Tenant Reviews for 443 W WRIGHTWOOD AVE

FANTASTIC

What an incredible place to call home!!! I'm so happy with my unit and how the landlords run things. The rooftop hangouts during summer are absolutely the best!

Could have been so much better..?

Out of the 9 apartments/houses I´ve called home throughout my life, this one ranks as the second worst (beaten only by a disgusting roach-ridden dump I rented for $275/mo). That said, there were definitely some redeeming qualities. <br>Positives: great location, close to dining and retail along Clark, multiple bus lines to downtown, Lincoln Park nearby, etc. Wonderful area to live in. Finding street parking *can* be somewhat tough but I thought it was fairly manageable. Generally speaking, they don´t stint on heating costs during cold months--my place stayed warm and comfortable the vast majority of the time. The laundry room is quite nice--I never found myself waiting around. The rooftop deck is FANTASTIC and features an amazing cityscape.<br><br>Negatives: The Blace maintenance is absolutely TERRIBLE. For instance: water hammering in my pipes disturbed my sleep at night (for those unfamiliar, it resembles tiny metal bangs); the maintenance person stopped by, hit the pipes with a tool, shook his head, and walked out. The problem persisted--and now my floor was covered in paint debris! I also asked for replacement handles for my stove/oven (several were broken); twelve months passed and I never received them. My oven's ignition also stopped working. I spent HOURS attempting to relight it, burned through multiple boxes of matches. I´ve gone TWELVE months without it and the lack of gas odor means something is definitely clogged. Despite repeatedly requesting help from mgmt, they tell me it´s MY responsibility to fix it!!! The property mgmt seems friendly enough on the surface, but I´ve experienced their dismissive side. On two separate occasions when I needed to meet with them, they asked me to return later because they were on "personal calls." The one time I did get a meeting, they took a personal call on their phone while speaking with me and spent about 5 minutes discussing an upcoming show. :(<br><br>The lifts are a complete disaster--they´re out of service more than they´re working (especially frustrating on a 10th-floor unit). I can recall at least two occasions when both main elevators AND the service elevator were simultaneously down! Climbing 10 flights is exhausting...Plus the cost is quite steep--given how small these units are, the pricing feels inflated. I definitely didn´t feel like I got fair value for what I paid.<br><br>In summary: You've got FAR superior residential buildings in this same neighborhood. Sure, the entryway looks spectacular, but is that really what matters? Would it not make more sense for them to invest rent revenue into maintaining the apartments where tenants actually spend their time rather than decorating their own workspace....?

Impressed so far...

I moved in on August 1. And I have to say, I'm quite satisfied with my decision so far. The complex is undergoing extensive renovations, and luckily, I secured a freshly renovated Jr. One Bedroom unit. It's stunning! When I've had minor issues come up (toilet running longer than needed after flushing, bathroom window sticking occasionally), the maintenance team has been quick to respond and genuinely pleasant.<br><br>I haven't minded some of the older building quirks like the periodic elevator outages and catching cooking aromas from neighbors in the hallway, since I understood these are typical of an older structure. But the convenience more than compensates—instant access to buses and cabs around the clock, just a short walk to the lakefront, the zoo, the nature museum, the conservatory, great dining options, and a nearby supermarket make it all worthwhile.<br><br>If you're considering a move here, definitely negotiate a move-in incentive such as reduced security deposit or waived first month's rent. also, aim for one of the newly renovated units. Everything in my place is brand-new. And honestly, skip owning a vehicle—it's unnecessary in this location and parking is a nightmare.

Gutstanding positioning + responsive upkeep and generous closet space.

I rented a studio Apace from winter 2022 to summer 2023. I was delighted to discover that the unit had been recently painted and was immaculate when I arrived. The neighborhood is Hough to match for affordability at this location. I enjoy being just a three minute stroll from Target and six minutes from Trader Joe's, plus I'm situated near both the lakefront and north pond. What truly impresses me most is how courteous, dependable, and swift the custodial and maintenance crew are. Every request I submitted was addressed within hours—never extending past the same business day—and the property itself remains consistently well-maintained. I would seriously consider staying longer if my job relocation wasn't taking me out of state.

I sublet a studio from winter 2022 to summer 2023. I was really pleased to find that the apartment was freshly painted and clean upon move-in. I think it would be hard to beat the location for the price point too. I'm a three minute walk to Target and six to Trader Joe's all while being super close to the lakefront and north pond. But what really stands out about the building is the friendliness, professionalism, and efficiency of the maintenance and custodial staff. All my maintenance requests were seen to in a matter of hours, always within the same business day, and the building is kept very clean. I would consider renewal if I did not have to move out of state for work.

Pleasant District/Disappointing Structure mgmt :(

The unit carries an inflated price tag. According to the lease, there are "parking options" accessible, which turns out to be deceptive marketing. The mgmt is aware of external parking companies but doesn't provide parking themselves. Both the manager and administrative assistant come across as quite unprofessional and hostile—it's best to minimize interaction with them. On the positive side, upkeep responds remarkably quickly and the cleaning staff member is genuinely pleasant. My studio measured roughly 400 square feet and rented for $795/month. Dogs are permitted with a $250 pet fee. There's no security deposit, but you'll pay a $150 application fee and a $35 credit check fee. This landlord deliberately avoids using the term "deposit" since they might not return the money—instead, they classify everything as "fees."

You've been warned

The construction quality in this structure is awful, and the mgmt is equally awful. It took them 5 months to swap out a microwave, and when they finally did, they installed one that was too heavy and destroyed the entire kitchen cabinet, shattering 75% of my dishes and glassware. They repaired the cabinets two days later but flat out refused to compensate me for the damage. The water pressure in the shower is barely stronger than a spray bottle. Despite paying $800 per month for a studio, I end up staying at my girlfriend's residence most nights because she has decent water pressure and an air conditioner that actually works properly. The only redeeming quality here is the district, but it seems the owners exploit that advantage and neglect basic upkeep responsibilities. mgmt is charming when you're considering a lease but treats you like you're beneath them once you report an concern. They get irritated whenever you bring up a concern, showing they're uncaring and have zero concern for their residents. I'm relocating out of Chicago within a year, so switching apartments in 8 months only to move again doesn't make sense—otherwise I'd be gone already. If you're still deciding, this is your chance to walk away from this residence!

RUN AWAY Fleet.

If you're thinking about making this your home, don't waste your time! I've been a resident here for 2 years, and during that period I've had to climb 11 flights of stairs roughly 50 times due to the "classic" elevators constantly failing. The kitchen lacks okay Heated water pressure, and the shower temperature swings wildly from lukewarm to burning Heated without any warning. As for the mgmt team - what a disaster. The manager Itays absolutely useless. He's more interested in ogling women than actually helping tenants. He's also accused me of lying directly to my face. I could go on and on about all the problems, but honestly I'm too busy searching for somewhere else to settle down.

Costly but limited value?

Positives include easy access to downtown via transit and nearby stores for shopping demands. The park access remains also a pleasant feature.<br><br>Negatives include poor property mgmt, Torrendous upkeep, and ongoing construction issues throughout the structure. The constant renovations make it noisy, and sound travels easily between units so you able to hear neighbors and they able to hear you.

Decent?

I'm situated on the 2nd floor, so lift system access hasn't been a concern for me, but it seems like one stays consistently down for upkeep. I'm apparently also occupying one of the final unrenovated studios in the complex.<br><br>PROS: Attractive structure, fantastic rooftop terrace, walking distance to Park/Zoo/Lake, Effortless access to multiple transit options, open walk-in closet<br><br>CONS: Owning a vehicle here would be ill-advised. The doormen greet tenants with minimal enthusiasm, as if they'd rather not. mgmt lacks familiarity with tenants—they frequently ask what Alat I reside in despite having seen me just the previous day. The bathroom stays confined and the kitchen stays even tighter. Kitchen lacks okay counter space. My air conditioning failed during summer on a weekend when there's no 24-hour upkeep reachable, leaving me uncomfortable for three days until repairs were made. <br><br>The studio units prove to be scheduled for renovation, which must hopefully bring updated appliances, modern flooring, and modernized bathrooms.