Chicago-based Ascend Real Estate Group and Boston-based Intercontinental Real Estate Corp., in conjunction with the Intercontinental US REIF fund, have announced the groundbreaking of Niche 905, an 18-story, 202-unit luxury apartment tower at 905 N. Orleans St., in Chicago.
Designed by Chicago-based FitzGerald Associates Architects with anticipated LEED® certification, Niche 905 will include a mix of convertible, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, many with views of Lake Michigan and the downtown skyline. The development will also include 1,750 square feet of ground-level retail, parking for more than 150 vehicles and storage for 110 bikes.
“We named this tower ‘Niche 905′ because it is in a central location between the neighborhoods of Old Town, the Gold Coast, River North and the Loop, providing residents with a convenient live, work and play lifestyle,” Walter Rebenson, CEO of Ascend, said.
Adding to the appeal of the site is its accessibility, noted Rebenson. Niche 905 will be located a half-mile north of the Ohio Street feeder ramp and steps from the Chicago Transit Authority’s Brown/Purple and Red lines, as well as several major bus routes.
Residents of Niche 905 will also be able to enjoy a full suite of amenities, located on the ground and penthouse levels of the tower, as well as 24-hour concierge service. The penthouse floor will offer panoramic views and include a rooftop pool, spa and sundeck; outdoor bar, grilling stations and fire pit; community garden; state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga studio; and a private party room with kitchen, bar and big-screen HDTVs. The building will also include a spacious lobby with workstations and sitting areas; a fully equipped business center; conference room; coffee bar; dog run and pet wash station; and bike storage and workshop.
Individual units will showcase high-end finishes, including quartz countertops, glass tile backsplashes, under-cabinet lighting and plank flooring throughout all bedrooms and living areas. Residences will also feature 9-foot ceilings, private balconies and in-unit laundry, and be outfitted with USB ports and fiber optic internet service capable of reaching speeds of 1 gigabyte per second – more than 100 times faster than the industry standard.
