Courthouse goes condo

By Marie Balice Ward

The vacant building at 1340 S. Michigan Ave., which was erected in 1922 as a furniture company and served most recently as the Cook County Domestic Violence Court before the court moved to 555 W. Harrison St. in 2005, soon will experience yet another of several metamorphoses when it is converted to condominiums.

The classic revival building’s white terra cotta façade “will be preserved,” vowed Sebastian Sobieski, an agent with Realty Group, which has teamed with Concept Developers on the project.

The façade boasts non-structural terra cotta columns topped by elaborate capitals that rise on either side of recessed windows. The building’s ornate cornice also is in the classic revival style, and the roof offers impressive panoramic views.

“We plan to renovate the building’s façade and create loft style condominiums, possibly with overhanging balconies on the sides of the building,” Sobieski said. “We anticipate there will be 55-plus units that will be from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet in size. There might also be terraces on the building’s third floor.”

Sobieski’s group is “working with architects to develop a design and floor plans,” he said. Renovations may add “a couple of stories for penthouse units without interfering with the façade.”

Project architects Hartshorne + Plunkard, based in Chicago, specialize in adaptive reuse, historical preservation, and planning for single- and multi-unit residential properties.

The lofts will have 12 foot ceilings, open brick walls, and exposed electrical and ventilation systems. Sobieski suggested the building will appeal to young professionals who have lived in the area more than five years and are ready for a change of scenery.

Work is expected to begin in early 2007. The sales office currently at 1326 S. Michigan Ave. will move to accommodate construction of a second, adjacent project at 1330 S. Michigan Ave., Concept Developers’ and Realty Group’s Azure Towers. A new 18-story glass-enclosed highrise, Azure Towers will offer luxury amenities such as state of the art safety systems, a landscaped roof, a residents-only fitness center, and an entertainment room with direct access to the rooftop park.

The website for Azure Towers and the 1340 S. Michigan Ave. building is www.concept-dev-realty.com.