The Building

Metropolitan Place wraps a landscaped interior courtyard in a horseshoe shape, so many homes open onto private balconies overlooking the greenery rather than the street. A chic lobby, three high-speed elevators, and on-site management give the building a full-service feel despite its loft character.

The lower floors preserve the factory's industrial bones as concrete lofts, while the upper floors added in the conversion offer a more traditional condominium finish.

Notable details

• Former Florsheim Shoe Company headquarters and factory (1949)
• Converted to loft condos in 1998–1999
• Professionally managed by FirstService Residential
• Investor-friendly — no rental cap

Units & Policies

Homes range from lofts and one-bedrooms — some over 1,000 square feet — to two-bedrooms above 1,500 square feet. Floors 1–6 feature concrete lofts with 12-foot ceilings; floors 7–10 offer 10-foot drywalled ceilings. Interiors typically include hardwood floors, large windows with custom treatments, granite counters, black stainless appliances, marble master baths, and in-unit laundry in most units.

HOA & fees

Monthly assessments generally range from about $595 to $1,550 depending on unit size, typically covering water, common insurance, doorman, fitness facilities, internet/cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, and snow removal.

Pets & parking

Cats and dogs are allowed. Heated indoor garage parking is available on-site (the building offers roughly 240 owned spaces), along with a bike room and extra storage.

Recreation & Outdoor

• Large landscaped sundeck with grilling areas and skyline views
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Landscaped interior courtyard
• Bike room for secure cycle storage
• Extra resident storage

Services & Building Features

• 24-hour door staff and a chic lobby
• Three high-speed elevators plus a service elevator
• On-site management and engineering
• Receiving room and dry-cleaning/valet service
• Heated, owned, on-site garage parking

An Industrial Landmark's Second Life

When it opened in 1949, the Florsheim Shoe Company's new home at 130 S Canal was hailed as one of the most modern shoe factories in the country — a 300,000-square-foot plant whose grey brick curtain walls and expanses of glass seemed, in the words of the period press, to float in thin air. It was among the first West Loop factories converted to condominiums, going condo in 1998–1999.

That heritage gives Metropolitan Place its distinctive character: concrete lofts, soaring ceilings, and an authentic industrial pedigree in the heart of a fast-changing neighborhood.

A West Loop / Loop-Edge Address

For clarity on location: Metropolitan Place sits in the West Loop, right on the edge of the central Loop and directly across from Union Station — over the Chicago River from Willis Tower. This is a different part of downtown from the South Loop and Prairie District.

In practical terms, residents are steps from Union Station and Ogilvie, minutes from the Loop's offices, and close to the West Loop's Randolph Street and Fulton Market dining scenes.

At the Center of It All

From 130 S Canal, residents are within a short walk of downtown's major anchors. Union Station is directly across the street, and the Chicago Riverwalk and Willis Tower are just over the river to the east.

• Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center
• Willis Tower and the central Loop offices
• Chicago Riverwalk along the main branch of the river
• Greektown and the Randolph Street restaurant row

Everyday Anchors

The West Loop and Loop put groceries, gyms, and services within easy reach, with some of the city's best dining just to the west.

• Mariano's and other nearby grocery options
• Fulton Market dining and nightlife
• Loop retail along State Street and Wacker
• Financial-district offices within walking distance

Restaurants

Few Chicago addresses put you closer to the city's hottest dining district: the West Loop's Randolph Street "Restaurant Row" and Fulton Market are a short walk away.

• Randolph Street "Restaurant Row" — acclaimed dining
• Fulton Market — chef-driven restaurants and nightlife
• Greektown classics along Halsted Street
• Quick lunch spots throughout the Loop

Coffee & Cafés

Independent cafés and reliable chains are everywhere in the surrounding blocks, ideal for commuters and remote workers alike.

• Specialty coffee bars throughout the West Loop
• Grab-and-go cafés near Union Station
• National chains across the Loop

Grocery Options

• Mariano's — a short walk away
• Jewel-Osco and specialty grocers in the West Loop
• Target — household essentials nearby
• Fulton Market food halls and markets

Shopping

• West Loop boutiques along Randolph and Fulton
• Loop retail on State Street
• Neighborhood pharmacies and services throughout downtown

Green Space

• Mary Bartelme Park — a modern West Loop park
• Skinner Park — fields and playground
• Heritage Green Park nearby
• The Chicago Riverwalk for waterfront strolls

Active Living

The building's in-house fitness center and landscaped sundeck cover everyday workouts, while the Chicago Riverwalk and the West Loop's many boutique studios and gyms are all within an easy walk.

Culture Nearby

• The Loop's theater district and the Chicago Cultural Center
• Willis Tower Skydeck a short walk east
• Fulton Market galleries and event spaces

Nightlife & Events

The West Loop's Fulton Market and Randolph Street anchor one of Chicago's liveliest nightlife scenes, and the Loop's theaters, riverwalk bars, and sports venues are all within easy reach.

Transit

• Union Station (Amtrak & Metra) directly across the street
• Ogilvie Transportation Center a short walk north
• CTA Blue Line (Clinton) and multiple bus routes nearby
• Clinton Green/Pink Line station within walking distance

Driving & Air

• Quick access to I-90/94 and I-290 (the Eisenhower)
• Riverfront and Loop just over the bridge
• O'Hare and Midway both easily reached via expressway or the Blue Line

Healthcare

Residents have convenient access to the Illinois Medical District a short distance west, along with downtown Northwestern Medicine and Rush facilities, plus neighborhood urgent-care and pharmacy options throughout the West Loop and Loop.

Education

• Skinner Elementary and other CPS options in the West Loop
• Whitney M. Young Magnet High School nearby
• Universities across the Loop, including DePaul, Roosevelt, and Columbia

Hotels for Visitors

Guests have their pick of Loop and West Loop hotels within walking distance, including options around Union Station and the growing Fulton Market hotel scene, making it easy to host out-of-town family and friends.

Everyday Services

• Banks, pharmacies, and salons throughout the Loop and West Loop
• Dry cleaners and fitness studios nearby
• On-site receiving room and valet/cleaner service in the building

The Metropolitan Place Lifestyle

Life at Metropolitan Place Chicago is built around unbeatable convenience. Commuters can be on a train at Union Station within minutes; downtown workers can walk to the office; and West Loop food lovers have Randolph Street and Fulton Market at their doorstep. The area is busy and energetic during business hours and noticeably quieter on evenings and weekends.

It suits residents who want a loft with character, a car-optional lifestyle, and immediate access to both the Loop's jobs and the West Loop's dining.

A Typical Day

Morning

Coffee near Union Station, then a quick commute or a walk to a Loop office.

Afternoon

A riverwalk stroll or errands at Mariano's and the West Loop shops.

Evening

Dinner on Randolph Street or in Fulton Market, then grilling on the sundeck at sunset.

Ideal Residents

Commuters

Those who want to walk to Union Station or Ogilvie for a Metra or Amtrak commute.

Loft lovers

Buyers drawn to concrete lofts, tall ceilings, and authentic industrial character.

Downtown professionals & investors

Residents who value walking to Loop offices — and investors, thanks to the no-rental-cap policy.

Considerations

Not the South Loop

This is a West Loop / Loop-edge address across the river, distinct from the South Loop and Prairie District.

Busy by day

The area around Union Station is bustling during business hours and quieter at night.

Limited direct green space

Nearby parks are a short walk rather than at the doorstep, though the courtyard and sundeck help.

Advantages

1. Unmatched transit access

Union Station across the street and Ogilvie nearby make this one of downtown's best commuter addresses.

2. Authentic loft character

Concrete lofts with 12-foot ceilings and big windows in a former Florsheim factory.

3. Investor-friendly

No rental cap makes the building attractive to investors as well as owner-occupants.

Considerations

1. Daytime bustle

The immediate area is busiest during business hours around the stations.

2. West Loop, not South Loop

A different neighborhood from the South Loop / Prairie District, across the river.

3. Parking costs

Deeded garage spaces are typically purchased or leased separately from the unit.

The West Loop

Metropolitan Place Chicago sits at the seam between the central Loop and the West Loop, one of the city's most dynamic neighborhoods. Former warehouses and factories — like the Florsheim building itself — have become lofts, offices, restaurants, and galleries, giving the area an energetic mix of history and reinvention.

Union Station and the Chicago River anchor the eastern edge, while Randolph Street and Fulton Market drive the dining and nightlife to the west.

Landmarks Within Walking Distance

• Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center
• Willis Tower and the Chicago Riverwalk
• Randolph Street "Restaurant Row" and Fulton Market
• Greektown along Halsted Street
• Mary Bartelme Park and Skinner Park