Downtown Chicago Residenc
Chicago is consistently one of the great American cities in which people choose to start a new life. From up and coming twenty and thirty somethings to immigrants from all over the world, this city on Lake Michigan draws all types of hopefuls. Chicago downtown residency is the most coveted type to occupy in the great city, offering a high quality life with a range of work, entertainment, and activity choices available, but it does not come cheaply.
The downtown area of Chicago is affectionately referred to as the Loop because of its location contained within the route of the elevated "L" train that continuously circles the neighborhoods. This part of Chicago is one of seventy-five official communities in the city. For population and area, the Chicago Loop comes in second only to Midtown Manhattan.
Chicago' s downtown Loop possesses a vibrant history and richly beautiful architecture. This building style is a combination of historic edifices and ultra modern skyscrapers. Condos here that contain amazing views overlooking either the Chicago River or Lake Michigan prove to be highly sought after.
The river and lake fronts of the downtown neighborhoods have amazing and gorgeous parks as their borders. Among these are the newer Millenium Park, as well as Grant park that has its Buckingham Fountain. Terrific concerts in the park are featured during the summers. Visitors in the millions come to see downtown Chicago for the numerous yearly events held on the river and the lake.
This Loop area contains rich cultural attractions. In it are found the Civic Opera House, the Fine Arts Building, the Art Institute of Chicago, outdoor sculptures, and the Goodman Theater. A great number of Federal, City, and County government buildings with their agencies are located here too. The Loop boasts fantastic hotels, restaurants, and shops, such as the Palmer House Hilton and the famed Marshall Field's Department Store.
Within the Loop of Chicago are numerous different neighborhoods. All of these come complete with their own unique feel. West Loop and Printer's Row are especially well known for their converted lofts. While the average prices for a loft or condo in The Loop comes in around $435,000, other greatly sought after luxury penthouses and condominiums run into the millions of dollars.
Individuals from all stages and types of life migrate to the Loop to occupy single family homes, condos, and urban lofts. Why is this; what about life in the downtown of Chicago makes residing here so appealing to so many different persons? Some residents of The Loop have called living here the Good Life. It is a fact that the neighborhoods lying closest to the downtown prove to be typically safer, cleaner, and more expensive.
The people who like living in downtown Chicago are those who enjoy skyscrapers, constant crowds of people, and convenience. The view from practically everywhere in The Loop features these sleek and modern monuments to the modern age. As the commercial district, this is to be expected. People who are looking for natural views, or views not dominated by massive architecture, will prefer a different part of the city. Similarly, people who do not like crowds of walking individuals are better off somewhere else. But for anyone who loves the ability to walk through a park for a few miles, to eat a great meal at one of countless good dining establishments, to listen to a free concert afterward, and then to take a ten minute above ground train ride back home, this is the part of Chicago for them.
Real estate in downtown Chicago is greatly sought out and not inexpensive. Property values are high in the dense urban jungle, forcing housing to go vertical. Living in condos or lofts remains the principal lifestyle choice here. The choices range from more modest loft accommodations on up to multi-million dollar luxury high rise penthouses. These latter ones are occupied by the important and famous residents of Chicago.
Trulia.com puts the median sales price for homes in The Loop section of Chicago at $350,000, which is up an impressive 8.4% year over year. Rental prices are comparatively more expensive, since rentals are in such great demand in the downtown. Studios here run from $800 to $1,300 a month. One bedrooms start at $1,000 and go on up to $1,800 every month. Two bedrooms range from $1,400 to $2,800 each month. Three bedrooms run a pricey $2,000 on up to $4,000 per month.