New ListingLovingly designed loft space in the heart of Printer's Row in the historic Franklin Building. 9 tall windows (3 of them in the bedroom) flood the place with afternoon sunshine. Wide open traditional loft space with high ceilings, exposed brick, concrete pillars and beams and genuine oak floors dating from the condo conversion in 1989. Because the building was created for printing presses, the subfloors are thick concrete so you will never hear anyone from above or below. The loft has been fitted out with an amazing amount of storage. Massive built-in open shelved bookcases extend from floor to ceiling on the entire south wall of the living room. There is another floor to ceiling bookcase on the east wall as well as two floor to ceiling storage closets. Along the north wall are closets for coats and shelving. A wonderful banquette with room for baskets beneath is tucked into the window wall on the northwest corner of the room creating a cozy spot for eating or curling up in the afternoon sunshine with a book. Remote controlled shades and lighting installed in 2023. The contemporary open kitchen has wood cabinets, granite countertops, distinctive backsplash tiles and SS appliances including a new (2025) range and dishwasher. Both the half bath and the full bath have been updated. The full bath has a glass enclosed shower with a pebble stone wall and a double vanity with 2 Mexican handcrafted sinks. The toilet is in a separate compartment which also includes the front loading laundry machines. The fully private bedroom has 3 large windows, floor to ceiling closets and more bookshelves. The powder room has a full wall and backsplash of hand crafted Mexican tiles and a Mexican sink set in a unique wood slab counter. Possibilities are endless in this airy condominium. Because there are so many windows with frontage on the street, more rooms could be created or reconfigured. There are no structural walls because of the concrete pillars and beams. For those who live on this special block of the city, there is nowhere else they'd rather be. It is in the center of the transportation hub of the metropolis. All of the CTA train lines have stops within 2 blocks of the building. There is a Red Line stop right outside on Polk. It's easy access to all of the highways from Ida B Wells Drive just 2 blocks north including easy access to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Buses stop across the street. The neighborhood is brimming with restaurants, bars & shops. It's an easy walk or roll to Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park, the museums, theaters, universities, and all of the shopping and eating in the Loop. You can head south and be at the University of Chicago and its hospitals in minutes or head west and be at the UIC campus and its nearby hospitals even sooner. Walk Score says it's a walker's and public transportation rider's paradise. The vaunted 2-way protected bike path that runs all the way through the Loop and over the river begins outside the front door. Parking garages and a parking lot surround this building. The parking offered would be offsite and leased separately, but you'll rarely have to use a car. There is a bike room in the basement next to the coin laundry which is available to use if you have bulky items. The building engineer is competent and friendly, and the management company is miraculously accessible. There is a large service elevator that opens to the street for easy move-in and out that recalls its days of hauling heavy loads of paper. This building is carefully run by an attentive board and management. The reserve is at $1,100,000 and there hasn't been a special assessment in over 25 years. EVERYTHING is included in the assessment except electric. That includes high speed internet and basic cable from Astound. The building is about to embark on a renovation of the hallways and foyer to address its modern needs (larger package room for post-pandemic deliveries) while enhancing its very special vintage character
| MLS # | 12755947 |
|---|---|
| Listing Type | For Sale |
| Style | Condominium |
| HOA Dues | $720 |
| Sub-Type | Resale |
| Status | Active |
| Year | 1916 |
| Days On Site | 5 |
| Listing Provided By | The Margie Smigel Group, LLC | Margie Smigel |
| Bed(s) | 1 |
|---|---|
| Bath(s) | 2 Total |
| SQ Feet | 1,287 |
| Garage | 2 |
| Basement | Y |
| Story(s) | 13 |
| Rooms Total | 4 |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Central Air, Electric |
| Heating | Forced Air, Baseboard |
| Interior Features | 1st Floor Bedroom, Built-in Features, Bookcases, High Ceilings, Open Floorplan, Dining Combo, Granite Counters, Lobby, Replacement Windows |
| Appliances | Range, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Washer, Dryer, Disposal, Stainless Steel Appliance(s), Electric Cooktop, Electric Oven |
| Fireplaces Total | 0 |
| Laundry Features | Main Level, Washer Hookup, Electric Dryer Hookup, In Unit, In Bathroom |
| Window Features | Screens, Window Treatments, Aluminum Frames, Double Pane Windows, Shades |
| Exterior Features | Lighting |
|---|---|
| Lot Features | Landscaped, Level |
| Construction Materials | Brick |
| Parking Features | Garage, Off Site, Leased, Detached, Off Street, Parking Lot |
|---|---|
| Garage Spaces | 2 |
| Utilities | Cable Available |
|---|---|
| Sewer | Public Sewer, Storm Sewer |
| Electric | Circuit Breakers, 100 Amp Service |
| Community Features | Sidewalks, Street Lights |
|---|
| Tax Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Tax Annual Amount | 5332.76 |
| State | IL |
|---|---|
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Zip Code | 60605 |
| Area | CHI Loop |
| Community Name | Franklin Lofts |
| School District | South Loop Elementary School |
| Elementary School | South Loop Elementary School |
| Listing VS Median (in Franklin Lofts) | |
Price: $399,000 low | high Med: $399,450 sqft: 1,287 low | high Med: 1,344 $ / sqft: $310 low | high Med: $298 On site: 5 low | high Med: 5.5 | |
| State | IL |
|---|---|
| County | Cook |
| City | Chicago |
| Zip Code | 60605 |
| Area | CHI Loop |
| Community Name | Franklin Lofts |
| School District | South Loop Elementary School |
| Elementary School | South Loop Elementary School |
| Listing VS Median (in Franklin Lofts) | |
Price: $399,000 low | high Med: $399,450 sqft: 1,287 low | high Med: 1,344 $ / sqft: $310 low | high Med: $298 On site: 5 low | high Med: 5.5 | |