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Elm Street Plaza is not perfect, but great nonetheless
From:
Devsky1
Date posted:
12/17/2007
Years at this apartment:
2002
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2007
3 responses
I was sad to read some of the reviews Elm Street Plaza has been receiving lately. I wish to respond to a few comments people have made.
First, some have complained about the elevators taking forever. Keep in mind that Elm Street Plaza is currently updating the system so that elevators will be more sufficient. This will require one elevator to be out of service for a while, and another elevator still needs to be made available for moving in (and out). All high-rises experience this. Those who would still complain about elevators because of this is pretty much saying, "I love sausage, but I detest seeing how it is made." How spoiled.
Second, someone complained about how "Cabrini residents moved in a few weeks ago." First, I wish to comment on how utterly racist this statement is. For those not accustomed to Chicago neighborhoods, Cabrini Green used to be a neighborhood for housing projects. It was a very poor area where 99% of the residents were Black. They are continuously being expelled from their community because developers are tearing down the projects and replacing them with condos and townhouses. While some of the areas are mixed-income, most housing elsewhere in Cabrini Green is not affordable. Elm Street Plaza, in cooperation with HUD, is one of the few options available to these people, as Chicago faces a crisis with affordable housing. This building sets aside a certain percentage of its apartments for low-income residents who can prove that they have legal employment. Elm Street Plaza, therefore, believes that affordable and safe housing is a right for hard-working Americans. While there are a few bad apples, most of the low-income residents are hard-working, respectable people in search of a better life. They bring no intentional discomfort to the other residents, but only yearn to be good neighbors. The racists and classists who have written a few of the reviews simply do not want to give them a chance.
Despite the complaints people have written about Elm Street Plaza, it is a great building with many amenities--an outdoor pool and garden, 24-hour laundry room, 24-hour exercise room, modern appliances, and caring staff. The eastern view is especially wonderful; it has a perfect view of the John Hancock and even Lake Michigan. It may have a few problems (noisy, inconsiderate neighbors, for instance), but what building doesn't' If you are a person who is open-minded, yet has high expectations, you would be proud to call Elm Street Plaza home.
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User Responses
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From:
Anonymous
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Date:
02/13/2008
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Devsky1 you're obviously employed by Elm Street Plaza so I'll let some of your incorrect assumptions pass.
As for the topic of those that look like thugs, I will acknowledge the comical scene of watching someone pull up their pants 5 times just to enter/exit the elevator.
If you want to get a feel for the building, slip into the elevator and talk to some residents as we've no reason to be biased.
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From:
Devsky1
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Date:
02/13/2008
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The "anonymous" writer obviously did not read the other reviews, so he or she does not know what they are talking about. Yes, there are a few residents who dress and behave like thugs in our building, and they have the tendency to make me nervous and embarrassed for the "Cabrini residents." Regardless, I commented on how they made generalizations--that all of these residents are undesirables and troublemakers. This is not true. In fact, on Friday nights, when most of them are fast asleep, young, upscale residents like this commenter (by assumption) are throwing wild, alcoholic parties, and their guests stagger out in the hallways making a lot of noise, waking up everyone else on the floor. It is rather ironic that he or she would accuse me of playing the race card because I am usually one of the last people to do so. I only mention race when there are no other explanations. Again, this person did not think to read the referenced comments before reacting; he or she automatically made a judgement call. How very ignorant--and immature. Perhaps THIS person needs to grow up.
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From:
Anonymous
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Date:
08/05/2008
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Ha, that's hysterical. Lets not make this a gentrification/racial issue, Habitat gets massive tax breaks for allowing the Cabrini Green residents to move in. I will not say this is right or wrong as it really doesn't bother me either way. But what certainly does suck, is Habitat's policy on Cable. Habitat gets monthly payments from RCN to ensure that it is the sole provider to the building. This means that residents can chose between RCN or nothing. What's worse is that RCN knows this; the service sucks, they overcharge, if you complain they hang up on you or put you on hold for seven hours and you can't switch b/c the building won't let Dish or Comcast near the place.
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