Parc Huron: A Boutique Rental in Chicago’s River North

When Greg Nelson owned his suburban home, he grew weary from the sometime four-hour round-trip commute and his never-ending list of chores to keep the house maintained. “I wanted to simplify my life so that I could spend more time doing the things that I love,” he says.

So the technology salesman, who currently works in downtown Chicago, started looking for a rental apartment closer to work. He found Parc Huron, a 21-story, 221-unit boutique rental apartment residence in the River North neighborhood of Chicago.

Now he’s just a few steps from the River North Arts and Entertainment district, which got its start as an industrial area and then became popular with struggling artists and writers. Today River North is known for its antique stores, boutiques, art galleries and over 100 restaurants.

“Parc Huron has a chic vibe to it. This is a trendy neighborhood,” says Katrina Edgar Michaels, property manager, RMK Management Corp. And, surrounded by four-story row homes, it has lots of personality.

Built by Chicago-based M&R Development and managed by RMK Management Corp., Parc Huron was designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. The property includes one- to three-bedroom units with monthly rents ranging from $1,840 to $4,080. Each unit has hardwood floors, 9-1/2-foot kitchen ceilings, oversized windows, granite countertops, a private balcony, in-unit laundry and a built-in workstation.

Nelson moved into a two-bedroom-plus-den floor plan in November 2010, and it was the indoor amenities that stood out for him. “There was the aqua spa, wine cellar, theater and the gym,” he says. “The apartment was stunning; the floor-to-ceiling windows really captured the urban city views and the natural sunlight that I craved. The layout was perfect.”

“I can now walk to work,” he says. “I can also walk to restaurants and nightspots and jog to the lake and the grocery store on the way back.”

Parc Huron is situated near Chicago’s CTA “L” and bus routes, as well as expressways and train stations. The property also includes a four-level parking garage.

Parc Huron, which is currently 90 percent leased, has also earned its LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building features Energy Star appliances, solar window shades, recycled and regional construction materials, low-VOC materials and an air filtration system that meets LEED’s stringent indoor air quality requirements. The building also comes with a green roof that keeps it cool and the building uses natural light throughout the units and the common areas.

Nelson says, “My kids tell their friends that I live in a hotel with a water park inside,” he says. “And in a way I do, since the quality of life at Parc Huron does make me feel like I’m on vacation.”