Union Lofts

Located in the heart of Bridgeport, the development comprises of 71 residential one and two bedroom loft condominiums.

This former manufacturing and warehouse facility has been completely renovated and improved for residential living. One additional floor of penthouse units was added to take advantage of the unobstructed skyline views of downtown Chicago.

The proximity to Chicago's Loop, combined with the robust and well-rooted community makes this development a welcome addition to the Bridgeport neighborhood.

In addition to rehabbing, the developers plan to build nine penthouses on a new fifth floor. They will be set back to leave room for decks. Views of the downtown skyline will be visible from the third, fourth and fifth floors.

Dating from 1913, the 100,000-square-foot heavy timber loft building most recently housed the headquarters of Josten Ring Co., marketers of school class rings.

No one had ever developed loft condos in blue-collar Bridgeport, so when Tandem Developers tackled Union Lofts, no one was sure how they'd be received. The response has been a positive one, as the 71-unit project approached the halfway mark after less than two months on the market.

"Nearly 40 percent of our buyers are coming directly from Bridgeport. This is what we had expected our primary market to be because we saw that there was a demand here," said Paul Dincin, a partner in Tandem Developers. "The Bridgeport buyers are sophisticated. They want everything their contemporaries have, but they don't want to leave the neighborhood where they grew up."

The lofts are being built out in a vintage four-story brick building at 35th Street and Sangamon Avenue. The 100,000-square-foot building formerly housed the corporate offices of the Josten Ring Co., a marketer of class rings. Tandem is adding a new construction floor of penthouses atop the existing four-story building. The addition will be set back to create large, individual decks.

Bridgeport has not been a hotbed of development, but the neighborhood is next in line as prices soar in the South Loop and Chinatown.

"Development in Chinatown and the South Loop has been pushing towards Bridgeport, where a lack of available land has kept new construction at a minimum," said Paul Marks, partners with Dincin in Tandem Developers.

COMMON AREAS

• New building entrance, elegant lobby
• Secured outdoor parking available
• Convenient bicycle storage room
• Individual storage lockers
• Closed circuit TV security camera with intercom system

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

• Loft-high ceilings with exposed brick & timber per plan
• New thermal pane windows
• Oversized individual balconies or private terraces, per plan
• TOTAL Kohler®: plumbing fixtures & faucets throughout by Kohler®
• Distinctive hardwood entry door with viewing lens
• Exposed spiral ductwork, per plan
• Luxurious wall to wall carpeting in bedrooms & den (per plan)
• Hollow-core flush interior doors with brushed chrome hardware
• Washer and dryer hookups
• Pre-wired for multiple telephone lines in kitchen & master bedroom
• High speed internet access
• Pre-wired for cable TV in living room & master bedroom
• Permanent wired smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
• Superior vinyl-clad shelving in closets

KITCHENS

• Custom Euro-style cabinets with 30” uppers
• Luxury designer white-on-white appliances:
- 18 cu. ft. frost free refrigerator w/ ice maker
- Free-standing gas range
- 4-cycle energy efficient dishwasher
- Garbage disposal, 1/3 horsepower
• Single bowl stainless steel sink with single-lever faucet by Kohler®
• Laminate countertops in choice of colors with self-edge and 4" back splash
• Optional kitchen island, per plan

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & MECHANICALS

• Double pane thermal windows
• Individually controlled, central heating & air-conditioning system
• Dishwasher with energy saving selector
• High-efficiency 1.6 gallon Kohler® toilet
• New elevator
• All new plumbing
• All new electrical