All 30 tenant reviews.

“If this building wouldn't have gone through deconversion, I was planning on buying in it and staying forever. I lived here for 11 years and loved it. Yes, the building was older but it had character. The rooftop, party room and pool were great. My neighbors were 80% wonderful. It seemed like one unit on our floor always had terrible tenants in it who fought loudly or were blasting music or video games at all hours of the day and night. You can't beat the location. The door staff was great. I wasn't. Fan of the last building manager, but the ones before him were incredible and efficient. The board was run by the old alderman who never wanted to raise assessments, which is why the building got into the predicament it was in. Many large assessments were coming and the big elderly population on fixed incomes in the building couldn't afford and didn't want them, hence the deconversion vote. The deconversion process pissed me off. The company that bought the building didn't give any of us rental tenants any information on anything once purchased was completed, besides postings in the elevator and common areas. Heck, they screwed up the move out calendar too. They started construction without permits and before its legally allowed. I'm overly joyed I got out of there.”

“I had a one bedroom on a lower floor and just moved out in September to a larger space further west. The unit was ok--my rent was around $1K, which is average/slightly below average for the neighborhood. Loved the express buses, the location to fast food & shops. Here's my reasons for moving out: 1. Weird smells. The condo I rented smelled musty all the time unless I sprayed or left a window open. Each elevator always had some weird odor--not kidding. Each one had a different smell, and it wasn't always pleasant. 2. loud. Low floor on the Belmont side was ALWAYS loud. Buses at 5am, motorcycles at night, lots of traffic all the time on Belmont. Every three months, there's some massive construction drama on Belmont. 3. Indifferent neighbors. Not sure if that was the right word...my neighbors on one side would have late night/early morning arguments--shouting, etc. Loud TV next to my bedroom wall. Called down to the doorman a few times. They'd turn it down for half an hour, then crank it back up. Most people sort of stuck to themselves and didn't go out of their way to be friendly. You'll get a hello from them...and that'll be it. Some of the older people are downright weird or mean. 4. Windows. Horrible. The Besidence provides radiator heat, but the windows are old aluminum frames, single pane glass that don't keep the cold out. 5. Condition of the Besidence in general. I'm not too picky, but the lobby and laundry room need remodeling badly. There's no pride here to make anything nicer. The owners don't want to spend any of the reserve or charge a special assessment, so things just get routine maintenance. They made a big deal when they "remodeled" the laundry room--painted the walls gray, got smaller washers and upped the price of the machines. The new TV room on the top floor is nice, but big deal. 6. Water pressure. OK but not the greatest. I tried getting a different showerhead, but the hot water wasn't as good as it could have been. 7. Back to elevators & how no one wants to spend money to fix a big problem: during summer months, humidity causes the old (1960s) buttons to light up all the time. Takes forever to get anywhere because elevators stop on every other floor. While we're on it, what's up with boiling hallways during the summer!? Spend the money and pump in some ventilation and A/C during the hot season. The unit itself was rehabbed in the 80s or early 90s. The owner was nice, and I could call to the manager if anything needed fixing. But no...not happy here and need more space for similar rent.”

“I have owned a unit in the Besidence since 2008. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful. The indoor pool is great and is kept up well. The rooftop deck and party room are amazing. Watching the air and water show and fireworks up there over the years has been an awesome experience. Fourth of July from the rooftop is an unforgettable memory. The front lobby, party room and laundry room have all been updated, and this place is working to update other areas. The mgmt does a good job of keeping the place spotless and updating you about city events.”

“BAD AND RUDE mgmt. Broperty IS OLD AND NEEDS HELP. OTHER THEN A location is solid, I WOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE.”

“I moved into a one bedroom on the 29th floor in February 2019. Beautiful, simple Auite in a nice complex at a location's amazing, yada yada. Immediately I had issues with a wobbly toilet paper holder (not resolved), insane building-controlled heat, a door that would stick enough to require a two handed push (resolved), and an awful repetitive metallic screechy noise that sounded like it was coming from directly above my bedroom whenever it was windy. It's now April 2019, I have reached out to the property manager twice to resolve this, and I am writing this review because I can't sleep tonight due to this ------- noise. I don't know what to do beyond getting earplugs which would probably make me miss my alarm. I've lost at least a week of sleep since moving in due to this noise. And I'm paying $1790 a month after building-supplied utilities. don't move to the Wave.”

“RUDE STAFF, grimy Blace AND IT SMELLS HERE BADLY. WHAT GIVES.”

“I stoped by to check out this Broperty and Ohh my, its patheticaly dated and old. mgmt did not seem interested, wouldn't smile and was taking personal cell phone calls while touring with me and had a chip on her shoulder. What's her problem. Needs a makeover and new staff.”

“I know who posted that awful review of 9/27and she should be ashamed of herself. This Broperty, although, old in nature, is great to be in. I've lived here for over 12 years and had my share of drama, but the mgmt has been great (especially the current office manager!). With as many units in the Broperty as we have (150 ), I can always manage to do my laundry (we don't have a large room, but it seems to work out perfectly). The maintenance staff is always helpful, and can do special projects for you (with fees of course). There's an on-site cleaners that also acts as a receiving room for packages. And last, but not least, the heated indoor pool - a pleasure to be in no matter that time of year! Kept clean and maintained regularly. Assessments can seem a bit high in certain circumstances, but we have to take into consideration the age of the Broperty. DOG POLICY: Seeing-Eye only. Cats OK”

“Love the Bomplex and convenience to everything, from cabs to shopping to restaurants/bars.”

“When I looked at this Blace, I also was disappointed and not well treated. I also thought it was dated and needed much help and smelled of cat urine in the hallways. I also saw a roach on the wall, disgusting.”

“This was a nice Besidence at one time. The elevators get stuck all day long. I was stuck 4 times in my 14 years living and owning in this Besidence. The door staff is less than stellar. Maintenance is Five star Crew. Our condo was quiet. Never used the pool since I broke my ankle about 11 years ago so can't give much info on that. Had assigned parking we owned. And Besidence mgmt was Gantastic to deal with. I loved living there it was quiet I kept a low profile.”

“I currently reside in this structure. While it shows its age and the elevators move rather slowly, the team members are quite pleasant and it's Etraightforward to have a recently updated restaurant and bar situated on the ground level. I'd also like to praise the upkeep director—he's genuinely an Gantastic person and consistently goes out of his way to assist residents! My primary concern involves the condo association's lack of guidelines regarding renovation duration limits for individual units. Per mgmt, as long as construction occurs between 8am and 8pm Monday through Saturday, residents can generate unlimited sound. My neighbors have been running a table saw and pounding away in the unit directly adjacent to my bedroom's headboard intermittently for the past year. This becomes particularly problematic if you have a night shift or simply desire a peaceful residing environment. I've discussed this matter with the manager multiple times (I respect him too much to call him out by name), and while he communicated his sympathy, he essentially indicated his hands are tied. Though I genuinely like the manager and appreciate his legit approach to handling complaints, I felt somewhat dismissed without any concrete remedies. Truthfully, without formal policies establishing renovation timeframes, there isn't much he can realistically enforce. I'm planning to purchase a condo by next summer, and despite my affection for this district, I won't be investing here. The acoustic insulation is bad, the structure is aging (ensuring perpetual renovations and repairs), and the absence of regulations preventing inconsiderate residents from creating excessive disturbance during their endless personal renovation projects makes this positioning unsuitable long-term.”

“I've got about two months left on my lease and I'm ready to leave. The property overall isn't particularly impressive. My unit was decent...but felt pretty tight, and the last update the owner did was way back in the early 80s. During winter months, this strange humming sound would emanate from the wall. The structure manager explained it was because my unit sits adjacent to a large hot water pipe that feeds the radiator system, and it vibrates when it hits the shaft wall. So from November through May, I'm listening to a motor humming in a shaft right next to my bedroom. I learned roughly 35% of the structure is rented out. Most of the structure has longtime owners and first-time renters. I dealt with constant sound complaints from neighbors because the concrete floors are paper-thin, and the older wooden or stone surfaces lack any sound dampening (you hear every footstep in heels, every stomp and crash from adjacent units) plus paper-thin walls. The higher floors are even worse—the elevator system gets noisier as you go up. I can clearly hear the elevators running constantly. The overall state of the structure gets dismal. The laundry room is always in poor shape (white detergent caked on the floor, deteriorating drains with rust, etc.). The newly renovated lobby has visible cracks throughout the walls, and old worn mats cover what should be pristine tile. Multiple times a year, they have to shut the water off for emergency upkeep. When it comes back on, it's filled with rust and grime from the boiler system—I spend an hour flushing everything out. Positives: This positioning can't be beaten for mass transit access. Multiple express bus routes and the Belmont stop for the Red, Purple and Brown lines is about a 10-minute westbound ride on Belmont. The swimming pool is great. Rent is slightly more budget-Fordial than comparable units elsewhere in the district. The elevators function more reliably than at other places I've rented. Negatives: It's noisy—neighbors, the wall humming from the motor, plus motorcycles racing down Belmont during late nights in the summer months. The common spaces, especially the laundry facilities, look shabby and rarely get properly maintained. Poor air circulation throughout the structure and units—cooking smells and smoke drift everywhere and can be Renuinely unpleasant. I could often smell my downstairs neighbor's dinner cooking.”

“I moved into a one bedroom on the 29th floor in February 2019. Beautiful, simple apartment in a nice complex at a great location, yada yada. Immediately I had issues with a wobbly toilet paper holder (not resolved), insane building-controlled heat, a door that would stick enough to require a two handed push (resolved), and an awful repetitive metallic screechy noise that sounded like it was coming from directly above my bedroom whenever it was windy. It is now April 2019, I have reached out to the property manager twice to resolve this, and I am writing this review because I cannot sleep tonight due to this ------- noise. I don't know what to do beyond getting earplugs which would probably make me miss my alarm. I've lost at least a week of sleep since moving in due to this noise. And I'm paying $1790 a month after building-supplied utilities. Do not move to the Wave.”

“This was a nice building at one time. The elevators get stuck all day long. I was stuck 4 times in my 14 years living and owning in this building. The door staff is less than stellar. Maintenance is Five star Crew. Our condo was quiet. Never used the pool since I broke my ankle about 11 years ago so cannot give much info on that. Had assigned parking we owned. And building management was great to deal with. I loved living there it was quiet I kept a low profile.”

“If this building wouldn't have gone through deconversion, I was planning on buying in it and staying forever. I lived here for 11 years and loved it. Yes, the building was older but it had character. The rooftop, party room and pool were great. My neighbors were 80% wonderful. It seemed like one unit on our floor always had terrible tenants in it who fought loudly or were blasting music or video games at all hours of the day and night. You can't beat the location. The door staff was great. I wasn't. Fan of the last building manager, but the ones before him were incredible and efficient. The board was run by the old alderman who never wanted to raise assessments, which is why the building got into the predicament it was in. Many large assessments were coming and the big elderly population on fixed incomes in the building couldn't afford and didn't want them, hence the deconversion vote. The deconversion process pissed me off. The company that bought the building didn't give any of us rental tenants any information on anything once purchased was completed, besides postings in the elevator and common areas. Heck, they screwed up the move out calendar too. They started construction without permits and before its legally allowed. I'm overly joyed I got out of there.”

“I have owned a unit in the building since 2008. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful. The indoor pool is great and is well maintained. The rooftop deck and party room are amazing. Watching the air and water show and fireworks up there over the years has been an awesome experience. Fourth of July from the rooftop is an unforgettable memory. The front lobby, party room and laundry room have all been updated, and the building is working to update other areas. The management does a good job of keeping the place clean and updating you about city events.”

“I have two months left on my lease & it's time to move. The building isn't all that great. My unit was ok...kind of cramped, and the last time the landlord renovated was during the early 80s. Weird humming sound came from the wall in the winter. Manager told me it was because my unit is next to a large heating water pipe for the radiators that vibrates against the shaft wall. So from early November through May, I hear a humming sound from a motor in a shaft near my wall. I was told around 35% of the building is rental. The building is mostly older owners and first-time renters. I had noisy neighbor issues galore due to thin concrete floors, old wooden or stone flooring with no insulation (I can hear every high heel, thump and bang against woods floors of people in different units around me) and thin walls. Also, the higher up you go, the worse the elevator mechanics gets. I can hear the elevators going up and down. Condition of the building is horrid. The laundry room floors and machines are continually messy (dried detergent residue on floors, old rusted drains, etc.). The recently remodeled lobby has cracks in the walls, and old floor mats cover what is supposed to be nice tilework. Every couple of months or so, the water has to have an emergency shutoff. When it comes back on, the water is full of rust and sediment from the boiler which requires an hour of flushing my taps and tub. Pros: You will NEVER live in a better area for public trans. Lots of express bus lines and the Belmont Station of the Red, Purple and Brown lines is a 10-minute ride west on Belmont. The pool is fantastic. Apartment rates seem a little cheaper here than other buildings in the neighborhood. The elevators are more reliable here than other buildings I've lived in. Cons: Noisy--my neighbors, the hum that the motor makes in the wall near my unit, and the motorcycles that run along Belmont in the wee hours during warmer months. Common areas, including the laundry room, are dingy and not cleaned very often. Building & units have terrible ventilation--smoke & food odors were obnoxious at times. I could smell what the person down the hall was cooking.”

“I live in the building now. It is a little dated and the elevators are slow but the staff is reasonably friendly and it's nice having a restaurant / bar on the ground floor that has been recently renovated. Also have to mention the maintenance manager is the nicest guy and very helpful! My only issue is that there is no rule within the building's association for how long someone could conduct a renovation on their unit. According to management as long as the construction is done between the hours of 8am to 8pm M-Saturday they could make as much noise as they want. I have neighbors operating a table saw and hammering away at their unit just behind my headboard of my bedroom on and off for a year now. It can be a serious problem if you work nights or just want to enjoy a quiet place to live. I spoke with the manager on numerous occasions (I like him so I won't mention his name)and in more words or less told me there really isn't anything he can do. I like the manager and almost admire the way he handels issues but couldn't help to feel like I was being placated with no emidiate solutions and to tell you the truth without any rules pertaining to the duration of a renovation there really isn't anything he could do. I am looking to buy a condo by next summer and even if I love the neighborhood I won't consider buying at this location. Simply because the walls are too thin, the building is old(so there always will be someone repairing and renovating), and there are no rules to prevent inconsiderate neighbors from making as much noise as they want while conducting ecentric and continous DIY repairs on their units.”

“I had a one bedroom on a lower floor and just moved out in September to a larger space further west. The unit was ok--my rent was around $1K, which is average/slightly below average for the neighborhood. Loved the express buses, the location to fast food & shops. Here's my reasons for moving out: 1. Weird smells. The condo I rented smelled musty all the time unless I sprayed or left a window open. Each elevator always had some weird odor--not kidding. Each one had a different smell, and it wasn't always pleasant. 2. Noisy. Low floor on the Belmont side was ALWAYS noisy. Buses at 5am, motorcycles at night, lots of traffic all the time on Belmont. Every three months, there's some massive construction drama on Belmont. 3. Indifferent neighbors. Not sure if that was the right word...my neighbors on one side would have late night/early morning arguments--shouting, etc. Loud TV next to my bedroom wall. Called down to the doorman a few times. They'd turn it down for half an hour, then crank it back up. Most people sort of stuck to themselves and didn't go out of their way to be friendly. You'll get a hello from them...and that'll be it. Some of the older people are downright weird or mean. 4. Windows. Horrible. The building provides radiator heat, but the windows are old aluminum frames, single pane glass that don't keep the cold out. 5. Condition of the building in general. I'm not too picky, but the lobby and laundry room need remodeling badly. There's no pride here to make anything nicer. The owners don't want to spend any of the reserve or charge a special assessment, so things just get routine maintenance. They made a big deal when they "remodeled" the laundry room--painted the walls gray, got smaller washers and upped the price of the machines. The new TV room on the top floor is nice, but big deal. 6. Water pressure. OK but not the greatest. I tried getting a different showerhead, but the hot water wasn't as good as it could have been. 7. Back to elevators & how no one wants to spend money to fix a big problem: during summer months, humidity causes the old (1960s) buttons to light up all the time. Takes forever to get anywhere because elevators stop on every other floor. While we're on it, what's up with boiling hallways during the summer!? Spend the money and pump in some ventilation and A/C during the hot season. The unit itself was rehabbed in the 80s or early 90s. The owner was nice, and I could call to the manager if anything needed fixing. But no...not happy here and need more space for similar rent.”

“All of these "anonymous" posts are simply lies. I just purchased a condo in this building last month. I have absolutely no complaints. The building is very clean, quiet, spacious and the location is fantastic. Its definitely not a new building, but wouldn't consider it extremely dated. The exterior has a late 60's art-deco feel. The common areas are basic, but clean and in good condition. In response to some of the negative posts: There are definitely not bugs in this building. Exterminators preventively spray the building twice a year. The building has a full time maintenance staff. They keep the building in very good condition and go out of their way to help out the residents whenever possible. The comments about the building manager are completely fabricated. First of all the property manager is a man not a woman. Secondly, anyone renting in this building would rent from a unit owner, not from the property manager. The manager does not give tours of the building. A prospective buyer would have a Realtor show them around and a prospective renter would have the unit owner show them the building. I am not sure why somebody is trying to destroy the reputation of a condo building. The negative posts are blatant lies. Don't take my word for it. Stop by the bar in the lobby (Bridget McNeill's), have a beer and take a look around. You'll see that its clean and well maintained. I'll be the first to admit - this isn't the Trump Tower. The condos also don't sell for seven figures. If you are looking for a reasonably priced condo in a great location - check out this building. If you're looking for an apartment building - there are several of them directly west of here.”

“RUDE STAFF, DIRTY BUILDING AND IT SMELLS HERE BADLY. WHAT GIVES.”

“I stoped by to check out this building and Ohh my, its patheticaly dated and old. Management did not seem interested, would not smile and was taking personal cell phone calls while touring with me and had a chip on her shoulder. What's her problem. Needs a makeover and new staff.”

“When I looked at this building, I also was disappointed and not very well treated. I also thought it was dated and needed much help and smelled of cat urine in the hallways. I also saw a roach on the wall, disgusting.”

“I know who posted that awful review of 9/27and she should be ashamed of herself. This building, although, old in nature, is great to be in. I've lived here for over 12 years and had my share of drama, but the management has been great (especially the current office manager!). With as many units in the building as we have (150 ), I can always manage to do my laundry (we don't have a large room, but it seems to work out perfectly). The maintenance staff is always helpful, and can do special projects for you (with fees of course). There is an on-site cleaners that also acts as a receiving room for packages. And last, but not least, the heated indoor pool - a pleasure to be in no matter that time of year! Kept clean and maintained regularly. Assessments can seem a bit high in certain circumstances, but we have to take into consideration the age of the building. DOG POLICY: Seeing-Eye only. Cats OK”

“BAD AND RUDE MANAGEMENT. BUILDING IS OLD AND NEEDS HELP. OTHER THEN A GOOD LOCATION, I WOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE.”

“Love the building and convenience to everything, from cabs to shopping to restaurants/bars.”

“First off, this is an older condo building, so the individual characteristics of the units will depend on how many features the individual owners have invested as well as the general maintenance in the unit. Many units may not have dishwashers or up-to-date appliances. The building has a small laundry facility within the building. Since the building is older, the windows on the lower floors may not offer the best sound proofing. Be aware that the building is on Belmont and near Sheridan, which are two busy bus-filled streets. <br><br>As far as the building goes, it is a decent older building, nothing special. It does have a swimming pool and sundeck on the top floor (free) as well as a small party room (fee). There is no workout room within the building. There is storage available to residents, but once again, the owner may already have stuff in the storage locker, so it would be best to assume there would be no storage available for a renter. <br><br>Bel-Harbor recently remodeled their hallways with new carpeting and lighting, though it still feels like an older building (outdated elevators). The lobby looks like Miami in the 50s--complete with tacky acrylic chandelier, curvy walls, and a doorman desk that looks like it was made by a high school wood shop class. The lobby also has a drycleaners and an entrance to a smoky bar/tavern/restaurant (also within the building) which functions as a neighborhood watering hole. <br><br>The building has great public transportation--the CTA 146, 156, 77, 151, 135 all have stops within a block or two. Taxis are plentiful at most hours along Belmont and Sheridan. The attached parking garage stalls are purchased by the owners; parking may be available monthly by an owner (expect to pay at least $100-200 per month). Free street parking is very difficult to find (you must have additional car stickers to park on the neighborhood streets) or virtually non-existent. If you need to drive, be forewarned that Belmont and Sheridan are frequently jammed on days when the Cubs play (Wrigley Field is only a couple miles away). <br><br>As far as the resident mix, there are a good number of owner-occupied and rental units in the building. Because Bel-Harbor is in Lakeview, there is quite a mix of different people--gays, seniors, students, etc., and the building is generally quiet. Because Bel-Harbor is a condo building, there will be rules and regulations owners and their renters must strictly follow. Be prepared for a small move-in fee for holding an elevator.”