Tenant Reviews for 3130 N LAKE SHORE DR

Woman dies in Lake Shore Drive high-rise fire Victim took elevator to 12th floor and was immediately overcome when doors opened, officials say January 09, 2012|By Becky Schlikerman and Carlos Sadovi, Chicago Tribune reporters Shantel McCoy had moved to Chicago in March, looking for a place to start over after losing her job in Philadelphia. Early Sunday morning, she arrived at her Lakeview apartment building carrying a bag of takeout food, unaware that a fire was raging on her floor 12 stories above. McCoy, 32, boarded an elevator, pressed the button for 12 and started up. The fire had started in an apartment on the 12th floor of the 21-story building at 3130 N. Lake Shore Drive. When the man and woman inside fled with their dog, the door of their apartment didn't close, fire Chief Joe Roccasalva said. Noxious gases heated to more than 1,500 degrees poured into the hallway. The elevator door opened at 12, and McCoy was immediately overcome. Firefighters arriving soon afterward found her in the elevator, and she was later pronounced dead of smoke inhalation in St. Joseph Hospital, according to officials. The 52-year-old building is not required to have a sprinkler system, and unlike buildings built after 1975, the elevators don't stop working when a smoke detector is activated, fire and building officials said. "More modern buildings have elevator recall automatically. When the smoke alarm goes off or sprinkler heads go off, the elevators automatically drop down to the first floor and can't be used until the firemen get there," Roccasalva said. Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Building Department, said Sunday there were no major outstanding fire-code violations in the 300-unit building, which houses a convenience store, salon and dry cleaner on the ground floor. A 2004 city ordinance requiring upgraded fire safety measures for older residential high-rise buildings was to have taken effect this month, but a recently passed amendment extended the deadline until January 2015. The ordinance was a response to a 2003 fire in the downtown Cook County Administration Building fire that killed six people. Regulations in the ordinance allow building managers to either install sprinklers or develop a fire safety plan with enough elements to meet the ordinance's requirements. Those elements could include the automatic elevator shut-off system, which kicks in when a smoke detector in a common corridor goes off, said McCaffrey. McCaffrey said on Sunday that he did not have access to the fire safety plan that management at 3130 N. Lake Shore Drive had submitted to meet the requirements of that ordinance. An employee of the building's management company, Planned Property Management, declined to comment at the scene. The company's president and chief executive officer, Robert Buford, was appointed to the city's Community Development Commission in July

You will never live in a building where the staff cares as much. Rifet and Asin spent two hours digging in garbage literally as I lost my remote control. They found it. Ismet, Ovi and Peter are equally as hard working. Once the office is notified help comes immediately.Simona and Jenna are incredible examples of efficiency...both very eager and friendly to the tenants. The views are lovely. The building very clean....corridors are vacuumed twice a day. The positives far outweigh the flaws. The elevator is difficult at times but we have very healthy hearts at 3130. The office also has organized wonderful events...a pizza party mid-winter...a lovely Hawaiin luau on the lawn. Staff gave up their Saturday for that as they prepared a feast for us. It was wonderful to sit with your neighbors and their families....people that one just hi's too. The location is unbeatable...fro this corner every connection possible. For interns ...the hospital is walking distance. The park and harbor are across the streat...a grat place to see such beauty. It is not flawless but I"ve lived here for 20 years. The most important part ...very safe as we are surrounded by many buildings with very visible doorman and camerass.

I have lived here for over a year now. I signed a longer lease because I am a grad student and was hoping I'd like it enough to stay the whole two years. However, my lease is coming to a close and the rent is not worth staying. I can move into the heart of downtown in a luxury building with the EL steps away for a smidge more and have a larger unit with a balcony, so why wouldn't I... The good: -I drive a large car. I gave up my parking for a while and when I went to get a new spot I was given one that was appropriate for the size of my car. Anytime someone parks in my spot (not often but it has happened on the weekends) the maintenance men are quick to let me park in theirs and tow the perps. -Parking is safe, I have never had an issue with creeps in the garage. On a side, I was told to store my bike in my apartment b/c it would get stolen (by multiple residents) -Pet friendly, I have two dogs... However, there are way too many dogs in the neighborhood/building, if your dog is finicky or anxious (as mine are) it's best to go elsewhere - There are also a ton of people who have ignored the size/breed reqs. -The dog walker, Theresa, is great! She walks for the building and is great with all animals! -Great views of the lake, I leave my blinds open 100% of the time to catch the sunrise/sets. -Maintenance staff is amazing. The guys are nice, friendly, and try to do their best even though there can be a communication gap sometimes, they're really great. It's an old building and there's a lot of work to be done that they just can't do themselves. -Simona and the other woman in the office have always been nice to me. I think Simona might come off a little abrasive, but if you smile and just look past it she can be really helpful. -Closet is big and the hall closet is also pretty spacious. The Bad: -The elevators are horrible. They are currently doing work to replace the call buttons. I don't know if that means elevator 1 will actually stop on our floor on it's way down. At this point we've been working with an avg. of 1.5 elevators for months. I have to hit the up button to catch it and then go back down. I budget 20 mins of my time to catch an elevator when I go anywhere which is a serious problem. -Some of the neighbors... At one point I had neighbors who were sleeping roughly 5 in a 1 br. They also had a ----- spawn for a dog who would sit and bark incessantly right by the door. My neighbors on either side, while improving, are noisy and people are always slamming doors. There are also people who like to antagonize pets, standing outside the door dangling keys or holding loud convos in the hallway. -Callbox: Doesn't work if you don't have a local #. I since got a local phone and it still hasn't been updated even though I asked twice. -The kitchens are tiny and hard to cook in, not to mention there isn't a lot of space for you to store pots and pans for said cooking. -The water is never one temp. I have not taken one shower when I haven't been shocked with extreme cold or hot. -My AC has been broken forever. It needs to be replaced. Period. -If you live on an upper floor in the winter you'll need to be prepared to sleep with the windows open or sweat to death. Heat is on from Nov. to March if not sooner/later. It is HOT. - Also, they take the screens off so you can only crack them unless you want your pet or child to fall out. -Don't expect to hang anything. This building seems to have been made purely out of cement. Hanging is not really an option. The blinds are disgusting and have paint on them so I bought curtains I'd upload a picture, but I'm embarrassed that they are falling out of the wall. -Kitchen space is non-existent... My microwave is on the floor under my table. -Laundry is a joke. I've done laundry here once. It's too expensive and you'll have to dry loads multiple times. Not to mention the one time I did my laundry here someone took mine out while wet and put theirs in to avoid payment. Not the fault of management, but definitely not neighborly. -The workout room is old and small. You still need a gym membership. I feel badly that this is so negative as there are some great neighbors, staff, and perks (like having the beach a hop skip and jump away, corner store, and dry cleaner). However, this isn't a great place for young professionals looking for a home. It is great for college students, starving artists, and those who don't need amenities. Note: 1200 includes my parking fee.

One could not ask for more as cleanliness, promptness and concern. Simona and Jenna are very capable in running a large LAke Shore Drive bldg. The engineer and his staff do more , much more ,than their job describes. They are very professional.The corridors are spotless, everyday. The building is kept very safe by the constant presence of staff and varied cameras throught the building. The building is close to fifty years old, so with passage of time, there are problems.Currently there is a permit for work displayed in the lobby as the elevators are undergoing work. That is a difficulty here....but the positive is we have very healthy hearts here. The building staff has thrown a pizza party in the lobby mid-winter. What a delightful surprise that was. There was a wonderful luau on the grounds It was so lovely...gentle lake breezes,lots of food,all in an urban setting. Much of the work was done by the staff themselves. Some worked on their day off. It was a wonderful time to relax with people that one sees but never has the occasion to simply be with. There is a mixed age group here which gives it a family feel. I do feel that the younger members of our family are at times very disrespectful in caring for the property and focusing on the flaws as opposed to all the wonderful things here. The location is sublime , the sunrises, the sunsets, the beach , all right here at ones doorstep. I have lived here on this corner, even when it was called Harbor Village just about all of my professional life. If you are looking for charm, safety and incredible cleanliness make this your spot as it has been mine. I am most grateful for all of the goodness that has been shown to me for over ....well I've lost count as to exactly how many. No building is perfect. But no building has this much concern shown towards its tenants.