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The priciest Chicago residential buildings in 2016

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How much does it cost to live in one of the priciest residential buildings in Chicago? It'll cost you at least a couple million bucks to snag a condo or co-op in one of these ten buildings. Over the years, real estate agent Fran Bailey has been keeping track of the priciest sales in the city's most expensive buildings, and after crunching the numbers, Bailey has determined that these places were the priciest in Chicago last year. However, to be counted, buildings had to have at least two publicly listed sales that closed in 2016. A number of buildings from last year's list returned, while some new entries made a big splash on the scene. Here's a quick look at which Chicago buildings were the priciest in 2016.

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Waldorf Astoria Chicago

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The Waldorf Astoria returns to the top spot after being bumped to third place in 2015. According to sales data, the building had a median sale figure of $4.38 million in 2016—a big jump from its 2015 median of $3.462 million in 2015. The Waldorf Astoria had held the title as Chicago's priciest residential building between 2011 and 2014 and returns once again to the number one spot for 2016.
Waldorf Astoria

50 East Chestnut

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This Gold Coast's 50 East Chestnut has made a big leap from fourth place to the second position in Chicago's priciest residential buildings. The building's median sale price for 2016 was $3.722 million.
Draper & Kramer

4 East Elm

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A newcomer to the ultralux market in Chicago, 4 E Elm made a big splash last year earning some big sales. Its median sale price last year was a whopping $3.275 million.
4 East Elm

The Residences of 900 N. Michigan

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It's no shocker that this Magnificent Mile staple has made the list of priciest buildings in Chicago. However, between 2015 and 2016 it's dropped from the second most expensive building to fourth place. Nevertheless, last year's $3.11 million median sale price is nothing to sneeze at.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff

Park Tower

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Yet another Mag Mile residential tower makes it into one of the top spots for this year's list. The Park Tower at 800 N. Michigan Avenue had a median sale price of $2.862 million last year.
Chicago Condo Finder

328 W. Wisconsin

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The new construction 328 W. Wisconsin was one of the biggest earners last year, helping to illustrate the demand for pricey residences in Lincoln Park. While it has only seven units, the building earned a median sale price of $2.66 million last year.
Belgravia Group

209 E. Lake Shore Drive

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This old co-op building which intersects Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue had a median sales price of $2.6 million in 2016. Designed by Marshall & Fox and built in 1925, the building has seen some very pricey sales in recent years.
Gold Coast Condos

The Ambassador

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This Gold Coast building falls from first place in 2015 to the number eight spot for 2016. Last year it had a median sales price of $2.5 million—a big drop from the $4.176 million it witnessed in 2015.
Draper & Kramer

229 E. Lake Shore Drive

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This stately old Streeterville co-op building designed by Benjamin Marshall took the ninth spot for 2016 with a median sale price of $2.6 million. The building features only 20 units, but the priciest units include some of the highest monthly association dues in the area.
Redfin

The Carlyle

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Rounding out the list is The Carlyle on Lake Shore Drive. The Gold Coast tower witnessed a median sale figure of $2.292 million in 2016, making it one of the most expensive residential buildings in Chicago.
Gold Coast Realty

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Waldorf Astoria Chicago

The Waldorf Astoria returns to the top spot after being bumped to third place in 2015. According to sales data, the building had a median sale figure of $4.38 million in 2016—a big jump from its 2015 median of $3.462 million in 2015. The Waldorf Astoria had held the title as Chicago's priciest residential building between 2011 and 2014 and returns once again to the number one spot for 2016.
Waldorf Astoria

50 East Chestnut

This Gold Coast's 50 East Chestnut has made a big leap from fourth place to the second position in Chicago's priciest residential buildings. The building's median sale price for 2016 was $3.722 million.
Draper & Kramer

4 East Elm

A newcomer to the ultralux market in Chicago, 4 E Elm made a big splash last year earning some big sales. Its median sale price last year was a whopping $3.275 million.
4 East Elm

The Residences of 900 N. Michigan

It's no shocker that this Magnificent Mile staple has made the list of priciest buildings in Chicago. However, between 2015 and 2016 it's dropped from the second most expensive building to fourth place. Nevertheless, last year's $3.11 million median sale price is nothing to sneeze at.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff

Park Tower

Yet another Mag Mile residential tower makes it into one of the top spots for this year's list. The Park Tower at 800 N. Michigan Avenue had a median sale price of $2.862 million last year.
Chicago Condo Finder

328 W. Wisconsin

The new construction 328 W. Wisconsin was one of the biggest earners last year, helping to illustrate the demand for pricey residences in Lincoln Park. While it has only seven units, the building earned a median sale price of $2.66 million last year.
Belgravia Group

209 E. Lake Shore Drive

This old co-op building which intersects Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue had a median sales price of $2.6 million in 2016. Designed by Marshall & Fox and built in 1925, the building has seen some very pricey sales in recent years.
Gold Coast Condos

The Ambassador

This Gold Coast building falls from first place in 2015 to the number eight spot for 2016. Last year it had a median sales price of $2.5 million—a big drop from the $4.176 million it witnessed in 2015.
Draper & Kramer

229 E. Lake Shore Drive

This stately old Streeterville co-op building designed by Benjamin Marshall took the ninth spot for 2016 with a median sale price of $2.6 million. The building features only 20 units, but the priciest units include some of the highest monthly association dues in the area.
Redfin

The Carlyle

Rounding out the list is The Carlyle on Lake Shore Drive. The Gold Coast tower witnessed a median sale figure of $2.292 million in 2016, making it one of the most expensive residential buildings in Chicago.
Gold Coast Realty