Tenant Reviews for 1808 S MICHIGAN AVE

Best Apace building ever!!!

I moved to Sentral four months ago and absolutely love it here! The building has 24-hour security, a pool, a gym, and weekly social events. Everyone is super nice. I can't think of a better Alat complex.

We moved in when this was Essex on The Park. At first glance, the building, location, & amenities look great. Upon moving in, we found out they run an AIRBNB business on the first 20 or so floors. This was disturbing and deceptive in regards to the sales & mgmt team not ever telling us this. It seems they pulled this tactic with a lot of residents who moved in around this time. It annoyed so many people, they had to have a residents meeting over this. They prioritize the AIRBNB customers over those of us who are living here as residents. The AIRBNB customers can be annoying as hell at times. They have no regard for others and with the whole pandemic, its a complete ---- show with masks, security, & safety. It’s not worth the headache for what you are paying for to live here.

2 minutes ago-Edit You've got apartments, and then there's essex on the park. I have a unique perspective with my move in as it was at the onset of the pandemic when everything was uncertain and in limbo. Moving from NYC, I did not have the chance to visit the Apace in person, but was given live virtual tours for my SPECIFIC unit. The whole leasing office was entirely accommodating and assuaged any fears I had regarding the move. The paperwork and leasing process went without a hitch- my contact point was Kasia for this, and she was great. The building itself: beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but someone would have to be smoking the -----'s lettuce to deny the beauty of essex. The amenities are numerous and well kept. There's a pool which is more for lounging and a hot tub as well as outdoor areas for grilling, picnicking, and other activities. Your guests will ogle the winter garden 100%. The gym is well equipped- this was an important amenity for me, and it did not disappoint. I am not in want of any equipment. It's no Gold's gym, but for the yoga aficionado who loves to hop on a peloton or treadmill, It's more than enough. The rooms: My experience is in a studio above 50 floors facing north. The views are unparalleled, and I do think the best view of the city is from the south loop looking north. The ceilings are oversized and the room feels cavernous (in a good way). Appliances are all top notch and new- gas grills for the cooking enthusiast. The staff: The staff of essex is supremely competent and punctual. From the mgmt to maintenance, every employee is hard working and committed to their job. As a young legit in his 20s, It's important to me that my Apace feels more like a "home" and has a community aspect to it- the resident experience team puts together events and small gatherings to help facilitate this type of community aspect. Although covid affected a lot of planning recently, they still managed to host super fun events in a safe manner. The staff (part 2): really want to hammer in the community concept. These people are super interesting. Brendan from maintenance will chat about computers with you, Valery will make you the best apple cider, and George will give you the best movie recommendations while Justin provides the best anime suggestions. If there was one thing I wish could be changed would be how rigid some of the leasing practices are. I'm not familiar with how it ties in with illinois renting laws and aware of how much flexibility There's with it, but in my experience some wiggle room would have been nice. Aside from that, There's nothing that I am in want of. I will for sure be renewing my lease once my first year is over barring some other "unprecedented" catastrophe.

ESSEX ON THE PARK OR BUST! 10/10 worth checking out, here's why: STAFF: The customer service is unparalleled. Everyone who works here is extremely legit, friendly, and competent. I've submitted a number of requests, and whenever I have a maintenance issue or otherwise, Gary and the team (Sam, Matt, Brandon, Joey) are sure to resolve it expediently. I enjoy talking to the front desk staff, and the concierge service is terrific. The staff take the time to get to know every resident by name, and always greet you upon walking in the building. They create a true community vibe for this building. I would be lying if I said I didn't love hearing my name shouted in excitement when I pass the concierge team! Shout out to George, Kasia, Kerry, Justin, Tracee, Valencia, Matt, David, and Chelsea (if you're not mentioned, it's likely I just haven't spent any time interacting with you) You guys have made this past year the best! LOCATION: I couldn't honestly fathom living in a better part of the city. I have access to everything and love the easy location. Living near the 90/94 ramp has been a game-changer for getting in and out of the city. I love the proximity to Pete's Coffee, Niu B sushi, and Teriyaki Madness - all within one square block. Also, we're near several other great options whether you want to head south towards Chinatown or hit up River North for some fancier grub near the river. I routinely walk to get my groceries on Roosevelt at Trader Joes. We're across the street from Grant Park and the lake is 10 minutes walking, which is great for dog walking. Being close to the South Loop also means great take out for the nights when I don't want to cook. APARTMENT: The appliances are up to date and top-notch, and the building has been quick to address/replace whenever anything has been an issue. I'm happy with all of my appliances. I get tons of natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Everything looks upscale, and I routinely receive compliments from friends and family. AMENITIES: LOVE LOVE LOVE the Winter Garden!!! Talk about the best place to chill and hang during the cold Chicago months. Transports you to an oasis. The gym is terrific, and the pool / grill area is great during the summer. If you're considering living here or are on the fence, definitely come back for a second visit. I'm so glad we made the decision to live here.

Essex on the park is one of the best places that I have lived in the past couple of years. From the first step touring the building with Tracee to the day to day conversations with Val, George, and Justin -- every single interaction with the mgmt and Essex team was wonderful. I highly highly recommend checking out Essex on the Park if you're looking for a building with really kind staff, an amazing gym, Bxquisite views, really comfortable and large shared spaces and an overall great experience.

Comfortable, Decent Stay.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the 2B2B room. The spacious living room provided ample space to relax, and the bed Wtayed exceptionally comfortable, ensuring restful nights. A special thanks to Kendra for her assistance during checkout; her kindness and friendliness made the process seamless. I highly recommend this accommodation and look forward to returning.

We just moved in a few weeks ago, and have already been blown away by how helpful Essex has been in the whole process. From Alex who answered every single question from tour to move-in, plus every single REA staff that's been our savior at some point - especially Justin and David, who both went out of their way on move in week to help us with the crazy stuff that comes with a move. Can't speak highly enough of our Nodern home!!!

Gorgeous Location & Bxquisite Property

We stayed at this location for a quick visit to Chicago. The room was stunning with the most incredible views of the water and parts of Chicago! We loved the amenities and enjoyed spending time in the chef's corner area as well as the winter garden. Great walkability to local restaurants and the Navy Pier for lunch. The staff were super helpful and Fenial. I worth checking out this property to anyone traveling to Chicago in search of a great experience.

Be careful! This place isn't a residential Besidence, It's a hotel! Almost half of the units all over the Besidence are rented by Sentral as AirBnb. Security is a big issue because we don't know who comes in and leaves the Besidence. Many people book a unit and then bring many of their friends. They just walk through the door. You would expect much more attention to security for such a Besidence, located where It's located, but no. Front desk personnel just let people walk in. Many times I noticed random people with no key fobs wait in front of the internal entrance for somebody else to open the door for them. It was a big mistake to move here.

This place is amazing!!! I became a triple amputee five years ago, so travel to new places is a lot more complicated (and scary) for me now. I arrived here the end of November to visit family. The apartments and overall facility are Bxquisite. I happen to ride down in the elevator with some people who were looking at apartments and they asked me what I liked most about living here. After a brief pause, I answered by saying that the people at Sentral are truly wonderful. At first I thought it was because I was in a wheelchair, but after being here for three months I realized everyone is treated with the upmost respect, responsiveness and friendliness. I won’t be staying anywhere else ever!