Inside the newly renovated Belden-Stratford in Lincoln Park

For decades, I've fantasized about living in Lincoln Park's historic Belden-Stratford, mostly while waiting for friends to show up for dinner at its anchor restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi (and Un Grand Cafe before that).

What's happening: This month I got to see what the apartments upstairs are like during the grand reopening of the 100-year-old Beaux Arts building after extensive renovations.

The basics: The 16-story building overlooking Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory features 209 luxury apartments, with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as penthouses.

• Rents range from $2,500 for a studio to $15,000 for a penthouse. The property is currently 45% leased and 40% occupied, and the developers expect to fill up the building by the end of the year.

The backstory: Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto, who lived in the building in the 1980s, bought the building in 2020 and spent the last three years renovating it, including a breathtaking makeover of the gilded lobby and lounge where his old apartment was located.

New amenities: A fitness center in the former ballroom, a media lounge, a wine tasting room, wine storage facilities, a rooftop sundeck with skyline views, grilling stations and seating areas.

What they're saying: "This restoration has been a labor of love for everyone involved, and we're incredibly proud to reintroduce the building as a graceful mix of old and new that ensures The Belden-Stratford will be a one-of-a-kind residential building in Chicago for many years to come," Ari Glass, head of real estate for investment firm Mansueto Office, said in a statement.

💭 Thought bubble: The apartments I toured combined classic old bones, including 9-foot ceilings, with modern touches like open-concept kitchens. But with square footage ranging from 483 to 1,689, the places felt a little small.

• If I lived there, I'd probably spend much of my time on that breathtaking rooftop and in that gorgeous lobby.