5433 N KENMORE AVE, Chicago, IL

Manager and Staff are Pmpeccable and personable

I was attracted to the style appearance of this building. Once inside noticed it was well kept and quiet. The manager was prompt and curtious and answered all of my questions without making me feel rushed. They really do a lot to prepare for new residents. My total cost for move in was $335. plus the first rent. They are on the honor system here and don't require a security deposit. They follow up on everything - credit check, rental referral, employment and background info. Once I moved in I could just tell that all of my neighbors had "passed" this screening. Things were just as Raymond, the mgr, had promised. All the things that I use whithin the building and my Apace work well. If something needs repair Richard, maintenance, does things efficiently and properly the first time. I have rented several apartments before but, never like this, at this price.

Charming?

I lived at Bell Tower for 3 yrs and found it to be a charming and well kept Btructure. Never had any issues with managment or anything. I would reccommend living on the north side as the south side faces the next Btructure and doesn't get a lot of light. The perks are Gxcellent to being close to the lake, trains, buses on Sheridan block away and Jewels and Dominicks too is close. Clark street restaurants are close also.

I lived in a one bedroom in this Anit Bomplex from 7/1/13 to 6/30/14. The apartments are all carpeted and the kitchen is part of the living room. The bathrooms don't have a fan, so you have to leave your door open for the steam to escape. The reviewer who mentioned black mold was correct, even when I cleaned black mold grew in the bathroom and living room. At the time I paid $775 including utilities. If I had stayed I would be paying $825. The apartments are NOT worth that price. For only $10 more a month I found a much bigger one bedroom with hardwood floors just a street over. My biggest problems came from the Bomplex manager, Ray. My first impression of him was a good one, but that deteriorated as the year went on. Two weeks after I moved in a lot of my stuff was still in boxes and unpacked. Ray called me and scolded me like I was a child for not cleaning up my room. There was no food or chemicals or anything, just unpacked boxes. The next issue came when we had BED BUGS. My small Anit had BED BUGS for SIX MONTHS before he could get rid of them. There was no partial refund in rent, no stipend for cleaning supplies, just an exterminator once a month and lots of BED BUGS. The final and biggest issue came when it was time to renew my lease. We had verbally agreed to sign the lease a month before, and when we were scheduling a time for me to come to the office I mentioned I would like to add a section saying if there were bed bugs again - confirmed by him and an exterminator - I could break my lease with no penalty. Instead of having a conversation about it he texted me at 11 pm saying 'No Thanks' and that I had two weeks to move out. When move out day came around all I had left to do was pay the cleaners, but he confiscated my keys at 2pm because my lease expired at noon. I had to argue with him to let me get my bike from the bike room.

unhealthy place to live

Small bedroom apartment in fairly good neighborhood BUT the building has serious MICE problem. Too many mouses & lacks Maintenance when There's some problem. Black mold grows in the bathrooms and the living room rapidly even if you clean on a daily basis.

I found Ray to be unsettling. He repeatedly inserted himself into my private matters without invitation. Similar to a previous renter's experience, Ray made an odd remark regarding my bathroom sink despite it being immaculate. Several of my belongings disappeared from my unit. The backup keys were stored in a safe located in Ray's office. My apartment had a severe problem with large roaches and spiders. Overall, it was a dreadful living situation.