All 16 tenant reviews.

“Atrium Village at Old Town Park is an excellent choice for those looking to rent. The amenities, such as the outdoor pool, gym, party room, and TV room in the lobby, provide residents with various options for leisure and socializing within the building itself. Atrium's great location near the lake and Oak Street Beach, as well as its proximity to the red line train stop and other public transit options, make it incredibly convenient for residents to explore the city and access different areas. Additionally, having grocery stores, bars and restaurants nearby adds to the convenience of daily living. The fact that Atrium is not far from popular attractions like the Magnificent Mile and Lincoln Park Zoo further adds to its appeal. While it's worth noting that the apartments may require renovations (particularly the kitchen appliances and bathrooms), the affordability of the rent can offset this aspect. The prompt response from the building's maintenance team is another valuable feature. I have never had to wait for more than 12 hours after requesting a service. The maintenance team is efficient and addresses any concerns in timely manner, ensuring that residents' needs are met and that the living environment remains comfortable and well-maintained. The most noteworthy aspect of Atrium Village at Old Town Park is the thoughtful and caring management. The Atrium's management team is attentive and helpful. Their dedication to addressing residents' concerns and providing assistance when needed fosters a sense of community and demonstrates their commitment to creating a positive living environment. Overall, Atrium Village at Old Town Park offers a desirable combination of amenities, convenient location, efficient maintenance service, and attentive management. If you prioritize modern and updated living spaces, you may want to explore further or consider other options to ensure that your apartment meets your specific needs and preferences. However, if you are willing to overlook the current condition of the apartment for the other benefits Atrium offers, such as its amenities, affordability and location, it could be the right choice for you.”

“When I first moved in, there were no blinds for the sliding doors and the staff said that "I had to get it myself." So, I ended up paying extra and installed the blinds myself, no big deal. Lived here for about a year. The staff at the front desk were consistently rude and very lazy. They looked like they did not want to be there at all. The worst part about my experience here was the fact that they kept my deposit! I mentioned to them numerous times that I wanted to do a walk-through of the apartment before I left. They insisted that it was not necessary. Later, I was told that I would not receive my deposit back because they had to get new carpets for the unit. There was NO NEED for new carpet since I DID NOT leave any stains or mess! I would literally go to work most days and used my apartment mostly for sleep. Never did I throw a party or make a mess where they had to replace the carpet. In fact, I'm very clean and would only live somewhere that is clean. I don't even wear my shoes in the apartment. It was just an excuse for them to keep my money. SHAME ON ATRIUM for doing this. I would never recommend this company to anyone unless they're okay with losing their deposit for no legitimate reason.”

“I found the management to be less than helpful boardering on rudeness. I visited the building once, spoke on the phone and emailed them several times. The trend continued and they were less than responsive.”

“I have been living in the high rise building of Atrium Village for approx 7 months. The unit is basic but most things work (we've had kitchen cabinet doors break and the seal on the sliding glass doors is poor). These are expected problems associated with renting an old unit. I was disappointed with the service when yellow mold began growing on the ceiling in the spring. I called 3x before anyone even came to look at it. When the problem was addressed, the mold was painted over leaving bubble of paint on the ceiling. This seems like a lazy way to fix a somewhat serious problem. The reason why I write rent with caution is because the units are very close to the train. Beginning at 5:30AM the train runs and frequently wakes me up. I have tried several noise making fans to reduce this noise and nothing works well. It is a very loud train. Do not rent if you are a light sleeper. Another disappointment I've had with renting is the staff at Atrium Village. The rental office staff is almost never approachable. They treat renters as if they should be lucky they are renting here. The front door staff are not helpful either (there is one exception that I should note). They are often too busy watching TV, reading magazines, or talking to their friends to help with packages or buzz tenants into the building. They are unfriendly and lack basic manners expected of those working in a customer service field. There are positives to renting here too: pool in the summer, free parking, location.”

“I've lived at this location for about 2 years now with minimal issues. I really like it here. For the price you cannot do better. It is a so-called gated community with parking included (for residents only). I live in the low-rise apts (a 2BR/2 BA). It's pretty spacious and there are no noise issues are on our side (off of Hill St.) Yes, this is low income housing. Because of that, a lot of students live here (med students, Moody Bible students, etc). It's pretty quiet and safe. They do an extensive (almost irritating) credit check initially that seems to take forever. Also there's a waitlist to get in this place, so put your name down early. Once you get past all that, it's great. I think some of the reviews have mentioned safety issues. I have never had a safety issue here. I've also lived in Lakeview/Lincoln Park where I parked my car on the street and I actually felt less safe there. It is true that this place is a few blocks away from the projects (Cabrini Green area) - nevertheless Wells St, Old Town (where this place is located) is a cute little area. The place is gated - sometimes certain gates don't work, but I've never been concerned about it. There is always security around also. I love that there are two (!) groceries stores in walking distance from here, a library, and the lake is close by. Also, driving wise this is a great location. We are pretty close to lakeshore and 90/94, which is super convenient. Also we are just a few blocks away from the red line. Management is good. Any time I ever called about something not working they came THAT day to fix it. They are super efficient. The only issues I have ever had with this place are 1. Sometimes our mail gets lost or not delivered and that sucks. and 2. I don't like the dryer in our building because it takes two cycles to dry clothing. (We have one washer/dryer for the six units in our building - but the high rises have a large laundry room which is better.) Honestly those are the only cons I can even think of. This really is a great location. I am going to miss this cheap housing when I move out!”

“I've had a problem with management since I moved in and read your lease VERY carefully because they love to tack on extra fees. I signed leases for 3 years and they did not tell me my 4th lease was different, so they charged me a month's rent when I tried to move out. Good luck if you move here.”

“I lived at Atrium Village about a year ago. The apartment itself was very nice. I loved it there, but there were safety issues. My friend and I got robbed in the parking lot, right in front of the main entrance of the mid-rise building. Since my biggest concerns were related to crime and safety, I moved out right after the lease ended.”

“I have lived in the Atrium Village Midrise for a couple of years. My overall experience has been positive, but little things have been getting to me lately. As others have posted, the rent is less than other apartments in the area. Free parking is a HUGE perk that cannot be underrated. Noise between units is almost nonexistent due to concrete construction separating all units. Noise from the street is another story. This is the heart of the city and noise off of the Division Street side can get on your nerves, mainly in the Summer. Police and fire sirens/horns blare regularly. Brown Line trains border another side of the building which also create noise, but the city views are nicer. A courtyard side apartment would seem to be the best bet. Preventative maintenance is performed regularly in the apartment units. There have been some major problems with the air conditioning, pool, hot water, laundry room and elevators since I have lived here. Informative memos are usually sent out right away and the work is done quickly, but residents are still left with inconveniences. The midrise has two passenger elevators and one freight. One elevator seems to break on a regular basis. On a positive note, the laundry room washers and dryers were totally replaced this past year. It would have been nice to upgrade the equipment to more full-featured models, but I guess that would be asking for too much. The air conditioning can only be turned on after the maintenance staff switches the system over each season. It would be nice to dictate when I could turn on my own A/C and heat. Beginning last year, repair work began being performed on many of the apartment balconies. The noise created from the work sounds like a jackhammer and is extremely loud. It is very disturbing, and I am told that it will continue throughout the year. Depending on where the work is being performed that day, you can barely hear yourself think. The pool area is nice, but hours are restricted to the afternoon. A daycare facility has access to the pool in the morning. Residents cannot even use their own pool in the morning hours if desired! The rent has been raised twice in the time I have lived here.”

“You can't beat this place for the money. Good sized apartments, cheap rent, FREE PARKING. You won't find a deal even close to this anywhere in the area. Leasing staff can be a little touchy at first, but once you're in, you're golden. Maintenance staff almost always comes same day (during regular business hours) and is able to fix most problems on the spot. I have loved living here for all 5 of my years here and have no regrets. If you want affordable Gold Coast living, look no further. You definitely get more than what you pay for.”

“I lived at Atrium as a Teen, it was a well kept and very beautful area. The residents were very nice and neighborly. <br><br>When I had children I returned and there was definitely a big change from the upkeep of the property, to the staff in general. <br><br>The professionalism of the Management staff leaves a lot to be desired. They can be very rude.<br>The low rise buildings used to be cleaned on a daily basis by the janitorial staff, now you are luckly if it is cleaned once a month. It takes several calls to get any work done on the apartments. The patio doors in the low rise apartments have been there since they opened in 1978 and are in need of replacement which they will not do. <br><br>The parking supposed to be for the residents but I have seen the businesses in the area with stickers and also a few preferred others who park their cars and leave the property.<br><br>It definitely is time for a managerial change.”

“im currently a resident at atrium and my car was towed from the lot that i live in. management refused to help get my car back and i ended up paying 150.00 to park in my own lot.”

“UPDATE - READ THIS: As a follow up to my original review, you really have to be aware, know your rights and protect yourself here! One staff member (manager?) in the rental office made our lives hell, in as much as she was able to, when we terminated our lease. At the end of our lease, we were informed that the rent was going up significantly. We were given a new lease to sign, dated for the month it was to renew, which was still a month or two away. We took the lease at face value, and took that time to look for a cheaper apartment. In the meantime, the woman in the rental office apparently realized she'd made a mistake, and actually dated the lease incorrectly, resulting in us living in the apartment for a month not under a lease. This was not intentional on our part - SHE had provided us with the documents stating the date the lease was to be renewed. Once she realized her mistake, I think she was afraid she was going to get in trouble or something, because she tried every underhanded, unethical thing she could think of to get us to sign the lease again, despite the fact that we were moving out. Starting with a chummy: "Oh, just sign the lease for the paperwork, and I'll release you from it, it won't be any problem." (Um, yeah, right!) Then, getting slightly more aggressive: "The fact that you paid rent means you've implicitly agreed to the contract, so you're legally bound anyway." (B.S.) Then she cornered my husband and tried to get him alone to sign it without me, despite the fact that previously, even when I was so sick I'd missed work, she dragged me down to the leasing office to sign our lease together, because they couldn't possibly take the risk of him signing it without me, and letting me sign the following day. What was I going to do, leave my husband to get out of their lousy lease??? Then she tried to coerce us into giving back the copy of the lease she'd given us, with the incorrect date, I'm sure to destroy it. Finally, she started threatening us with the implication of legal action (which, for the record, was completely unfounded). This from a place we'd lived quietly and paid our rent on time without a single problem for several years! I ended up having to do tons of research on tennants rights, and was given an attorney to consult. Completely ridiculous, and unbelievably stressful. Two years after moving out, the nastiness of this encounter still gets me riled up. Especially because, if we had been more timid people that just trusted what our rental office told us, we would have been bullied into living somewhere we didn't want to live at a much higher rate. I can only imagine that somebody older (and possibly less internet savvy) without a firm grasp on their renter's rights, would definitely have been intimidated into signing the lease against their will. If you can manage to not deal with the staff much, the apartments themselves aren't that bad - sort of soul-less, but generally clean. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Staff is ok - at first I couldn't stand working with them, because there is a certain apathy (it literally took months for us to get throught the application process, during which period I was homeless for 2 weeks between my old lease and my new one - ick!), but as long as you don't have to deal with them, the apartments are ok. There is one doorman I particularly love, and in general, I think the doorman staff is great. I love having parking, and even if we can't find a spot closest to the entrance we use, we can always find a spot in one of the four lots. This place isn't very home-y, and does have a certain converted hotel feel - although I think it was originally built as an apartment, our friends always walk in and say, "Oh, this place used to be a hotel?" We've been here for quite a while, and although I will never love it, it has worked for us.”

“My wife and I have absolutely come to hate this apartment! The management is absolutely horrific, they are some of the rudest and unhelpful people on the face of the earth. The door men are also rude and extremely lazy. All they do is talk on the phone and do anything else you can think of that they should not be doing while they are employed. There are so many better neighborhoods in Chicago and you don't need to put up with any of the crap the staff throws at the residents.”

“Nice place to live. Loud if you are near Divison St. The best thing about this place is the price plus you get parking. Mainly students live here it seems. Very central, close to great (and not so great) neighborhoods. Almost everything you need is within walking distance. Overall the apartments are almost cliche in how average they are, but they are clean and well maintained.”

“Overall the apartments are nice and well kept. It should be noted however that the gates around the low rise apartments are often broken allowing anyone to come into the dark and wooded community area. Maintenance staff are very friendly and helpful, but the management office themselves can be a bit difficult. It can be really hard to get into (I was lied to on several occasions by the employee who is in charge of new applicants) but once you are in it is a great place to live. Also when we had an apartment reserved for us it took weeks for them to finish background checks etcetera.”

“wow this is the most wonderful apartment I have seen in my entire life. I desparately want to chain the doors and keep it all to myself!”