Chicago Real Estate Loft
Loft spaces are found all over the city, but nowhere epitomizes Chicago loft living quite like the West Loop. This section of the Near West Side holds the city's largest concentration of loft units, many found within old converted warehouses. The urban landscape of the neighborhood is perfectly suited for loft buildings' industrial-chic design elements and Chicago real estate investors have taken a noticeable liking to the local market's loft choices.
Chicago's loft frenzy really started to take off in the 1990s. It spurred a building boom that seeped into nearly every corner of the city. If there wasn't an old warehouse to convert, developers constructed loft buildings from scratch. Bucktown and the South Loop have big pockets of loft spaces that have become prime pieces of property. From the hectic thoroughfare of North Avenue to the subdued side streets off South Michigan Ave, there's plenty of opportunity to make a Chicago loft your own.
Many of the lofts up for sale in Chicago are newer construction properties. They were built to incorporate trademark characteristics, such as exposed brick and ductwork, high ceilings, and open floor plans. Most places do not have full walls between rooms, rather partial dividers that separate spaces within the loft. The divider walls, which do not meet with the ceiling, are typically used to define bedroom areas. This "openness" is a signature style of loft units and – despite the lack of formal walls – rooms still manage to maintain privacy.
There are many variations on the traditional loft and Chicago real estate has examples of them all. Hard-lofts are very bare bones – pretty much a large, open studio fashioned out of an existing non-residential building. Oftentimes they are used as live/work spaces. Soft-lofts, on the other hand, are more akin to condominiums. They have a "finished" look and rooms are delineated with drywalled partitions.
Today's lofts are well adapted to city living, offering lots of amenities and luxury upgrades. With such an immense inventory of great lofts in Chicago, it's smart to have an experienced agent help you locate listings that fulfill your real estate needs.