The Fulton River District may be one of Chicago’s newer neighborhoods as far as names are concerned, but the area has a storied industrial past. One needs to look no further than this unit in the former Fulton House cold storage building to see evidence of that history. Designed by Frank B. Abbott in 1898, the building served for decades as a warehouse before being converted into residential loft-style condos by architect Harry Weese in 1981. Located just blocks from the commuter rail stations and offering killer views of the Chicago River and the raised Kinzie Street railroad bridge from its balcony, this single-bedroom, single-bath unit would make the perfect pied-à-terre for a suburbanite looking for a downtown escape.

While the kitchen could use a good refresh and the living room’s dandelion paint job may not suit every buyer, this unit has strong design potential with its inlaid parquet hardwood floors and the unique barrel-vaulted ceilings that are a trademark of this historic building. The structure’s vintage masonry facade is in the process of receiving an extensive (and presumably expensive) restoration, but potential buyers can relax knowing that the current owner has paid the special assessment. At $249,000 shoppers will be hard pressed to find a comparable downtown river view for the same amount of coin.

·345 N Canal St #806, Chicago IL 60606 [Redfin]

·Fulton River District archives [Curbed Chicago]