I lived there for two years and eight months.

The property itself is rather appealing. The model apartments are sweet...but they have always been the model units--Immaculate, pristine, never lived in.

Actual rental units vary. They will try to get you to sign a lease of one unit and then change it the day you move in to a unit you have not seen or inspected before. I am not sure how, but you need to make sure you see the unit you lease before you lease it, and hold them to it.

The dumpsters are often filled and surrounded by trash. The pool is basically a single lane lap pool, not very good for community type use.

Not unusual to have the grounds crew at your bedroom window at 7:00AM on a weekend morning.

There are some "Party Animals" that keep things going at all hours.

Electric bills in my unit ranged from $90-$290 a month in the dead of summer. (Thanks to those wonderful vaulted ceilings)

The old management company was poor, but the new management company is absurd. They can be very difficult to work with. You work for them...not the other way around.
Better make sure you video tape your WHOLE apt before and after move-in or you WILL pay whatever THEY say.

When I leased and renewed, the lease stated rent was due at the office or drop-box on the first. No problem until the new management company took over. They put a bulletin on your door saying you HAVE to mail rent to Chicago I believe, and expect that unsigned "note" to supercede your signed (and agreed)lease contract. You can pay rent by credit card, if you are willing to pay the $60 processing fee. And...they say your rent is late if not received and cashed in Chicago by the first...else you pay "Market Rate" which can be several hundred dollars more than your lease "Concession" rate. What a racket! I bet they never leased (or will lease) a single unit for what they establish and call Market Rate.

They also believe that they can charge you fee's and fines that are neither defined or provided for in the lease contract. If they want to charge you $20 or $50 for some reason, they simply type-up a bulletin, put in on your door and *poof* they will act as if it is part of your signed lease contract. I know this happened to folks with pets. Their bulletin stated that if someone reported you for say not using a leash or not carrying a poopy bag, you owed the complex a fine. Hey, if you don't like your neighbor, just call the office and report them until they go bankrupt. I have a hard time believing any of this is legal. Perhaps people who have been charged these kind of fines can get together and take them to court for damages!

Too bear in mind that by using the market/concession rate scheme, you rent for six months at say a $500 concession rate ($900 market rate). If you don't renew BEFORE you lease is up, you now pay $900, PLUS $200 for month-to-month upcharge. Your $500 unit suddenly costs $1100 a month. If your rent is not completely processed by the first of the month in Chicago, you owe the $500 you mailed, plus $400 market (concession not granted for any month when rent is late), PLUS whatever late fee, PLUS any daily late charge. I only paid rent late once in the 30 months I lived there and that was before the new management company put these new rules in effect. It was my fault, no problem. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone under the new rules.

I would recommend that you either pay your entire lease up-front or at least one month in advance at all times (Keep your cancelled checks handy!) You might need to think twice if there is any possibility that your income or situation may change. You could find yourself over your head in debt to these folks...more over your head than you might think.

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