Going Green At The Fountain View Lincoln Square

Fountain View of Lincoln Square

Chicago Real Estate just became a little greener in 2009 with the completion of  the Fountain View Lincoln Square.  Perhaps the finest example of mixed-use multi-family new construction in Chicago today, the new building in heart of Lincoln Square on Giddings Plaza blends seamlessly into the community.

As a United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Silver registered project, this new addition to the neighborhood is without question a sustainable development.  Once the third party verification process is completed later this year,  Fountain View could be the first verified LEED certified mixed use, multi-family building in Chicago.

Resource and energy efficiency are but just a part of the whole-building approach to achieving this level of environmental consideration.  Consider too its incredible location in addition to the building’s performance and resources.

On what once was a site of a parking lot and a one-story men’s clothing store, developer Terra Firma’s co-principal Ben Ranney explains the significance of Fountain View’s location.  “The part of the project that is so exciting to me is it’s walk-ability to everything that the neighborhood has to offer.  If you check it’s walking score (www.walkscore.com), this building ranks at a 95 out of a possible 100.  Resident’s here have very little need for even a single vehicle”, Ranney points out.

The Brown line’s ‘Western’ stop, both a light rail and bus station provides incredible transportation options a mere block away.  In addition, the Ravenswood heavy-rail Metra stop is approximately 5 blocks to the east.  The shopping and entertainment possibilities are too long to list but, suffice to say, are excellent.

Ben Ranney is no stranger to sustainable development.   His parents are the visionaries behind the much acclaimed Prairie Crossing development in Grayslake, Illinois.   Known as a ‘Conservation Community’, this development was well ahead of it’s time when introduced in the 1990’s.  So it comes as no surprise that Ranney’s company Terra Firma takes ‘lifestyle sustainability’ seriously.

Fountain View Lincoln Square’s luxury condominiums range from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet consisting of 2 and 3 bedroom residences with only 8 of the 18 total units remaining.  Prices range from $450 to $540,000 with parking spaces extra to those who need the spots.