Chicago's Belden-Stratford luxury apartments gets centennial facelift

The Belden-Stratford, the iconic Beaux-Arts apartment property in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has reopened its doors following a top-to-bottom renovation that blends the grandeur of the 100-year-old building’s original architecture with lifestyle residences designed for today’s renters.

Overlooking the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, the 16-story property was constructed in 1923 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Meyer Fridstein, it originally opened as a residential hotel before eventually transitioning entirely to rental apartments.

Renovation of Belden-Stratford Luxury Apartments

The historic Belden-Stratford was purchased in 2018 by Mansueto Office—the investment firm of Joe Mansueto, a former resident of the property—and renovation began in 2020. Today, it comprises 209 luxury apartments, ranging from studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, as well as a selection of penthouses boasting double-height living spaces. Monthly rents for these units range from $2,500 to $15,000. Currently, the leasing process is underway with the expectation of full occupancy by the end of the year.

Modern Amenities, Historic Look
 

The completed renovation was unveiled during a June 7 grand opening celebration, and the building officially passed its 100-year anniversary this October. For the modern-living renovation, the team incorporated new amenities in the building's preexisting open spaces. This includes a lounge that overlooks the Lincoln Park Conservatory, a double-height fitness center in what was once the building’s ballroom, a billiards and media lounge, a rooftop deck, wine tasting room, private wine storage room, and reservable conference rooms.

The property also offers a variety of services, from concierge and door staff, to 24/7 valet parking and Tesla rentals. A French bistro connects to the lobby as well, providing residents with on-site dining at Mon Ami Gabi.

Luxury Residences

Each residence comes with 9-foot ceilings and an elegant finish package, including quartz countertops, GE Profile stainless steel appliances, and full-size washers and dryers. The apartments measure between 483 and 1,689 sf.

“The residential experience at The Belden-Stratford offers a taste of both worlds for those who appreciate the history and architectural significance of the building as a point of differentiation, but also want many of the same conveniences and amenity offerings you would find in a new-construction rental property,” said Scott Ferguson, Senior Vice President at Waterton. “In fact, one of the most significant aspects of the renovation was completely reimagining the residential floors to create new unit layouts that align with the lifestyle of today’s renters. The result is contemporary apartments with features you don’t expect in a century-old building, like island kitchens that are open to living space, generous storage including walk-in closets, and full-size in-unit laundry.”

On the Building Team:
Owner: Mansueto Office, Waterton
Architect of Record: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
Historic Architect: Vinci Hamp Architects
Lighting Designer: CharterSills Architectural Lighting Design
Historic Finish Research: EverGreene Architectural Arts
GC: Bulley & Andrews