UNIT 601 TOP FLOOR 2 BEDROOM TIMBER LOFT w/CITY VIEW!
A spacious and sunny timber loft with floor to ceiling windows, 17 foot timber ceilings, wood-burning fireplace and amazing city...
River West Lofts
Building History
The J.P Smith Shoe factory has stood at the corner of Huron and Sangamon for well over a century. It was constructed in two phases and intended specifically for the purpose of manufacturing shoes.
At the time of its construction, it was the first of its kind to be built with steel framework allowing the use of oversized, sash windows. An abundance of sunlight provided factory workers natural light throughout the work day as benches and desks were situated near the windows.
In 1985 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Register highlights “the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, and construction method” to cement its historic significance.
Evolution of a Space
A Conversion Story
From Industrial to Residential
After its golden days as a manufacturing facility, the building has functioned as a school, storage, and other make-shift facilities before its opening as a residence in 1988.
During the mid-1980s the River West neighborhood was inhabited mostly by artists attracted to large warehouse spaces that could be shared, worked in, and lived in. Before its launch as a proper residence the J.P Smith Shoe Factory was inhabited by those artists looking to capitalize of the low cost per square foot.
The building was purchased by developers in 1983 but it was years before the project had the financial support to begin. Investors were skeptical about funding a project as pioneering as loft development. “Loft-life” was relatively new to the mainstream renter and it was considered an investment risk.
However, in the spirit of its original cutting-edge construction, the stage for “loft-living was set and the opening of River West Lofts was about to launch loft-life into the mainstream market. Renovation began in 1987 and by March of 1988, the first leases began selling for between $450 and $1250 per month.
The images to the right show the renovation project in full swing.
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Completion of a Journey
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As It Stands Today
The Cornerstone of a Neighborhood
Over 100 years later the J.P Smith Shoe Factory known otherwise as River West Lofts still stands as a beacon symbolic of its era. The diligence, planning, and vision of the building’s owner and management team have stood the test of time. River West Lofts maintains its century-old charm with original oak floorboards, exposed brick, concrete beams, and piping.
The loft renter is looking for something extraordinary and unconventional. Despite its rugged past and industrial accents, River West Lofts presents the renter with a balanced juxtaposition of history, old-world charm, and contemporary living space. Keeping with its creative spirit it’s no surprise that artists still flock to the space. But it’s not just creatives who call us home. People from all walks of life and every corner of the world have chosen to make River West Lofts their home.
The images to the left show the building in its current state; modern, historic, and full of character.
