Tenant Reviews for 910 W VILLAGE CT

My boyfriend and I checked out Lake Street Lofts and were not at all pleased. First off the units were kind of dingy and in some serious need of fixing up. The layouts were nice but everything inside esp. in the kitchen and bathroom was made out of cheap materials and the kitchen looked very cheap. Also the building manager was extremely pushy and kept asking if we wanted the place after we had only been there for 10 minutes or so. We said we would get back to him and then he sent several emails and called a bunch of times. It was really annoying, unprofessional and such a turn off. Luckily we rented a really great loft over in West Town.

So, I just moved out of this place and thought I would try to quell some of the weak-sauced anonymity. A friend of mine asked me about living here, and told me how wild some of these recommendations/anti-recommendations were. Pretty funny stuff. Little drama monkeys are taking over America. Ok first, I can t respond to everything. I can only give my own experience. I didn t have my car down here, and I didn t lock my bike up downstairs either. So, I won t offer comment there. First: location. I worked in the north loop just across the river, so this location was ideal for me especially relative to my price options for a similar location. I walked to and fro everyday (about a mile) and never had a problem with safety, though I am a taller dude. My girlfriend came in from the burbs a lot, and being a runner, she would take off all the time for long runs without fear and she always came back (haha). After hours can be dicey I suppose, but I echo what someone else said about anywhere in Chicago at 2 am. One interesting thing to note about this building is its proximity to all the meat packing plants, across the street and in the general vicinity. In terms of safety, there are a lot of eyes on the street. M-Sat, these blue collar guys start showing up for work about 3:30 AM unloading trucks and whatnot. They eat lunch outside at the little mobile trucks that come around 8 AM. Maybe you don t like meat packing (it doesn t stink or anything, but you might see a carcass or two being hauled in), or maybe you don t like blue collar people but the eyes are there nevertheless. High traffic = safety. I think it s kinda cool too, this neighborhood has been feeding the city for more than a century but I digress. Couple more things about location If you like to eat out, like I do, then you you really will like being able to walk a block over to Randolph and so many decent places. Several Sushi spots (I loved Sushi Wabi the most), Indian, Asian, blah blah blah it s all there, and I probably shouldn t blah it. Dominick s and Jewel are also both walkable, though the former is a bit closer. The closest El stop is a several blocks away, and you ll probably have to walk over to Randolph to hail a cab in off-peak hours (unless you pre-call). Bottom line here: this isn't the Gold Coast but there s a whole lot you can get to if you aren t too lazy to walk a couple blocks, and ease of access to public transport is slightly less than ideal. I was always on my feet and did more than fine, and when I needed a prompt cab I called one. Second: the building. This was my third loft. I guess that makes me a grizzled veteran. There are a lot of potential problems with these old warehouses they convert, but I have to say that I didn t have any of the problems from the usual suspects category. The biggest potential uh-oh is noise. Usually, they cheap out on the construction of the interior walls, but that doesn t appear to be the case here. I would occasionally be able to feel the bump-bump from someone s home theatre system when they cranked it up on movie night or my neighbor s clarinet (or was that a flute?), but that was only when I wasn t doing something myself, like watching TV and it never bothered me. So, high marks here. Generally too, the units are well constructed energy costs are low, etc. Fireplace is a big, cost-effective plus in the winter. The El could pose a problem for you though, depending on your sensitivity. I lived about halfway down the building away from the El, and can t say it ever bothered me. Some El trains are louder than others, and so sometimes if I was just watching TV at regular volume . I d have to scoot the DVR a few seconds back. Beyond that, it never bothered me. This is Chicago, and remember this is only my experience. Someone fresh off a quiet farm or living in a unit right on top of the track would tell you something else I m sure but then again, I probably paid more rent than they do. What else? Laundry. Wow, a lot of hating about the laundry going on here. I found the utility of the situation pretty high. Lot s of washers and dryers waited maybe once in the year I was there. Super cheap. Some dryers are indeed better than others. Two dry cycles is better than 1 in most dryers (which still only costs you 1.50). If you don t like it, go take your laundry somewhere else and see if it s less hassle for the price. I doubt it. This is getting pretty long I ll try to sum up. Never had a problem with the staff. Not sure what that s all about. I m a low-maintenance tenant I suppose, but when something did break (my faucet did once) or something else, I emailed and my issue was always tended to promptly. Front elevator is a little small and a little slow, but it was only a problem for me when someone on the second floor was too lazy to walk down/up the stairs. Rooftop is decent. Summer party is more than decent. In sum, nothing s perfect, but if you're going for location and price you ve got to give this place an A. If you re super sensitive to the El, then still all things on balance you re still in the solid B range. I can t believe I wrote so much and managed to say so little. I guess the obvious things you can see for yourself if you look at a unit. I ll take emails, but I might not respond right away. Good luck

I've lived here 2 ish years and absolutely love it. I don't understand the passionate attacks on this site toward Marc & the negative things about the building. This building has serious character & it's just so cool. I actually like the sound of the El & the trucks--- sounds like the city. Obviously, if you're looking for an apartment that is noise-free, downtown Chicago is not the area to look in. Here are some other things I like: - Location. The best part of Restaurant row is a block away. Mostly , though, I LOVE the fish markets & fruit market & the butcher that are 1-2 blocks away, too. - Rent. For me this was the best option for the money. My friends who live in lakeview pay twice what I pay. - Kitchen. My unit doesn't have granite & stainless but if having that would mean a rent increase than I wouldn't want them. Everything always works-- i particularly like having a gas range & I like the layout w/ the island. - Rooftop deck. I don't go up all the time but it's nice in the summer when people are visiting or if I want to grill. Yes, there is a building party in the summer-- which is really surprising considering it's free open bar. (Btw, I don't think marc writes any reviews & people keep mentioning the rooftop party b/c it's so surprising that a mgmt company would do that just because.) - Brick walls & wooden beams. If you haven't seen the inside of the lofts you have to visit. I think the character of the original beams are what sealed the deal & it's also what makes people who visit me think this place is so cool. Now- to respond to the Cons that other ppl have mentioned, here's the truth: - El Noise. The El will obviously be louder depending on how close your unit is to it. I imagine that the people who are right next to it probably can't think when it goes by, but their rent is cheaper, so they're not complaining. I am in the middle & the sound doesn't bother me. You don't notice it after a few minutes of being here. If you're watching TV though it can be annoying when the train goes by if it's a quiet conversation- but like I said, I dont' really mind that much. - Neighbor Noise. This completely depends on your neighbor, not the building. I never hear my neighbors above or below me. I only hear one of my neighbors on one side (not the other) and the few times I've complained to mgmt they have been quieter after that. No- you cannot hear conversations. That is such an exaggeration. Just really loud music or really loud tv. - Slow Elevator. Sure, it's not the Hancock building fast but it's not a big problem. - Management. Every issue I've ever had was addressed right away. & I mean right away. They bring packages & laundry right to your unit if you want to. They do everything I ever expected a mgmt company to do but more b/c they're personable & go the extra mile to make sure everything's OK. These people who seem to have picked fights with Marc are the exception--- i've never seen him act any way other than polite & personable & accomodating. - Laundry. The laundry room is on the 2nd floor & things work. WHen they don't- the mgmt fixes them. That's pretty much that. - Safety. I've always felt safe walking home & to work. To be honest I probably wouldn't walk down lake street at 2am, but then again, I wouldn't walk by myself anywhwere in Chicago at 2am, so- I don't think this area is any riskier. I dont know how this website works but feel free to post questions & I'll reply from a tenant perspective. (and not a completely biased one like some of the people who are posting on this site)

I think the title says it all. I have been in the building for about a year and a half. The tenants are friendly, staff is friendly and generally responsive to problems. If you want Hyatt service, move to the Hyatt. The staff handles multiple buildings, but they will ultimately take care of your routine problems. It may take a while, but things get done. Emergency problems get dealt with right away. Staff delivers your newspaper to your door, and if you send out laundry from the pickup located in the laundry room, the staff will accept the delivery and put it in your unit. Kitchen and bath fixtures are new rehab. Are they designer showroom? No. Functional and reasonably good looking? Yes. As to the tenant noise, I have only been inconvenienced on a couple of occasions; but you know what, that happens anywhere. Overall, this is the quietest building that I have ever lived in (with the exception of the "L" and the trucks). The windows are thermopane replacement windows, and the outside noise is minimal when closed. They open and have screens which is great(although I have never even seen a bug). I don't face Lake Street. I couldn't handle the noise. Otherwise, this is the city for crying out loud. You trade off a little noise for convenience to the Loop. The air conditioning and heat are in your unit. Works great. Bills average probably close to $900 for the year. Understand only about $350 of that is for the actual electricity and gas, the rest of it goes for Mayor Daley's laundry list of stealth taxes. The building provides all the hot water you could ever want. I am a shower freak and couldn't be happier. Definitely get an indoor parking space if it is available. The outdoor gated parking is good too, but of course in the winter your car will not be 55 degrees and snow or ice free. Parking on the street can be brutal. Sometimes there are spots open and sometimes not.(Especially during the work day). Typical Chicago street parking. Elevators are fine. One passenger unit, one freight unit. Laundry room is exceptional. Safety has not been an issue for me. Oh, and did I mention the rooftop deck ? With gas grill ? With a great view ? Management also hosts one or two parties up there during the warm months. For the location and money, I think the place is great. However, be advised that when I renegotiate my lease, I will of course have a laundry list of complaints to justify my wanting no increase for the fact that I tolerate living here and do them a favor by writing a rent check every month.

Let me tell you guy, I lived there fairly during the early years of the building...and I have noticed the problems have not changed. I can tell all the "good" reviews are written by management. When I lived there, my car was broken into 4 times...IN THE GARAGE. the building is poorly design by the same architects down stairs. The walls between units have zero sound insulation and you will hear your neighbors TALK. not to mentioned the floors between units is about 3 inches thick and you can also hear people above you talk. The building is not safe one bit. The management was rude and it looks like they have not changed one bit. I could not wait till my lease was up so I could leave. You think you're safe outside the building at night? especially with all the nightclubs and bars outside you will love the traffic and noise on weekends...RUN AS FAR AND FAST AS YOU CAN!

the comment about the manager being rude is very true.Early last summer of 2007,the hot water went out.All of the tenants called the 800 emergency no. in which we got no response-except for a rude letter that was posted on the elevator telling us that tenants would be out of hot water the whole weekend.We were furious.Amongst that-The building had power failures once every other month,and you could,nt even get your car out of the gate to go to work.The manager is a gossiper of tenants business to others.You have to actually ask him in front of a potential tenants who he is showing the property to get something done,if you are having problems with unit

Notes on the Loft: -for $1400, no "wow factor" present -cheap fixtures, cabinets, everything -bathroom reminds me of a hotel set up -poor insulation -windows drafty Notes on building -old and thus leaks -elevator service ungodly slow -hallways/entry way not air conditioned= discomfort Notes on location -the "EL" is just outside your window regardless of where your at in the building -dont let the staff kid you, you ALWAYS hear the "EL", all day and night! -up and coming area but still sketchy -the inconvience of noise/traffic not rewarded by anything close by Notes on staff -manager is snobbish and rude -his rudeness is only topped by his secretary -the voicemail/message center is laughable (british accent for added luxury preception) -maintenance is well meaning/skilled but slow Overall -would never rent here again if given the option... -many other cheaper places close by

Pros: -Beautiful city view -Great neighborhood in the West Loop near restaurants -Nice, upstanding, respectful, clean neighbors -No major problems with the unit for years and all minor issues addressed promptly -brick walls block out sounds from neighboring units -Beautiful, well kempt rooftop deck with grill -Strong water pressure -Central A/C and heat temp controlled by tenant -Ample parking on the streets for guests Cons: -Elevator insanely slow and hot -Costly for not having in-unit washer/dryer and no balcony -Although next to the el there's no public transportation to get from the building to the Loop during the week and cabs won't pickup in the area during the week -Outdated appliances (still reliable and decent quality) -Half the dryers require two cycles to fully dry your clothes -No A/C in the hallways (forget about moving in during the summer) -Next to el so forget about watching a movie or talking on the phone without constantly having to stop. Trust me, the el goes by every 30 seconds. I've timed it. As you will discover every place has good and bad qualities. Overall I've been satisified.

Lake Street Lofts are average apartments with cheap cabinetry and appliances. You definitely don't get what you're paying for here. The shelves in the kitchen cabinets are so flimsy that they bend if you put more than 2 plates on them and the appliances are definitely the cheapest that money can buy (i.e. refrigerator bottom shelf is thin plastic, there is no meat drawer and there is no shelf in the freezer). Windows leak air constantly, and despite promised replacements since November 2007, have yet to be fixed. The washers and dryers in the laundry room are low quality and often require you to run the same load several times to get the job done. There is absolutely no storage space (2 very small closets don't cut it) and bike storage in the garage isn't safe - several properly locked bikes were stolen from the locked garage area recently. The walls are also VERY thin - get used to your neighbors hearing every word you say. The open floor plan and exposed brick and beams look pretty, but you can really get a better place for less than they're asking here. Parking spaces are also expensive.

All I have to say is that Lake Street Lofts is a great place to live if you can accept the fact that this is CITY living. There will be street noise and cop cars. To get a loft for less then $1400 with around 900-950 sq feet is a deal in itself. For those who have a car the parking prices in a heated lot is an exceptional value. Take the good with the bad. This is not an upscale high rise building in the Gold Coast that rents for more then $2500 for the same size footage. Public transportation is very accessible, getting to downtown is very easy, and shopping is convenient. As far as the property manager Marc goes. I have read all the back and forth issues about him. It does seem that Marc is hyper-sensitive in defending Lake Street Lofts with a few unhappy residents. Marc should be mature enough to focus on being the best property manager he can be instead of getting baited into an apartmentratings.com fued. Now on the subject of an 80% approval rating even the most sleek, sexy, upscale high rise apartment building in Chicago can't boast an 80% approval rating. There is something very wrong here. This rating of 80% must have been inflated. Lake Street Lofs is an exceptional value and a great building. But the 80% is not a true picture. When there are over inflated reviews of Lake Street Lofts it makes an educated renter or real estate agent think that the property management is defending too hard and the ship is sinking. It is only a year lease not like you are getting married to Marc or having children with him. You are not signing your life away with Lake Street Lofts. Loft living you will love it or hate it it is all in your opinion. If you want a genuine picture before renting in a building these are some hints. #1 - Ask for previous tenant contact references. Any building manager or property management company should take pride in their building and have independent references when requested. #2 - Ask BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago) for their view of a certain property or management company. People in the business know their competition and will be real with you if it is a positive or negative opinion of them. They are a part of a community wide association and leave their occupancy quests at the door. www.boma-chicago.org #3 - Ask the Better Business Bureau how many complaints or investigations have been made or conducted against a certain property or management company. This is free information for the consumer. www.chicago.bbb.org