buyers who will find character, even a rugged beauty in the rough chipped concrete ceiling with exposed portions of rusted rebar like the one in the master bedroom of the two-bedroom, two-bath plus den model on the first floor.
This model was my favorite of the five units I saw. Base-priced from $319,000, it has good traffic flow–except for the placement of the stackable washer/dryer closet.
The front door opens to a foyer with a good-sized closet on the left and a full bath on the right. Just beyond the closet door is the door to a 10-by-10-foot bedroom, big enough only for a bed and two side tables. This is a room with a partial wall (it’s a loft, after all).
Walk through the foyer into the living/dining/kitchen space, about 24 by 14 feet. A stackable washer and dryer are tucked into a narrow closet to the left just before entering the living/dining space. A walk-through den, shown as a small home office, about 7 by 5 feet, is to the right.
The home office acts as an anteroom between the master suite and the foyer. The master suite has an 11-by-14-foot bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, in this case overlooking what is called the courtyard, a landscaped walkway between two buildings in the complex. There are two smallish closets and a master bath with a good-sized linen closet, toilet, tub and sink.
The living/dining space also has floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. The galley kitchen is on the wall opposite the windows. I was less enamored with the smallest model, the 815-square-foot two-bedroom unit with base price from $209,900. The 9 1/2-by-7 1/2-foot second bedroom space is far more likely to be used as a home office or for storage.
The largest–and priciest–of the models is the 1,397-square-foot duplex on the third and fourth floors. The model is a showpiece with some knock-your-socks-off decorator touches, such as a bathroom floor embedded with jewel-like stones. There’s lots of marble in the kitchen.
As shown, this model is clearly far beyond the $425,900 base price. The plan is straight forward with a full bath, small alcove or den, bedroom, corner kitchen and 23 1/2-by-15-foot living and dining room on the third level. The master bedroom suite is on the fourth floor, with access to a 15-by-10-foot roof deck.
This outside space is awkward if a buyer hopes to use it for entertaining or to grill. The idea of the cook and guests tromping up and down the stairs and through the master bedroom is not all that appealing.
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University Commons
Address: 1000 W. 15th Street, Chicago
Developer: Enterprise Companies
Phone: 312-243-1200
Web: www.theenterprisecompanies.com
Description: Adaptive reuse of six commercial buildings into condominiums. Plans range from 817-square-foot, two-bedroom, one bath units, from $209,900, to 1,616-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath units, from $499,900. Some duplexes and penthouses. Monthly assessments, $142 to $388. Indoor parking from $30,000, monthly assessment $22. Prices as of July 15.
Amenities: Up to 12-foot ceilings, oversized windows, hardwood floors in foyer, living/dining and kitchen. Ventless gas fireplaces with marble hearths, exposed concrete ceilings and columns, granite kitchen countertops.
Neighborhood: Near University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Medical District; restaurants, shopping, CTA and expressways.
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