Best known for its of the present ...

Best known for its of the present day buildings on Lake Shore Drive, Belgravia assign places to Ltd. is moving ahead with plans for a 241-unit residential building in the West bend Its sales pitch is proximity to downtown at prices that have become an endangered species.

Sales have started for the 18-story plot at 565 W. Quincy. That's an unfamiliar address in the downtown grid, yet the location is only a stiffen west of Union Station, between Adams and Jackson. Alan Lev president of Belgravia, said the plan is to start construction early nearest year for completion by late 2008

He said he awaits most buyers to be young, perhaps first-time homeowner Accordingly, it's being designed with a special touches, such as a link of bowling lanes. Lev said he knows of no other condo building here with that attraction. Also planned are a putting undecayed and movie screening room.

Belgravia can propound those features because the site is generously apportioned. The company will refurbish a seven-story office building forward the property and add a tower forward top of it. The architecture firm Pappageorge/

Haymes Ltd won the task of blending the present glass tower with the brick of the original. They're awaited to be smart enough not to inflict residences beneath the bowlers.

Part of the olden building will be turned into loft with prices planned from $270000 to $450000 Lev said the building wasn't making it anymore as an office site. All around it is newer construction that drew away all nevertheless the most cost-conscious tenants.

The tower condos will have base prices from $197000 to $424000 Lev said in the greatest degree of the units will walk for less than $300,000, putting the frame in the reasonably priced category for downtown. Enclos parking will be sold separately, and slot start at $33000

"We know this market is without there" despite increases in mortgage rates, Lev said. according to spreading costs over 241 units, Belgravia can keep possession of down the asking prices and promise monthly assessments that won't amount to a other mortgage payment, he said. The assessments are estimated to be from $190 to $464 a month

A Belgravia-led partnership acquired the site in May for $95 million, characteristic records show. Details are at www.belgraviagroup.com.

WI-FI WHOOPEE: The 43-story apartment building at 1130 s Michigan has a claim to fame. It's become the largest residential building in the area, maybe anywhere, to proffer full Wi-Fi access under a single arrangement Tenants with a wireless-enabled computer can tap into the Internet anywhere in the building without the cost of a DSL or cable subscription.

Building manager Draper and Kramer Inc. worked public the arrangement with MDI Access, a company based in Alsip. Wi-Fi theorys usually have trouble penetrating high-rises and with equal reason aren't offered beyond common areas. nevertheless MDI designed an "outside in" approach of antennas forward the skin of the building linked to a wireless backbone, said Randal Agostini, 1130 s Michigan's manager. He said it's a cost-effective improvement that can be installed without having to rewire apartments.

FLORIDA BOUND: Higgins disclosure Partners, quiet here since completing the 71 s Wacker building, is active in the Miami market. With Neil Bluhm's Walton way Capital, Higgins spent a reported $90 million to pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain a 1 million-square-foot office and distribution center in Hialeah near Miami's airport. The site includes 27 acres for subsequent time construction.

LOTSA PALOOKAS: That Lollapalooza last weekend secure was big. But for this report culture dropout, and probably for a hap more like me, all it meant was that Grant Park was clos for three days for a private occurrence If you wanted to visit the lakefront in succession a prime summer weekend, maybe stop at Buckingham Fountain or admire the Rose Garden, forget it. The traffic warnings would scare you not upon

Lollapalooza sumptuousness $65 a ticket. I expectancy the Chicago Park District is happy with the currency it made. But if a Boeing or a Chase Bank tied up the lakefront that prolonged and charged for admission to public ownership there would be massive outrage. cross the fund-raising and get back to park stewardship.

CALENDAR NOTE: Executives of Leopardo Construction will provide an inside consider at trends and pricing in retail construction during a workshop Aug. 17 at the centenary Shopping Centre, 2828 N. Clark. The sponsor is the International Council of Shopping Center and registration is available at www.icsc.org.

DOING THE DEALS: Grubb & Ellis Co delineateed CenterPoint Properties Trust in its $63 million purchase of a 138,000-square- lower part warehouse at 10701 W. Belmont, Franklin Park. Epic/Savage Realty Partners showed the seller, GCC Drum. . . Solid Viper Records, a vintage record dealer, bought a 16,000-square-foot building at 3440 N Knox, doubling the size of its ancient space. Camins Tomasz Kritt describeed the dealer in the sale, valued in peculiarity records at $850,000. . . Home builder JDL evolution Corp. has a new hearthstone of its own, a one-story building that centralizes its operations at 908 N Halsted.

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