36%
overall rating:
Parking:
Maintenance:
Construction:
Noise:
Grounds:
Safety:
Office Staff:
Historic Landmark RUINED!
From: -Anonymous-Date posted: 10/13/2009
Years at this apartment: 2005-01-01 - 2009-01-01
4 responses
I lived in the Belmont House for many years and moved out when my lease was up this past year. Rumors had been swirling all around the property on what they were going to do to this Historic building and when it was time for my renewl I was bold face lied to as proven by the recent renovations. Not only was I lied to but they wanted to up my rent by a considerable amount during a Recession and planning on doing major overhaul of the main lobbys, halls and all the units around me. What was I going to get out if it but noise and disturbance. I was a good renter, who always paid on time in my early 30s and was concious of my neighbors. I was told by the Manager when I went to renew that the rumors about the remodel were lies, that they were not going to go and gut the lobby and go modern, that the gates were going to stay up, and that they were planning on just redoing some of the exsisting furniture. These were all lies as I went into the lobby this past saturday night to see what they had done after 7months of construction.
If I had never seen the Belmont house I might think it was cool, very W. hotel like. But it DOES NOT fit the building! When you pull up to the building they have these obnoxious planters that belong in front of a modern building not a historic landmark. The changing light in the entry vestibule is a joke, this is not a club its a residence. Then you go inside, long gone is the Elegant Hotel lobby, the reason I rented the place actually was because it was so welcoming and so nice to come home after a 12hour day and feel like I was walking into a luxury hotel. Now you walk in to a Cold WHITE lobby that has enough seating for 100 people but is EMPTY. Gone is any real character, other than the loud music. If it were a club I would go but alas there is no bar. The beautiful Oak Room that many residents used daily to get coffee, sit and read and converse with each other is now a Cold attempt at a bad hotel sitting area. They did thank god leave the old fireplace. The light fixtures are terrible and the 4flat screens mounted on the wall do not make any sense when you cant hear the tv over the music. The gates a security feature, are long gone, the front desk now moved by elevators, where anyone can still get in as I proved on Saturday no one stopped me. So anyone who is seeking a secure building beware of that.
I was told by a friend who still lives there that the halls were all painted two terrible colors and then the tenants complained so much that they had to repaint. Where was managment and the owners when we were all complaining about the changes they proposed? They called a meeting and lied to everyone, they dont care about the tenants. Its been said they want a young crowd to live there, Hmm I was early 30s and made enough money to pay well over 1400.00 a month for a one bedroom in Lakeview was I not the target renter?? You really think that during a recession that you can demand 1600.00 for a one bedroom in lakeview? In this neighborhood you can own for that, let alone find a 2bedroom to rent for that price.
Its really to bad to see what the Belmont House has become, after it had been the Gem of a rental building with incredible service and was worth the rent they demanded. The Belmont House WAS luxury living in an elegant not Cheesy Half assed way as it is now. The new Owners must be EuroTrash or just down right Cheesy. The Belmont House will have a really hard time trying to fill up the units again with good tenants and they cant blame it just on the market, they are over priced, cold, and will appeal to a small group of people who wish they could afford to live there but cant. I hope that all the people who were so loyal to the Belmont House for so many years leave as I did.
Last updated: 10/13/2009
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
I'm the author!
User Responses |
|
| From: Anonymous | Date: 10/13/2009 |
|
Thank you!!!! Unfortunately I still live in the Belmont - I had renewed my lease just before the announcment and start of the hidious rennovations that will take about 9 months. Of course I was not told of what was to come a very short time later and my rent increase was significant. I could not agree with your comments more. What was a fabulous rental property with outstanding service and staff (the best doormen which have been fired and replaced by a group of unprofessional and unfriendly people) is now an eyesore and a disgrace. And that does not yet say anything about the deceiving practices of the management company.
|
|
| From: WhataWaste312 | Date: 10/13/2009 |
|
Sorry your still there. I as most of the other tenants got a memo from someone in the building asking questions about the renovations, and thats why they called the meeting and lied to everyone. I wish you luck and hope you get out as soon as you can!!
|
|
| From: Anonymous | Date: 10/13/2009 |
|
I have to agree with all the above. I do know there were several complaints made to the city for operating in Bad faith. I know the more complaints made the more likely the new owners will get a lesson in how to treat your tenants and how to respect a historic building. These new owners took down all the brass signage to replace it with plastic copies, fixed to the walls with VELCRO!!. I encourage you all OLD and NEW tenants to complain to the city. These new owners Blantantly lied to the tenants in meetings and then fired the workers that they had hold the meetings with the excuse, "well he/she is gone now I am here". I guess if you move in you can RESIDE yourself to dishonest business practices. There is a sadness that such a historic hotel that lasted so many years was defaced by young men hungry for money. Somethings are best left the way they were build. Fine woods, Marble, and dressed ceiling.
And really how much money are they getting the garage lost 60% of it business from tenants moving out!
Do you really want to listen to Chanting music while you drink your fine wine??
Please post your complaints to the city. Help save this old building before there is no saving it.
|
|
| From: Anonymous | Date: 10/15/2009 |
|
I moved in a few months ago before the lobby was finished. The management team never lied to me. They told me what the changes were going to be made. I think the lobby is great! If you don't like the changes then try to get out of your lease. The building is looking nice! I just think it's people like you that the mangment company does not want as residents anyway. I have never lived in a building with so many people complaining. Just go down in the morning, that's all people do is complain. You r only a few. Stop ruining it for everyone. I just went to the grand opening party and met alot of neighbors that love it. It's a shame that you only hear the bad never the good..........
|
|
Free estimates on moving trucks
Find apartment share/roommates
Up to: Belmont House
Chicago apartments
Disclaimer: No attempt has been made to verify or assure the accuracy of the claims made by the author of this opinion or responses. You must judge the truthfulness of any review and accept responsibility for your use of this information.
E-mail successfully sent to Belmont House
