Tenant Reviews for 200 N. DEARBORN ST.

I have lived in the building for about a week now, and I do see the issues that other people have complained about. I also see the good things that people have complemented. I think that it's really about how you weigh certain things. <br><br>For me, I have a great deal with my apartment as it is still about $300 less than market for a 1-bed in this area. The management was very nice to me, as I was nice back to them, but I did notice a little hostility when I asked for a simple favor to borrow a vacuum before I moved in.<br><br>The train noise is noticable, but not too bad, unless you have the windows or balcony door open, in which case you hear a lot of ambient noise, even on the 44th floor. I have not heard anything from the neighbors so far though, so far so good, although I have read that other people have had bad neighbor noise.<br><br>The walls are very poor construction, and have buckled under the building stress over the past years. They did let me paint whatever color I wanted though which was nice. Also the applicances and cabinets are very much outdated. I have heard that this building used to be a Section 8, and obviously they have not upgraded since then.<br><br>The 24 hour pool is great and the gym could be better, but it's not too bad compared to other places I have seen. The staff so far have been very nice. The door people are great and the security is good too. The bike room is very scary though and any time you want to use it, you have to borrow the key from the doorman and walk it all the way up and around a winding, dark cooridor. Yuck.<br><br>It is definitely true that the building is being converted, but I am actually excited about this because tenants will have first option of refusal and receive about an 8-10% discount on the sales price. They will also then go in and upgrade the applicances and such, and all of the common areas are already being renovated. I take this as a good thing instead of a bad.<br><br>The room size is amazing for a 1-bed in the loop, and although I wish it had more closet space, it is still adequate. Kitchen could be a bit bigger though. <br><br>Parking is pretty bad. A monthly spot is $225 which is good for the loop, but it is a 4-month waiting list to get one, and they are unassigned spots so you have to look for one every time. This will probably change once the building is converted. They have a nice service that they have guest parking for only $10 a day... BUT, there are only 3 guest spots and you have to reserve them ahead of time with the management office. The only way it really works if you are having out of town guests and you know ahead of time that they are coming for like a weekend or something.<br><br>Overall, I am happy with the place so far, and for the price ($1250 for a loop 1-bed), you can't beat it. Everything is super convenient and I am looking forward to having the option to buy in the near future.<br><br>I would recommend it to anyone who has read through the feedback, and would still think that it is a good deal for the location and size. :-)

I have had my renewal letter rescinded. I had been offered a 3% increase but when the new company took over the leasing office I got a $200/month increase with maybe 5 days notice to accept or decline. I was told that if I didn't respond my lease would renew automatically at almost double the rent. In the letter they stated that I still have free access to the pool & work out room as if they were going to take that away if I didn't respond. Those people have been nothing but rude to me. These people are so unethical I don't know how they live with themselves. I'm not sure if rescinding the original offer is legal or not but if anyone out there is interested in getting together as a group to discuss our options please post your e-mail address. <br><br>And if you go into the leasing/management office you can see how our rent increases are being spent - the office has been totally remodeled w/ new artwork, paint, furniture, etc. When I stopped in one day at noon they actually asked me if I wanted a glass of champagne! Are they kidding me? How is this a luxury building when you can just take a look at the work out room with the old battered & often times broken down equipment. <br><br>I don't know how they even justified the price increase! When I asked they said "to refelct market prices". The apartments are so shabby - old appliances, cheap construction, super old torn up carpeting. The train noise is constant. On top of which, my neighbors have not responded to several letters sent to him regarding the noise level. I realize the walls are super thin, but to be awaken several times a week in the middle of the night is unacceptable. I have complained countless times. All they do is send letters to which they ignore.<br><br>And YES they are going condo. How did they tell us? By putting a sales respresentative in the lobby. <br><br>Oh, I also heard from someone that they did not renew some people's leases AT ALL. Really, I could go on & on...the puke in the elevator, the snots wiped on the elevator wall...some of the people that live here are animals.

THE BUILDING IS GOING CONDO SOON. THEY WILL LIE TO YOU AND SAY NO WHILE THEY STICK THE KNIFE IN YOUR BACK. DO NOT TRUST THEM. THE STORIES I'VE HEARD FROM DEPARTED FRIENDS IN THE BUILDING ARE HORRIBLE. ONE HAD HER FORMER RENEWED LEASE "RESCINDED"--WHICH IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL--AND HER NEW LEASE HAD A WHOPPING $500 INCREASE...OTHERS HAVE HAD LAWYERS CALL THE MANAGEMENT TO INQUIRE, ONLY TO BE TOLD, "GO AHEAD AND SUE US." <br><br>EVEN FUNNIER, THEY NOW HAVE THESE P.R. STOOGES HANGING AROUND THE LOBBY DENYING WHAT ALL THE TENANTS ALREADY KNOW. UNBELIEVABLE.

My husband and I have lived here for a year and have often joked about it being "luxury living" (this is how the management refers to the building on their website). We rented here because the space was a great value for the money, and the location is wonderful since we both work in the loop. Although space is great, the apartments have not been kept up well at all-- old, cheap kitchen cabinets and floor, old appliances. Bathroom cabinets equally as worn and cheap. But, again, it is a rental unit. Also I agree with other writers that the AC is a real problem-- last year, I think they turned it on May 15th or later (those were a bad few weeks before then) and even then, the AC was not very strong. When I asked about it (and had to ask someone to come and look at it 3 times), I was told that it's an old building and the capacity isn't super strong. I didn't find that very compelling-- esp. since we were told when we moved in that the heat and AC were "on demand". Oh, and even though you don't pay separately for heat and AC, if the AC doesn't work, it doesn't mean much (and I'm quite sure we are paying for it, just included in the rent). I'd rather pay a bit more and get sufficient AC. Other that that, the apts are fairly quiet, even with the El trains right here (we're on the 19th floor-- out of 46 floors)- you get used to it, but the noise isn't bad overall. Most of our neighbors are nice, but we had a problem with a young, frat-boy type living next to us-- lots of "extreme" smoking, of all kinds-- and rowdy guests over. I don't care what you do in your apt, but when I can smell it (and practically get a contact high), it's a problem. When I complained to management, I was told, oh, we can't do anything. That's not a very responsive policy. So, if you are sensitive to smoke, keep that in mind. Doorperson staff are great, for the most part. And, yes, because of the White Hen on the corner, there are some homeless, panhandlers around (esp. on weekend evenings), but I've never felt unsafe here. I think that's part of urban living. Don't know much about the parking situation since we sold our car when we moved here, but I don't think it's great. When friends visit, they often have to park in a garage (street parking is rare).<br>Our biggest issue with the building is the new leasing company-- they took over about 2 months ago (or less?). We were holding a lease renewal letter from old leasing company., with a $50. increase (reasonable)-- 2 weeks later, the new leasing company takes over and we get a new lease renewal offer under our door. The new letter does not refer to the old one, and now the rent increase is $300., versus $50. Outrageous. CRS (new leasing company) then denied to us that they knew the place was going condo (now slated for summer of 2007). The new leasing/management company is rude and condescending, but more importantly, their handling of their "take-over" has been really shady. They clearly do not value the current tenants, which is a terrible business practice. If you want to rent here (I think they are still renting units even though the building will be going condo), be very careful about the terms of the lease and your rights. Also, I'm not so sure it's a great deal now that CRS has raised the rents so outrageously. I just wonder about a company that treats current tenants so poorly when they could be potential buyers, etc. They don't inspire a feel-good vibe...and a lot of people in the building now feel that way. Shame on you, CRS! It's too bad, because we had been looking forward to staying here for at least a few more years. All of that said, it's still a great location and the apts are spacious for downtown living. Just know what you are getting into.

I came to this place two years ago. It was cheapest comparing to other places in the loop. by March 1st some other company took over and the rent price went about 40% up. To me it went up about 500. I see no reasons for increasing rent that much becasue they didnt do any remodeling. Old leasing agents were not that bad but the new agents especially agent Jaime was realllllly rude. They treat old tenants like trash. Anyways if it isnt cheap anymore, there are nooooo reason to stay here and bear with those rude agents.