Chicago Signature Properties

It’s a brand new year, and a brand new you! Okay, we’ll stop with the cheesy talk… but the New Year for most symbolizes a fresh start and a clean slate! What are your New Year resolutions and aspirations?
If you’re like most of America, your mind is on fitness. Chicago may be cold this time of year, but the city still offers tons of options for fitness! With a beautiful lake, three million new people to meet and state of the art gym facilities, it’s not too hard to get off that couch!

In that spirit, we’re bringing you our number one Chicago fitness pick that includes excellent service and unbelievable results while having a fun time!

Our Pick for Chicago Fitness in Style

David Barton Gym
600 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 836-9127

David Barton Gym is on the rise! With four locations in New York, Miami, Seattle and Chicago (saved the best city for last) this Chicago fitness center takes a unique approach to working out. Friendly staff that know you by name, clean facilities, fully stocked locker rooms and modern decorations that are edgy and fun.

Their 30,000 square foot facility offers cardio equipment with individual TVs, free weights, strength training, steam rooms, Russian bath, yoga, and a full line of hair and skin products. And with modern design and lighting, you’ll be energized the minute you walk in.

Each class is taught by a personal trainer so they know their stuff! They always mix things up and keep you alive with awesome music and fun personalities. Not to mention, the class names have fun titles—here are some member favorites: Shredded, Pain and Pleasure, and Barton Biking.

Bonus: During classes, trainers will actually come-over and give you hands on help and tips!
There’s currently a $0 enrollment rate! Happy New Year Chicago! Stay on your resolutions, you can do it!

Check out DavidBartonGym.com for more information.

Chicago Signature Properties knows how busy you are! Incase you missed something, view important events of the week all in one place. If there’s anything you’d like to add, comment below.

Real Estate:

• W hotel: (Crains Chicago) Owner, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is hoping to get a substantial $138 million for the W hotel in the Chicago loop. Hotel business is booming, and owners feel pretty confident, despite their competition (JW Marriott Chicago, a 610-room behemoth at 151 W. Adams St. that opened earlier this month) According to Crains Chicago, “Starwood has owned the hotel since 1996, when it paid $21 million for the building, then the Midland Hotel. The property reopened as a W in 2001 after a major renovation” Catch the full article here

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Weekly Wrap Up

Happy Friday! It’s that time of the week again; wrapping up highlights from the week, all in one place… Don’t forget to follow us on twitter, and visit our facebook page.

Real Estate:
• Northwestern Building: Northwestern chooses location for new Kellogg building. (via Crains Chicago) The school of management has selected the location next to the James L. Allen center to build classrooms. “The new site, now a parking lot for the Allen Center at 2169 Campus Drive in the near north suburb was deemed optimal, according to a Friday press release” There are no estimates for the size costs as of now. View the full story here

• American Greetings: American Greetings Company is considering seven sites (2 in the Chicago area) for corporate headquarters. (Via Crains Chicago) The annual payroll exceeds $150 million, and they plan to make a decision by next February. “American Greetings said it has hired real estate, finance and architecture experts to assist with the site assessments”. We hope they make the right decision and pick Chicago! View the story here.

Business:

• Groupon: Chicago based Groupon is too popular for its own good! No big deal, but Google is interested in buying the Chicago based start-up! The site is estimated at a whopping $1.3 billion dollars. “Last week, Business Insider reported Web portal Yahoo Inc. offered to buy Groupon for $3 billion to $4 billion. The company launched its second nationwide deal with clothing company, Nordstrom Rack that is causing problems with the site” (due to popularity) The first nationwide deal, Gap Inc. brought in $11 million on its first day of announcement. Oprah Winfrey also added to the traffic, with her annual “Favorite Things” episode. (Via Crains Business) View the story here

• New Convention 2013: Chicago is on a roll! Solar Power International announced that the windy city will be home to the 2013 conference, the largest solar power conference in North America. “The news marks the second convention commitment announced this week for events at McCormick Place, which last year was beset by significant conference defections” (Via Crains Business) View the story here

To Do:
• Northwestern University student choreographers will be on the Evanston campus promoting a three-day dance show. The event takes place in the Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center
Time: 8 p.m.
Date: Nov 19th, 20th
Location: 10 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Click for tickets!

Interesting News:
• Naperville Christmas Card: Naperville wants every single resident, all 145,000 in a holiday card! The card will showcase the citizens of Naperville and be sent to President Obama, Mayor Daley and everyone is invited to join!

What’s going on this weekend that you want us to know about? Post below in the comment section! Have a great weekend! – Chicago Signature Properties

Friday Wrap-Up

Another week has come (and almost gone)! Chicago Signature Properties knows how busy you are, so we’re bringing you the top headlines from 11/8-11/14 all in one spot! Happy Friday!

Real Estate News:

- Foreclosure: Foreclosures in Illinois decreased 15% from November. According to Crains Chicago, there were 16,969 foreclosure-related filings in October. That’s one in every 311 homes, which puts the state at number 9 (behind Nevada).

-Sale: Lincoln Park: A Lincoln Park residence sells for $3.4 million (November 9th). President of Burr Ridge-based tanker company, Rober Heniff received 8% less than the asking price of $3.7 million. (Via Crains Chicago- Read more here).  The house features: 6,000 square feet, five bathrooms, two outdoor decks, and six bedrooms on Howe Street. The buyer is a founder of Cupps Capital Management (A Chicago based investment management firm). According to Bob Heniff of Crains Chicago, The buyer, Mr. Heniff was named a Crain’s 40 under 40 this year.

Around the World:

-Cruise Ship Fire: A carnival Cruise Line ship left 3,500 passengers without air-conditioning, hot showers or decent meals for four days of their vacation. The fire was put out in about three hours but it knocked out the ship’s power. The “Splendor” cruise ship included a one-week Mexican Riviera vacation. According to passengers, the only thing they suffered through was “eating sandwiches and cold food for two or three days and that really wasn’t a big problem. We had to take cold showers and there was no coffee or cell phone service” (via CNN). They are back on land, safe and sound!

Whacky News:
-According to a CNN article, a Chinese vase was found during a house clear-out in London, England that has been auctioned off for, (wait for it) $68 million dollars! “The elaborately decorated 16 inch (40 cm) ceramic vase, which dates from the mid-18th century Qianlong period, was bought by a private buyer from mainland China on Thursday in Bainbridges”. I think that inspired me to clean up my house! (dated in the 1800’s).

Featured Property of the Week:

In Chicago’s River North location

• Stainless Steel Appliance
• Granite Counters
• Bamboo Floors
• All Glass Balcony
• Amenities that include: 24 hour fitness center, private wine lockers, media room, pool terrace with cabanas and more.

Interested? Call 312-469-8120 or fill out a contact form here.

Upcoming Events: (Via Crains Chicago)

• 11/16/10 – Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and Real Estate Council of Chicago are to host an event Tuesday titled “From Start to Finish — Mixed Use Developments.”
• 11/17/10 – The Community Alliance of Chicagoland Realtors has an event scheduled for Wednesday titled “The Chicagoland Commercial Marketplace – What You Need to Know Now.”
• 11/17/10 – ULI Chicago’s Real Estate Forecast 2011 is scheduled for Wednesday.
• 11/18/10 – NAIOP Chicago’s 23rd Annual Awards for Excellence event is slated for Thursday.
• 11/18/10 – The Chicago Real Estate Council has a luncheon event scheduled for Thursday titled “State of the Downtown & Suburban Chicago Rental & Condo Markets.”

-Take a peak at Chicago Signature Properties November Newsletter “Catching up with Chicago Signature Properties” –> here

What an incredible week it has been! Chicago Signature is wrapping up the most important dates of the week; feel free to add anything below (in the comment section)

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