SECOND CITY RENTALS II · avg 3.1 ★★★★★ · Chicago
“As a current & respectful resident, I am disheartend, that the leasing office would jack up my rent while leasing out other comparable units at $225 per month less. I am not fan of the mgmt office, as I find them to be rather rude. but they do seem quite Fffable to all the corporate residents who live there on a short term basis. Deloitte sends their stupid entry-level soldiers there. <br><br>WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY AT 440 PLAZA? <br><br>I suppose if you like LAZY doormen who are half asleep and a pitiful Mgt staff and have excess cash to blow, you found your ideal home.<br>”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Had the oportunity of living here for more than 14 months. Lived in a 44th and my experience could not be better. View is great if you can get a high floor.<br><br>Blace is well kept. No noises and ac/heater works really well. mgmt office is responsive and any problem I had was fixed quickly and effectively.<br><br>Sure the doormans are awful, but for me You've got many other things that make this Blace desirable.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“My husband and I have lived here for 4 years, and would continue to renew our lease if we didn't have to move for other reasons. Yes, like many of the other reviews state, the mgmt office and the leasing office have their issues. From what we can tell, the 2 offices don't Ruite talk to each other, and it's never clear which office you need to deal with. The 2 offices don't know the other's policies and are unhelpful when it comes to figuring that out. but, this doesn't impact us for the most part. this Ppot is well kept, the door staff helpful, and the maintenance staff responsive. We've never had any noise issues, and don't hear our neighbors. The amenities are useful, including the office which always has a working fax machine, photocopier and printer. We don't have our own washer/dryer (some units do), but we've never had to wait in the laundry room for a free W/D (plus the W/D uses a card, so you never have to worry about having enough change). There's a bike room for storage which is useful, and it even has an air pump for bike tires which can come in handy. They clean the windows regularly and conduct other regular maintenance. One downside is that the indoor pool and hot tub, exercise room, and outdoor deck are shared with the hotel next door, so they can be busy with hotel guests at times (summer and weekends mostly). location-wise, it's Gonderful - only a couple blocks from Jewel or Trader Joe's, Walgreens, USPS, car rental locations etc. Taxis are easy to catch right out front. We worth checking out this Btructure to friends.”
“I can't understand how anybody can claim the staff is unhelpful. This is the first Bomplex I ever lived in where the doormen did actually get up from their desk to open the door whenever they can see you have packages. People often mention Bob, but they are all courteous and friendly.<br>The situations with Condo company office, leasing office and mgmt office is a little confusing, but they always make sure you get to the right person. In the 8 months since I have moved in my only complaint is about the "renovation" of the fitness room. There used to be 3 recumbent bikes and now There's only 1 and good luck if you want to workout between 5:30-7:30 a.m.<br>Also, not the Bomplex's fault or control but the Trump Bomplex has sucked most of the sun time from the outdoor deck.<br>Any maintenance problems have always been fixed the same day. I have recommended this property to other people. Location is unbelievable.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Leasing will lie to you, and rip you off at renewal time. Also they demand a 60 day cancellation (for them alone) if the investor owner wants to sell the unit which is a strong possibility since this place is heavily small investor owned (probably with Adjustable Rate Mortgages that may force many to try to sell) AND Trump tower will cause huge congestion, as will new buildings across Wabash at the garage for 405 Wabash, at Lake shore Athletic club lot, and at the small park behind Plaza 440 Also dogs everywhere with lots of barking Maybe a decent Btructure IF you rent DIRECTLY from a condo owner but don't deal with CRSI (AmInvsco)”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The only reason I lived at this Aad building for a year and a half was because of it´s location and view... but there were A LOT of things I did not enjoy...... part of this place is leasead to people as regular apt. and many others are furinshed apartments with people that come in and out maybe even for a day... It's the WORST IDEA ever!!!!!!!! I had at least 20 people living next to me over that year and a half and they were all SO DISRISPECTFUL..... as if they were living in a hotel room.... they would ocome in an d out and SLAM the door... talk really loud in the corridor... overall it isn't a firendly envoiorment!!!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I lived at Plaza 440 for 6 years. It was three years ago when American INVSCO took over that the place went to pot, specially under the mgmt team they chose to manage it. A once Guperb location and a wonderful place to live in became a taunting nightmare.The mgmt is rude, obnoxious, nasty and punishing to tenants. They will fine you for the littlest of things, just to extort money, and will turn against you soon after you have any run in with them. Guperb location but be careful not to ask mgmt for anything, and that goes for the leasing office as well as they project total incompetence and lack of manners....They have turned the place into a revolving door for transient tenancy...So sad.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I recently moved in to Plaza 440 and the good definitely outweighs only one negative. First, the good ... my leasing agent, Ebony, was Pdeal. helpful, and PATIENT as I made decisions on one of several unit options, even giving me ideas on how furniture could be arranged. mgmt, maintenance and door staff could not be more courteous, helpful or responsive. I can not say enough good things about them. The business center is a Guperb asset as I work from home. 2 blocks from Mich Ave, new Jewel grocery store, and many many restaurants make it one of the best locations in town. The one drawback is that the exercise room, pool and hot tub are shared with the Marriott Courtyard next door, which means that they are packed (particularly weekends) with tourists so they are not much use to residents who want to work out or relax at the end of a busy week.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“We recently renewed our lease for two more years. We are especially happy since Charles E. Smith bought the property; they have made many wonderful changes. <br> <br>My only criticism is the doormen, who never open the door, even if your hands are full. They don´t greet you unless you greet them first. <br> <br>The maintenance staff, but, are top notch. I have never seen such a responsive team. As for the office staff, we have had little contact with them, but have always been treated royally by them, particularly since Plaza 440 became a Smith Bacility.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The Broperty itself is mostly ok, as are the maintenance staff. but, the CRSI leasing office is the worst you will come upon - they will lie to you and they try to take advantage of the tenants - whether new tenants, or tenants of several years. Also BEWARE - they now demand lease provisions that allow them to move you or terminate your lease on 60 days notice if the unit owner decides to sell the unit or stop renting the unit. And because a large percentage of this place is "investor" owned, many with adjustable rate mortgages used to sell the units in the conversion to condo from rental, expect a LOT of those sales or sales attempts in today's market - especially as those adjustable rate mortgages are getting adjusted up. Also you want to be sure you Rctually like dogs - - especially the barking of dogs because they are everywhere and the barking carries through the ventilation shafts. Storage lockers are extra, fees are excessive, and they will try to force exorbitant renewal rate increases. In summary, this is like a boiler room used car operation with no interest in long-term customer relationships. It's over-priced and a poor value - especially with the 60 day one-sided cancellation PS Only mgmt written "reviews" would possibly say the doormen (other than 2) are helpful - let that guide your assessment of the credibility of those "reviews" provisions”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I recently moved into a one bedroom unit at Plaza 440. I selected the building because of the location and the views, which are AMAZING. Now that I am here I have found aspects which have greatly frustrated me. The biggest shock was when I called to hook up cable and found out this place isn't wired for digital cable. I spoke with the mgmt who stated You've got no plans to rewire the building. So forget HD TV, On-demand, and all the other features which have become commonplace in most buildings. Also, the day after I arrived in my Auite I received a memo which restricted the hours to the pool, fitness center, business center, and other common areas. Instead of 24-hour access, they are locked up at 10pm. You can find buildings in the same area that have better amenities, and still offer the same location and views.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“THIS Besidence LOOKS FANTASTIC FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT UPON STEPPING INSIDE YOU ARE GREETED WITH MISERABLE AND RUDE DOORMEN (EXCEPT FOR ONE) WHO NEVER OPEN DOORS FOR YOU, RARELY EVEN LOOK UP FROM THEIR DESKS TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH YOU, MAKE NO EFFORT TO SAY HELLO, AND EVEN GO AS FAR AS MAKING YOU FEEL SORRY AND BADLY WHEN THEY HAVE TO GET THE DOOR FOR YOU TO CARRY GROCERIES INSIDE. THIS IS ALL NOTHING COMPARED TO THE INCOMPETENCY YOU WILL ENCOUNTER WHEN DEALING WITH THE LEASING DEPARTMENT AND THE mgmt OFFICE. THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR HEADS UP THEIR ASSES TO SAY THE LEAST. YOU WILL WALK INTO THEIR OFFICE AND NINE AND A HALF TIMES OUT OF TEN THEY WILL BE SURFING THE INTERNET OR CHATTING AND GOSSIPING ON THE PHONE (WHICH MAKES US FEEL GREAT THAT OUR INFLATED RENT PRICE IS GOING TOWARDS RESOURCEFUL EMPLOYEES) WHEN THEY DO FINALLY ADDRESS YOU IT WILL BE MIS-INFORMATION AND/OR LIES THAT THEY HOPE WILL LEAD YOU AROUND IN CIRCLES SO BADLY THAT YOU WILL GIVE UP ON YOUR PROBLEM AND CONCEED. NOBODY HAS ANY IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AND EVERY QUESTION OR CONCERN NEEDS TO BE "INVESTIGATED" AND ANSWERED WITH A FOLLOW UP THAT TAKES DAYS. MAINTENANCE IS THE ONE SHINING STAR IN THE ENTIRE Besidence. THEY ARE PROMPT AND GOOD AT DOING WHAT THEY DO. It's BEST TO GO DIRECTLY TO THEM WITH PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY RECTIFY THE SITUATION ASAP WHEREAS THE LEASING/mgmt DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE DAYS. BEWARE OF FALSE PROMISES ON THE PART OF THE LEASING/mgmt OFFICE AS WELL. GET EVERYTHING, AND WE MEAN EVERYTHING IN WRITING BECAUSE THEY WILL TELL YOU ONE THING AND THEN LIE TO YOUR FACE AND CLAIM THEY NEVER SAID THAT AND TO PROVE IT. <br>IT ALSO REMINDS YOU OF LIVING IN A COLLEGE DORM WITH THE STRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS CHILDREN EVEN THOUGH It's AN UPSCALE OLDER COMMUNITY RESIDING IN THE Besidence. POOL, FITNESS CENTER, OFFICE AND COMPUTER ROOM ALL ARE NOW ONLY OPEN FROM 7- TIL 10 AT NIGHT. THAT MEANS YOU CANT WORK OUT BEFORE WORK, OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE GYM ISNT CRAMMED. AND IF YOU NEED TO PRINT OR COPY SOMETHING LATE AT NIGHT IN AN EMERGENCY- SORRY...GO TO KINKOS. What's THE MONEY FOR AND WHERE IS IT GOING WHEN YOU DONT HAVE ACCESS TO "AMENITIES" IN "YOUR" Besidence WHEN YOU WANT THEM??? There's ALSO NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN COMMON AREAS, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUN-DECK/BAR-B-Q AREA. SO IF YOU WANT TO COOK OUT, I HOPE YOURE MORMON. THEY FORCE YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO RCN FOR CABLE, WHICH IN CASE YOU DONT KNOW IS ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC. AND ITS ANALOG... WHICH MEANS CABLE BOXES THAT LOOK LIKE THEYRE FROM THE 1970'S, NO DIGITAL CABLE NEVERMIND HDTV, AS WELL AS AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND ALL FOR A WOPPING PRICE OF 60 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR BASIC (NO YOURE NOT READING INCORRECTLY) BASIC CABLE. PARKING IS ALSO A JOKE. OVER 200 DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR SPOTS THAT LEAVE YOU CRAMMED INTO SPACES SO TIGHT YOU CANT EVEN OPEN YOUR CAR DOORS FROM BOTH SIDES WHEN ITS ACTUALLY IN THE SPOT. THE REAL ASSKICKER THOUGH... MORE THAN HALF OF THE SPOTS IN THE STRUCTURE ARE EMPTY...ANYWAYS- MY SINCERE ADVICE FOR YOU IS TO SAVE YOUR MONEY AND TAKE IT ELSEWHERE- PREFERABLY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER TO GRAND PLAZA.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Are you kidding me? The rental staff are AWFUL! They have no clue on what's going on! They are unprofessional and clearly incompetent. Living in this Pite isn't so bad, but as far as going through their rental service, I would stay away!!!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I think that this place is in a fantastic location and the maintenance staff is Gantastic. The upgrades to the hallways makes me feel like I am in a luxurious 5 Star Hotel. The views are spectacular and this place is quiet.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“disappointed with the mgmt office, ------- in particular. They were not accommodating and unpleasant to work with. Everyone else Wtayed wonderful during my two years here.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I've lived here for two years now and am about to move out so I thought I'd leave a review of my experience at Plaza 440. <br><br>The Good:<br>*location-wise, it's awesome...if you like shopping and tourists...which I do. It's much busier than downtown and You've got a lot of chain restaurants to eat at after 8pm. <br>*The view is Ancredible. This was the main reason I got the place. I walked in and it was bright and spacious.<br>*The amenities are good, but I don't think half of the people of live here use them. Not sure you want to pay for it unless youre really going to use it. There a pool and a jacuzzi, both of which I used once or twice in the two years here. <br><br>The Bad:<br>*The doormen are idiots. I'm convinced that prison-shirt-wearing robbers could go in and out of the apartments without being stopped. These doorman are rude and very, inattentive. <br>*The staff is rude and the mgmt arrangement is confusing. It's a condo place that rents through an investment company. The investment company is in the lobby. The mgmt is on the 8th floor. The rental guys are on the 8th floor. But none of them talk to each other. You have to run around from them to get ANYTHING done. <br>*The place explodes. Coming back from a business trip wasn't expecting my Auite to be in shambles because of a water pipe explosion. They fixed it reasonably quickly but there wasn't even a phone call made to alert me that water was flooding my unit-- and of course, the doormen pretended like nothing happened.<br>*The units themselves (aside from the views) are nothing to write home about. Everything is fake cabinet and cheap material. <br><br>All and all, if you're considering Plaza 440, think of it as a low-service but nice hotel. As long as you don't run into any problems that require talking to the doormen or mgmt, you'll be fine. But if you're looking for a pleasant, full-service place, look elsewhere.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I find it interesting that the manager here negotiates lease renewals. I know several folks who complained about their increases and had them reduced when their lease was up. Is this fair? More importantly, is it legal? <br> <br>The manager here needs to learn that the folks in the Bacility talk to each other.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have been here for one year, and plan to stay longer. The staff is nice and the maintenance is incredible. I love the recent additions that were made to the Btructure. The business center is useful and the party room is great for company.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I was reading the reviews and could not believe what some had experienced. Thank God It's a new mgmt and owner because I absolutely love the staff...Nisha Powell and Deena are great!! Nisha took her time when showing me the Bacility and explained everything! Although it was $200 more than what I wanted to spend it has been worth it!!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“As the saying goes"beware of wolves in sheep's clothing",fits the mgmt and rental office at plaza 440.Ever since American INVSCO took over, turning the Besidence into condominiums, and appointed the present incompetent mgmt (all insiders from the INVSCO group), the place went to pot. They try to gouge you and charge you for the pettiest of things, as they also threaten to fine you, and they have done so to many residents.The condo association president is an INVSCO employee who neither owns anything in the Besidence, nor does he live there,(don't know how they got away with that) and that alone should tell you something about how poorly the place is run. The maintenance group that once was wonderful, isn't allowed to do their job properly. mgmt has put spy cameras all over the place making one feel like a criminal. They have also put every room that has any amenities, under lock and key, one of which is the so called business center, where bacteria roams, since they locked the door and windows where There's no ventilation, not to mention the archaic computers that don't function 99% of the time. They are constantly harassing tenants. If you want a short stay close to the downtown, That's the place, as they are not interested in the tenants who have lived there faithfully for a long time, and raise their rents terribly, in order to chase them out. Even owners that live You've got selling(with regrets that they bought)in order to escape. Read the lease carefully specially the part(one sided) that they have the right to terminate or move you with a 60 day notice in case the owner needs the Aad... These are just some minor issues, others are probably too horrible to be accepted in a written review. Think again”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Having lived in Plaza 440 for over 2.5 years, I have decided I no longer want to be there. Before the building was taken over by condo developers, living at Plaza 440 was great. Now, the mgmt office is full of a bunch of rude and incompetent morons who do absolutely nothing for the residents. Amenities have disappeared and probably will continue to be scaled down. There used to be complimentary coffee every morning. Gone! Pool table for guests and residents. Gone! Access to fitness center and computer lab after 10pm. Gone! The doormen are some of the laziest, men you'd never want to meet. They absolutely refuse to open doors (except for Bob). The rent was reasonable when I first moved in. Now, it has sky rocketed $200 in one year for the renewal period. No thanks! Parking is extremely expensive ($225 per mo.) for no reason at all. Hell, even presedential towers has cheaper parking! The only good thing about this place is the maintenance staff.They fix things fairly quickly and are all pleasant to deal with. If you like a downtown location with a great view and quick access to trains, you'll like Plaza 440. Other than that, do yourself a favor and go someplace else.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“This is one of the best places I have ever lived in. I can't think of a better location than Plaza 440. Half a block away from the "L", 2 blocks away from Michigan Ave., 2 blocks away from Jewel, 3 blocks away from Trader Joes, and 4-5 blocks away from the Post Office. this place is kept up well and the staff is friendly. I heard that some apartments are in better condition than others, and I suppose this will depend on whether the owner has refurbished the unit or not. My unit was gorgeous, with hardwood floors, brand-new carpet in the bedrooms, and new stainless-steel appliances. My apartment was extremely quiet, and the double windows blocked exterior noise pretty well. I was relocated to NY for work and I miss Chicago. One of the things I miss the most was my apartment at Plaza 440.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“My partner and I have lived there since 1992 when the Besidence first opened and continued to enjoy everything about it year after year, even after it was sold to archstone smith. All fell apart in 2005 when American Ivsco bought it and turned it into condos, employing a Risrespectful,nasty, vulgar and unpleasant manager, who in turn have robbed tenants of so many amenities and put everything under camera and lock and key. An elegant Besidence once now looks more like a transient hotel, and god forbid u go agaist the grain with mgmt...they will fine you as a criminal...I wonder where the condo association is...3 years of living under the reign of rudeness was enough for us to leave as the many long term tenants have done.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“During the sales presintation they are nice, but once you sign It's a whole new story. The computer room is around 85 degrees HOT. Looks like someone forgot to vent it. Try getting a hold of managment. Takes forever. location-wise, it's Guperb but look It's too late for me, save yourself and go somewhere else.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“This property has a location's Ahenomenal, and honestly, that's pretty much where the positives end. Living at Plaza 440 would be fine if mgmt and the rental office actually provided decent support. They charge fees for everything and won't even let you get a duplicate key for parking. The units themselves are mediocre and not worth the price relative to the square footage. Construction quality feels subpar throughout. Customer service is disappointing, so if you're considering moving here, understand that you're really just paying for the location.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The mgmt team will eagerly penalize you and issue fines for the tiniest infractions. I Wemained terminated from my lease (which could reasonably be seen as retaliatory eviction) after I jokingly wrote to the condo board comparing their rules unfavorably to a prison's, following a harassing incident by mgmt. I completely concur with the tenant who submitted the 10/17/2007 review. I myself occupied the unit for 13 years (1994-2007) and experienced constant harassment, frustration, and baseless accusations that became increasingly severe during the final year, leaving me exhausted, furious, and emotionally spent. Eventually I had no choice but to reluctantly move away from what used to be one of the city's finest residences and a genuine community feel—it has since devolved into something resembling a revolving-door establishment for the past 3 years. The mgmt staff (the manager and assistant manager) are unpleasant, disrespectful, unprofessional and determined to penalize residents. I'm aware of numerous people who departed in frustration due to these individuals. The condo board is equally problematic, enabling this Berrible mgmt to operate without consequences while leaving owners powerless to intervene. The Chicago Housing Authority should seriously examine this situation. I've lived through 7 different mgmt teams previously, and everything ran smoothly until this current group took over. I could elaborate extensively on this, but it would require pages to cover everything.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I've been a resident at this Besidence for 8 years now. I've occupied 4 separate units during my stay, and my present Ppot is by far the most problematic. It's a corner unit [008] The main issue is that all 008 units perpetually have an odor reminiscent of "fried greasy onions" coming from the adjacent restaurant. plus, the repetitive beep-beep-beep sound from the garage entrance on Illinois street will get on your nerves within just 7 days. To compound the problem, the dumpster positioned in the back alley generates a foul odor that reaches even the upper levels, plus the disruptive noise at 6:00 AM and 9:00 pm when garbage trucks are hauling away the trash. I'd strongly advise staying away from any of these units with 08 at the end.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I'm a resident at Plaza 440 and I'm happy here. front desk team 's welcoming and responsive to needs. unit itself 's fantastic with some of the finest vistas around the neighborhood. amenities—including the swimming pool, fitness center, entertainment lounge, and billiards room—don't see much traffic from other residents. leasing office staff responds promptly and stays on top of things. If you're looking for a premium living experience, Plaza 440 delivers. I'm really satisfied living here.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“location of this building 's fantastic if you're seeking easy access to downtown corporate positions. maintenance staff 's great- respectful, responsive, and personable... but, the actual living experience in this building falls well short of expectations. walls are paper-thin and I can hear every conversation my neighbors have, I'm aware of every bathroom issue the resident above me experiences, and secondhand smoke regularly seeps through my ventilation system. disgusting. real issue, though, 's the mgmt overseeing this property. Be cautious before signing any lease. lease won't mention that even though you've already paid your deposit and move-in charges to the unit owner, when you show up @ the building you'll be denied entry and won't get a key fob until you've paid a separate deposit to mgmt, plus an elevator charge, an elevator deposit, a move in/move out fee and an additional damage deposit. And although you've already paid the $250 move in/move out deposit upfront, they'll ask you to pay it again when you leave. And when you do move in or move out, make absolutely certain you confirm with mgmt that you can reserve the freight elevator...except it won't help because they may notify you one day before your scheduled move that they've overlooked the fact that exterior painting 's happening, which apparently means you can't access the elevator (?!) And heaven forbid you want to host a casual dinner with even just one guest. You'll be treated like a child by the new security staff and told "You should understand right now that this person will be entirely your responsibility if you permit entry!" I thought I left my parents' home over a decade ago?!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I've been renting a unit at Plaza 440 for 6 years and am currently still a resident—I absolutely adore it here. You can't find a better area or location anywhere. entrance attendants, Broperty administration, office personnel, and Rental mgmt Team (particularly Ms. Nisha Powell) are amazing. entire staff 's perfect and always goes above and beyond to assist. I don't have any grievances or ideas for what could be enhanced, and I'm excited about the prospect of staying here for at least another 6 years. Best regards, Cynthia Taradejna 6/9/2010.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Btructure itself 's decent, and the team members are wonderful. office mgmt, though, 's absolutely terrible. And I truly mean terrible. Did I mention they're terrible? As a tenant in this Btructure, the office staff treats you like you don't matter. I've noticed that almost every request gets shut down with a "no." This appears to be their default approach based on what I've heard from other residents. If only they would replace the office personnel. fitness room 's unbearably hot. When multiple residents brought up this issue, the office staff's response was basically, "that's just how It's," and that was that.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“unit itself, the neighborhood, and the panoramic views are fantastic! If you're looking to live downtown in Chicago, this 's absolutely the Pocation to be! Recent improvements to the internet/cable infrastructure and additional safety measures are appreciated additions. but, the property mgmt and leasing staff lack fundamental professionalism and customer service abilities. They've been consistently dismissive and disrespectful toward me and many other residents, maintain unpredictable office availability, and offer little assistance when needed. In summary, it's an Gonderful Pocation to call home—just avoid interacting with the DREADFUL, INCOMPETENT, DISMISSIVE mgmt and leasing team?”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have resided at plaza 440 for 13 years under 7 different mgmt companies who were all attentive, until the 2005 acquisition by invsco which transformed this property into a complete mess. They brought in the most disrespectful, incompetent, crude, hostile and foolish mgmt staff who persistently mistreat residents through intimidation, eliminating services, belittling them and ignoring their requests...the list goes on. The past three years have turned into a stressful ordeal that ultimately compelled me to depart despite the prime positioning. CRS (teh rentaloffice) and the mgmt office are completely dysfunctional...nobody is satisfied residing here..don't trust their promises...this is an atrocious community. Even unit owners are departing.....which speaks volumes.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The units are delightful, and the upkeep crew and door staff are Guperb. Whenever I need something fixed, it gets done immediately. sadly, the leasing office staff is unprofessional and difficult to work with. I'd recommend minimizing your interactions with them as much as you can.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“We chose this unit for its easy positioning and what seemed like a solid residential option. The rent felt fair initially (though it has increased way without any meaningful upgrades to the property). The fitness center and swimming pool are great amenities, especially considering they're shared with the adjacent hotel. The business center falls short—the printer frequently runs out of paper and the WiFi drops almost daily. While the lobby and amenity spaces are visually appealing, the corridors feel uninviting. The ground floor district with the dry cleaning service and package delivery is unpleasant—it's noticeably smelly, unclean and lackluster. <br><br>The cooking space is tight and cramped, making it difficult to spend much time preparing meals. The 2-bedroom comes equipped with a washer and dryer, but they're practically unusable. The dryer lacks proper ventilation, so heated air rises directly to the ceiling and has cracked the plaster around the doorway. It's genuinely awkward when entertaining guests. The property mgmt seems unaware of most structure issues. Some have even insisted it's normal for the dryer to function this way. The upkeep crew performs acceptably when they finally show up, but how often can you afford to take time off work waiting for them? They apply temporary fixes here and there rather than providing actual solutions.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Very disappointed with the management office, ------- in particular. They were not accommodating and unpleasant to work with. Everyone else was wonderful during my two years here.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“This is one of the best places I have ever lived in. I cannot think of a better location than Plaza 440. Half a block away from the "L", 2 blocks away from Michigan Ave., 2 blocks away from Jewel, 3 blocks away from Trader Joes, and 4-5 blocks away from the Post Office. The building is very well maintained and the staff is very friendly. I heard that some apartments are in better condition than others, and I suppose this will depend on whether the owner has refurbished the unit or not. My unit was gorgeous, with hardwood floors, brand-new carpet in the bedrooms, and new stainless-steel appliances. My apartment was extremely quiet, and the double windows blocked exterior noise pretty well. I was relocated to NY for work and I miss Chicago. One of the things I miss the most was my apartment at Plaza 440.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have lived in this building for the past 8 years. I have moved into 4 different apartment and the worst experience is my current one. It is a corner apartment [008] However, all the 008's will always smell like "grilled greased onions" courtesy of the restaurant next door. In addition, the constant euphonious beep-beep-beep from the garage door on Illinois street will drive you crazy in 1 week. To make things worst, the situation of the dumpster in the alley attract a terrible smell even in the highest floor not to mention the loud noise at 6:00 AM and 9:00 pm when the trucks are emptying them. So be careful with any of these units ending on 08”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Are you kidding me? The rental staff are AWFUL! They have no clue on what's going on! They are unprofessional and clearly incompetent. Living in the building isn't so bad, but as far as going through their rental service, I would stay away!!!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I was reading the reviews and could not believe what some had experienced. Thank God it is a new management and owner because I absolutely love the staff...Nisha Powell and Deena are great!! Nisha took her time when showing me the building and explained everything! Although it was $200 more than what I wanted to spend it has been worth it!!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have rented a condo at Plaza 440 for 6 years, still living there, and love it. Location and neighborhood can't be beat. The door staff, building management, Management Office staff and Condo Rental Staff (especially Ms. Nisha Powell)are tops. The people who work there are the best and extremely helpful. I have no complaints or suggestions for improvement and look forward to living there another 6 years or more. Sincerely, Cynthia Taradejna 6/9/2010.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Apartment building is ok, and the staff are great. The office management, however, are the worst. And I mean the worst. Did I say the worst. If you are a renter in this building you are nothing to the office staff. I've found that virtually every request is met with a "no". This seems to be the standard practice based on conversations with other renters. If they could only change the office staff. Exercise room is exceedingly hot. When this complaint was lodged by various renters, the office staff simply said, repeat after me, "that's just the way it is."”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“My partner and I have lived there since 1992 when the building first opened and continued to enjoy everything about it year after year, even after it was sold to archstone smith. All fell apart in 2005 when American Ivsco bought it and turned it into condos, employing a rude,nasty, vulgar and very unpleasant manager, who in turn have robbed tenants of so many amenities and put everything under camera and lock and key. An elegant building once now looks more like a transient hotel, and god forbid u go agaist the grain with management...they will fine you as a criminal...I wonder where the condo association is...3 years of living under the reign of rudeness was enough for us to leave as the many long term tenants have done.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“My husband and I have lived here for 4 years, and would continue to renew our lease if we didn't have to move for other reasons. Yes, like many of the other reviews state, the management office and the leasing office have their issues. From what we can tell, the 2 offices don't really talk to each other, and it's never clear which office you need to deal with. The 2 offices don't know the other's policies and are unhelpful when it comes to figuring that out. However, this doesn't impact us for the most part. The building is well kept, the door staff helpful, and the maintenance staff responsive. We've never had any noise issues, and don't hear our neighbors. The amenities are useful, including the office which always has a working fax machine, photocopier and printer. We don't have our own washer/dryer (some units do), but we've never had to wait in the laundry room for a free W/D (plus the W/D uses a card, so you never have to worry about having enough change). There is a bike room for storage which is useful, and it even has an air pump for bike tires which can come in handy. They clean the windows regularly and conduct other regular maintenance. One downside is that the indoor pool and hot tub, exercise room, and outdoor deck are shared with the hotel next door, so they can be busy with hotel guests at times (summer and weekends mostly). The location is great - only a couple blocks from Jewel or Trader Joe's, Walgreens, USPS, car rental locations etc. Taxis are easy to catch right out front. We would recommend this building to friends.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The location of this building is perfect if you're looking for easy access to a corporate job downtown. The maintenance guys are great- polite, prompt, friendly... However, life inside of this building isn't as great as you'd hope. Yes, the walls are thin and I hear every word my next door neighbors say, I know each and every time the guy upstairs has an upset stomach in his bathroom, and other tenants smoking habits drift down through my vents. gross. The biggest problem, however, is the management running this place. Beware when you sign a lease. What it doesn't tell you is how, though you've paid your deposit and move-in fees to your unit's owner, when you arrive @ the building you'll be locked out and denied a key fob til you've paid an additional deposit to the management company itself, as well as an elevator fee, an elevator deposit, a move in move out fee and a damage deposit. And though you've paid the $250 move in/move out deposit at move in, you'll be asked to pay it yet again at move out time. Oh yes, and when you DO decide to move in or move out, be sure to triple and quadruple check with the management that you may reserve the freight elevator...not that it matters because they may inform you the day prior to your scheduled reservation that they've forgotten that a wall is being painted on the outside of the building, which means, logically, that you can't use the elevator (?!) God forbid, by the way, you try to plan an evening to cook dinenr for even just one friend. You'll be scolded by the new door person like a 5 year old and warned "You'd better know now that this gentleman will be solely your responsibility if you choose to let him enter!" I thought I moved out of my parents house 10 years ago?!”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“As the saying goes"beware of wolves in sheep's clothing",fits the management and rental office at plaza 440.Ever since American INVSCO took over, turning the building into condominiums, and appointed the present incompetent management (all insiders from the INVSCO group), the place went to pot. They try to gouge you and charge you for the pettiest of things, as they also threaten to fine you, and they have done so to many residents.The condo association president is an INVSCO employee who neither owns anything in the building, nor does he live there,(don't know how they got away with that) and that alone should tell you something about how poorly the place is run. The maintenance group that once was wonderful, is not allowed to do their job properly. Management has put spy cameras all over the place making one feel like a criminal. They have also put every room that has any amenities, under lock and key, one of which is the so called business center, where bacteria roams, since they locked the door and windows where there is no ventilation, not to mention the archaic computers that do not function 99% of the time. They are constantly harassing tenants. If you want a short stay close to the downtown, that is the place, as they are not interested in the tenants who have lived there faithfully for a long time, and raise their rents terribly, in order to chase them out. Even owners that live there are selling(with regrets that they bought)in order to escape. Read the lease carefully specially the part(one sided) that they have the right to terminate or move you with a 60 day notice in case the owner needs the apartment... These are just some minor issues, others are probably too horrible to be accepted in a written review. Think again”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The apartments are nice, the maintenance staff and doormen are top notch. Any repairs I need are taken care of the same day. However, the leasing staff is full of -------. Try to deal with them as little as possible.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I lived at Plaza 440 for 6 years. It was three years ago when American INVSCO took over that the place went to pot, specially under the management team they chose to manage it. A once great location and a wonderful place to live in became a taunting nightmare.The management is rude, obnoxious, nasty and punishing to tenants. They will fine you for the littlest of things, just to extort money, and will turn against you soon after you have any run in with them. Great location but be careful not to ask management for anything, and that goes for the leasing office as well as they project total incompetence and lack of manners....They have turned the place into a revolving door for transient tenancy...So sad.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“And the management will not hesitate to harass you and fine you for the smallest of things. I personally was released from my lease (which One might also consider a case of retaliatory eviction) because I mentioned a certain prison had more lenient rules (in jest)compared to theirs, in a letter to the condo board after a harassing incident by management. I agree totally with the person who posted the 10/17/2007 review, as I myself have also lived there for 13 years(1994-2007), and have been harassed , aggravated, accused with childish and absurd accusations , which escalated the last year leaving me stressed, angered and emotionally drained, leading me to finally and reluctantly leave a place that was once on of the nicest buildings in the city, that i called home and a good community, which has now and for the last 3 years like a transient hotel. The management team(the manager and her assistant)are nasty, rude, tacky and out to punish the tenants, literally. I know many who have left in anger because of this management. The condo association board is no better as they are just as punishing to tenants , giving this unprofessionally inadequate management free reign, and the owners are pretty much helpless against them. I think that the Chicago Housing Authority ought to look into that. i have also lived under the previous 7 managements there,and all was great until these people came into management. I can go on and on , but that will take pages.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have lived in plaza 440 for 13 years and under 7 different managements all of whom where attentive , until the take over by invsco in 2005 which turned this place into an absolute dump, literally. They have employed the rudest incompetent vulgar, nasty and moronic management who constantly execute punishment on tenents by harrassing them, taking away amenities, taunting them and not responding to their needs..and on and on. The last three years have been a living nightmare that it has pushed me to leave this good location. CRS (teh rentaloffice) and the management office is a disaster...no on3e is happy here..do not be fooled by what they tell you...this is a horrifying place. Even owners are moving out.....and that should tell you something.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The building itself is mostly ok, as are the maintenance staff. HOWEVER, the CRSI leasing office is the worst you will come upon - they will lie to you and they try to take advantage of the tenants - whether new tenants, or tenants of several years. Also BEWARE - they now demand lease provisions that allow them to move you or terminate your lease on 60 days notice if the unit owner decides to sell the unit or stop renting the unit. And because a VERY large percentage of the building is "investor" owned, many with adjustable rate mortgages used to sell the units in the conversion to condo from rental, expect a LOT of those sales or sales attempts in today's market - especially as those adjustable rate mortgages are getting adjusted up. Also you want to be sure you really like dogs - - especially the barking of dogs because they are everywhere and the barking carries through the ventilation shafts. Storage lockers are extra, fees are excessive, and they will try to force exorbitant renewal rate increases. In summary, this is like a boiler room used car operation with no interest in long-term customer relationships. It is over-priced and a poor value - especially with the 60 day one-sided cancellation PS Only management written "reviews" would possibly say the doormen (other than 2) are helpful - let that guide your assessment of the credibility of those "reviews" provisions”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Leasing will lie to you, and rip you off at renewal time. Also they demand a 60 day cancellation (for them alone) if the investor owner wants to sell the unit which is a strong possibility since the building is heavily small investor owned (probably with Adjustable Rate Mortgages that may force many to try to sell) AND Trump tower will cause huge congestion, as will new buildings across Wabash at the garage for 405 Wabash, at Lake shore Athletic club lot, and at the small park behind Plaza 440 Also dogs everywhere with lots of barking Maybe a decent building IF you rent DIRECTLY from a condo owner but don't deal with CRSI (AmInvsco)”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“During the sales presintation they are nice, but once you sign it is a whole new story. The computer room is around 85 degrees HOT. Looks like someone forgot to vent it. Try getting a hold of managment. Takes forever. The location is great but look it is too late for me, save yourself and go somewhere else.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I cannot understand how anybody can claim the staff is unhelpful. This is the first building I ever lived in where the doormen did actually get up from their desk to open the door whenever they can see you have packages. People often mention Bob, but they are all courteous and friendly.<br>The situations with Condo company office, leasing office and management office is a little confusing, but they always make sure you get to the right person. In the 8 months since I have moved in my only complaint is about the "renovation" of the fitness room. There used to be 3 recumbent bikes and now there is only 1 and good luck if you want to workout between 5:30-7:30 a.m.<br>Also, not the building's fault or control but the Trump building has sucked most of the sun time from the outdoor deck.<br>Any maintenance problems have always been fixed the same day. I have recommended this property to other people. Location is unbelievable.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I have lived in Plaza 440 and I love it. The door staff is friendly and attentive. The apartment is great, the best views around.NO one harldly ever uses the amenities, pool, business center, media room, pool table. The management is quick and attentive. If you want a first class place to live Plaza 440 is it. i love it here.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Having lived in Plaza 440 for over 2.5 years, I have decided I no longer want to be there. Before the building was taken over by condo developers, living at Plaza 440 was great. Now, the management office is full of a bunch of rude and incompetent morons who do absolutely nothing for the residents. Amenities have disappeared and probably will continue to be scaled down. There used to be complimentary coffee every morning. Gone! Pool table for guests and residents. Gone! Access to fitness center and computer lab after 10pm. Gone! The doormen are some of the laziest, men you'd never want to meet. They absolutely refuse to open doors (except for Bob). The rent was reasonable when I first moved in. Now, it has sky rocketed $200 in one year for the renewal period. No thanks! Parking is extremely expensive ($225 per mo.) for no reason at all. Hell, even presedential towers has cheaper parking! The only good thing about the building is the maintenance staff.They fix things fairly quickly and are all very pleasant to deal with. If you like a downtown location with a great view and quick access to trains, you'll like Plaza 440. Other than that, do yourself a favor and go someplace else.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“This is a place in a nice location, and that is about it. Life inside Plaza 440 is good unless you need any help from the management or rental office. <br>They would charge for any thing and wont even ALLOW to have a spare key for parking.<br>The apartments are OK, expensive for the space. Built on cheap material.<br>Service is really bad, if you are thinking about this place, all you are going to get is location.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“I've lived here for two years now and am about to move out so I thought I'd leave a review of my experience at Plaza 440. <br><br>The Good:<br>*The location is awesome...if you like shopping and tourists...which I do. It's much busier than downtown and there are a lot of chain restaurants to eat at after 8pm. <br>*The view is amazing. This was the main reason I got the place. I walked in and it was bright and spacious.<br>*The amenities are good, but I don't think half of the people of live here use them. Not sure you want to pay for it unless youre really going to use it. There a pool and a jacuzzi, both of which I used once or twice in the two years here. <br><br>The Bad:<br>*The doormen are idiots. I'm convinced that prison-shirt-wearing robbers could go in and out of the apartments without being stopped. These doorman are rude and very, inattentive. <br>*The staff is rude and the management arrangement is confusing. It's a condo place that rents through an investment company. The investment company is in the lobby. The management is on the 8th floor. The rental guys are on the 8th floor. But none of them talk to each other. You have to run around from them to get ANYTHING done. <br>*The place explodes. Coming back from a business trip was not expecting my apartment to be in shambles because of a water pipe explosion. They fixed it reasonably quickly but there wasn't even a phone call made to alert me that water was flooding my unit-- and of course, the doormen pretended like nothing happened.<br>*The units themselves (aside from the views) are nothing to write home about. Everything is fake cabinet and cheap material. <br><br>All and all, if you're considering Plaza 440, think of it as a low-service but nice hotel. As long as you don't run into any problems that require talking to the doormen or management, you'll be fine. But if you're looking for a pleasant, full-service place, look elsewhere.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“The apartment, location and views are great! If you want to be in the heart of Chicago there is no better place to live! There have been up grades to the cable situation and other added security features which are nice. But with that said the management and leasing office staff lack the skills and ability to deal with customers/residents. They are rude and have been to me and others on many occasions, they do not keep regular office hours and are not helpful. Overall it is a great place to live as long as you do not have to talk to the AWFUL, INCOMPETENT, RUDE management and leasing office.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop“Had the oportunity of living here for more than 14 months. Lived in a 44th and my experience could not be better. View is great if you can get a high floor.<br><br>Building is very well kept. No noises and ac/heater works really well. Management office is responsive and any problem I had was fixed quickly and effectively.<br><br>Sure the doormans are awful, but for me there are many other things that make this building very desirable.”
— 440 N WABASH AVENUE · Loop