Front Street Lofts in the News

All Signs Point to Go for Lemont Buyer

Sometimes in life, the best things happen when you least expect them. Such was the case for Nick Wesolowski, who recently purchased a loft at The Front Streets Lofts in southwest-suburban Lemont. Although he was not actively in the market for a new home, when he discovered the new community, it was an opportunity he did not want to pass him by.

"I live in Lemont, so when I heard about The Front Street Lofts I checked it out right away," said Wesolowski. "I was blown away by the plans for the downtown redevelopment and see a lot of potential for the growth of the area. This is a great investment with strong potential for appreciation, so I decided to get in on the ground floor and be one of the first buyers."

Located on the newly created Front Street along the I&M Canal, The Front Street Lofts is developed by Marquette Companies and consists of four five-story buildings with 82 loft residences, 24,000 square feet of retail space and a 262-car parking structure. Lofts measure 863 to 2,232 square feet and include studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom designs with one to 2½ baths. Base prices range from the low $200,000s to the upper $400,000s, and include one parking space.

Born and raised in Lemont, Wesolowski wanted to stay in the area to be close to his parents and two sisters, who also live there. Numerous friends from high school, college and graduate school also live in Lemont, and Wesolowski already frequents the downtown area's bars and restaurants with them.

"Because I've been in Lemont nearly my entire life, it's very exciting to see the plans for the complete redevelopment of the downtown to add more restaurants, shops and social spaces," he said. "When I found out the developer was part of the redevelopment of downtown Naperville, I felt extremely confident that this will turn out just as great. Friends and family also highly encouraged me to live here. Everything just spoke to me that I needed to do this."

Wesolowski appreciates that conveniences such as a coffee shop and restaurants will be located right on the first level of his building.

"I really look forward to Saturday mornings when I can walk downstairs and sit in a coffee shop and read the paper," said Wesolowski. "My new home will offer a nice relaxing lifestyle."

He also likes his future home's proximity to transportation, as Lemont is near Interstates 55 and 355, which connect to I-80 and I-88. By remaining in Lemont, he will be just 25 minutes from his job as a physical therapist in Joliet.

"Also, a Metra train station will be only a 30-second walk from my front door," he said. "It will be great for going into the city."

Wesolowski selected Plan A2.1, a one-bedroom, one-bath loft measuring 905 square feet.

"This is a large home, and I really like the layout," he said. "I also like the new, modern look and feel. The loft vibe really works with the overall downtown redevelopment."

Modern loft features he was drawn to include 10-foot ceilings, exposed galvanized aluminum ductwork and stained concrete floors. He also liked the stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen. All of these features are standard, which provides great value especially for a first-time buyer, he said.

The home's main living area includes a nearly 19-foot by 16-foot combined living and dining room, which is open to a U-shaped kitchen. A coat closet/pantry is near the kitchen.

"The kitchen has a large peninsula, so I plan to put four bar stools at the counter and use that as my dining space," he said. "This way I can use the entire living and dining room as an entertaining area, with a couch, large TV and media center."

At the back of the home, the bedroom opens to a hallway. A wall can be added to separate the space, but Wesolowski does not plan to add a wall since the design offers plenty of privacy. Two closets, as well as a laundry closet, are located near the bedroom.

"The layout of the bathroom is also a feature I really like, since it has dual entrances that can be accessed from the living room and the bedroom," he said.

Another reason Wesolowski selected this home was the view he will have of the canal from his balcony. The canal, which is located right in front of The Front Street Lofts, will be revamped as a CanalWalk with entertainment and dining venues as well as a linear public park.

"Because my home is a second-floor, corner unit I'll have a great view of all the action along the canal," he said. "And once I put some chairs on the balcony, I'll be able to invite people over to enjoy the scenery."

Wesolowski also appreciates having a covered parking space, as each home includes one space.

"One of my pet peeves is scraping snow and ice in the winter," he said. "I don't like having to clean off my windows every morning, so it's great to have a covered spot. I also like how the parking structure is designed with all the spaces on the inside of the buildings so they are hidden out of sight."

Another sign for Wesolowski that The Front Street Lofts is the right place for him was to compare the lifestyle to that of living in downtown Chicago.

"I frequently go into the city to see friends and attend events, and it's always overcrowded and hard to find parking," he said. "Living here will be similar to a condo in the city, but it will be less pricey and less of a hassle. This is just a great opportunity that I didn't want to miss out on."

The Front Street Lofts is the first of four phases of the Lemont Downtown Redevelopment Project, one of the first comprehensive "town building" projects in Illinois. Through a public/private partnership between Marquette Companies and the Village of Lemont, the $250 million mixed-use development will bring retail, residential and office space to a historic location along the I&M Canal.

To reach the Lemont Information Center and the sales center for The Front Street Lofts, take Interstate 55 south to exit 271A/South Lemont Road. (Lemont Road becomes State Street.) Turn left onto Illinois Street, then turn left onto Stephen Street. The sales center is located at 102 Stephen Street, and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from Noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit www.lemontlofts.com or call (630) 243-6162.

Marquette Companies is a Chicago-based real estate consortium engaged in the acquisition, management and development of specialized real estate assets. Since 1983, Marquette Companies has managed and developed more than 25,000 multi-family homes throughout the Midwest, while perfecting a brand of "advanced management" that has gained national recognition. The company's gross annual revenues total approximately $84 million.