Mid-rise New Construction to Add 254 Luxury Apartments in Old Town

Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood continues to add density and transit-orientated housing with a 7-story mid-rise development coming to 1400 N. Orleans. Anticipated to arrive in 2020, this luxury apartment community will be named Old Town Residences.

Plans for this 225,000 square-foot burgundy-brown and gray brick complex call for 254 luxury apartments as well as resident amenities including a gym, rooftop pool, sun deck, parking garage, and 24-hour doorman.

While we expect the building will have studios, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom units, we know the highest floors on the southeast corner of the building will have unobstructed views of downtown.

But, my favorite thing about this development is its location. Most luxury apartments in Old Town are along one of the major streets, but Old Town Residences is tucked away from the action. Sometimes it’s better to be near the scene rather than in it. 

Development Group

This is the first Chicago apartment development for New York developers DDG. In this joint venture they are teaming up with Chicago based Marc Realty Capital, a real estate, development and management firm. New York investment group Prodigy Network is also a majority partner.

DDG provides design, development, construction and asset management. The firm’s principals have owned, developed and managed over 2.2 million square feet of real estate across the United States.

Neighborhood Dynamics

Let’s take a look at how this new apartment community in Old Town will add to the evolving character of this classic Chicago neighborhood.

This predominantly residential neighborhood is a walker’s paradise with peaceful tree-lined side streets featuring a gallery of eclectic residences that reflect changes over a century. There’s a mix of historic Victorian-Era homes, brownstones, post-war walk-ups, along with mid-rise and high-rise new apartments in Old Town.

These new high-rise luxury apartments in Chicago’s Old Town come on the heels of other recent developments, including The Sinclair and Old Town Park on Division Street, as well as North and Vine on North Avenue.

Mid-rise structures have always been popular in Old Town, with Scott Residences and Cobbler Square along Wells Street. A row of newer condos line Sedgwick Street, and now a couple of mid-rise luxury apartments are under construction too.

That’s where this new mid-rise property at the northwest corner of Orleans and Schiller fits in, just one block east from another new residential nine-story construction project at 1355 N. Sedgwick. 

Old Town Residences will bring major improvement to this lot that laid vacant with overgrowth and deterioration since 2017. Previously, it was the site of the last downtown horse stables that were destroyed in a fire and demolished. It was initially sold to a different developer before this current group took over.

Convenience and Culture

Renters at these luxury apartments in Chicago’s Old Town will have an easy commute with the CTA Brown Line Sedgwick station about a block away, CTA Red Line also nearby at Clark and Division, as well as access to Lake Shore Drive and I-90/94 via North Avenue.

The abundant culture in Old Town is what has drawn folks to this neighborhood for over a century. Street art fairs, boutique shops, vintage pubs, legendary entertainment venues and the old world village vibe have deep historic roots here.

Old Town Residences will be located about a half-mile to tons of green space at Lincoln Park, and a mile to North Avenue Beach. The developer’s plans also include green space areas on the property grounds, which I love! Expect Old Town Residences to be the next pet-friendly and dog-friendly apartments in the neighborhood.

Nearby conveniences and cultural landmarks:

• Second City Comedy Club
• Zanies Comedy Club
• Arclight Cinemas
• Steppenwolf Theater
• Twin Anchors Tavern
• Old Town Ale House
• Mariano’s Grocery
• Jewel-Osco Grocery
• Plum Market Grocery
• Target