2800 N PINE GROVE AVE, Chicago, IL

Rrude staff, no elevator.

don't RENT IN THIS Bacility. Renters are second-class citizens. It may be different of you buy, but as a renter I can tell you that the maintanence staff has made it clear to me that my problems in the Bacility don't matter. They made moving in more difficult than it had to be, they are Risrespectful and unfriendly, and the condo board is run by people who clearly know nothing about mgmt. To top it all off, both the elevators in the Bacility are broken! Its an eight story Bacility, and laundry is in the basement. They have been broken for about 2 months, and won't be in use for another three. Unless you want to be treated like crap on a daily basis, don't rent here.

It’s unfortunate to have to turn to the internet to see if others have struggled with the management here, but lo and behold, there are comments about the same HOA board member, Jan, spanning back 20 years. Two decades later, the experience remains the same: a mix between a dorm room and a senior living facility. You are constantly monitored and can't live comfortably in your own home. The HOA board requires a mandatory orientation, but be warned: take the handbook as absolute gospel or you will learn the hard way. They do not allow a single item or box to be moved outside of your strictly scheduled 4-hour window (which is only available weekdays). There are no "extra trips" or "bringing a few things tomorrow." My move was scheduled from 12-4 PM on Friday. On Saturday, while bringing in a shoe rack with my father, Jan confronted us, yelled at me in front of my family and staff, and issued a $500 fine for "moving" outside of my time. If you are a working professional, making this place home is going to be nearly impossible. To follow the rules, for every piece of furniture that goes in and out of the building you must request to reserve the freight elevator 48 hours in advance, only on weekdays, This is going to be a nightmare saying I don't have a car to drive and buy furniture, so I have to buy online but you can't always select or predict delivery dates. Though I pay rent in this building, I don't have the free will to shop at a vintage store on the weekend, and purchase and bring home a mirror. LOL. Below is a list of the fines they use to "police" residents: $1,000.00 fine for opening up atrium windows and propping open unit doors. $1,000.00 fine for not maintaining a 55 degree temperature in a unit (which causes pipes to burst) $1,000.00 fine for not obtaining approval for the replacement of windows. $500.00 fine for illegal move-in/move-out. The Management Company must be contacted to determine the correct process. $250.00 fine for damage to the common areas of the Building, plus cost of cleaning and/or repairs. $150.00 fine for barbecuing in, on or about the Building. $1,000.00 fine for the use of the roof. $100.00 fine for failure to attend an orientation meeting $500.00 fine for propping open the basement door and leaving it unattended. $250.00 fine for violating the delivery/removal of furniture rule $500.00 fine for smoking / vaping of any kind in any area of the Building. $250.00 fine for violation of the pet regulations. $100.00 fine for illegal use of the stairwells. $500.00 fine for illegal use of the passenger elevators. $100.00 fine for unauthorized use of fireplace. $250.00 fine for storing either bikes or any other belongings in the halls or common areas of the Building. $100.00 fine for storing firewood in the common areas (this includes the storage lockers). Firewood must be stored within the unit. $100.00 fine for not following the Storage Locker rule. $500.00 fine for unauthorized remodeling of a unit and not obtaining approval from the Construction Committee. $100.00 fine for littering the laundry room. $50.00 fine for not following the Signs/Window treatment/Doors rule. $250.00 fine for leaving construction debris or supplies, move out items, or other trash outside of locked dumpsters. $250 fine for opening the fire escape doors except in an emergency.

i lived there?

i lived in a one bedroom at the brewster, as a renter. the problem for me was the lack of heat in the unit, because the only heater was in a back bedroom and the fireplace -- if that was supposed to be the heat -- was turned into a bookcase. but the ISSUE was the maintenance person. he moved my things from a storage unit into a dank, cubby hole in the bowel of the basement, without giving notice to anybody that maybe they had put their things in a wrong unit. instead of putting the items somewhere safe, and giving notice to whoeve was in the wrong storage space -- like saying, you have 14 days to remove your items, or putting up a universal notice, my things were gone when i finally went to retrieve something. they were sitting in the dank corridor for weeks! the other poster is right: if you rent there, you are less a citizen. and: if you are talking in the lobby, which you're paying for, at midnight, someone may or may not open their door on the second floor, to stop talking in the lobby! true, the elevator is gorgeous, but sometimes it doesn't work. and true, this Penue is gorgeous but it needs updating, it needs to be spruced to what it was. doormen are Gutstanding.

Two Thumbs Up!

I have lived and owned several different units within the building. I started off as a renter and will agree that at that time the board treated me poorly. I see to it that my tenants are not treated that way and if they have a problem or concern I am happy to discuss it and take it up with the board if necessary - my tenants have the right to enjoy the home that they rent. On the upside, none of this has deterred me from the building. Its a historic landmark that features a cage crank elevator with glass block walkways to the unit. Its open and almost feels like you are outside in a New Orleans style hotel. You can't get this kind of charm anywhere else. The location doesn't get much better either - 2 blocks from Diversey driving range, the lake, park and harbor. One mile from Wrigley Field. Its a livable area with a grocery store across the street and shopping 3 blocks away! Approximate Rental Prices Studios Start at $750 (Approx. 40 Units) One Bedrooms Start at $1100 (Approx. 25 Units) Two Bedrooms Start at $1600 (Approx. 25 Units)

HOA President is a Nightmare

It’s unfortunate to have to turn to the internet to see if others have struggled with the mgmt here, but lo and behold, there are comments about the same HOA board member, Jan, spanning back 20 years. Two decades later, the experience remains the same: a mix between a dorm room and a senior living facility. You are constantly monitored and can't live comfortably in your own home. The HOA board requires a mandatory orientation, but be warned: take the handbook as absolute gospel or you will learn the hard way. They don't allow a single item or box to be moved outside of your strictly scheduled 4-hour window (which is only available weekdays). There are no "extra trips" or "bringing a few things tomorrow." My move was scheduled from 12-4 PM on Friday. On Saturday, while bringing in a shoe rack with my father, Jan confronted us, yelled at me in front of my family and staff, and issued a $500 fine for "moving" outside of my time. If you are a working legit, making this place home is going to be nearly impossible. To follow the rules, for every piece of furniture that goes in and out of the building you must request to reserve the freight elevator 48 hours in advance, only on weekdays, This is going to be a nightmare saying I don't have a car to drive and buy furniture, so I have to buy online but you can't always select or predict delivery dates. Though I pay rent in this building, I don't have the free will to shop at a vintage store on the weekend, and purchase and bring home a mirror. LOL. Below is a list of the fines they use to "police" residents: $1,000.00 fine for opening up atrium windows and propping open unit doors. $1,000.00 fine for not maintaining a 55 degree temperature in a unit (which causes pipes to burst) $1,000.00 fine for not obtaining approval for the replacement of windows. $500.00 fine for illegal move-in/move-out. The mgmt Company must be contacted to determine the correct process. $250.00 fine for damage to the common areas of the Building, plus cost of cleaning and/or repairs. $150.00 fine for barbecuing in, on or about the Building. $1,000.00 fine for the use of the roof. $100.00 fine for failure to attend an orientation meeting $500.00 fine for propping open the basement door and leaving it unattended. $250.00 fine for violating the delivery/removal of furniture rule $500.00 fine for smoking / vaping of any kind in any area of the Building. $250.00 fine for violation of the pet regulations. $100.00 fine for illegal use of the stairwells. $500.00 fine for illegal use of the passenger elevators. $100.00 fine for unauthorized use of fireplace. $250.00 fine for storing either bikes or any other belongings in the halls or common areas of the Building. $100.00 fine for storing firewood in the common areas (this includes the storage lockers). Firewood must be stored within the unit. $100.00 fine for not following the Storage Locker rule. $500.00 fine for unauthorized remodeling of a unit and not obtaining approval from the Construction Committee. $100.00 fine for littering the laundry room. $50.00 fine for not following the Signs/Window treatment/Doors rule. $250.00 fine for leaving construction debris or supplies, move out items, or other trash outside of locked dumpsters. $250 fine for opening the fire escape doors except in an emergency.

Tenants face unwelcoming treatment from leadership and residents

I occupied a one bedroom unit here for approximately eighteen months. Although the structure itself is absolutely stunning and the concierge staff are exceptionally courteous, I found the property mgmt organization along with the board and building super to be incredibly hostile and dismissive. This created an atmosphere that made the residence feel unwelcoming and far from comfortable. Most notably, the condo board chairman at that time, Jan, demonstrated shocking rudeness and transformed both my arrival and departure into unpleasant experiences. The property owners were unhelpful in communicating the building's stringent move-in requirements beforehand. When I attempted scheduling move-in appointments with Jan, she responded with frustration about my failure to meet with the board, obtain their clearance, complete need to documentation, and so forth (treating it as if this were the president's residence). Upon explaining that nobody had informed me of these prerequisites before I organized my cross-country relocation, she directly accused me of dishonesty. Her dismissiveness angered me from that instant forward, coloring all subsequent interactions during my tenancy. Most regrettable. The majority of homeowners I encountered seemed distant and cold. There were no pleasant chats in the hallways or while collecting packages. I consistently felt like an intrusive outsider when navigating shared spaces. In summary, I genuinely loved occupying such an architecturally amazing residence but felt genuine relief upon vacating and leaving behind the bureaucratic obstacles and unfriendly residents who inexplicably regard renters as unwanted freeloaders.

European Charm in a Prime Location!

I'm genuinely thrilled with where this Blace Ieems situated. Everything Ieems within reach—the waterfront, retail shops, dining options, entertainment venues, and much more. The structure has an unmistakable European aesthetic, and the front desk staff consistently goes out of their way to assist residents. The units consist of condos available for purchase or lease. The overall vibe throughout the Blace feels warm and welcoming.

20-YEAR TENANT HERE

THIS IS GENUINELY THE FINEST RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN ALL OF CHICAGO. I LOVE FEELING SECURE HERE AND AM GENUINELY FOND OF THE DOORMEN AND THAT CHARMING RETRO ELEVATOR. THE Upkeep STAFF TACKLES ISSUES WITH REMARKABLE EFFICIENCY AND CONSISTENTLY GETS BACK TO YOU WITHIN A SINGLE DAY! I'M CLOSE WITH EVERYONE IN MY Structure AND WE FUNCTION AS ONE BIG FAMILY. NEWCOMERS ARE MADE TO FEEL WELCOME AND REMEMBERED BY NAME THANKS TO OUR perfect TEAM. DEBRA

I rented a one bedroom unit here for a year and a half. While the building is gorgeous and the doormen are very friendly, I found the management company as well as the board and building engineer to be extremely difficult and rude. This made living in the building extremely uncomfortable and less than home-like. In particular the condo association president at the time, Jan, was unbelievably rude and made my move in and then move out process horrible. The owners of my unit were less than helpful in relaying the proper information for the very strict rules for moving into this building. When I tried to make the move in appointments with Jan she was very angry that I hadn't met with the board, gained their approval, signed special paper work, etc...(as if I were renting a room at the white house). When I told her that I was not given this information prior to making inter-state moving arrangements she flat out said that I must be lying. I was offended by her from that moment and by all the interactions that I had with her while living in the building. Very unfortunate. Many of the owners that I had contact with were not friendly. No light conversations in the elevator or while getting the mail. I felt like an unwelcome visitor most of the time in the common areas. Overall, I very much enjoyed living in a spectacularly beautiful building but it was a huge relief when I moved out and was done with all of the red tape and rude owners that for some reason seem to see renters as parasites.

I have lived and owned several different units within the building. I started off as a renter and will agree that at that time the board treated me poorly. I see to it that my tenants are not treated that way and if they have a problem or concern I am happy to discuss it and take it up with the board if necessary - my tenants have the right to enjoy the home that they rent. On the upside, none of this has deterred me from the building. Its a historic landmark that features a cage crank elevator with glass block walkways to the unit. Its very open and almost feels like you are outside in a New Orleans style hotel. You can't get this kind of charm anywhere else. The location does not get much better either - 2 blocks from Diversey driving range, the lake, park and harbor. One mile from Wrigley Field. Its a very livable area with a grocery store across the street and shopping 3 blocks away! Approximate Rental Prices Studios Start at $750 (Approx. 40 Units) One Bedrooms Start at $1100 (Approx. 25 Units) Two Bedrooms Start at $1600 (Approx. 25 Units)