Wonderful place, lived there for many years. Arts, religious and social events close by. Healthy inexpensive places to dine along with the finest dining, all close by. Great staff, issues handled quite well. Habitat long known for itt's commitment to diversity and fine continual maintenance and restoration work. Nice workout facility, great area to work and socialize. Most people and staff, helpful, warm and professional. I only left to help with family needs. I understand that the Pandemic was handled with great care? warmth and success, even delivering good to family's doors. My first apartment was #1609. Great view. Nicest studio around. Felt like a large upscale apartment. Clean well maintained shoots for easy trash disposal. I'm looking to come back! Highly recommend staff and building, that most definitely deserves landmark status, Wish I lived there now! Richard Davis RichardDavis1996@alum.northwestern.edu read more

I've lived in two different units at elm street plaza over the last 19 months, and overall it has been great. The location can't be beat, with quick access to the red line and buses, a Jewel Osco across the street, as well as being a 10 minute walk from the lake and Lincoln Park. All of the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. HOWEVER, I have lived on the 9th floor for the past 16 months, and I had cockroaches in my apartment every few weeks upon moving in, which lasted for about a year, especially when I would go out of town for more than a couple days. They would send an exterminator out weekly, although it didn't seem to be too effective. I now keep my drains closed at all times and seal up the overflow holes in my tub and sink with tape which has seemed to help the problem, although I still have found a couple small dead cockroaches in the last 6 months. A couple of the cockroaches I have had in the last year were living. When I was on the 17th floor, I only had one dead cockroach in my unit in 16 months, so the higher floors don't have as bad of a problem. Other than this cockroach problem, the building is absolutely fantastic. read more

DO NOT LIVE HERE! My experience here has been AWFUL! I've had cockroaches for over a year and management does not care. The management team is not on top of their stuff and I rarely know what's going on in the building. read more

I have enjoyed my living here. The apartments are very nice and renovated and maintenance comes very soon after you put in a work order. I feel safe with the front desk and like how the app for the building works. Cons are slow elevators waits and package room hours but overall enjoy -Hannah tronsen read more

Great place to live in the gold coast with great amenities ! Also have loved the way the building has handled the pandemic from delivering breakfasts to our apartments, coffees/doughnuts in the lobby to getting a taco truck for us! It has been great living in this apartment building. The staff is really friendly and all requests are answered on a timely basis. The only complaint I've is the never ending repairs on the lifts (hopefully coming to an end soon). - Abhijay Kapoor, 1106 read more

I would not recommend living at Elm Street Plaza unless you prefer mediocrity. There are only 3 elevators for 30+ floors and one is always down for maintenance or moving. I have also been stuck in the elevator on two occasions where the fire department had to be called. When moving out after our 2 year lease, I made sure to properly clean the apartment after taking great care over the past few years. We were left with over $600 in cleaning fees without any explanation or itemized bill. Luckily, my roommate is an attorney and was able to negotiate the cost down but it's clear there are making up Illinois laws and charges as they go. Knowing low income housing also lives in the building, I hope they are not also screwed over with uneccessary charges when vacating the premises. *I should note there was a shooting injuring 3+ people in Elm Street Plaza alley in July of 2022* read more

PROS: Safety has been a priority since moving in in January! Face masks are enforced in all common areas. Very minimal sound heard between units. Love the extra storage each room is allotted in the storage room on each floor. The units are VERY spacious! I definitely feel as if you get a lot of room for much cheaper than other buildings I looked at. lots of great areas nearby (Jewel, Walgreens, Starbucks, multiple bars) all within a block CONS: Elevators can be slow, annoying if you're not a patient type. With the warmer days we've had this spring, it has become much warmer within the unit. Aside from opening windows I wish there were a way to better control the climate inside each unit (aside from heat) Dogs aren't allowed (aside from emotional support) which is super sad for those of us who would really appreciate a companion. Receiving packages from the concierge can be a difficult if your schedule doesn't fall within the limited hours of someone staffing the package room. Oftentimes, I find no staff even in the room when they are open or hidden in the back making it difficult to pick up packages. Looking forward to utilizing the outdoor amenities (pool, grilling area) once it's a bit nicer outside! read more

The leasing team is amazing. I worked with Kevin Rachner when looking for an apartment. He was so quick in responding, constantly keeping me updated with time estimates on units available in my price range, and made sure to answer all of my questions! I was so set on living in Elm Street and Kevin helped make that happen. The renovated units look amazing! read more

I have lived at Elm Street Plaza for over 15 years. I have called it home because of the caring staff and the wonderful neighbors that are like family. In the last 3 years they have updated everything in the building, this has made it even more luxurious. I plan on calling this my forever home and I've recommended Elm Street Plaza to many of my friends. Jacqui Coney read more

Very nice apartment building great amenities friendly staff whenever I need maintenance in my apartment the request is taken care of in a timely manner. This is a great building to live in I love it here please don't hesitate to come down and get a look for yourself. read more

Lived here for 15 months and recently resigned the lease. No major complaints. The building is a little old, but they have done a wonderful job in renovating that it feels newer than it is. They have fun activities that people actually participate in and they have random treats (free breakfast, coffee cart, food trucks, etc.) You truly can't beat the location of the building. I do not have a car in the city and would never need one because we are close to any form of public transportation and a grocery store. The staff has been nothing but nice and polite. Any issues I've had have been resolved pretty seamlessly. read more

The water pressure (which has been fixed before) is abysmal. Additionally, the water temperature fluctuates greatly without me changing anything. It makes enjoying a nice shower nearly impossible. Between not getting enough water at times, and getting burned or frozen, I would say this is the worst part about living in an otherwise wonderful building. The appliances are great, most floors have been updated/renovated. The staff is incredible and the views (from a corner unit, looking SE) are amazing. read more

No complaints so far living here. Location is great, units are recently renovated and comfortable. Everyone I have worked with is responsive and professional. Maintenance has responded within a day for all my requests. Amenities are nice snd well maintained. Everything is easily done through the app. Billing has always been transparent and there are No weird ripoff fees or anything like that which some landlords do. read more

I moved into Elm Street Plaza in August, and I've only had great experiences since moving in. My roommate and I have a newly renovated apartment overlooking Lake Michigan and the city. The building has renovated amenities as well and is nothing like what some of the older reviews say. We love our new home. All of our guests compliment it! I greatly appreciate the professionalism and hospitality of the staff in the building. The office staff, especially Kevin, has been beyond helpful with any requests or concerns. I cannot say enough great things about my new home. It's an amazing place to live and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the building. read more

Been a resident here for a little over a year and have really enjoyed my experience. Great views of the lake, amazing outdoor space with grills and a pool (not on the rooftop). Elevators can be very slow and have had a bit of problems with maintenance the past couple of months. Management does a pretty good job about keeping residents updated. Apartments are very spacious with lots of windows and lots of closets and storage space. read more

As they say --Location, Location Location!!!! Terrific to live in the Gold Coast , close to everything. The apartments are updated and very spacious!!! The new additional amenities are Amazing !!! The newly decorated outside area with barbecues,, pool,and luxurious outside seating is a very welcome addition. The office staff is always agreeable and helpful, especially Miss Siobhan Walker, who always there to answer any needs or concerns, to make your lifestyle better! So if your looking for a new apartment come visit or give Miss Walker a call! read more

Pros: LOCATION PRICE CLOSET SPACE Cons: OLDER BUILDING/ AMENITIES DIVISION STREET RANDOMNESS This is a solid 3 and a 4 star for the price point I got it at, off season. But for what I see it listed as market 3 stars suffice. You're paying for the location. Lived here for a year and I consider it as the perfect starter place for downtown Chicago. You won't find a better price for what you get in this area. It won't be the hot spot for the pool or parties but it'll get the job done. I had my own shoe closet here! You're close to all the division bars, river north, 10 mins from wicker, but it's clear to see especially at night that Cabrini Green use to be right up the street. Some shady characters can be found on Division but as far as this part of Dearborn you gotta love it. You can usually find some street parking after hours all around. Grocery store across the alley is eh but doable. Walgreens was my most visited spot. Miss this old place I just wanted updated appliances, washer dryer in unit, and a balcony. Really not a views building but again this is the perfect starter building. I had some issues with the AC in my unit that took some time to get fixed properly, being by the trash room sucked. All depends on your neighbors at the same time as well. I would move here again if starting all over. Door staff is the best and Judy the mailroom attendant is epic lol. Happy renting people! read more

I've been living in the Gold Coast for 5 years now and have enjoyed residing at Elm Street Plaza. Perfect location that's 7 mins away from my job. The staff is excellent. They make you feel welcomed and secure. The management office is prompt and accurate with communicating. Siobhan Walker is very professional, her tone is so warm and she gives you a better understanding of any issue that may come about. All year around the building host with various parties, socials and have vendors come out to get to know staff and neighbors. Good vibes only on Elm St! read more

The place has good maintenance crews, everything is fixed in a timely manner, and the location is pretty good. The management staff here is horrible, as they will try to sabotage your sublet so they can charge the penalty fee. I think they are angry people who live and work in the building read more

I've lived at Elm Street Plaza about 5 months now, and it has been a good experience for the most part. Pros... -Apartments have great views with floor to ceiling bay windows. I am on the 10th floor facing west and have a great view. -Studios are very good size. I'm in one of the larger studios and it's enough space for a king bed, 2 couches and 2 dressers. There is a lot of closet space which helps a lot. -Neighbors are very friendly. Although there are some Section 8 tenants (20% of the building from what I hear), I have never had any problem with them. -The location is perfect. 1 block from the CTA redline, right next door to Treasure Island, and a short walk away from Old Town/River North, 5 minute walk to Oak Street Beach and 10 minute walk to North Ave beach. -The pool is very nice in the summer time. The pool by no means is top notch (broken light fixtures, only 1 working grill last time I visited), but it is still a lot better than nothing. -Heat/AC included in rent which is a big plus in winter/summer. Cons... -Rents change daily. Felt I kindof got screwed when signing a lease. When I first called to look at a studio, it was $1,220/month but the leasing agent would not be able to show until 2 days later. When I came in 2 days later, the rent had gone up to $1,240/month. I asked if I could sign a lease for the $1,220/month which was the price when I called and the leasing agent said that should be fine, but she would need to ask the Property Manager the next day. The next day she calls and says they won't rent for the original price, and in addition to that, rent had gone up yet again to $1,277/month!! Yes, 3 rent increases in 1 week. -Apartments need constant maintenance. I've been here since March and had 7 or 8 maintenance calls (Fridge broken 3 times (need complete replacement once), toilet broken 3 times, and some other miscellaneous items. Luckily the maintenance staff is very friendly and responsive. -Have to pay $5/guest to have people over to the pool with a maximum of 2 guests. Overall, I would recommend Elm Street Plaza as a place to live and will renew my lease here as long as the renewal rent increase isn't astronomical. read more

Elm Street Plaza - Studio apartment - Apartments Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Elm Street Plaza building is the perfect option for anyone wanting to live in the heart of the Gold Coast. Renovated units, many amenities including a pool as well as a super friendly staff! read more

I'm moving out Chicago, but I would encourage anyone to check out these apartments if they're moving into the area. They are very affordable for the area, as long as you don't need a fancy granite/stainless steel kitchen or marble bathroom(though I've heard they're renovating some units so who knows). The office and door staff are great. Common areas are beautifully maintained, they just replaced the hall carpeting. Maintenance guys are friendly and get the job done, though you may need to followup on your request. Units are very clean, with fresh paint and new carpet before move-in. They just replaced the pool furniture with nicer stuff as well. Never a single pest problem, never a problem with noise. Elevators have only been out of service once or twice during the year I lived here, and only very briefly so I think that problem has been addressed. As others have pointed out, the kitchen and bathrooms are dated and fairly basic, but very well maintained/cleaned prior to move in and fully functional. Supposedly they're renovating some units now, but I'm not certain. I've not had any problems with smoke smell that another reviewer had. The laundry is coin-operated and one or two machines are often out of service, but I've never had a problem getting a working machine. I haven't used the exercise room, but it seems fairly well equipped and is regularly in use. Only heat or AC are active at any given time, so there are a few weeks where you might wish you had AC available, but I think this is common. read more

I moved into a newly renovated unit a few months ago and honestly, I don't think I'll be moving for a while! The amenities are terrific, the staff is very helpful, and the location is unbeatable. Steps from Oak Street and Oak Street beach, and only two minutes from the Red alone and a brand new Jewel Osco. Would highly recommend for young professionals and those interested in living in the Gold Coast! read more

Horrible place to live. The elevators are constantly out of service, causing long waits, especially at rush hour. Very noisy! You can not only hear music/television from people below you, but also lots of street noise ( and I lived on one of the top floors!). Way overpriced for the quality of the building...it is very outdated. The "gym" is busy, and it's difficult to get a machine. The walls must be very thin because I could smell cigarette smoke frequently, especially when I opened the windows. Most of the people that live here are over the age of 50. Only positive thing about this building is the extremely nice door staff and maintenance crew. Love them! read more

Pros: Value: You're not going to find many apartments in Gold Coast that are this size and renovated for the price. Quick Work Orders: Both work orders I've placed were fulfilled within 36 hours Management Communication: Management is easy to contact through email and phone. They have several people in the office seven days a week. Events: Every month they have "events." I'm not sure how it was pre-covid because we moved in during the middle, but right now these events are basically free food like cupcakes and mimosa for valentines day or a taco truck. Everyone loves free food. COVID: They have a great balance of caution and reason with covid in my opinion. Everyone wears masks, but the work out center is open now (with reservations and limited capacities). Cons: Packages: They have lockers where you can scan a QR code to pick up packages which is great, but not all packages make it in the lockers if it's full or the package is large. In that case it's sent to the mail room. The mail room is the size of a closet and always overflowing. The mail lady often cannot find our packages because the room is overflowing. They have lost two of my packages since I've been here (though they claim it's the delivery people delivering them to the building across the street so I'm not sure). Regardless, they need a bigger mailroom and better system for packages. Elevators: One always seems to be down. They always give us notice when one's going to have "maintenance" but it's annoying for sure. They know it's an inconvenience, though, and it seems out of their control. Room Temperature: The thermostat is one of the only parts of the apartment that seems not to have been renovated. This past winter it got really hot in our apartment most days even when the thermostat said it was off. I've been pondering why this building is cheaper than many others I looked into and I believe it's because it lacks slightly in many extras that are selling areas...all of which I don't mind. For example, the parking garage is directly next to the building instead of being attached. The pool is ground level instead of being a rooftop pool. There's also no hot tub. There aren't balconies or in unit laundry (but there are huge floor to ceiling bay windows and a laundry room that's never full). They have a fitness center but the equipment is mediocre. For me, those were worth forgoing for the price. It's hard to find mid range apartments in Chicago much less Gold Coast so this place feels like a gem in that sense. read more

Moved in a few months ago and LOVE this building. The units are huge with incredible views and recently renovated. The amenities are also great! Safety has been a top priority and I think that the building and residents have done a great job ensuring safety. The only complaint is waiting for the elevators, but that issue seems to be getting better. Overall great building and staff! read more

Love this place! Awesome apartment and the people are friendly! Only complaint is the central air during spring. I like to keep it cool, but it takes a while to switch from heat to AC. Looking for an indoor ac unit. read more

We are new residents of Elm St Plaza and are looking forward to the building's location and amenities! Everyone we have interacted with so far has been extremely pleasant and helpful. The leasing staff has made themselves very available to us and let us know about any ongoing maintenance projects (the elevators and new trash chute); there is good communication amongst the management and residents. read more

I needed time sensitive information from the leasing office and was unfortunately given the runaround by several folks for days. When I was finally able to connect with someone I ended up speaking to a woman named LaShanna in the leasing office who was incredibly rude and disrespectful. She dismissed my request as if it was not her problem and refused to provide any help at all. Towards the end of the call she even got loud and insulting. I was very unhappy with the service and will avoiding interaction with this organization in the future. read more

DO NOT LIVE HERE. This is possibly the worst apartment building in Chicago. I found multiple cockroaches in my apartment (I'm very clean) and they refuse to bring an exterminator in for another 6 DAYS. This is apparently normal to them and they think that having pests is an acceptable living conditions even though I'm paying more than $21k in rent. If the cockroaches aren't enough to stop you from moving in, the entire building is filled with section 8 housing which comes with drug-use, theft, domestic violence, vandalism, and more. Management is an absolute joke. They do not care about their residents whatsoever and are extremely rude. With so many luxury apartments being built in the area, this building will be more than desperate for tenants. Do not fall for their "discounted"rent deals. read more

Its a great place to live in, the building is very clean and modern. Its located in a good area and the staff is nice.

Elm street has been great through the pandemic and keeping everyone safe. They have also been very attentive to any issues ive had over the past few years. read more

The leasing team is fantastic. They are so quick with getting back to you and setting you up with a lease. Honestly the smoothest lease process that I have ever gone through. The building itself is nice and you can tell that they are constantly trying to improve it. The amenities aren't insane but the gym, pool, and grills are great. My apartment itself is fantastic. Great quality and aside from the occasional water turnoffs, I have no complaints. read more

I've been living in the building about a year now and I'm so happy with everything. It's unbelievably clean, the staff is wonderful and the pool, laundry room and fitness room are definitely up to par. It's in a fantastic location; close to nightlife, theatre, restaurants and the beach. I'm so sorry to be leaving this building as I am moving out of Chicago. I'm definitely recommending this building to all my friends! read more

I would not recommend for many reasons and you should be careful when selecting. The building has been renovated but it's still a old building with a lot of maintenance and issues. Elevators are always down and your apartment will need constant maintenance. This building is owned by Habitat and they are trying to increase revenues at the expense to their current residents, they have increased the cost of laundry and now will be charging for water gas and trash. I would pick wisely as I have been a long term resident and this is by far the largest increases I have seen in rent. They seem to be passing the costs of all the renovations on to their residents read more

Love this building! I've been here for about a year and a half and plan on staying for at least the new few years. Only downside is elevators moving slowly - but the management and maintenance staff always does what they can to speed up service! read more

Great updated apartment, amazing staff, and GREAT LOCATION with a big jewel, 2 drugstores, train station (Clark/division red line stop), AND a bank all within 1 block of the building in a very nice and safe neighborhood. read more

I'm sorry to whoever lives in apartment 706 now I should have written this review earlier. I got a job offer in Chicago and moved from New York and researched all the apartments in the area. This seemed like a good fit so I signed a lease. HERES THE BIG RED FLAG: they dont let you see your apartment, only a model apartment. Weird right? I moved in and everything seemed fine for the first few hours. I brought with me 2 duffle bags and a purse. I had a dresser and bed delivered when I got there. Within hours, I was sitting on the carpet trying to set up my internet and I see bugs. Bugs crawling towards me from every direction. BED BUGS. They were coming out of the walls and vents and there were hundreds. They weren't confined tot he living area, they were in the kitchen and bathroom. They were on my new bed and all of my clothes. The manager came in and told me that I probably brought them in with the NEW furniture. I pointed out the bugs coming fromt eh vents and between the walls. I did a little digging and showed them the dead bugs int he back of the closet. This place was infested and they knew about it before I moved in. They let me move into that palce knowing full well it was infested. The doorman even smypathized as I sat in the lobby completely alone 600 miles from home with everthing I owned in the washer and said "I can't believe they did that to you" The black women who was the head of the management staff told me that there was no way to determine how the bed bugs came intot he apartment so they couldn't refund my firsts month rent or security deposit. She then informed that I needed to get out or "deal with it" becasue "people do live with bed bugs, its not that big of a deal." These people are disgusting. They took my money and treated me like shit. I wasted 3,000 dollers, I had to get rid of the new furniture and bed, and I had to spend endless hours cleaning everything I owned. I had to stay in a hotel for a few weeks before I could find a new place. My entire savings was depleated. They took advantage of me and this place should be condemmed. They did nothing to stop the bed bugs, they "sprayed" but if anyone know ANYTHIGN about bed bugs they dont just die, you need to attack from all the apartments surrounding it and fromt he floor below. They live through everything and are almost impossible to compeltely get rid of. Here is the FINAL kicker. As I was moving all my stuff from the apartment I met a girl that lived on the hall. She told me a indian family of 6 was living in that Studio apartment with no furniture before I moved in! A FAMILY OF 6 IN A 500 SQFT APARTMENT! I hate you elm street plaza and I will let everyone know how disgusting you are. read more

It's currently nearly 90 degrees and humid in Chicago and our "building controlled" air conditioning is still not turned on. They say they have it scheduled for a date in the future, but their unwillingness to push the date forward to accommodate their resident's health says a lot about their company. The forecasted weather in Chicago is HOT for the next 7 days, so why not turn the AC on a little earlier. To make matters worse, the common spaces are all shut down due to COVID-19 and we are stuck in our sauna of an apartment with no relief. The building managers know full well that their residents are under quarantine/working from home and have no other option but to sit in their sweltering hot apartments all day. The poor staff at the front desk are clearly miserable as well because they have added industrial carpet drying fans to the lobby so they don't suffer in the heat all day. I manage a high rise with centrally controlled chillers so I know there's no excuse to not turning the AC on in response to high heat-it's either negligence or laziness and that's just unacceptable. I promise you there are betters buildings in the Gold Coast than Elm Street Plaza. At least other buildings give you the choice to control your own climate. The prices they charge are in line with luxury condos, but the living conditions are far from it. Why not open the patio back up for the residents to use with social distancing rules. Poorly managed. What makes matters worse is the building managers and leasing staff are all working from home. The office has been closed for over a month and their tours are all virtual, so they're not even suffering in this heat with us. They leave their staff to guard the doors while they stay home and tell us "the AC is coming back soon". They're in no rush to turn it back on because they're comfortable in their ivory tower. Shameful. read more

Overall this place has been great for me. I have lived here since 8/12. I was new when I moved to Chicago and didnt know a lot about the area. to help others out, I will list as many facts as I can for anyone else in the same situation. I repeat: facts. - Rent is $1697 for a one bedroom, 800 sqft apt. I was offered the same lease renewal in may for 2013-2014. - Apt was cleaned when I moved in and I have had no issues with noise. - I was able to pick two accent walls which I thought was a cool touch. - You can smoke in your apartment and my neighbor across the hall enjoys this rule. Several times my apt smelled like smoke because it would come across the hall. - There is section 8 in the building and you will notice it. I have had no issues with anyone, but once again, you will notice it had section 8 housing. - I never once had to turn on my heat and I live on the 5th floor. I basically stole heat from those beneath me. - elect bill averaged about $20-30. - cable through RCN only. I have really liked it. - elevators were always quick with rare out of service times. - maintenance staff is incredibly good. They are friendly and serviced my apt quick. Had a dishwasher break on me, put a request in, and it was completed the next day while I was at work. - doormen are great. Watch out for Brandon --- he is the man and will go out of his way to help you. - gym is a 1/5. No dumbbells. - I had no issues with mgmt but then again had zero contact with them once I moved in. I minded my own business and had no need to contact them so I have no complaints. - the building is on a two pipe system like most places in the area (based on what my friends have said). Two pipe system means you do not control whether you want heat or AC. The building will switch it to AC sometime in early may and hear sometime in late sept. you can control whether it is on, but for those times when it is hot in the beginning of oct or cold at the end of may it can get uncomfortable. - location is impossible to beat. Walk score of 100 on www.walkscore.com. About a 5 min walk from the beach and great rest/bars all over the place. - pool is 2/5 only gets sun for 2 hrs/day. Very nice pool however, but if you want people in the 20 something range to party with you will probably not find it here. - people seem to keep to themselves in the building. If you are looking for a great place to live, good location, and a good price, elm street plaza is for you. You will not be "wowed" with new age appliances or hardwood, but your apt will be spacious and clean. For the price you pay at elm street plaza... It is hard to beat. read more