Illinois Center's new tenants live in high style

Location, amenities and architectural designs are luring rentersto North Harbor Tower, a 55-story high-rise east of the Loop.

The 600-unit apartment skyscraper, at Randolph and Lake ShoreDrive, is in the heart of Illinois Center, which also featuresoffices and retail shops, said Betty Kalahar, leasing director forMetropolitan Structures, a development company.

"Illinois Center is an established residential neighborhood,with its own character and personality," she said.

It has more than 3,200 apartments and condos, retail andconvenience shops, three hotels and recreational and entertainmentfacilities, Kalahar said.

Monthly rents for the studio and one- to three-bedroomapartments in North Harbor range from $450 to $2,650. (Rents wereprovided by the apartment manager and may change.) To date, more than70 percent of the units have been rented.

Some of the apartment amenities include carpeting, mini-blinds,refrigerator, range, dishwasher, garbage disposal and microwave oven.Three-bedroom units are equipped with a washer and dryer.

Recreational amenities included are a fitness center withexercise equipment and a swimming pool, a sun deck and a large partyroom.

The high-rise's architectural design takes maximum advantage ofthe building's lakefront location, Kalahar said.

"Large triangular bay windows with marble sills in everyapartment are a focal point and enable residents to enjoy views inthree directions," Kalahar said. "The apartments provide open spacesand dramatic views - in many instances, from every room in theapartment, including kitchens.

"We really have two buildings in one. The smaller units areconcentrated in the low-rise, and the larger two-bedroom andthree-bedroom apartments comprise the high-rise portion."

Other highlights include 24-hour doormen and indoor parking for400 cars.

Extensive renovation of the former Park Lane Hotel, 2850 N.Sheridan, is scheduled to begin late this month.

The 200-unit residential building purchased earlier this yearwill be renamed the ParcLane Apartments, said developer RichardKaplan, president of Syndicated Equities Corp.

"Our goal is to create a contemporary look, attract the upscaletenants who live in the area, and still maintain much of the eleganceand grandeur inherent in the building," Kaplan said.

Included in the renovation is an upgrading of the apartments, anew appearance for the front of the building and completerefurbishing of the lobby and entry area.

He said that, after renovation, rents for 89 studio apartments,with about 450 to 500 square feet of space, would be about $450.Rents for 107 one-bedroom units, which are about 700 square feet,would be about $550 to $650.