The Belden-Stratford, the iconic Beaux-Arts apartment property in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has reopened its doors following a top-to-bottom renovation that blends the grandeur of the 100-year-old building’s original architecture with lifestyle residences designed for today’s renters.
Overlooking the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, the 16-story property was constructed in 1923 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Meyer Fridstein, it originally opened as a residential hotel before eventually transitioning entirely to rental apartments.
Renovation of Belden-Stratford Luxury Apartments
The historic Belden-Stratford was purchased in 2018 by Mansueto Office—the investment firm of Joe Mansueto, a former resident of the property—and renovation began in 2020. Today, it comprises 209 luxury apartments, ranging from studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, as well as a selection of penthouses boasting double-height living spaces. Monthly rents for these units range from $2,500 to $15,000. Currently, the leasing process is underway with the expectation of full occupancy by the end of the year.
Modern Amenities, Historic Look
The completed renovation was unveiled during a June 7 grand opening celebration, and the building officially passed its 100-year anniversary this October. For the modern-living renovation, the team incorporated new amenities in the building's preexisting open spaces. This includes a lounge that overlooks the Lincoln Park Conservatory, a double-height fitness center in what was once the building’s ballroom, a billiards and media lounge, a rooftop deck, wine tasting room, private wine storage room, and reservable conference rooms.
The property also offers a variety of services, from concierge and door staff, to 24/7 valet parking and Tesla rentals. A French bistro connects to the lobby as well, providing residents with on-site dining at Mon Ami Gabi.
Luxury Residences
Each residence comes with 9-foot ceilings and an elegant finish package, including quartz countertops, GE Profile stainless steel appliances, and full-size washers and dryers. The apartments measure between 483 and 1,689 sf.
“The residential experience at The Belden-Stratford offers a taste of both worlds for those who appreciate the history and architectural significance of the building as a point of differentiation, but also want many of the same conveniences and amenity offerings you would find in a new-construction rental property,” said Scott Ferguson, Senior Vice President at Waterton. “In fact, one of the most significant aspects of the renovation was completely reimagining the residential floors to create new unit layouts that align with the lifestyle of today’s renters. The result is contemporary apartments with features you don’t expect in a century-old building, like island kitchens that are open to living space, generous storage including walk-in closets, and full-size in-unit laundry.”
On the Building Team:
Owner: Mansueto Office, Waterton
Architect of Record: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
Historic Architect: Vinci Hamp Architects
Lighting Designer: CharterSills Architectural Lighting Design
Historic Finish Research: EverGreene Architectural Arts
GC: Bulley & Andrews
Related Stories
MFPRO+ News | Dec 22, 2023
Document offers guidance on heat pump deployment for multifamily housing
ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology) has released a resource guide to help multifamily owners and managers, policymakers, utilities, energy efficiency program implementers, and others advance the deployment of VHE heat pump HVAC and water heaters in multifamily housing.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 100 Apartment and Condominium Construction Firms for 2023
Clark Group, Suffolk Construction, Summit Contracting Group, and McShane Companies top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest apartment building and condominium general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 70 Apartment and Condominium Engineering Firms for 2023
Kimley-Horn, WSP, Tetra Tech, and Thornton Tomasetti head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest apartment building and condominium engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 160 Apartment and Condominium Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, Humphreys and Partners, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and AO top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest apartment building and condominium architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Urban Planning | Dec 18, 2023
The impacts of affordability, remote work, and personal safety on urban life
Data from Gensler's City Pulse Survey shows that although people are satisfied with their city's experience, it may not be enough.
Condominiums | Dec 12, 2023
5 condominium trends for 2024
While the condo market faces challenges heading into 2024, it continues to adapt to changing buyer preferences and focus on offering luxury experiences.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 7, 2023
7 key predictions for the 2024 multifamily rental housing market
2024 will be the strongest year for new apartment construction in decades, says Apartment List's chief economist.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 5, 2023
DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2 released
The U.S. Department of Energy has released Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2. The latest version of the certification program increases energy efficiency and performance levels, adds electric readiness, and makes compliance pathways and the certification process more consistent with the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (ESMFNC) program.
Engineers | Nov 27, 2023
Kimley-Horn eliminates the guesswork of electric vehicle charger site selection
Private businesses and governments can now choose their new electric vehicle (EV) charger locations with data-driven precision. Kimley-Horn, the national engineering, planning, and design consulting firm, today launched TREDLite EV, a cloud-based tool that helps organizations develop and optimize their EV charger deployment strategies based on the organization’s unique priorities.
Condominiums | Nov 6, 2023
Douglas Elliman launches its first Metro D.C. condominium project
Douglas Elliman, one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States, announced last week that the firm will be handling the sales and marketing for Ten501 at City Centre West.