Historical Opera Lofts music to buyers’ ears
Opera Lofts, a 93-unit loft conversion at 2545 S. Dearborn St. by Lyric Opera Acquisitions, has an interesting history.
Built in stages from 1912 to 1924, the
370-foot multi-level building on the northern edge of Bronzeville served
as a set design and storage facility for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Architects designed the building to accommodate the unique demands of
large-scale opera sets, with oversized ceilings, concrete floors, and
huge freight elevators. Over the years, hundreds of sets, backdrops,
costumes, equipment, and staging were designed, rigged, repaired, and
stored for use by Lyric.
Costume designers, tradespeople, set and stage designers, and builders brought to life opera’s representations of love, struggle, war, celebration, and song. Opera companies around the world collaborated with Lyric and its predecessors and used the facility as well. The building overflowed with every manner of stage and set, from costumes to carriages and faux villas to Italian promenades.
The building sits across from the new South Loop Hotel and only blocks from McCormick Place, Mercy Hospital, U.S. Cellular Field, and the anticipated 2016 Olympic Village.
When its conversion is complete, it will house one- to three-bedroom units with one or two baths as well as several penthouses. Units will range from 830 to almost 3,000 square feet and will be priced from the $250,000s. Deeded indoor parking will be available for $22,500.
The project is a conglomerate of six buildings constructed over two decades, according to Mike Jerabek, a partner of Worn Jerabek Architects, the firm that designed the project.
“Opera Lofts is really a four-dimensional
design challenge,” he said. “The height of the building varies from spot
to spot. Some sections have six floors while others have just two.
Different materials were used to construct the various phases of the
building. As a result, it is almost impossible to work exclusively with
two-dimensional plans. You have to design the interior as you walk
through it.”
As a result, each of the 93 units is unique in every aspect, from size, shape, and elevation to floor plan, materials, and décor.
“We’ve spent the last two years trying to make this vision come true,” said co-developer Leigh Ballen. “It turns out that no one person knows all there is to know about this building. We knew it would make great loft space, and it has been an honor to be a part of it. But the challenges have been unique, to say the least.”
“This is a gift, getting to work with this old place,” added Ballen, who, along with Andres Schcolnik and Adolfo Castellanos, bought the structure in 2004. Where possible, they have preserved relics from the past: the set-painters’ catwalks, the radiator piping (used as handrails on the stairways), and the ghostly painted signage on the brick walls. They plan to install a 7,000-square-foot green roof and build three two-story penthouses atop one section of the 190,000-square-foot building.
Units have 13- to 30-foot ceiling heights; exposed columns, brick, and ductwork; 13-foot windows in living areas; large balconies; hardwood floors; in-wall safes; and multimedia wiring.
Kitchen amenities include stainless-steel appliances, 42-inch maple cabinetry, granite countertops, and a full height glass backsplash. Master baths include marble countertops, sinks, floors, and walls; whirlpool tubs; and dual flush toilets.
Building amenities include a scenic rooftop
with more than 7,000 square feet of green roof; two common decks with
barbeque areas; a pet-friendly dog run; a fitness center; twin
high-speed elevators; and advanced safety systems with sprinklers, smoke
detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a fire alarm system with
central monitoring.
Opera Lofts is being developed in two "acts." Most units in Act One are complete and ready for occupancy. Act Two will conclude by the end of 2008. So far, almost half the units have been sold. A one-bedroom condo with 1,050 square feet and a 120-square-foot loft space is priced at $259,900. One of the three penthouses—a 2,862-square-foot unit with views north to the city—will have the highest price tag at $899,900.
The sales office at 2545 S. Dearborn St. is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (312) 225-5000.
