Terrapin's 909 Washington brings sleek modern look to lofty West Loop
by Dan Schuyler

When he was in high school, Terrapin Properties partner Michael Ezgur had a summer job detailing cars, so it did not come as a total shock to anyone when Terrapin acquired and began operating a Red Carpet car wash in the West Loop.

“It’s true,” said Ezgur. “We actually operated the car wash, and yes, it did take me back to my youth, but obviously, we had bigger and better plans for the property.”

Those plans have now come to fruition in the form of 909 W. Washington, a 10-story condo development on the south side of Washington between Peoria and Sangamon. The location sits in the heart of a neighborhood that is “on fire,” according to Charles Huzenis of Jameson Realty Group, sales agent for the property.

“Everything is coalescing in this area,” says Huzenis, pointing out at press time that the building was 80 percent sold without a massive marketing effort. “Terrapin has done a number of very successful projects in the West Loop, each with its own personality, and this one is going great guns.”

Though location is undoubtedly a significant factor in the minds of prospective buyers, 909 W. Washington has features that would turn heads regardless of its whereabouts, according to Ezgur, starting with the three-story red-brick plinth that houses the lobby and 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space beneath a two-story parking garage.

“This is a very bricky neighborhood with lots of warehouse-type structures,” says Howard Hirsch, of Hirsch Associates, architects for the project. “We tried to pick this up, but since we didn’t want to lose the modern look, we pulled the brick in on the first floor in front of the retail and created an arcade-like effect with columns, making it a nice spot for foot traffic.”

Though the base of the building might be viewed as somewhat traditional, the seven-story glass mini-tower that houses 109 condos above is all modern. Slightly cantilevered and designed with a series of setbacks to create more corner units, the tower affords each home two and sometimes three different views, while the floor-to-ceiling windows and integrated balconies provide maximum light.

“The massive amount of glazing and the flush balconies make this building structurally and functionally unique in this neighborhood,” says Hirsch. “I can’t think of any building around that is even comparable.”

And speaking of function, Ezgur is quick to emphasize that lifestyle is as important to Terrapin as bricks and mortar. “We like to do our buildings in a way that provides mixed uses and nice amenities,” says Ezgur. “And as we’ve progressed over the years, we have been doing this in a bigger and better way.”

The new 909 W. Washington reflects this philosophy in myriad ways. Part of the fourth level, for example, was constructed as an open-air park, complete with decorated trellises, plantings and sitting areas. On the ground floor, the separate residential entrance leads into a stunning lobby featuring a terrazzo floor, sculptured ceiling, furnished seating area, fireplace and two maple-paneled elevators.

Other common area amenities include a phone-access security system, an exercise room and a mailroom with a curved glass partition.

In keeping with Terrapin’s lifestyle approach, a portion of the retail space was leased with the everyday needs of the residents in mind. Tenants include JPMorgan Chase Bank, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins and a dry cleaner.

The homes have one or two bedrooms and one or two baths, with 815 to 1,308 square feet of space. One-bedrooms start in the $260s and two-bedrooms are priced from the $370s. A 10th-floor penthouse with 1,506 square feet, two bedrooms and a loft-den is priced at $563,800. Parking spaces cost $29,800.

The condos have nine-foot ceilings, hardwood floors in living areas, fireplaces with marble surrounds and wood mantels, balconies, solid core doors, bedroom carpeting, marble or oak kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, cultured marble vanities and ceramic tile bathroom flooring.

“This is a dynamic neighborhood,” says Ezgur, who speaks with some authority as president of the West Central Association, the West Loop’s oldest business community group. “Nine-oh-nine is definitely an in-fill project as opposed to being a pioneer development, although many of its features are new to the area. Its proximity to the Loop and the Randolph Street excitement, coupled with the unique design and the lifestyle environment make it the best residential building in the area in my opinion.”

Construction is in its final stages, and some of the condos are already occupied. The sales office for 909 W. Washington, www.909Washington.com, is located on site.