Betty & Artie tell all about R+D659

Betty, a city-loving blonde and Artie, a revived turn-of-the-century butcher, both fictional characters, may be Mesirow Financial Real Estate's best sales team.

They serve as spokesmen for R+D659, a contemporary 17-story glass and concrete high-rise under construction at the corner of Randolph and DesPlaines streets in Chicago's West Loop.

Operating in a tight housing market, managing director Dominic Adducci utilized the community's Web site, RD659.com, to roll out a series of short "webisodes" promoting the advantages of living in R+D659.

Playing off the fact that the building's location was once home to the city's meatpackers, one series stars Artie, a turn-of-the-century butcher who finds himself in a much-changed West Loop. The videos and subsequent Artie-themed cocktail parties helped potential buyers learn more about the neighborhood and the building's amenities and floor plans.

Now the Web site is featuring short vignettes that resemble the Sunday funnies called "Heartache and Healing in the New West Loop." Betty, a recent addition, has her own MySpace profile.

While Betty and Artie spread the word about R+D659, actual sales success is due to offering the right housing product, in a great location, at an affordable price, Adducci said.

"It still comes down to offering a product people love at a price they think is fair," he added.

The modern building features 237 condominiums and penthouses ranging from 655 square feet to more than 1,600 square feet, priced from the $200,000s to the $700,000s.

The building offers more than 30 one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans featuring open layouts that flow flawlessly from one room to another.

Homes include sleek European-style cabinetry in the kitchen and bath, granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances and wood flooring in the living spaces. All plans also feature expansive nine-foot ceilings and 12-foot ceilings on the penthouse floors.

The building will have a residents-only lounge with a flat screen TV with surround sound, a wet bar, pool table, full kitchen, and dining area. Adjacent to the lounge will be a fully-equipped exercise room and a business center.

Outside, there will a swimming pool with landscaped sun deck, a Japanese-style garden and an outdoor grill area. The building also will have an environmentally friendly green roof.

Buyers also can choose a preferential financing program that offers a 1.5% discount off the market mortgage interest rate at close.

"The lower rate affords our buyers flexibility when selecting their homes," Adducci said. "They're able to get what they want and not settle for anything less."

The surrounding West Loop neighborhood is home to art galleries, restaurants and nightlife. A few blocks from the expressway, Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the CTA buses and Green Line, the building has easy access to downtown and the rest of the city.

The R+D659 sales center and decorated model are now open at 626 W. Randolph Street, at the northeast corner of Randolph and DesPlaines streets. For information, call (312) 474-0659 or visit RD659.com.