Eastwood by the Lake

Eastwood by the Lake is a residential hotel in Chicago built between 1912 and 1917, offering 80 apartments with 25 balconies and a rooftop ballroom overlooking the water. The building sits across from Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital and underwent renovations in the 2000s that preserved its original architectural character while updating its kitchenettes.

Architect John Augustus Nyden designed this as Chicago's first residential hotel of the twentieth century, completed between 1912 and 1917. The structure exemplifies the early shift from traditional housing toward apartment hotel accommodations that became prevalent in urban areas.

The building embodies a lifestyle choice that gained popularity among Chicago residents in the 1920s who preferred apartment hotel living over traditional homes. This form of urban dwelling appealed to those seeking flexibility and convenience in the city center.

The building sits directly along the lakefront with nearby public access areas where visitors can view the structure from multiple angles. The balconies and rooftop are best observed from the exterior, and walking along the water's edge provides clear views of the building's full profile.

The structure was built using fireproof construction methods pioneered in the early 1900s that were innovative for the time and significantly improved resident safety. These early fire-resistant techniques represent an important moment in building technology when safety became a priority in residential design.

GPS coordinates: 41.96611,-87.65056

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:47