Lucas 's Blog

Chicago Rentals

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:31:47 -0500

Rentals in Chicago.

Where to rent to be happy. Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each is diverse with many different preferences and options. But which area may you actually overpay in? It's seems like every neighborhood is an "up and coming neighborhood" these days. There might be some true to it due to one fact, which is that there are periods of growth in popularity and development within city areas. This explains the shift seen all through out.

Looking within the statistics sheets. Neighborhoods such as Buck town or Avondale show clearly the same points when compared to Lincoln Park and North Center. The diversity of nightlife, cultural life and residential aspects. Try out our services and enjoy "the move" again, just like it was your first one.

NEGOTIATIONS AS VIDAL

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:27:57 -0500

NEGOTIATIONS AS VIDAL Discretion, receptiveness, creativity, communiqué and potency are the main factors in negotiating. Each can work without the other but can rarely produce the best outcome alone. Our history speaks louder then words. We offer the highest satisfaction, just ask our past clients. THE RIGHT PRICE STRATEGY With many values assigned to your property through appraisers and banks, assessors, prospects and your self, it can be a wide gap to meet at times. Personal attachment to value versus versus others point of view is often apart. From Experience, market conditions are the best and most effective price indicators. CLOSING THE TRANSACTION AND THE DOOR BEHIND YOU Among other, missed sale contingencies can disrupt a continues flow of a transaction. With many time line to be followed it can be rather hectic to meet them all. From lawyers to home inspectors to appraisers, the demand for flawless communication is a must. As your agent we provide you with a clear peace of mind.

Windy City. Being green in a windy city.

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:40:03 -0500

I came across this great project which I am certined in destined to become a Chicago icon. The Clean technology tower. At every stage - Chicago was named the great city of modern and progressive Architecture. Well once again we take this title to the next level. Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture proposed whats going to be the Clean Technology Tower with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, Chicago river and the rest of the downtown lake front area. Wind turbines are located at the building’s corners to capture wind at its highest velocity as it accelerates around the tower. . At the apex, where wind speeds are at a maximum, a domed double roof cavity captures air, allowing for a large wind farm and the use of negative pressures to ventilate the interior spaces. The dome itself is shaded by photo voltaic cells that capture the southern sun. These systems provide both comfort and energy to the space. The complex includes over 1.8 million square feet of office space as well as a 300,000 square foot hotel, a spa and street-level retail. Dedicated elevators will provide access for both office and hotel tenants to all of the tower’s amenities. read more here... clean technology tower

Realtors vs. the mighty gas pump!

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:01:54 -0500

So today i run up some numbers and found out that income earned from sales to fund marketing expanses was getting hacked by everyday expenses such as gas. On average I spend about $15 a day on gasoline, thats $105 a week (an average). This $105 usually went to local advertisings like Chicago Journal, Program and few others, but now we have to switch up and make the best of available options. In the end run, its the consumer that is getting pinch, with their exposure not meet to the fullest potential. So each day is a battle to find new and progressive ways of dealing with these problems.

On the bright side, I only deal with the inner city and seldom go out into the suburbs. I can not imagine doing most of my business out there like some of my fellow agents do. Recently, I agreed with some of my clients to meet within the Loop area and simply take a cab, subway or the "el" train, and its getting a positive feedback. Less pollution, less traffic, save some greenbacks, but truthfully its not as convenient. So this is rather a unique option even thoe most of my clients are "green-conscious"

For now, we all are keeping our hope that this slump will start bottoming out soon. Actually here is a start, read todays bbc article " US home sales see surprise rise"

Franklin Point - Waited 37 years for this. Now what?

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:49:53 -0500

So i am sure most already know or heard that Franklin Point finally managed to close. This is the 3rd attempt by different group to obtain this peace of land, in just the last 4 years. Franklin Point has stood this way since the Grand Central Station rail terminal was demolished in 1971. Russland Capital Group from Skokie Il. backed by 2 former business partners of rapper Jay-Z has paid aboout $40 million for the 6.5 acre parcel. The land, mainly grassy space 4 block of Sears Tower going south towards Polk street and along South branch of Chicago River seems like an untapped source of potential.

To some this may seem like a final dream come true, wall almost. No architect has been selected yet to present any kind of renderings. I am wondering myself, what would be the best outcome for this space, considering current and upcoming conditions and factors. Should this be Chicago's first chance for a true river front community? maybe a river walking zone mixed with residential and commercial spaces. One thing I truly hope for is a plan calling for resolution to some of our biggest challenges such as area density,a need for public space, walking zones and most importantly sustainability and green building ethics.

I am curious to know what you think of this. Surely you wondered and speculated yourself on this topic.

.below. area highlighted in red is the site formally known as the Franklin Point.

Unique spaces along Chicago River. Fulton House.

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:56:30 -0500

*** Triple-Play along the Chicago river. So whats a triple play? How about this, historic building, options of modern, timber or retro fittings, zoning for live and/or work type of a space, did i mention that there are also duplexes, averaging 2000d sq. feet, and priced around mid 300k. Now my personal favorite for this building is the location. Simply unbeatable.
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*** So what is triple-play, really? well when we find something truly interesting in current market, we want to share it with everyone, we don't really want to be associated with the common "featured listing" - those are picked by some software hooked up to another software sitting on some server. So there you go! Thats what we mean! Thank you for reading the fine print, now just imagine what would it be like if all those (with respect) buyers have read the fine print on their note or mortgage, instead on listening to their" half-crooked eye industry representative".

Photo Journey between the Listings.

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:00:06 -0500

Ever wondered what else do professional real estate photographs capture in between their city appointments? Our in house photo-manager Tana gives us a sneak preview of her upcoming exhibit called "between homes". Make sure you stay tuned for more details and until then, enjoy these. Thanx Tana.

Photo journey between the listings.

Chicago ranks # 9 in Americas 50 greenest cities. Not good enough?

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:54:04 -0500

Chicago is among the first cities to confront energy loss head-on. The city government has invested in cogeneration, the simultaneous production of heat and electricity, which is twice as efficient as conventional fuel-burning power production. The strategy is also a potent means of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. A cogeneration plant produces only one third the CO2 of a coal-fired power plant. In its most recent energy plan, Chicago committed to producing 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from cogeneration by 2010—25 percent of the city’s increased energy needs from 2000 to 2010.

So far Chicago ranks # 9 in Americas 50 greenest cities.

- Electricity: 5.4
- Transportation: 7.3
- Green Living: 5.0
- Recycling/Perspective: 3.6

CATEGORY LEADER: Green Space
In addition to the 12,000 acres Chicago has devoted to public parks and waterfront space, the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded four city projects with a “Platinum” rating, its highest award.

So what else is new.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, continuing his push to make Chicago greener, wants ComEd and Peoples Gas to help Chicagoans buy big-ticket, high efficiency appliances like furnaces and cooling systems. His plan would enable customers to buy efficient air-conditioning and heating systems at no upfront cost and pay them off over time with savings on monthly utility bills. The proposal is part of a bill introduced in the Legislature by state Sen. Don Harmon.

It's one of a seriies of environmental initiatives the mayor is pursuing to make Chicago a leader in environmental policy.

Details of the plan are still being worked out. The utilities are not being asked to finance the purchase but would help administrate the program by collecting payments. City officials say the funds would come from banks and federal, state and local government grants.

NOT ALL MARKETING MATERIAL IS CREATED EQUALLY.

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:58:33 -0500

As a Realtor® I daily come across tons of marketing material, either through print or the internet. In these two mediums we can sure come across many different genres of emotional design. With so many styles being explored daily, where does the line stand between "good" and "bed" design. I would imagine most of us rely on advice from graphic designers and others in the field, as well as ourselves, or even friends or family. I imagine a good strategy is comprised of a combination of all mentioned. Yet I hate to say that there is still too much "bed" representative design out there.

As we preach to our clients on how important the staging process is before marketing a property, I think some of us should consider a new idea development approach. On the other hand, thank you to all who understand this ancient concept of self branding for making this great wold wide web of real estate nice and pretty.

SoNo vs. current credit cruch. Nonotoless a great structure.

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:50:17 -0500

Yet another local development under the microscope today, the SONO. SoNo is South of North Ave. and block west of Halsted on Blackhawk. A mid-rise that will definitely turn some heads and get worthy attention.

As I entered the sales center with my client, immediately we were struck by the modern simplistic form and function it pre-showcased us. The modern white polished plaster walls feel so great. Its later on that we found out it would not be found anywhere in the building, and "thats rather a bummer" is what my client says. "Im sure we can find an applicator or a firm in the city" I responded. As a matter of fact I remember coming across a applicator not too long ago which I actually wrote a post about click here .

Going back to the development itself, it is in my opinion a very well situated and most definitely well designed building. The design is by award winning-architect Laurence Booth, FAIA. The building features floor to ceiling operable windows, spacious balconies, 24 hour doorman and more standard options. Btw, the apple ipod dock wired through out the units surround sound is not a standard. :(

One question comes to mind. Will this really be a fully occupied mid rise any time soon? With so much uncertainty in credit availability and other market factors will this mighty and chic structure prove us wrong? I sure hope so, even thoe I seldom am wrong, but do admit if thats the case.

As always, I love to hear all opinions.

Parkview of Old Town. Green Green and more Greenn

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:14:15 -0500

Today I previewed what is going to be the Parkside of Old Town, a development of a an area into what the developer calls "carefree and convenient urban living". To get you an idea of its location , it is situated between funky and trendy River North, the Gold coast and Old Town, with Division to the north, Larrabee street to the west , Oak street to the south and amazingly green Seward park to the east. All within the shadow of the great Chicago skyline. Parkside of Old Town offers a variety of different types of dwellings, from modern and contemporary low rise buildings to elegant and sophisticated town-homes. Low rise condominium buildings include Hudson, and Cambridge which are for sale and what I find particularly attractive for the area, the Cleveland and the Elm, which are going to be rental buildings.

The overall feel of the area will be a mixed income/mixed use type of a deal, which has a great history of success for the developers and the homeowners alike throughout the nation. The entire development will span 8 city blocks with plenty of street parking, restaurants and other businesses. The city already guaranteed that there will be no city meters and it will be up to the association to agree upon permit parking limitations, which in my mind can be a good thing. The main feature of this undertaking is the amount of green spaces in combination with great city views. Acres of open space translate the feeling of never crowded yet still urban feel city streets.

The prices range very much so, for example condos from $249.000 for a 1 bed 1 bath to $269.900 for a 1 bath 1 bed, to $399.000 for a 2 bed 1 bath, $339.000 - $561.900 for a 2 bed 2 bath and $254.900 - $599.900 for a 2 bed 2 bath plus den. And town-homes, the Cedar 2 bed 2.1 bath w/1 car attached garage $549.900 - 579.900, the Mongolian 2 bed 2 bath w/ 1 car garage $ 499.900 - 614.900, and the Maple 3 bed 3 beth w/2 car garage $629.900 - 659.900 and the Hickory about 2248 sq. feet for apr. $ 759.900.

Ok enough about the numbers, lets get to the good stuff. To best of my knowledge and expertise of the surroundings, this type of housing proposes many possibilities for many different lifestyles. For instance, each town home comes with a nice size roof deck which can be either finished by the developer or after submitting the plans a "green roof" can be executed. Imagine all the green surrounding you as well as your own personal peace of green haven with unbeatable views. Next, the location itself, with so much to offer, the galleries, the restaurants,the shopping, the events, the transportation and most importantly you are minutes away from the beach, it seems like a perfect harmony of all the things that matter in all types of lifestyles. I will be viewing some town-homes and condos with clients this week and am definitely looking forward to it, and with a 60-90 day delivery day, you actually see the your home being built according to your dreams. Now how cool is that.

As always, if you viewed the development yourself I would love to hear what you have to say about it, and also as always, I am never too busy to show it to you, and find you the right fit. Thanx for reading. sincerely. Lucas.

Modern Realty=Sustainable Realty

Lucas Krzysztofiak (ReMax City. DesignatedGroup) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:20:31 -0500

Many developers, design firms and homeowners are looking for alternatives to spice up their dwellings. With swanky market conditions, it seems like light off ground ideas and trends are becoming of a standard thinking ideology these days.

As I wonder around the city with clients, I cant help to notice this growing outlook of simplistic design within each place. Many will say that price is the issue, others consider other factors like material types and sustainability and functionality. We all have budgets, but x% increase of $ in a modern bath upgrade or more free research retrieved and evaluated can do alot of good @ all ends. There are many designers out there with great ideas waiting to be discovered. For example, with another prospect of mine I pre-vied whats going to be the largest Platinum Leed certified project in North America, the Green Exchange. The idea of all 4 floors of a old "Frederick Cooper Lamp" manufacturing warehouse is simply phenomenal. Outdoor garden, sustainable escalators, shared office spaces, live/work spaces, lofts, studios and galleries and showrooms among the significant size of the entire structure. My clients as well as myself were speechless after a visual presentation through completely gutted interiors. The lighting is spectacular thanx to the placement of the property. Also one of the great features is that the visibility of the structure from local and interstate roadways and expressways. The open sleeve in the middle of the building faces south overlooking the traveled roads and much of the city itself. With additional presentations being scheduled for more "sustainable driven entrepreneurs" in the upcoming week, I am excited to learn more as the project progresses and solutions become clear for my clients to become future tenants of whats going to be Chicago's green landmark.

If you visited this place already I would like to hear what your take was on this development/restoration. Others that did not yet have a chance to view, I recommend at least considering. And as always, I can make arrange for prospects interested in my services. Cheers.