List Price: $1.995 million
The Property: There’s a tasteful three-bedroom condo for sale on the 42nd floor of the Fordham, the 50-story condo tower at 25 East Superior Street, but some of its appeal comes from what lies outside its walls—as well as what doesn’t…
For a closer look at the condo, launch the photo gallery »
List Price: $1.995 million
The Property: There’s a tasteful three-bedroom condo for sale on the 42nd floor of the Fordham, the 50-story condo tower at 25 East Superior Street, but some of its appeal comes from what lies outside its walls—as well as what doesn’t.
Completed in 2003, the Fordham was an early comer in the high-rise condo boom. Its developers stocked it with shared amenities, including an indoor pool, a cigar-smoking room with private humidors, a small library, and a wine cellar with lockable storage cabinets for individual residents.
That’s what’s outside the condo’s walls. As to what’s not: because the unit looks north over the landmark Holy Name Cathedral, there’s nothing to block the stellar view of the Gold Coast and environs—and it’s likely there won’t ever be. And one bedroom in the condo is positioned so that its view goes directly out to Lake Michigan—about eight blocks east—in such a way that any new construction is unlikely to block it.
Inside the condo, there is plenty to look at as well, as you will see in today’s video. Leather-paneled walls line the entry hall, which leads to a large, well-appointed main room that functions as both a living room and a dining room. Although the place is only eight years old, there is an old-line look to the space, lent by its ample wall and ceiling moldings and wood-framed travertine floors. The room opens onto two balconies and is flanked by two dens. One, an entertainment room, has sleek, highly polished wood built-ins; the other, now used as an office, was originally a bedroom and could easily be converted back to that use. The kitchen has a warm café look that comes from its tall dark cabinets, stylish tile work, and built-in dining table.
There are now two bedrooms. The one on the northeast corner of the layout (with the lake view) is large and comfortable. On the northwest corner is the master suite, where both the closet and the shower are oversize walk-ins. There is also a sitting area, separated from the sleeping area by a partial wall. And then there’s the sleeping area, positioned so that its view stretches northwest, miles and miles through the city’s neighborhoods.
The listing agent, Chezi Rafaeli, says that the original owner of the condo (whom Rafaeli represented at the time) spent two years and at least $1.5 million finishing the raw space that he had purchased from the developer, the Fordham Company, for $1.65 million in 2003. The client, an out-of-towner, never moved in or used the condo before selling it to the present owner, George Keefe, in 2007 for $1.7 million. Keefe, too, used it only occasionally before moving to Michigan, according to Rafaeli. “You’re really getting all these finishes and appliances just about brand-new,” he says.
Price Points: The asking price for the 2,625-square-foot condo breaks down to $760 a square foot; a comparable unit went for $743 a square foot in May. Current asking prices in the building vary, from $615 a square foot for a four-bedroom unit on a lower floor to $890 a square foot for an 8,800-square-foot penthouse on two of the building’s upper floors.
Listing Agent: Chezi Rafaeli of Coldwell Banker; 312-654-4242 or chezi@chezirafaeli.com