Regions Midwest | Chicago
$394M Financing in Place for Redevelopment of Landmark Chicago Office Tower
March 25, 2008
By: Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

The historic office structure at 208 South LaSalle Street in Downtown Chicago is about to get more than a facelift, now that owner The Prime Group Inc. has secured an aggregate $393.6 million financing package for the building's reincarnation as a hotel and office property.

Approximately $271.6 million of the funding--orchestrated by real estate services firm Holiday Fenoglio Fowler L.P.-- will be used for construction activities, and the remaining $123 million served as equity for the capitalization of the joint venture vehicle that is redeveloping 208 LaSalle. The partnership, UST Prime III Joint Venture Ltd., consists of Prime affiliate Reschke Chicago Partners L.L.C. and an affiliate of Estein & Associates USA Ltd.

Located in the city's Central Business District, 208 LaSalle (pictured) was originally developed in 1912 and carries the distinction of being celebrated Chicago architect and urban planner Daniel Hudson Burnham's final and most noteworthy project. Prime purchased the 21-story tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 2005. The joint venture will convert the property into a mixed-use facility that will include the upscale 610-room JW Marriott Hotel-Chicago on the first 12 floors with 48,000 square feet of event and meeting space as well as a 20,000 square-foot spa and health club. Approximately 335,000 square feet of existing office space on the top nine floors will be renovated, as well as 18,000 square feet of street-level retail space.

 
Recent Chicago Headlines
Baker & Daniels Open Chicago Office
Baker & Daniels L.L.P. has opened an office at 311 South Wacker in Chicago, Ill.
Sports Product Retailer Triples Warehouse with 207,000SF Lease
Driven to expand its operations due to increasing demand, Dreams Retail Inc. has leased the industrial building at 725 Landwehr in Northbrook, about 25 miles from Chicago, Ill.
Reid Appointed to White House National Infrastructure Advisory Council
CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. said todaythat Jim Reid, president of the company’s Eastern Division, has been appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
KDC to Expand Operations
KDC plans to open new offices in Chicago, Washington, D. C. and the San Francisco Bay area by the end of the year, as well as expanding its Houston operations, the company said today.
Fortes  Financial Secures National City Mortgage Wholesale Division
Fortes Financial Inc. has completed the  assumption of five regional wholesale offices formerly belonging to  National City Mortgage Corp.