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Huh? A subway car on the roof?

Multifamily Housing

Huh? A subway car on the roof?

Chicago’s newest multifamily development features an iconic CTA car on its amenity deck. 


By Robert Cassidy, Executive Editor | April 26, 2017
“L” apartments, Logan Square

Photos: Jorge Gera/Luxury Living Chicago (above); Property Markets Group (below)

That’s a Chicago Transit Authority subway car sitting atop the second-floor amenity deck of the “L” apartments in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood. The six-story complex, designed by Brininstool + Lynch Architects, is two blocks from the CTA’s Blue Line, which can get you to the Loop or O’Hare International in 25-30 minutes.

Developer Property Markets Group wanted “a hub that would pull people together,” says Brian Koles, PMG’s Director of Residential Experience. The CTA car sits in a shallow pool in the 1,200-sf amenity deck, which sports a dog run, barbecue pit, lounge chairs, and space for yoga, mixology classes, and—coming soon!—a bocce tournament. “When the weather warms up, the deck is slammed” with singles, families, and extremely well-behaved canines, says Koles.

L opened a year ago and leased up in four months. In addition to the 110 one- and two-bedroom units, 10 three-bed units are devoted to co-living (average bedroom rental: $1,110/month), making it the largest such space in Chicago. Koles says L’s co-livers are older, make more money, and have better credit scores than other L renters.

The decommissioned CTA car was retrofitted by Chicago Salvage Works. ARCO/Murray Construction Company did the installation. 

Catch the video at: vimeo.com/207575664.

 

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