James Whittington, a Chicago police officer who works in the West Loop, knew he wanted his new home to be close to everything Chicago has to offer, so he decided to begin his home search on familiar territory.

"I was drawn to the West Loop because of the steady growth of the neighborhood and because of its convenient location," said Whittington. "The West Loop is close to downtown, but the area is also its own little community with grocery stores, restaurants and shopping all nearby. It's the perfect mix."

While driving through the neighborhood, Whittington discovered One One One Morgan, a new-construction condominium building being developed by Evanston-based Winthrop Properties.

Located at Morgan and Adams streets, One One One Morgan will feature 166 homes with 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 $180,900 to $426,000, and the penthouse is priced at $726,000. Deeded, indoor parking is $25,000 per space.

Whittington purchased a one-bedroom, one-bath condominium at One One One Morgan. The home includes 737 square feet and west-facing views.

The home's living/dining area includes a fireplace and sliding glass doors leading to a balcony. The kitchen, which is open to the living/dining area, features a preparation island with breakfast bar.

The bedroom includes a double-door closet and curved wall. The home also has hall and linen closets, as well as a utility closet with washer/dryer hook-ups.

"The balcony was a huge draw for me," said Whittington. "I'm really looking forward to barbequing out there in the summer."

Whittington was also drawn to One One One Morgan because of the standard features being offered by Winthrop Properties.

"One of the most exciting things about One One One Morgan is the standard features," said Whittington. "Features like granite countertops, oversized cabinets and track lighting would be considered upgrades at other communities, but they all came standard in my new home."

Homes at One One One Morgan will feature soft-loft construction with 10-foot exposed concrete ceilings, exposed ductwork and columns, open layouts, partial-height walls, hardwood flooring and track lighting. Each residence also comes standard with a private east- or west-facing balcony, offering from 60 to 680 square feet of outdoor living space.

Kitchens at One One One Morgan feature 42-inch furniture-quality cabinetry, Italian granite countertops and a black appliance package. Buyers can also opt for stainless steel appliances, a stainless steel apron for the kitchen island, Italian cabinetry and a mosaic tile backsplash.

Baths come with 12-inch by 12-inch ceramic tile flooring, as well as tub and shower surrounds, 5-foot soaking tubs and optional designer Italian vanities.

"We chose to offer these luxury features at One One One Morgan because they are some of the most popular features among today's homebuyers and because they add the most value to the homes," noted Bob Horner, co-principal of Winthrop Properties.

Whittington was also impressed with the process of purchasing from Winthrop Properties.

"I heard good things about Winthrop Properties before looking into buying a home at One One One Morgan," said Whittington. "I was happy to find out that everything I heard was true. The sales staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and I feel like I am getting a great value."

Building amenities include a 24-hour doorman, high-speed elevators, and marble-tiled lobby.

Popular restaurants in the neighborhood include Marché, Carmichael's Steak House and Red Light, as well as a variety of eateries in neighboring Greektown and Little Italy.

The building is also within walking distance of Hoop's Gym, the United Center, Sears Tower, University of Illinois-Chicago, the Financial District, the Art Institute and the lakefront. A new Walgreen's just opened at Halsted and Monroe, and a Dominick's grocery store is also slated to join the neighborhood.

"Basketball games at the United Center, restaurants in Greek Town, and the South Water Market will all be right outside my front door," said Whittington. "Plus, I'll be close to work and downtown."

To reach the sales center for One One One Morgan, take Interstate 90/94 to Adams, go west to Morgan and south to Jackson. The sales center is at the corner of Jackson and Morgan and open daily from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 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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