From its creation in 1923, the Belden-Stratford apartment building in Chicago’s Lincoln Park community was designed for an elite crowd. Over the years, its status slipped. But now, courtesy of a top-to-bottom renovation backed by billionaire Joe Mansueto, it soon will have a new introduction in high society.
It began as an apartment hotel, a type of housing that flourished around World War I. They were designed for long-term or permanent residences, with the option of combining apartments into a suite. The Belden-Stratford, called the Belden at first for its cross street, set out its appeal in an early brochure that targeted wealthy businessmen — gender distinction intended.
