R+D 659 Apartments, Chicago

There were several things that I looked for when I was looking for a new place: newer building, sufficient closet space, in-unit laundry, doorman, pool & gym. Location was also important ? I wanted to be in a lively area where I felt safe walking around in the evenings and had convenient access to grocery/pharmacy, restaurants and nightlife. My unit meets all of my requirements and I love it. In terms of unit management, I would prefer to rent from an apartment building that has maintenance on staff rather than an individual landlord. Because I?m renting from an individual (an extremely cost conscious individual), the process of getting things fixed is much slower. My landlord lives in Indiana and insists on doing everything himself, which creates scheduling difficulties. I really like the building itself - the amenities are limited (small gym and smallish pool area) but it completely fulfill my needs. I like the feel of the building. It?s always shiny and clean :) Security was an issue for a while ? was not loving the fact that the door was taped open and the doorman was in a deep sleep. This seems to have been fixed recently, so that contributes to a much improved overall experience.

Overall, the building is good in terms of livability and commute. I did renew my lease for another year.

Great location for restaurants and walking to work. Not the best for public transportation, but certainly not the worst. A new Whole Foods just opened a block away, which will be huge in the winter. Overall the area and commute counter the subtle problems with the unit (loud noise from the CTA and highway, poor shower pressure, mediocre management). The gym is serviceable and the pool is solid for working out during off hours and hanging out on a weekend. People are generally very friendly.