Edgewater Beach Apartments

Elevated above the vibrant streets of Chicago, the Edgewater Beach Apartments stand as a testament to a bygone era of elegance. Did their pink hue ever catch your eye before? This iconic “sunset pink” building, completed in 1928, was once part of a grand resort, the Edgewater Beach Hotel. The Edgewater Beach Apartments were designed by the renowned architects Marshall and Fox, the same minds behind Chicago landmarks like the Drake and Blackstone Hotels. They envisioned a luxurious residential experience, a sophisticated alternative to the sprawling mansions favored by Chicago’s elite. Residents of the Edgewater Beach Apartments enjoyed resort-style living with access to the hotel’s many amenities. Imagine a staff of 150 catering to your every need, from maids and bellhops to chauffeurs for the building’s two limousines. Along Sheridan Road, an arcade bustled with shops and services. From barbers and beauty salons to doctors and dentists, everything residents needed was right at their fingertips. The Edgewater Beach Apartments were connected to the main hotel, a magnificent structure painted “sunrise yellow”, by a passage lined with upscale boutiques. The hotel itself was a hub of activity, hosting big names like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and even Presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Big bands played in the Marine Dining Room and on the outdoor Beach Walk, their music broadcast on the hotel’s own radio station, a precursor to WGN. The hotel offered its own private beach, stretching 1,200 feet along the shore of Lake Michigan, and even seaplane service to downtown Chicago. In 1949, the Edgewater Beach Apartments became an independent cooperative, separating from the hotel. The hotel, sadly, met its demise in 1971, a victim of changing times and the northward extension of Lake Shore Drive which cut off its access to the beach. But the Edgewater Beach Apartments, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, remain. They stand as a vibrant reminder of Chicago’s glamorous past, their pink facade a beacon in the Edgewater neighborhood.