November 30, 2007 - In today’s condo market it can’t hurt to have a little good fortune on your side. Chicago’s Mandarin Oriental appears to be trying to harness all the marketing luck it can, hosting The Art Of Feng Shui Exhibit by Dr. Cathy Woo at its sales center on December 3rd. In a press release from Arica Hilton Fine Arts, Feng Shui is described as literally meaning wind and water and is the art of using nature to increase harmony, prosperity and vitality. Dr. Woo’s work highlights how that philosophy affects architecture and homes, which in turn affects everything else.

Palladian Development gets points for creativity and if all that positive energy inspires art aficionados to turn into potential condo buyers then they may have really hit on a new marketing strategy. The 75 story Mandarin Oriental will house 500 units in a mix of hotel condominiums, residences and tower condos. All of the units will have access to the hotel services including limousine service, preferred reservations and seating at the two restaurants planned for the lower levels and housekeeping service, to name a few. Designer Frank Perry will also be available to help with selecting interior finishes for the tower condos.

A 32,000 square foot fitness center and spa with steam rooms, sauna and swimming pool is set to occupy floor 18 and offer residents yoga classes, pilates, cardio and weight training.

With sales at just past the halfway mark, the developer plans to break ground in the first quarter of next year. Completion isn’t expected until 2010 though, so if you need someplace to hang your art before then you can check out other Chicago New Construction Condos that are ready for move in now.

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November 29, 2007 - Burnham Pointe, the twenty-nine story, 298 one and two bedroom unit development in the South Loop Printer’s Row neighborhood is closing in on the top floor. Lower floors are already being sheathed in glass and the parking levels are nearly complete. Construction on this project has been pretty much on schedule and deliveries should begin sometime in the first quarter of 2008.

More than a year ago a small group of protestors from a neighboring building picketed the site to show their displeasure at having their views interrupted by this development. With so much new construction in the city over the past few years it is hard to guarantee a view, with a few exceptions of course. Burnham Point is turning out to be a good looking tower and you could definitely do worse than having it in your line of vision. And the 16,000 square feet of street level retail space can only add to the desirability of the area.

The Terrapin Group is packing plenty of amenities into this Clark Street project. An open air terrace with gas grilling stations, 24 hour doormen, furnished sun deck, fitness center and spa plus party room with kitchen and other common areas will be on tap.

Burnham Pointe will join a growing group of towers to top out this year in the South Loop as well as in other Chicago Neighborhoods.

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November 28, 2007 - The Chicago Spire saga seems to have as many twists lately as the future tower’s design. Crain’s reported that the River View Condominium Association filed a lawsuit against Garrett Kelleher and his Shelbourne Development Group. This comes on the heels of a dispute made public earlier in the month over a narrow strip of land between the existing condo complex and the development site. The two parties have been at odds and the stakes were raised today with the legal action thrown into the mix.

The land in question is critical to both the River View complex and the Spire construction site. Shelbourne Development had previously obtained easement from the River View Association to use the land. The point of contention is that Kelleher’s true intent was withheld and the condo association entered into the agreement without being fully informed.

The lawsuit alleges that Thomas J. Murphy, acting as legal representation for Shelbourne, didn’t inform the condo association of the developer’s plans to construct a 7 story underground parking garage until after they had signed binding documents agreeing to the deal. The association had thought that the only excavation that would be done was to accommodate utility lines. The developer now admits that the excavation would cause the townhomes at the base of the River View towers to sink at least two inches and the tower’s lower level could experience significant structural damage.

Shelbourne counters that they were up front with their intent and now questions whether or not the River View Association even owns the rights to the land in question. In a short time Kelleher has managed to become one of the most controversial Condo Builders in Chicago.

Technorati Tags: Chicago Spire, Chicago Illinois, Chicago Condos for Sale