Obama strategist David Axelrod selling Gold Coast condo

His close pal Rahm Emanuel is giving up on the mayor’s job. David Axelrod is giving up on his Gold Coast condo.

Axelrod, the longtime political strategist, and his wife, Susan, listed their 42nd-floor condo in Water Tower Place, at 180 East Pearson Street, for $3.25 million, according to the Chicago Tribune. The news was not quite as shocking as Mayor Emanuel’s announcement on Tuesday that he would not seek a third term.

Axelrod, a 63-year-old New York native who came to the city to attend the University of Chicago, has worked on the campaigns of a number of high-profile candidates. His most notable work and what brought him the most fame, was for Barack Obama, helping him win the presidency and served as senior adviser. Axelord now leads the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.

The Axelrods bought 3,320-square-foot condominium unit in Water Tower Place for $1.7 million in 2012.

They hired Nate Berkus and Marvin Herman Associates to perform a gut rehab on the condo, which now has a custom floor plan, three bedrooms, 4½ baths, solid oak floors, and a master suite with two walk-in closets, according to the Tribune.

Representatives for Axelrod, including listing agent Eugene Fu of @properties, did not respond to Tribune requests for comment.

Water Tower Place is not far from where Discount Tire CEO Michael Zuieback recently paid $6.25 million for a full-floor Magnificent Mile condo and where Sterling Bay bought the office and parking portions of the former John Hancock Center for more than $300 million. [Chicago Tribune] — John O’Brien