If Goldilocks were shopping for a loft condominium in the West Loop, she would probably be disappointed with her options. With the selection mostly limited to one-bedroom floor plans ("too small") and two-bedroom floor plans ("too expensive"), she, like many homebuyers in a state of flux, might have trouble finding the perfect compromise somewhere in-between.

But One One One Morgan is one West Loop loft community with a solution that's "just right." The developer, Evanston-based Winthrop Properties, has introduced a new 1,011-square-foot floor plan with two bedrooms and 1½ baths, designed to meet the needs of "buyers in the middle."

"It's no mystery that today's 'typical buyer' is 180 degrees from who it was 20 years ago," said Bob Horner co-principal of Winthrop Properties. "There are couples, who may not be getting married for a year or two - or maybe not at all, living together because it makes economic sense. There's a large segment of the population that works from home. And there are mature buyers downsizing from single-family homes."

"Try living these lifestyles in a one-bedroom, and it gets real old, real fast. These people want homes that are stylish and convenient, but also affordable, practical and comfortable. We designed Tier 10 with these buyers in mind," Horner said.

Priced from $229,900 to $259,900, the Tier 10 is one of 41 floor plans at One One One Morgan. Other plans in the 166-unit, new-construction building at Adams and Morgan streets offer one to two bedrooms plus den, one to two baths and 680 to 1,535 square feet. A three-bedroom, 2,376-square-foot duplex penthouse is also available. Base prices range from $165,900 to $425,000, and the penthouse is priced at $699,000. Deeded, indoor parking is $25,000 per space.

According to Horner, the Tier 10 offers move-down buyers the space they need for entertaining, furnishings and "toys," such as a home theater system, while giving first-time buyers an affordable point of entry with room to grow if they work from home, live with someone else or plan to start a family.

The Tier 10 addresses these requirements starting with an open living/dining area containing more than 340 square feet. The room includes a fireplace with custom-milled wood surround and access to the home's west-facing, 9'3" by 6'8" balcony.

Overlooking the living area is an 'L-shaped' kitchen, which includes granite countertops, 42" cabinetry and a granite-topped preparation island with breakfast bar.

A guest bedroom, located off the living area, has a closet and a direct access to the full bath.

The room has full-height walls for privacy and a structural column accentuating One One One Morgan's loft feel.

According to Ibrahim Shihadeh, co-principal of Winthrop Properties, the room provides the flexibility many homebuyers are looking for. "It's a media room, guest bedroom, home office, sun room, studio, nursery, whatever you need it to be," he said. "It supports a lot of uses, and that adds value for the homeowner."

The master bedroom is located behind the kitchen and offers a full wall of closets and direct access to the bath. The layout maintains the privacy of the master bedroom, Shihadeh said.

The Tier 10 also has a powder room off the main entry hallway, a nice feature for entertaining, Shihadeh noted. Also in this hallway is a coat closet and laundry closet.

Standard features at One One One Morgan include hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen and living area; track lighting; 1½" Italian granite kitchen countertops; central heat and air conditioning; and a ventless gas fireplace with custom millwork surround.

Kitchens have 42" cabinetry, a stainless steel double-bowl sink with disposal, and a black appliance package, including a refrigerator with icemaker, built-in dishwasher, gas range with self-cleaning oven and built-in microwave.

Baths offer 12" by 12" ceramic tile flooring; ceramic tile tub and shower surround; a full-width mirror and 5' soaking tub.
Buyers can also opt for a host of upgrades such as imported Italian kitchen cabinetry and bath vanities, mosaic tile backsplashes, crown molding and a stainless steel apron for kitchen islands.

Building amenities include a 24-hour doorman; stone-tiled lobby and foyer; state-of-the-art, high-speed elevators; high-rise fire-protection system; maintenance-free, insulated glass sliding doors and windows; and individual storage.

Located in the heart of the West Loop, One One One Morgan is near restaurants, nightlife, public transportation and expressways.

The sales center features a decorated kitchen/living area vignette and is located at the southeast corner of Jackson and Morgan streets. To visit the sales center, take Interstate-90/94 to Adams, go west to Morgan and south to Jackson. Hours are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, call (312) 421-0111 or visit www.111Morgan.com.

Winthrop Properties is a joint enterprise of developers Bob Horner and Ibrahim Shihadeh. Horner and Shihadeh share more than 40 years of real estate experience, during which time they have built and sold more than 5,000 homes.

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