I have always loved seeing photos of the Chicago skyline. Compared to NYC that price and tax rate is a steal. Yes, I know many people who live in studios even smaller than that.

That is a nice sized studio. Both the ones I lived in before moving to the US were much smaller. That price is great. I've never been to Chicago besides flying through, but I couldn't help but entertain myself with wanting to buy it.

Love it. Lived in Chicago a year in 1984. Dreamed one day I could live in a place like Marina City.

Surprisingly affordable? HOA $300 a month? Not bad.

It is a good HOA fee! But it doesn’t include parking or a boat slip. OTOH, when my aunt moved from the suburbs to the Neiman’s building on Michigan Ave, she realized she didn’t need a car enough to warrant the insurance and registration, so she sold it. It was cheaper and easier to take the train to the suburbs, or a cab or car service in town, or to walk.

Marina City doesn’t allow AirBnB etc. I enjoyed looking at the other units available, and the different ways they’ve been remodeled over the years.

My son lives in a studio in one of the Chicago neighborhoods. When his job turned to work-at-home, I really felt for him. He didn‘t even have another room to go into, except for the bathroom! At least it has a window lol. And he’s in a very walkable neighborhood with everything he needs close by, and not far from the lake. In Marina City, you wouldn’t even have to leave the building!

I am surprised it is that cheap considering the location. I am also surprised at how long it has been on the market.

There‘s a lot of stock available in the city in general. Although, wouldn’t it be great for work-from-home, if your home were somewhere else? Or for self-quarantine? (Better than the bedroom I’m quarantining in right now, I’d rather have a view of the river than the side of my neighbor’s garage, even as pretty as it is.)

Here's another listing in the same building that makes better use of the space. It also has higher HOA fees--although still very low for the area and references what appear to be healthy reserves. I would definitely make better use of the outdoor balcony area year round.

The deal breaker for me would be no in-unit laundry. I'm about a quarter century past having any tolerance for coin-operated building laundry.

Bpath, thanks for the diversion. I periodically look at condos in the city. I hope you're still healthy and quarantine going as well as can be expected.

Nice one feathers. I'm tempted to get out my checkbook.

I've stayed in the Autograph hotel next to this building a couple times in the past few years. The building seems to be in fair condition. I would anticipate a fairly large assessment sometime in the future.

That is nice! I don’t like the closed-in kitchen, though. I’m not an open-floor plan kind of gal, but I had a kitchen like that in a condo and it was like working in a closet, ugh. There’s another studio in MC with a cut-out, which would be okay. There’s another that is clearly just for overnighting, there’s a big bed and no seating save the dining table and bar stools!

Feathers, clearly I have diversions in my isolation!

I've always thought the Marina City buildings were cool, but have never seen inside. Thanks for sharing.

Our son went to college and Grad school in Chicago, living in The Loop for 10years. His first apartment was across from Millennium Park, with the best view of the water and boats. Later he bought a condo in the theater district in a gorgeous while marble building.

He worked for a French owned firm whose offices were in the tall building (left) straight across the river from the Marina City buildings. He saw a lot of movies being filmed when he lived there.

This is my favorite Chicago corner.

Allison, how lucky your son was! Did you know you can buy a condo in the Tribune Tower now?

Always makes me think of the Bob Newhart show opening suggesting their apartment was in those towers.

I once did research on the building of Marina Towers --a good Chicago story!

Born, bred, and raised in Chicago. This is making me ache with nostalgia for my hometown. When Marina City was being built we called them the Corncobs.

Sable

Didn't know they were selling condos there now, but makes sense. Great location. Beautiful building.

Thanks for the memory. I grew up in the Chicago area and lived on N. Dearborn Pkwy for a couple of years as a newlywed. The Towers were a (distant) dream for me in those days.

The price does seem low, but I left Chicago a long time ago.

Bpath, so do I! Some of my suburban friends who are empty-nesters downsized early because the housing market was so strong with young families needing more space. Friends are now interested in investing in the city again (tentatively).

I sent my son the listing, but I think he's ready for two rooms, not a studio! He does have a bed AND a couch, so he's got it pretty good, for a studio.

There is a one bedroom available in the same building.

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/300-N-State-St-60654/unit-3110/home/14100042

It's a little...a lot... Outside his price range.

Nice to hear others enjoy our Chicago landmarks. Long ago, dated someone who lived in Marina, despite high floor he hated the noise, said every weekend there was a parade.

https://youtu.be/JQfFLyD9yEw

Thanks for posting bpath! I looked at a unit in Marina City way back when I was single and living in Lincoln Park. (Ended up buying a loft in the Lincoln Park area.) On the last trip I took pre-Covid, back in early March, met a pilot who had a place in Marina City. He showed us pictures and I was impressed with the view and what seemed like a very low price for a city condo.

I love Chicago! Been a suburbanite for years but my kids grew up with outings taking the train to the city and visiting Lincoln Park Zoo and some of my other old haunts up there. (Late DH and I got married at Cafe Brauer - so pretty!) I guess it's no surprise that when my DD graduated college last year she moved to Lincoln Park :)

I love the Architectural Foundation river tours, and in addition to Marina City one of the sights has always intrigued me: the Harry Weese River Cottages. I'd love to see the inside of one someday.

Lovely story about your aunt bpath. Thanks for sharing it. My great-grand aunt used to live in a teeny tiny studio in the Waldorf Astoria. She used to say her neighbors were the unused mink coats and the janitor's mops on the other side. This was decades ago...

This listing is practically FREE by Nor Cal standards. I'm aghast! Goals for dd. Good to know about things like this as she navigates her way through life, and eventually out of Nor Cal. She lives in a SF studio that used to be part of the garage. It's smaller than this listing and pays an unholy amount of $$ in rent.

Born and bred in Chicago. While I admire this building from an aesthetic standpoint, there’s a reason these units are so affordable. I’ve known a number of people who owned or rented in this building, and it’s an absolute dump. I wouldn’t touch a unit in this building with a ten foot pole - flimsy construction and a host of problems that are coming due in the form of painful assessments. This is a hard pass.

Tiny J,,

Also good to know.

@Tiny J - bummer, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who saw it. Having once been on a condo board, every time I looked at that building from my hotel, all I could see was $$$$ and Trouble!