After years of preparation, crews are putting the finishing touches on Astoria Tower Residences & Spa, a new luxury tower in Chicago’s South Loop.

Closings have begun in the 30-story, Art Deco-inspired high-rise, located at 8 E 9th St, and many homes are available for immediate occupancy, says Jim Psyhogios, vice president of Weichert, Realtors – Frankel & Giles, Astoria Tower’s exclusive broker.  

Unlike many of the towers that have sprung up on the far southern end of the South Loop’s boundaries, Astoria Tower is positioned in the heart of the neighborhood, along historic State Street next to the first great achievement of South Loop residential development, Dearborn Park.  

From the corner of State and 8th streets, residents will find themselves just minutes away from Grant Park and the Museum Campus to the east, the Harold Washington Library, the Auditorium Building, and the rest of the Loop to the north, and booming retail options like Target, Jewel / Osco, and the shops and movie screens of Roosevelt Collection to the south and west. They can drive the span of the city with ease, thanks to the tower’s proximity to Lake Shore Drive and Congress Parkway, both of which connect to the city’s expressway system, or ride the rails following short walks to the Harrison or Roosevelt CTA platforms or the Museum Campus’ Metra station.  

Astoria Tower comprises 248 condominiums including studios with 527 square feet, priced from the $160s, one-bedrooms with 558 to 1,067 square feet, priced from the $190s, and two-bedrooms with 1,073 to 1,406 square feet, priced from the $320s.  

Each home features 9-foot ceiling heights throughout its living areas, and oversized windows allowing for sweeping views of downtown Chicago. The living / dining area, kitchen, hallways, and foyer are floored with polished hardwood, while each bedroom has stain-resistant carpeting.  

Kitchens are finished with 42-inch wood cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. Bathrooms have soaking tubs and glass-enclosed showers (per plan), custom cabinetry, granite countertops, decorator mirrors, and tile floors.  

Units comes pre-wired for telephone, cable television, and high-speed Internet (per plan), and every home has hook-ups for washing machines and dryers.  

As its name suggests, the Astoria Tower Residences & Spa features a full complement of spa services, including an indoor pool, a whirlpool, a sauna, exercise and massage areas, and two rooftop decks. A concierge will be on hand to schedule private massages and other body treatments for residents.  

Other on-site amenities and services include a 24-hour door staff, conference and business centers, a private theater, and a fitness center. Golfers will be able to practice their swings and putts in a private golf simulator, while pool sharks can clean up against challengers in the tower’s billiards room.  

Astoria Tower’s preferred lenders are working hand-in-hand to help buyers secure loans of up to 95 percent of their homes’ purchase prices, Psyhogios says.

Astoria Tower’s on-site sales center is open from noon to 5 p.m. daily. For more information about the development, call 312-922-0650 or visit http://www.astoriatower.net.