Developer Christopher Carley, of the Fordham Company, thinks big, as the name of his 48-story highrise at 21 E Huron St, the Pinnacle, attests. While it falls far short of the proposed 2,000-foot Santiago Calatrava-designed tower Carley unveiled in July 2005, the Pinnacle, like Carley’s Fordham Tower and 65 E Goethe projects, is built on big ambitions. Prices on 35 remaining condos at the 213-unit Pinnacle ranged from the $570s to nearly $5 million in July 2005. Of Carley’s three current city projects, the Pinnacle is the only one to earn a healthy return, according to real estate sources. Corus Bank refinanced a loan on the project in June 2005 and said that it was pleased to be extending its relationship with the developer. The River North Tower, in a pocket the Fordham Company has promoted as “the Cathedral District,” was designed by Parisian-born architect Lucien Lagrange. Like many of Lagrange’s tony Chicago buildings, it has a mansard roof. It also features a French limestone base with tall windows and Gothic spires, a high-arched entryway and wrought-iron balconies with Gothic ornamentation.

The building offers more than ten condominium floor plans, most with one to three bedrooms, 1,000 to 3,100 square feet and 1.5 to 3.5 baths. Eight penthouses, have 3,200 to 5,000 square feet, three to five bedrooms and three to 4.5 baths. Indoor deeded parking is $45,000 to $55,000 per space. Carley has focused on the high end of luxury housing in Chicago, and he said the Pinnacle grew out of his previous highrise, next door. “We took the highest tier of options from the Pinnacle’s predecessor, the Fordham, and made it the baseline for this entire building,” Carley said. “The ceilings are higher, the windows are larger, the views are spectacular, and the finishes are very sophisticated.” Unit features include ceiling heights of 9.5 to 10 feet; gas fireplaces with wood mantles and marble surrounds; nine-foot-tall windows; granite countertops; balconies; oversized baseboard and crown moldings; and oak floors in living areas. Residents will have 24-hour door staff, a concierge, a health club with a lap pool, a private movie theater, maid service, room service, dry cleaning pick-up and delivery and services for travel, auto, pet care and other needs. The Pinnacle’s sales center and decorated model are located at 15 E Huron.

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