The Streeterville Real Estate Story: How the Neighborhood Got Its Start

Until you take an architectural tour of the city, you might never know the story behind the name Streeterville– but it’s one you don’t want to miss. The lakefront Near North Side neighborhood started as nothing but a sandbar and a landfill, and yet now it is some of the most sought after real estate in the country.

In the late 1880s, George “Cap” Streeter and his wife parked their houseboat on the sandbar, which had formed naturally from silt accumulation but hadn’t yet been put to use. Formerly, Streeter had been a lumberjack, a Civil War soldier and a circus performer, but along with his second wife, he decided to try to find his fortune in gunrunning. So he bought a boat and planned to take it Honduras to sell guns illegally. However, when taking a test-drive on the waters of Lake Michigan, Streeter and his wife stopped on the sandbar on the coastline of Chicago.

The couple claimed they had been shipwrecked there during a storm. They lived in the “marooned” boat and proclaimed the entire sandbar as their own land, creating what technically could be called the first Streeterville real estate!

Streeterville Real Estate: From Sandbar to Shantytown

Until this point in time, the Lake Michigan coastline was as far west as current day Michigan Avenue and was where many of Chicago’s elite had their lakeside mansions. The “shipwrecked” couple, upon establishing themselves on the sandbar east of the Gold Coast, started allowing construction companies to use the island as a place to dump construction materials.

By underselling legal dumps, Streeter quickly became prosperous, and his island began to grow. Garbage and leftover construction materials from the new skyscrapers being built in the city were dumped on the shoreline and built up the area where Lake Shore Drive now runs. Suddenly, Streeter had real estate that he could actually sell. He began selling lots on the island, and soon enough, an entire community of squatters lived in the area.

Streeter, of course, knew exactly what he was doing and was a criminal of the highest degree. He claimed the valuable lakefront land as his own and dubbed himself the mayor of the newly created District of Lake Michigan. He harbored criminals, sold prohibited liquor and ran brothels from that claimed tract of land. It wasn’t long before the wealthy Gold Coast dwellers became furious with these squatters obscuring their view of the Lake and sullying the cachet of their neighborhood. Plus, they realized a thoroughfare on the new tract of land would be beneficial for the city. They enlisted the police of Chicago to evict the squatters and Streeter.

When the city tried to evict Streeter, he waged epic gun battles against them. His second wife poured boiling water over cops to keep her husband from being arrested, and his third wife went after cops with a meat cleaver. For years, Streeter would be arrested and then released — the mayor of Chicago even pardoned him after he was convicted of murder, saying that he had been framed.

Finally, Streeter was arrested in 1918 for selling alcohol without a license and assaulting an officer. The squatters were ousted from his shantytown, and the land was returned to the city to be developed into Lakeshore Drive and the surrounding neighborhood. As the years passed, this lakefront land became some of the most valuable property in Chicago. Despite its literally and figuratively trashy origins, Streeterville real estate is now the height of luxury in Chicago– and George Streeter at least maintains his legacy in the name of the neighborhood.

Chicago High Rise Condo Amenities: The Shared Spaces of Aqua

On Aqua’s amenity deck, you’ll find two floors of indoor and outdoor features that residents are happy to share. From a fitness center with engaging group classes to a outdoor space equipped with features diverse enough to include a zen garden, there are various means for residents of Aqua to interact.

• Running Track – Many high rise condo buildings have indoor fitness centers. Usually, you’ll find an array of exercise machines and perhaps a pool and fitness class studio. Aqua has the additional fitness feature of an outdoor running track that circles the fourth floor of the building. For walkers or runners, the soft-surface track provides a low-impact place to run, instead of the concrete sidewalks of downtown Chicago. Plus, it weaves through the green lawns and gardens of the fourth floor amenity deck and provides panoramic views of downtown including Millennium Park, Lake Michigan and the Chicago River while you exercise. In cold weather, it is kept snow-free, so resident runners can brave the cold weather for a jog if they wish!
• Media Room – Aqua’s Media Room brings together residents to view big games, movies and other exciting televised events. The room seats around 30 people in comfortable leather chairs, arranged stadium-style so everyone has a great view of the large projection screen. For events like our weekly movie nights or the ongoing World Cup, residents are treated to use of the room free and provided with snacks. Residents can also rent out the Media Room for private events for a small fee.
• Outdoor Entertainment Space – Our outdoor amenity deck has all the anticipated features, like a pool, hot tub and sunbathing area. But Aqua’s outdoor entertainment spaces really bring residents and their friends together. Cabanas with seating and umbrellas provide a great setting for al fresco dining with friends. Fire pits make a cozy place to congregate as the weather cools down. And grills allow you to even do your cooking outdoors! Entertaining is easy when you can meet up with friends on the amenity deck, instead of preparing your own place to host guests.

Events for Our Residents

Throughout the year, our Community Relations Director and team plan exciting events to introduce our residents to each other and the city of Chicago. Here are a few of the successful events that have happened in the past year, many of which are scheduled again for this year!

• Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise – Over 150 residents were able to take advantage of the complimentary CAF River Cruise last September.
• Festival in The Park – Also in September, the Community Relations team plans a festival in the Park at Lakeshore East. This year’s 4th Annual Festival in The Park is scheduled for Saturday, September 18th. In years past, the festival has featured over 70 Magellan Reward Partners in the expo style event. Over 700 residents attended last year. Residents and visitors will enjoy food and wine samples, free massages and shopping incentives.
• Cuvee Ultra Lounge – Lakeshore East has hosted two very successful events with over 100 residents at the River North lounge. Residents get to take advantage of complimentary champagne and specialty cocktail drinks. The private event allows Lakeshore East dwellers to mingle in a swanky setting!
• Lakeshore East Young Professional Events – The resident-founded Young Professional Group at Lakeshore East hosts regular events for residents who are members or interesting in joining. A spring event at Sweetwater on Michigan Avenue drew over 150 residents and filled half of the newly-opened restaurant! Drink specials and complimentary appetizers are generally available, and residents can meet, mingle and network with others who live in Lakeshore East residential developments.
• Movies in The Park – Going into our second summer season, Lakeshore East hosts monthly movie nights in The Park for residents. This year’s movie evenings are sponsored by Fifth/Third Bank and will occur on the last Thursday of June, July and August. Over 200 residents participated in the voting for the movies to be shown! The Movies in The Park are great for families as well as single residents.

You can read more about the events planned for Lakeshore East on our Community Corner blog.

The Magnificent Mile: The number one attraction of Streeterville is the Magnificent Mile. A mile-long stretch of Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile is home to shopping that is arguably only bested in the U.S. by New York’s famous 5th Avenue. The dining is equally as impressive– for instance, President Obama’s favorite five-star Italian restaurant, Spiaggia, resides there. And of course, for anyone visiting the city or looking for a fun “stay-cation,” you’ll find world class hotels up and down the Mag Mile– the Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton, Intercontinental, Drake Hotels and a planned Waldorf-Astoria are all located in Streeterville on Michigan Avenue. These hotels are the pinnacle of service and house some of the best spas in Chicago.

Chicago’s Landmark Buildings: You’ll also find some of Chicago’s tallest, most recognizable and most renowned buildings near Streeterville condos. The 96-story John Hancock Tower sits right in the middle of it all on Michigan Avenue. Lake Point Tower, the only building in Chicago east of Lake Shore Drive, hosts celebrity residents and offers residences closer to the Lake than any other building downtown. Though construction has currently stalled, the proposed Chicago Spire is planned in Streeterville. The Spire would be the tallest building in Chicago and, with 150 floors, would also be one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world. 860 and 880 Lake Shore Drive represent the work of world famous architect, Mies Van der Rohe. And finally, the pictured Tribune Tower and Wrigley Building were some of Chicago first tall buildings and make up a historic stretch of Michigan Avenue in Streeterville.

Lakefront Location: The location of Streeterville condos offers a place at the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, a claim that only property in the New East Side neighborhood can share. This makes for scenic views and some of the most exclusive real estate in the city. It also gives condos in Streeterville accessibility to beaches, lakeside parks, the River Walk and the Lake Path — all great for the active Chicago citizen. You’ll also find Streeterville condos near famous Chicago tourist attractions like Navy Pier and the Museum Campus. Immediate access to the Loop makes for a short, walking commute for anyone who works downtown, and abundant public transportation in the form of buses, El trains and Metra trains makes the whole city accessible from Streeterville.

Living in or close to this historic neighborhood has perks of location, attractions and convenience, so it’s no wonder that Streeterville condos are some of the most sought-after addresses in Chicago. The New East Side neighborhood, immediately adjacent to Streeterville, hosts comparable luxury Chicago condos and gives residents complete accessibility to all the benefits of Streeterville, too. Start your Chicago condo search by taking a look at our New East Side listings.

Celebrating in Chicago Condos: St. Patrick’s Day

If you’re planning on having a few people over on Wednesday the 17th to celebrate the actual St. Patrick’s Day, you might want to decorate with something other than green beer, four leaf clovers and leprechauns. Here are some of our ideas for upscale Irish decor.

Green Accents: You can sneak a little green into your luxury Chicago condo in all kinds of ways.

• Throw some green pillows or a blanket on the couch.
• Buy some green coasters for holiday-themed drinks.
• Incorporate a little green through other home accessories that can be redistributed or put away after the holiday.

Your guests will notice and appreciate hints of green without being overwhelmed by the St. Patty’s spirit.

Real Greenery: Bring the green into your home in the best way– real, live greenery. While you would normally go out and buy flowers for a centerpiece, buy strictly the greens this time. A florist can make you an equally beautiful piece with just greenery, or if you’re ambitious, you can buy or plant a few potted plants for the occasion.

Green Linens: Finally, incorporate a little green in your table settings. Green napkins could be either paper or cloth, depending on the formality of your St. Patty’s get-together. Green tablecloths, napkin rings, or candles on your table can bring some green without screaming St. Patrick’s Day, too. You can reuse the pieces you buy individually, adding a green accent to spring decor after your St. Patrick’s Day spread is over.

Chicago Bars to Visit on St. Patty’s

Finally, after you do a little in home celebrating, you might want to head out. What are the best bars in downtown to continue a St. Patrick’s celebration? We’d recommend:

Butch McGuire’s – Butch’s has been around since the ’70s and is always a reliable go-to bar in the downtown area. With a crowd that ranges from recent graduates to regulars, you’ll definitely be among peers. On Rush and Division, it’s right in the middle of the downtown nightlife scene and you can bar-hop the Gold Coast with ease.

The Galway Arms – AOL City Search designated this as the best Irish bar in Chicago in 2007, 2008 and 2009. A little Ireland in the heart of Lincoln Park, you can always catch great traditional Irish music there, and it’s sure to be a festive setting any time around St. Patrick’s Day. Plus, should it be warm enough in Chicago in March, it has a great patio!

Fado – On the Near North Side you’ll find Fado, a slightly pricier but still welcoming Irish pub and restaurant. With huge wooden bars and two floors of seating, there will definitely be room for you and your friends to order a last St. Patty’s Day brew. A Yelp reviewer even claimed, “I will be here on St. Pat’s regardless of what comes, sleet, hail, snow, rain, hurricane, earthquake!”

So inside your luxury Chicago condo and out, you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day right. Be festive, because don’t forget, if you live in Chicago you might not be Irish but you’re definitely Chi-rish!

Obviously, when it’s cold out in Chicago, our condos are a great place to congregate, warm up and reboot before you have to trek outside again. But snow adds a-whole-nother element to home ownership, and when the snow starts falling, you really begin to appreciate owning a Chicago condo.

Your Top 10 Reasons to Own Chicago Condos in a Blizzard

Downtown Chicago condos have their perks, and there are some definite ones when it comes to dealing with snow. Inspired by this article about Baltimore condos, we are thinking of the top 10 reasons it’s so great to live in luxury condos while snow coats Chicago.

10. Shoveling snow. The most obvious benefit is that you don’t have to do it! Or, if you wouldn’t have done it at your own home anyway, you don’t have to feel guilty when a neighbor tromps down your unshoveled sidewalk. Your total snow removal job is to brush off the patio railing.

9. Garages. No sitting in a cold car, digging out or ice scraping for you. Walk to your spot and hop in your car. You don’t even have to change your routine when it snows!

8. Avoiding repairs. Roof leaks and burst pipes probably aren’t going to be problem in your unit of your Chicago high rise condo building, even if they do occur. Since they are part of your communal space, your building’s maintenance or association should take care of them.

7. Help with repairs. If some damage does occur in your building, you’ll have plenty of help to fix it. Your association and the maintenance for your building will either help you with repairs to your unit or will handle them completely.

6. Great stuff nearby. On a lighter note, downtown Chicago condos are nothing if not in the middle of it all! If you DO have to head outside into the snow squall, you know you can get to what you need quickly, because it’s close to your Chicago condo.

5. Best views of the snowfall. In a Chicago high rise condo, especially in one of our Lakeshore East developments, you’ll find the best views of Chicago made even more beautiful by drifting snow. You can experience the beauty of the blizzard without being in it!

4. Snow drifts are unlikely to cover your windows. Yeah, you might get some snow on your balcony, but your windows are probably not going to be darkened by gathering snow.

3. Doors will still open. Even if the city gets three and a half feet of snow, your front door will still open! Along with not having to shovel your sidewalk or dig your car out, you won’t get stuck inside if the snow starts to stack up.

2. Cleaning up tracked in snow. Let’s keep talking about that front door… If you have people over to your home and they wear their snow boots over, there is no way that some of that snow isn’t coming in with them. But in a luxury condo, there’s a foyer, elevator and hallway between your pristine floors and the snowy outdoors. High rise condos keep you from having to mop anytime you or your guests come in from outside!

And the number one reason to live in a Chicago high rise building during a blizzard is:

1. There’s probably a party going on somewhere in your building! If everyone gets trapped indoors during heavy snowfall, you can imagine that you might get bored. And what better time is there to get to know your neighbors than when you can’t get away from them? You can bet on the fact that someone close by is having people over for warm drinks and good company when it’s wintry outside. Or you can invite over your floormates and be the host!

Events
If you aren’t into football, maybe art is more your thing! This Friday, for one night only, you can attend Now You See It, Now You Don’t at the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park, where 40 local artists will “unveil murals throughout the building’s hallways and then, at 10 p.m., destroy the work by painting over it.” Or for something more traditional, head to the MCA for the First Friday after-work mixer!

What about some magic? Join necromancer Neil Tobin in Chicago’s most haunted building for a comedic and interactive trip through the city’s paranormal history in the show Supernatural Chicago. Complete with demonstrations!

The Randolph Street Market introduces its first ever Valentine’s Day Market this Saturday and Sunday. Browse vintage antiques, collectibles and indie designer goods from the 1800s to the 1980s with your Valentine, and find something special for your sweetheart!

Restaurants
Wicker Park coffee shop, Filter, just opened in a new, green location. The couches are comfy, and the appliances are energy-saving (even the coffee brewing system!). Stop by for breakfast or brunch!

Karyn’s on Green is now open in Greektown. The Green Street spin off of Karyn’s Cooked and Karyn’s Raw is slightly more upscale, with vegan interpretations of dishes like crab cakes and shepherd’s pie.

Movies
From Paris With Love is out this Friday. See John Travolta reinvent himself again, this time as wildcard U.S. intelligence agent, in this high octane action flick.

Crazy Heart tells the story of a rundown country music star, trying to find his song again. Jeff Bridges has already won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Bad Blake, and T-Bone Burnett created the soundtrack for the film. With soundtracks under his belt like Walk The Line, Cold Mountain, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the movie’s music is already garnering awards, too. Good acting and good music … a killer combo!

We’ll see you out and about in downtown Chicago this weekend, except for during the big game of course! We’ll be glued to the TVs in our Chicago condos for the Super Bowl and it’s hilarious commercials. No matter who wins, we hope you have a great weekend!

Events

The Tony Award-winning musical Dream Girls is showing this January at the Cadillac Palace Theatre! If you want to watch it on stage instead of from the couch in your luxury Chicago, grab tickets today. They run from $18-$85.

Did you know that the Chicago Architecture Foundation has 85 unique tours? You can tour the best of Chicago’s amazing architecture by foot, bus, or even with a happy hour. If you’re getting restless  in your Chicago condo, do something different this weekend and explore your home city!

Want to attend a Las Vegas-style comedy show? You have to check out The Red Bar Comedy Club in River North. Come enjoy a great atmosphere and great comedy, and a have a great evening.

Restaurants

Newly opened Mediterranean-focused eatery on Michigan Avenue, The Purple Pig, seats 70 people and features unique shareable pork plates. With family-style dishes, go with some family or a big group of friends for a long dinner and some quality time!

This weekend enjoy some delicious deserts at Beard Papa’s, the cream puff bakery. This is the first in Chicago, but it’s popular all over the country with sweet treats filled with all-natural custard, whipped cream or ice cream.

Movies

Two romantic movies  to head to this weekend include romantic comedy When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel, and Nicholas Sparks’s romantic drama Dear John. Either should be a great pre-Valentine’s choice!

Don’t let the cold keep you cooped up in your luxury Chicago condos this weekend, Chicagoans! Although they are a great place to come home to, you should definitely take advantage of everything the city has to offer. Whatever you decide to do,  have a fabulous and fun weekend!

Events
Spend the evening enjoying Dueling Pianos featuring Steve Kouba and Dave Roberts who will be playing all your requests starting at 9pm at LuxLounge.

Belushi Birthday Blowout Weekend, Friday and Saturday at Faith and Whiskey, includes $5 Jack Daniels shots and cocktails and live music from The Bluz Brothers Friday at 9pm!

Le Passage is hosting a Haitian benefit on Friday, January 22^nd and January 29^th from 7 – 10pm. All tips given to bartenders within those hours will be donated to the Red Cross, so tip generously.

Restaurants
Be the first to check out Longman & Eagle in Logan Square this weekend! This restaurant (which will also feature hotel rooms in March) was created to be reminiscent of a traditional Chicago Inn, where you can get your coffee in the mornings and grab a pint of beer after a long day.

Longman & Eagle opens this weekend in Chicago.

A new sushi spot, Macku on Clybourn in Lincoln Park, features traditional sushi along with their signature sashimi and nigiri topped with seasonal toppings.

Movies
Brendan Fraser is back on big screen next to Harrison Ford in Extraordinary Measures, a passionate drama about a man fighting for the life of his children diagnosed with a fatal disease.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ashley Judd star in a family comedy about a man sentenced to serve time as the real Tooth Fairy.

Luxury Chicago Condos Are Your Oasis

Since our urban lives, especially due to the current state of the economy, can sometimes feel a little insane, your Chicago condo’s decor should be completely personalized to you. Especially during the winter, when you are spending a lot of time in your home, your immediate surroundings should make you feel happy, calm, energized, at peace– whatever makes you comfortable in your own home.

Along with being comforting to you, your condo decor should also be efficient and uncomplicated. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean completely clutter-free or minimalist. It just means that the surroundings in your Chicago condo should efficiently make you feel the way you want to. If you want a vintage setting, comfy couches and a homey feel, then style your condo in shabby chic decor. If clean lines, open spaces and organization make you breathe easy when you walk in the door, then go for something modern.

The most overwhelming trend in decor now is to create a place that expresses your style, interests and individuality while also creating a space that makes you instantaneously at ease.

Chicago Condo Interior Design Trends

Chicago condo owners can take inspiration from this colorful condo, via Apartment Therapy.

While everyone can probably think of something they want in their Chicago condo, if you need a little direction to find an overarching design style for your home, check in with these other trends that the Sun-Times article suggests for a modern look. Even though they are “trends”, most design suggestions for the coming decade are about value and a lasting aesthetic, so your look doesn’t need constant maintenance and updating.

Colors: There is generational divide in the preferred color palettes of 2010. For the younger set, the bright and robust colors characterized by the Web are used for an energized and escapist feel in home decor. A splash of bright (we mean really bright!) color can help you escape your work day in the cubicle and the gray skies of Chicago’s winter. The older generation, however, is embracing modern style with cool grays and taupe-browns. Creating a natural and still relaxed feel, the neutral palette is great for sophisticated and slightly more formal Chicago condos.

Investment Pieces: Gone are the days of buying something cheap and tossing it when you move. Furniture purchases in the next decade will be investments– hand-tooled, sturdy and timeless. They might be more expensive, but you’ll get a lifetime of use out of them. A piece of furniture that sticks around gains a story and sees you through different condos and different phases of life. In an economy where nothing is stable, create stability at home by investing in pieces of furniture that you love now and will be able to keep for years.

Chicago condo decor inspiration from a slightly more homey design aesthetic, via Apartment Therapy.

Modern Lighting: The dawn of LED lights has updated Christmas decorating, TV screens, and now, your Chicago condo decor. It’s not just track lights vs. recessed lighting any more– you can incorporate modern lighting in a million subtle ways with LED features.

Aging in Place: As the baby boomer generation ages, Chicago condo decor should focus on ease of use as well as aesthetics. Whether you plan to spend many years in your condo, or you plan to one day sell it, keeping usability in mind while you pick features is important. Things like a shower seat, wide hallways and non-slip floors are stylish and functional and worth implementing in a new design.

Green Features: It’s no shock to us that green features in new condos are hot. We’ve been putting them in our new developments! But if your Chicago condo doesn’t have green features built in, you can always find ways to be more eco-friendly. Everything from the light bulbs you use to the appliances you put in your kitchen can affect your energy consumption. Green features are hot now and will continue to be! When renewing your home decor, definitely think green.

Whether your luxury Chicago condo is brand new and needs to be decorated or is just due for a 2010 update, these are some good decor developments to keep in mind for the future!

This magnificent building offers an array of amenities for anyone looking to live in eco-friendly luxury. Complete with ten foot ceilings, maple hardwood floors and stone bathrooms, it is a veritable palace for anyone looking for comfort and ease. But, unlike so many Chicago condos, it is also the eco-friendly. Here are some photos of 340 on the Park.

The voting was done by users, online, and the winners were announced and presented their awards at Smartrooms: A Spaces and Views Showroom.

The award is an honor, as 340 on the Park is the first residential building in Chicago that meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. It’s green engineering is new, exciting and could possibly help change the future of condo development.

The team at Magellan Realty thanks the readers of Chicago Agent for supporting our vision, and we hope green engineering becomes a future for Chicago real estate in all sectors.