Kenect, Akara Partners' New West Town Development, Is Now Open

Kenect, Akara Partners' new 14-story mixed-use development in River West, held a grand opening celebration last Thursday (the first tenants were welcomed in July). Bisnow was there, camera in hand, to snap highlights from the two-building, 270k SF project.

Kenect's lobby features entrances on Grand Avenue and Green Street, which was completely rebuilt to connect Grand and Milwaukee Avenue. The lobby features high ceilings that extend to the third floor, a fireplace, a package room and concierge, lounge seating and this giant work of art from local hip-hop artist Hebru Brantley, which stands out prominently along the Green Street side of the lobby.

Here's a look at an office in one of Kenect's three-bedroom penthouses on the 13th floor. Rents for the penthouses start at $5,629/month and feature floor-to-ceiling windows and extended balconies that add an extra 800 SF to the footprint. They're accessible from the living room, office and bedrooms and offer bird's-eye views of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Here is a peek at the kitchen setup in one of Kenect's two-bedroom units on the 13th floor. Rents in these units start at $3,396/month.

We took a peek inside one of Kenect's one-bedroom models on the ninth floor, where rents start at $2,213/month. One of the unique design features in the unit is dual access to the bathroom from the living room as well as the bedroom, via a sliding door (shown).

Here is one of Kenect's convertible units, where rents start at $1,717/month. Note how the sleeping area is walled in to provide some separation between the bed and the rest of the space. All units have washer and dryer inside.

Kenect's fourth floor is loaded with amenities, including a workout room with on-demand fitness, a game room with classic arcade games, a yoga studio, a co-working lounge and an outdoor terrace with fire pits, grill, lounge seating and a pool (shown) that was being winterized.

Kenect's third floor houses a community entertainment room and a resident kitchen and dining lounge (pictured) for tenants to get to know each other. Utilities packages at Kenect range from $95/month for studios/convertibles to $150/month for three-bedroom units.

Akara Partners CEO Rajen Shastri is one of our panelists at Bisnow's BMAC Midwest conference Nov. 30. Register here.