There is so much great architecture in Chicago that it can sometimes be hard to appreciate all of the architectural beauty of the buildings in Chicago.

For that reason, we’ve decided to feature a few of our favorite architectural triumphs on our blog. This week, we’ll be taking a closer look at the architectural triumph that is The Tribune Tower.

The Tribune Tower may not be one of the biggest buildings in Chicago, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful and—arguably—one of the most interesting, as well.

In 1922, the owners of the Chicago Tribune decided to host an international design competition, inviting architects from all over the world to wow them with “the most beautiful and distinctive office building in the world.”

Dozens of architects entered the competition, but the winning design belonged to John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, New York-based architects with a penchant for neo-Gothic design and flying buttresses. Howells and Hood were awarded a $50,000 prize for their design, and their fame spread quickly around the world.

With its sleek stone and its gorgeous gothic sensibilities, the Tower looks as beautiful now as it did in the early 1920s, and many Chicagoans cite the Tribune Tower as their favorite building in downtown Chicago. All in all, the tower, which overlooks the Chicago River and is only a stone’s throw away from other landmark buildings, like the Trump Tower, is well worth a visit.

To find out more about Chicago’s wonderful architecture, enter your information in the box on the right and a Rock Star Chicago Real Estate Agent will get in touch with you today!

Cynthia Block, of Knoxville, Illinois, has created a career for herself buying up old homes, remodeling them, and selling them at a profit.

According to a reporter for the CarmiTimes, “Despite having a master’s degree in business administration from Regis University in Denver, Cynthia Block returned to the area two years ago from Cincinnati and found a tight job market which, for her, included no job opportunities. She decided to turn what she did as a hobby for friends in the Cincinnati/northern Kentucky area into a career.”

“Block, the daughter of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John ‘Jack’ Block, began flipping houses—buying houses at a low price, having them remodeled and selling them for a profit. Block decided to add a twist, developing designer houses using her own concepts. It was the design work that she did previously as a hobby.”

Block isn’t the only one to make a living this way, though. House flipping has become increasingly common, particularly in large cities like Chicago, where many older homes can be bought at a reduced price.

The house flippers who buy up houses in up-and-coming Chicago neighborhoods, like Pilsen and Logan Square, are often able to make quite a lot of money on each piece of property they purchase. And although the people who buy the homes they have flipped pay for these improvements, they often pay less than they would for a new construction. In this sense, the situation is win-win for both parties!

If you’d like to learn more about Chicago and its many wonderful neighborhoods, check out articles like this one or enter your information in the box to your right to be contacted by a rock star real estate agent.

To learn a little more about Terlato Wines International and its Lake Bluff home, we sat down with the company’s founder and president, Tony Terlato. Tony had this to say about the iconic Tangley Oaks estate:

Q:When did you decide to purchase the estate at Tangley Oaks?

A: I purchased the estate in 1996.

Q:Why did you decide to purchase it?

A: I was reading the paper one day and I saw that the estate was for sale. Later that night, I happened to be having dinner with my son, John, and a friend of his that was a real estate agent, and I asked her if I could see Tangley Oaks.

I wasn’t necessarily interested in purchasing it—I just wanted to see it. But I ended up falling in love with it, and we decided to buy it and make it our corporate headquarters.

Q: Who owned it before you?

A: Originally, the estate was built by a Chicago businessman named Philp Armour III in 1916. Armour sold the estate in the 1950s or 60s, and a publishing company bought it from him.

Q: Do you often invite community members over to the estate?

A: Yes, we often invite wine makers, wine journalists, chefs, restaurateurs, and the owners of distributorships over to the estate. In the past, we’ve also held community-sponsored events at the estate.

Q: Do your employees enjoy working at Tangley Oaks?

A: Absolutely. They genuinely seem to like coming into work each morning. And it’s not hard to understand why. The architecture and the overall design of the building is beautiful.

For more information about Chicago and its surrounding suburbs check out this article on the CondoDomain blog!

He writes “Chicago has given the country some of our greatest chefs: Charlie Trotter, Graham Elliot, Rick Bayless, and Grant Achatz, all of whom are constantly reinventing their cuisine and opening new restaurants in their home city. Achatz, for example, whose Alinea in smart Lincoln Park has been called the best restaurant in America, has just launched Next at 953 West Fulton Market, in the meatpacking district.”

Alleman also found the city noteworthy for its stellar summer festivals and its scenic beaches:“On a muggy summer’s day, Chicago has the sultry feel of a big beach town. Sporting an ocean-size lakefront, the city has numerous pristine stretches of white sands. Not quite Rio, the most popular of these urban beaches is Oak Street Beach, which is a two-minute walk under a tunnel from Cartier on the posh Magnificent Mile. If you don’t want to swim or sunbathe, soak up the scene with a drink or snack under an umbrella at the adjacent café.”

Alleman also took note of slightly less touristy destinations in the city. He was also impressed, for instance, by Chicago’s architecture and its neighborhood charm. In particular, he seemed to appreciate the construction of many new hotels in downtown Chicago, including the Hotel Palomar, a luxury hotel which may drive more tourists to Chicago. And he was equally delighted by the many Frank Lloyd Wright homes scattered throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs—more than a few of which are for sale.

Alleman was also captivated by the up-and-coming neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Logan Square. Both neighborhoods feature many charming condos and single-family homes.

If you’d like to learn more about Chicago and its many wonderful neighborhoods, check out articles like this one on the CondoDomain blog!

photo credits: chicagotraveler.com

According to the Press Room of the Huffington Post, the home went on the market last month:

“The lot on which it sits, 336 W. Wisconsin Avenue, is a stone’s throw from the Lincoln Park Zoo and was originally purchased from the city for $45,000 and developed by architect Ron Ysla in 1979. After he and his family completed the bottom two floors, they moved to Winnetka and sold the home to J. Roderick MacArthur. After MacArthur died in 1984, its current owner and occupant, Polish-born doctor Norbert Gleicher took it over. Gleicher reportedly met Ford and “The Fugitive” director Andrew Davis at a restaurant—and they hit it off to such an extent that some of the scenes from the film ended up being filmed there.”

The home, which is on the market for $3.95 million dollars, boasts many features, including an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, an elevator, a glass-floored catwalk, a three-car garage, a deck, and a spacious backyard.

Anyone interested in learning more about the home ought to check out a video tour of the home filmed for a recent episode of Open House. And anyone interested in learning more about additional luxury accommodations in the Chicago area ought to check out articles like this one on the CondoDomain blog!

This week CondoDomain sat down with Jenny Gelda and talked to her about her experience living in Lincoln Park. Jenny moved to Chicago from Boston, Massachusetts five years ago, and she’s been living in Lincoln Park for three of those years.

Why did you decide to move to Lincoln Park?

I wanted to live in a neighborhood that was safe, family friendly, and relatively close to the loop. I’m also a big fan of architecture, and I love the architectural style of many of the buildings in Lincoln Park.

Were you considering any other neighborhoods as well?

I also seriously considered moving to Streeterville, or the Gold Coast. But really, I probably could have been happy just about anywhere. There are few neighborhoods in Chicago that I genuinely dislike.

What do you like most about living in Lincoln Park?

I love the quietness and the restfulness I find here. It sometimes feels like I’m living in a small, sleepy little town—It just so happens that that town is embedded in one of the largest cities in the U.S. I really feel like I get the best of both of those worlds.

Is there anything you don’t like about living in Lincoln Park?

I sometimes wish I lived a little further away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But if I ever start to feel overwhelmed, I just spend an afternoon at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, or the Lincoln Park Zoo. The park is one of my absolute favorite places in Chicago—Or in the world, for that matter.

Do you intend to continue living in Lincoln Park?

Absolutely. When it comes right down to it, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be!

For more information about Chicago and its vibrant neighborhoods check out this article on the CondoDomain blog!

Last year, the Trump hotel was named the best large hotel in America by Travel+Leisure Magazine. And this year, the hotel has continued to rake in a steady stream of revenue, despite the fact that most of the hotels in the Loop and the Near North have been struggling mightily.

On top of all that, the Trump Tower and its hotel seem to be having an overwhelmingly positive influence on the rest of the River North neighborhood.

One of the managers of the hotel, Colm O’Callaghan, has this to say about the impact the building has had on the devlopment of River North:

“Five, ten years ago, there really wasn’t a whole lot of activity around here. This is a vibrant community now. The investment that Mr. Trump made here – I mean, this is a significant investment, in terms of financial investment and the amount of people that are employed in this building – over 700 people working here right now. This really has become an economic engine that drives a lot of activity in this community. And I think what it also says, is it’s safe to make a major investment in this part of town, and it’s going to thrive.”

For more information about the Trump Tower, or about real estate developments in and around Chicago, check out articles like this one on the CondoDomain blog!

Hugh Hefner’s original mansion was sold in 1989 to the Chicago Art Institute, who then later sold it to a developer. The Playboy Mansion, once 70 rooms, now houses single-floor residences, including the one currently on the market for $6.7 million.

The unit for sale features a 52 x 27 feet living room that still has its original paneling and tall ceilings, a spacious dining room, a cook’s kitchen, butler’s pantry, four bedrooms, and five bathrooms. In total, it’s spread across 7,874 square-feet.

This unit from the original Playboy Mansion was last sold in 1994 for $2.1 million. Interested? Contact CondoDomain at 877-852-6636 today at to schedule a viewing and tour.

Photo: Katherine Chez Malkin/Baird & Warner

Navy Pier, Inc. has announced plans to put more than $150 million dollars of renovations into the Pier. The renovations include the addition of a 150 room hotel to the east end of the Pier. They also include new construction and expansion on the Children’s Museum and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

On top of that, the plan calls for more upscale retailers to be added to the Pier’s boardwalk and a complete renovation of the entrance of the Pier.

Navy Pier Renovations were last made to the fifty-acre site in 1999. Navy Pier, Inc. expects this new round of renovations to be completed by 2016—in time for the Pier’s 100th anniversary.

The renovations will likely drive increased tourism to the Pier (it is already the top tourist site in Chicago). Also, if Navy Pier is truly able to attract more upscale retailers to the boardwalk, the renovations will likely also stimulate increased retail activity throughout the Pier.

Developments may even affect the residents of nearby neighborhoods, like Streeterville and the New East Side. It remains to be seen whether these developments will be help or hurt retail activity in the neighborhoods near the Pier, but many of the residents of these neighborhoods are cautiously optimistic that the construction of new shops and a new hotel along the boardwalk of Navy Pier might drive increased tourism to their own neighborhoods as well.

For more information about Navy Pier’s renovations, check out this article here. And for more information about other major real estate developments in and around Chicago, check out articles this one on the CondoDomain blog!

But, according to Janet Halstead, the director of the Chicago-based Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, owning one of these home requires less money down front than most people imagine. Don’t forget that if you buy through CondoDomain, you’ll get 20% cash back, saving you thousands more on commission.

Many Wright-built homes are offered at prices reasonably enough to appeal to the solidly middle-class residents of Chicago and its surrounding areas. And the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy is often willing to help buyers find the listings of Wright’s most reasonably priced homes.

For more information about Frank Lloyd Wright, check out this post or this post on the CondoDomain blog. To speak with a CondoDomain representative today, call 877-852-6636.