Tenant Reviews for 222 N COLUMBUS DRIVE

The key to understanding the Park Millennium is who runs it - Draper and Kramer - the infamous Chicago slumlords. For a new building, it is falling apart with constant problems with the elevators, balconies, wiring, no air conditioning - and worst of all - plumbing. In one year I was deluged TWICE as their water pipes are bursting as the building settles - they used cheap welds instead of fittings! The architect ---------- that designed this building can't be human. There is nothing that fits right and next to nothing in the way of closets and storage space. The noise from the fire station and street is unbearable, so poor is the insulation. They also allow dogs - big dogs. The howling at night at times was like being in a kennel. OH, and don't even expect their door people to lend a helping hand. They will sit there like bumps on a log and yell at you if you tie the drive way up for a few minutes. They have no sensitivity to senior citizens WHATSOEVER! The management style of Draper and Kramer can only be described as "Gestapo". Again because they "manage" so many public housing projects where they can get away by being rude, mean, dictorial, etc. to the poor mopes that live there - this carries over to this so-called luxury condominium. And they bleed the owners and renters there mercilessly with hundreds of dollars charged to use the party room, moving elevators, "special assessments", constant repairs, garage fees, etc. There are literally dozens of owners trying desperately to get out of this zoo. This leads them to rent to just about any body and in the last year the place has been full of all sorts of whackos including crazy people running through the hallways late at night screaming. Also, there are constant break-ins and thefts. When I got out of there I felt like I was released from prison and thanked God - that is how grateful I was!

The management office prohibits use of the A/C system which keeps the temperature in the units very high. They show litte interest in the comfort level of the residents are are unresponsive to requests to turn on the air conditioning. Notably, the reasons they cite for restrictions surrounding A/C usage run counter to the interest of the residents and include environmental and financial, but completely ignore the comfort level of residents. <br><br>Quotes from an e-mail written by the management office in response to the issue are below. The first and last names of the individuals are removed.<br><br>E-mail from March 14, 2007 which suggests using window film to reduce the heat:<br><br>Window films (aka heat rejection films) reduce the amount of infrared,<br>visible, and UV radiation entering windows. This radiation occurs even<br>when it's 100% cloudy. Now, window films can actually reduce this<br>exposure by almost 80%. Furthermore, the reason why your unit remains<br>warm at night is pretty much similar to a Greenhouse Effect. In a<br>nutshell, solar radiation heats up the surfaces within your unit. The<br>longer the object is exposed to the heat source, the more heat that it<br>absorbs. Hence, your unit remains warm at night. In any case, and as I<br>have stated many times before, these warm room temperatures only happen<br>during unseasonably warm days (when not enough residents<br><br>The reason why I suggested open windows or window films is because both<br>methods work. In any case, these window films are used extensively<br>throughout the area in both, residential and commercial buildings.<br><br>Again, the HVAC system is computerized in order to minimize utility<br>expenses and, consequently, pollution. Expenses that can be, quite<br>frankly, very high. Thus, manually switching on the AC is absolutely out<br>of the question.

I have lived here since it was a Charles E. Smith building (going on my 5th year). I have gone through the entire transition of the building from the growing pains of a brand new building through various management companies and its conversion into condos. It is a great location, but the area is very transient. With the success of Millenium Park, you don't get a neighborhood feel and the neighborhood, once quite on weekends, is swamped with tourists most of the time. The building staff is wonderful. As a renter, I don't deal with the management company at all. If you have a problem with noise, there is new construction happening next door (As of 03/07) and the fire station on Columbus means you should not rent on the North side of the building. Even with the fire station (you get used to it), when your door is closed (I have always been above the 30th floor) its not that big of a deal. The amenities are not the best you can get, but they are definitely good. An indoor pool, outdoor sun deck, fitness room (small and very busy lately during peak times making it hard to get on a machine) and a business center. They claim a "party room" which does exist, but don't plan on renting it out. The cost is exhorbitant, they charge you for things you would have never imagined. One note of caution for renters, since the building went condo and they developed a board of directors, we are slowly losing amenities. For some reason they removed printers from the business center and no longer provide loaner items from the front desk. I imagine this is common when people who have nothing better to do and desire more power in their lives join a condo board and make rules just to make rules. Not a big issue, but the video display in the elevators isn't nice with weather and news, but packed with rules (mis-spellings and gaudy graphics combined lowering the class that the building used to convey). There was an issue, as with many other buildings I have read about with robberies in the building that were clearly an inside job, but that was 2 or 3 years ago and hasn't been an issue since. I have to re-iterate the door staff and the maintenance staff are AWESOME. The parking is fair and I have never had problems with the garage such as theft or finding a space. I had a problem with noise only once, but only due to an obnoxious neighbor. They recently allowed dogs in the building, but did it right by having a seperate entrance/exit for dog owners and small area where the dogs can do their business. Residents with dogs are respectful with keeping the refuse contained.

The management office prohibits use of the A/C system which keeps the temperature in the units very high. They show litte interest in the comfort level of the residents are are unresponsive to requests to turn on the air conditioning. Notably, the reasons they cite for restrictions surrounding A/C usage run counter to the interest of the residents and include environmental and financial, but completely ignore the comfort level of residents. <br><br>Quotes from an e-mail written by the management office in response to the issue are below. The first and last names of the individuals are removed.<br><br>E-mail from March 14, 2007 which suggests using window film to reduce the heat:<br><br>Window films (aka heat rejection films) reduce the amount of infrared,<br>visible, and UV radiation entering windows. This radiation occurs even<br>when it's 100% cloudy. Now, window films can actually reduce this<br>exposure by almost 80%. Furthermore, the reason why your unit remains<br>warm at night is pretty much similar to a Greenhouse Effect. In a<br>nutshell, solar radiation heats up the surfaces within your unit. The<br>longer the object is exposed to the heat source, the more heat that it<br>absorbs. Hence, your unit remains warm at night. In any case, and as I<br>have stated many times before, these warm room temperatures only happen<br>during unseasonably warm days (when not enough residents<br><br>The reason why I suggested open windows or window films is because both<br>methods work. In any case, these window films are used extensively<br>throughout the area in both, residential and commercial buildings.<br><br>Again, the HVAC system is computerized in order to minimize utility<br>expenses and, consequently, pollution. Expenses that can be, quite<br>frankly, very high. Thus, manually switching on the AC is absolutely out<br>of the question.

I was just surfing the net and ran into the reviews of PM. Alot of them were from before I was here when the property was entirely a rental. I have found the buildig to be great. The neighbors are friendly. I love having the washer/dryer in my unit. Great view and so close to everything. I just had a party in the party room where it was not necessary to pay anything. All I did was reserve the room. When the garbage disposal broke I called the landlord and it was fixed the next day. Unfortunately for my landlord I think she is going to loose a tenant because I'm considering buying a unit when my lease expires.

The best location in Chicago!<br><br>safe, great parking and maintenance service. I would highly recommend this place!

Park Millennium is one of the prettiest buildings in Chicago! both inside and out! I love the new ammenities, and the fact that there's meter parking in front of the building, where can you find that in Chicago? The staff is very welcoming and helpful. I definetely recommend this place to anyone..If you want to live in the lap of luxury, come to Park Millennium!!

Everyone has always been very pleasant at Park Millennium, and the building has never looked better.

Park Millennium is my new home. I have moved to Chicago from another state about 10mos ago. The building and staff have been more than welcoming, safe and professional. The maintenance staff is always timely and helpful when needed. I encourage anyone that is looking for a new home to come to visit Park Millennium. I think everyone will be as satisfied as I am.

I have had a great experience living here. It has experienced staff (always pleasant and courteous) and full amenities. I loved the business center, fitness center and the sundeck. Grocery store is practically next door. I've heard about security concerns. But if you lock your door, there is nothing to worry about. Great place to live and enjoy the Chicago city life to the fullest.