Imagine a skyscraper rising above you. That’s Chicago Place. It stands tall on North Michigan Avenue. This mixed-use high-rise has quite a story.
Chicago Place completed construction in 1991. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designed it. The building reaches a roof height of 608 feet. That’s about 185 meters. It has 49 floors.
For years, Chicago Place was known for its shopping mall. The mall occupied the first nine floors. You could enter it right from the Magnificent Mile. Saks Fifth Avenue anchored the mall.
But things changed. As of February 2009, the mall closed. Now, offices fill that space. Above the offices, there’s a tower. It contains condominiums. So, Chicago Place combines commercial and residential spaces.
Back in its mall days, Chicago Place was like other downtown shopping centers. Think of Water Tower Place or 900 North Michigan. These malls were built vertically because of limited space. They had many floors. Each floor had a smaller area.
At Chicago Place, Saks Fifth Avenue was the main store for a long time. But even Saks eventually changed its access. The mall entry closed. Shoppers had to enter from the street.
Inside the mall, escalators stopped running. Only one elevator remained. It took people to the food court on the eighth level. The food court was the only lively part of the mall. But even it seemed to struggle.
A small river once flowed through the food court. It led to a fountain. But the river had been drained. Some food court eateries closed early. Employees waited for closing time.
One employee said it was very quiet. Lunch breaks brought some customers. But it wasn’t enough. Closed mall entries from Saks didn’t help.
The glass elevator revealed empty storefronts. Some stores left no trace behind. Others left mannequins, desks, and barber chairs. These items became throwaways.
Several factors contributed to the mall’s decline. Water Tower Place and 900 North Michigan were already popular. The Shops At North Bridge opened nearby and thrived. Also, many stores opened their own storefronts on Michigan Avenue. This reduced the need for mall stores.
Today, Chicago Place is known for its residences. The condo development has 205 units. These units offer spacious living. You can enter the residential part at 10 E Huron St.
The condos come in different layouts. They average 1036 square feet. You can find one to three-bedroom units. Master bedrooms average 320 square feet. Kitchens offer plenty of space. Living rooms provide ample space for entertaining.
Chicago Place is also pet-friendly. So your furry friends can move in too. The average assessments are $498 per month. Taxes typically cost $5,364 per year.
Living at Chicago Place offers a mix of city life and comfort. From the shopping mall era to its current residential focus, it’s a building that has adapted to the changing times.