THE OPERA LOFTS

The Opera Lofts, a South Loop condo development with a unique history, includes 93 loft-style Chicago condos for sale that give residents the opportunity to live in a landmark building in a booming neighborhood on the shores of Lake Michigan.

The seven-story building at 2525 South Dearborn Street is so named because before its recent transformation into residences, it was a warehouse specifically designed and built in 1912 with high ceilings and other accommodations needed to store oversized sets for the Chicago Lyric Opera and other opera companies from around the world. Called an adaptive reuse condo development, The Opera Lofts retains much of the original building’s distinctive features, including the exposed brick and high ceilings that add so much to the look and feel of the upscale condos. Original Lyric Opera scenery and furniture are even on display in common areas of the building.

Retaining much of its original design, the development includes one-bedroom condos with loft space ideal for an office, as well as two- and three-bedroom units and penthouses on the upper floors. The reuse of the building itself is one of many environmentally friendly “green” features of The Opera Lofts that residents like. Others include:

• Large rooftop garden with skyline views
• Energy-efficient furnaces and appliances
• Insulated fiberglass windows
• Bicycle storage

Other building amenities include:

• Fitness center
• Rooftop dog run
• Indoor parking

The Opera Lofts location in the South Loop, on the edge of Bronzeville, puts residents within blocks of many of Chicago’s most popular sites. These include sports and entertainment venues such as nearby Soldier Field and the adjacent Museum Campus, as well as U.S. Cellular Field, which is just a short Red Line train ride away. Northerly Island and 31st Street Beach are nearby too.

The Opera Lofts are ideally suited for condo buyers who either work downtown or just like to live in the heart of the city. The South Loop and Bronzeville neighborhoods are replete with restaurants and nightclubs, many featuring live blues or jazz music. And Chinatown is close by as well, lending even more ethnic diversity to the area. Nearby Interstates 90/94 and 55, as well as CTA buses and trains, make the whole Chicago area easily accessible.

Condo amenities include:

• True loft ceilings between 13 and 30 feet high
• Exposed bricks, columns and spiral ductwork
• Large balconies
• Oak flooring
• Windows over 13 feet high
• Large (5-ft by 12 -ft) balconies
• Washer/dryer hook-ups