New construction condo boom underway in River North

The 61 West Erie condo building is now under construction.

More people are choosing to rent today, and if you travel through River North you’ll find plenty of new-construction apartment buildings rising in this neighborhood. But developers aren’t limiting themselves to apartments. Many are now building new condominium towers, too, in River North.

These new condo towers are a bit different, though, from what developers have brought to River North in the past. Today’s new condo buildings tend to be smaller, with anywhere from six to 75 units. New apartment rental towers in the neighborhood, on the other hand, tend to house hundreds of units.

And the new condos hitting River North tend to cater to the luxury buyer, with most units in them priced at $1 million or more.

Here’s a quick look at some of the new condo towers hitting River North.

61 West Erie Street

LG Development Group last year demolished the two-story building that once housed the AstroLab film-processing company. It is now building the 12-story, 10-unit 61 West Erie Street condominium building here. Nine of the units will come with 2,900 square feet of living space, while the 10th will be a duplex penthouse with four outdoor spaces. LG Development says that this penthouse unit will feature one of the largest private rooftop decks in the city.

Bentham

The Bentham, now under construction at 146 W. Erie St., is a good example of what developers mean when they call a new condo development a luxury building. This 15-story tower features 31 residences with starting prices of about $1.3 million. The building will boast an expansive pool and sundeck area on its 15th floor, fitness center and 24-hour concierge service. Each unit comes with an outdoor terrace that developer Sedgwick Properties says gives residents up to three extra rooms as part of the building’s indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

312 W. Huron

JFJ Development’s 312 W. Huron boasts a prime River North location, the corner of Huron and Orleans street. The 71-unit development boasts plenty of high-end amenities, including some unusual ones: It features a 1/8-mile running track, a putting green for avid golfers and a vegetable garden that residents can tend. There is also a fitness room, swimming pool, yoga studio, fire pit and public kitchen.

351 W. Huron

If you’re looking for a boutique experience, Regency Development Group’s 351 W. Huron might be the choice. This is the smallest new condo development coming to River North. When complete, it will contain just six units. Each unit will boast plenty of living space, at least 4,500 square feet. The development should be a peaceful one, too, with no retail component and a location in the quieter northwest corner of the River North neighborhood.

Renelle on the River

Belgravia Group’s Renelle on the River at 403 N. Wabash offers an especially impressive amenity: The 51-unit building sits along the Chicago River, giving residents incredible views of the city. The three- to four-bedroom units here start at $1.3 million. Units include 10-foot ceilings throughout their main living spaces, private balconies, subzero refrigerators, a chef’s kitchen and heated tile floors in the bathrooms. Common-area amenities include a private rooftop lounge, indoor and outdoor kitchens, outdoor terrace with fireplace and private screening and game rooms. The building also offers a 24-hour doorman, fitness center, bicycle storage and an outdoor dog run.

The Ronsley

Developed by LG Construction + Development, The Ronsley, at 676 N. Kingsbury, replaces a warehouse that had long sat empty. It will bring 41 new condominium residences to River North. And like other new-construction condos here, the ones at The Ronsley cater to higher-end buyers. The building comes with a 24-hour doorman, fitness center, yoga room, urban-style roof deck and garden and entertainment center. Residents can take advantage of daily dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up service, an electric-car charging port and a heated garage facility.

Three Sixty West

Belgravia Group is also behind the Three Sixty West luxuy condo development at 360 W. Erie. The 38 condominiums here again target higher-end buyers, with units starting at $1.1 million. The building provides such luxury amenities as a fitness room, dog run, rooftop lounge and sundeck. The three-bedroom units themselves come with 10-foot ceilings, large outdoor spaces, gourmet Italian kitchens and high-end finishes throughout. Each unit is designed so that it receives the maximum amount of sunlight.