10 Stories

135 Student Apartments

Parking for 48 Vehicles

10,000 SF Retail Space

240,000 SF Total

Tailor Lofts is the conversion of an existing industrial building to a student housing facility with retail lease space.  The building, located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, is the former home of the International Tailoring Company, and it housed their manufacturing and administrative operations.  It was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Mundie & Jensen and was constructed in two portions: the northern half on Jackson Boulevard was built in 1916, while the remainder of the building on Peoria Street was completed in 1921.  The building was nearly vacant when FitzGerald’s client purchased it in 2008.

The program was to convert the building to a privately-managed student housing facility to serve not only the nearby University of Illinois at Chicago campus, but other colleges in the downtown area as well.  Each unit is provided with bedrooms and private baths, common living areas and kitchens.  Amenities in the building include laundry and recycling facilities on each floor, tenant storage lockers, bike storage, a fitness center, computer center, club room and two-level parking garage.

With the restoration of the original clock tower, preservation of original lobbies and replacement of the Jackson and Peoria storefronts, the building will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places when construction is complete.  The designation not only preserves the historic character of the building for the future, but also provides tax credits that contribute to funding the construction.  Tailor Lofts is scheduled to open in August of 2010.