The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection

We just moved in August and so far everything has been great. the leasing office is very helpful and having a 24 hour person at the desk is helpful. Any time we’ve put in a work order it’s been taken care of within 2 days at the most. A few times they’ve come fixed it a few hours after us submitting the work order.
Everything can be done online or from an app on your phone which makes it super convenient. The apartments themselves are beautiful. The appliances are all new and everything is very modern looking.
Definitely a place I recommend moving into.

Awful. They hire a towing company to patrol the spaces next to the shops and take your car to the pound at the first opportunity.

Personally the Security here is quite atrocious. I believe that Eric Miller, Account Manager of Security, needs to better work on his staff’s people skills. Security officer by the name of Robert needs to understand that if there is a problem it should be stated clearly at the beginning and instead of harassing the customer (me, and might I add that there have been others) he should find a more affective way of handling particular problems. As a frequent customer at the Roosevelt Collection I’ve never had any sort of problem with the area. The so called security officer kept bickering at me in a very unpleasant manner to move my car, which in a sense was in a «loading zone» and had the lovely hazards on in my car (just running in to get my coffee which takes 5 min.) Apparently not, which was so horribly stated by the so called «officer».
How am I as a Consumer supposed to know the policies of the facility as a whole if I am not told. There are no signs anywhere stating times that you MAY park with hazards on anywhere, therefore if there are actually specific times they should be stated. Mind you Z Gallerie and the Container Store are there too. If I, as a consumer, has already bought the item I’ve intended, I am entitled to that product. If I’m already there, have bought the item, then it is EXTREMELY uncalled for to immediately harass me to leave and move my car. PEOPLE SKILLS. This particular employee of Allied Barton Security Services needs to understand that he is representing a company. Considering he was not one of the candidates ‘who are friendly, confident and comfortable talking with people of all ages, then train them in how to be authoritative yet courteous and approachable on the job.’ Key word COURTEOUS. Some changes need to be made I feel and as a consumer I expect business to respect the customer/​customers. I have worked with many people, businesses, entertainment industries, and one of the best ways to approach things (and life in general) is to treat people the way you would want to be treated. Disparagement and aggressive ways will get you nowhere. Know the person you’re talking to rather that seeing them as a «thing». It is YOUR JOB to create a safe and secure environment, right now I don’t feel like the officer had that in mind at the time. Instead I feel like was looking for a reason to provoke a situation that wasn’t there, ignoramus ways will not sit well with many people. This is just my tip, observant, and wary two cents about the whole thing.

We just moved from Roosevelt Collection and although we love our new condo (not far away) we will really miss what our kids will probably remember as their first home. I can’t give less than five stars because the staff at the Lofts was WONDERFUL. We always got a warm greeting from our door staff, quick and friendly service from maintenance, and clear, patient responses from management.
Yes, it’s pricey, yes, people sometimes break rules (looking at you, smokers and people who let your dogs pee where they shouldn’t.) but I feel like these were addressed appropriately by the management company. We were lucky to have good neighbors, and though the building isn’t exactly a community, it’s as friendly as you’d expect a rental building to be. We rented a smaller two bedroom unit, but it was a great home for our family. The units are gorgeous, amenities are not the selling point– though I hosted some pretty nice events in the lounge and on the rooftop deck.
We were able to ditch our car because the location is great (what can’t you get at Target next door?) and we took advantage of the new bike lanes nearby as well. There’s now a Zipcar in the parking lot, so the occasional Costco run or trip to the burbs was easy. It’s grocery store heaven, and with all the new retail nearby, it’s almost dangerous.
But the reason we loved it so much there was because our kids were really happy. The playground outside isn’t much, but the longer we stayed the more we’d see other kids, and it was really convenient to have them run around for awhile. Just keep an eye on them, as there aren’t gates and cars do pass pretty near– though thankfully slower now because of speed bumps. Also, there were lots of cool moments thanks to the Shops at Roosevelt events. I’d hear, «Mom! Santa’s outside!» and we’d jog downstairs for a photo. Also seen: Anna, Elsa, Ironman, Balloon Artists, trick bike guys, the Easter Bunny, etc. Walking home, seeing the beautifully landscaped courtyard with the skyline in the background– it’s breathtaking, every time.
In the Summer our family liked taking advantage of the food trucks, live music, lawn seating and board games. We could go to the theater or museums easily on bad weather days. And we kept an eye on the Koi. :)
I anticipated rent hikes from the moment we signed our first lease, and it was the nicest place we’d looked at, so I was fearful the costs would go up. They did, but not as much as I’d worried. Scott was available to patiently go over options, questions, and talk with us. Rian and Roxie as well– I only have good things to say about those in the leasing office, as we were always treated really well. We were able to sublet our unit after closing on our new home and it went through easily thanks to their help.
We’ll be going back to visit our friends there– especially Sandy, Erica, and Paula, who have seen our kids grow up.

I have lived at the Roosevelt Collection for the past 2 years, and I am so sad to be moving! I really do love this building.
For new tenants, I would just forewarn if you are looking to stay in an apartment for more than a year, count on rent increasing by at least $ 100. My rent consistently increased each year, and I simply couldn’t afford to keep paying higher prices. This place is ideal for short-​term living (or just count on having cushion in your budget!)
In terms of my experience:
I saw reviews about smoking and I too had the same issue. I also live on a non-​pet floor but there are a few dogs and cats on the floor. This wouldn’t bother me if I wasn’t allergic and also if I wasn’t paying so much. (If I pay this much, everyone better be following the rules, right?)
The apartment itself is beautiful, there’s not a bad view. However, the amenities aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The gym is super small and is regularly out of towels to clean the equipment, and the equipment itself as of late has been filthy. The sound on the TV in the community room doesn’t work, there hasn’t been a computer in there for what feels like 3 – 4 months. There’s no freight elevator so one elevator is nearly always taken for a move. On that tip, at least one of the elevators breaks down I would say about once a month. So, don’t be fooled by those features!
On the other hand, the staff is fantastic. From Danny to Erica, everyone is here to help and they are helpful. The community used to be more families, but now it seems to be more college kids (which brings it’s own set of challenges:)
So overall it’s a great place to live, I had a great experience here, just overpriced for what you’re getting.

I went to visit this place once. I just realize its an apartment complex attached to a shopping center. I have never seen one of these, but this place is awesome. The location is great, the pricing for apartments is unreal, but I am sure the perks make up for it. I just cant see myself paying almost 2k for a 1bedroom apartment that isn’t even 1000 square feet. The concept is ideal though

I lived at the Roosevelt Collection for a year with my husband. When we first signed our lease, we were so excited to live in such an amazing location. We were impressed with the quality of appliances and features in the apartments, and the beauty of the store front level.
The downsides are simple, yet deal breakers for us. First, parking is a rip off! We paid $ 450 a month to park our two cars, while parking was free to customers. We later found out that residents were parking on the movie side of the lot (which is just separated my a screen) for free. This really bothered me, as it was unfair. In addition, the parking lot is not secured. Anyone can walk in at anytime. There were numerous times that homeless people from the vacant lot would wander around the garage. My husband and I called security about this more than once. Second, if you have a pet, this is not the place for you. Not because the staff treats you poorly or anything, but rather because there is NO WHERE to walk your dog! It is a chore to take your dog out and an inconvenience. Third, the neighborhood, or lack of I should say. We used to live in the gold coast and loved walking around, there is no where to walk around near the Roosevelt Collection. And anywhere you do walk, will take you awhile.
There are some good things though, in fact, they are quite great. If you want to impress your friends, this is the place. You can offer your friends free parking when they visit, and they will enter on the plaza level, which is beautiful. You can also show off your rooftop deck and the amazing views. Your apartment will have the highest quality features that you can find in the area for the price, but be aware that you are paying for them, as rent is very expensive here. If you are looking for a one bed room with one spot for parking, plan on spending at least 2300 a month.
If you are looking for a place to live, and you care about quality over neighborhood, and you do not have a dog, this is the place for you. Otherwise, this place will not meet your needs.

Nice area, great store-​fronts and the ICON theater is something we visit regularly. Just wish the restaurants would hurry up and come in.

My wife and I can’t recommend the Lofts at Roosevelt Collection highly enough. It is not perfect but pretty close which is why we gave it five stars. It is literally the perfect place for those who work at Rush, UIC, in the Medical District or in the Loop. If you are like us, who lived in the suburbs and raised our family, this was ideal for transitioning from homeownership into an apartment before committing to a more permanent home decision.
One of the best managed apartment complexes in the City. The team lead by Scott with Rian are always available to respond to any questions or needs. The ²⁴⁄₇ on-​site lobby staff and maintenance staff (Jason, Joel, Erica & Paula) are first class in every way. They understand the concept of service and they always treat us like family.
Open Space– Can’t say enough about the beautiful courtyard and the feeling of living on an island while just a few blocks from a congested city. You have to see it to believe it. Very unique and special.
ACCESS! ACCESS! ACCESS! The best in the City for everything…
1. Public Transportation– blue line, green line and orange lines plus buses;
2. Resident Parking is off of wells which dead ends at Roosevelt, so effectively wells is a private street.
3. Streets & Highways– By using Wells you have quick access to the Loop, the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Dan Ryan, and Lower Wacker Drive to Lake Shore Drive.
4. Food Stores– Jewell, Mariano’s, Whole Foods & Trader Joes… all within a few blocks literally. You feel like you are in the center of everything.
5. Retail Shops & Restaurants– Multitude of choices in the area

I’ve been living at Roosevelt Collection for about 5 months and I have had a wonderful experience thus far with the staff, management and my unit so I’m surprised to see so many negative reviews. The place was recommended to me by a close friend who has been living in Roosevelt Collection for about two years.
Over the last 10 years I’ve lived in various apartments in major cities (Atlanta; Raleigh; Washington, DC; Houston) and Roosevelt Collection is by far the best apartment building I have lived in. I love the updated appliances, lovely views of the city (I can even see Lake Michigan from my living room), and all the natural light that the unit offers. Additionally, the place is surprisingly quiet even though there are retail shops below.
My experience with management has been great as well. I’ve primarily interacted with Rian who helped me through the convenient application process. The folks at the front desk and maintenance are equally awesome, friendly and helpful. When I moved in my headboard arrived after the movers left and one of the guys at the front desk (Tony Valentine) didn’t hesitate to help me bring my heavy headboard upstairs.
I’ll also add that the location of this place is great, there are plenty of shops, grocery stores ans restaurants within walking distance. The close access to the freeway and the train stop (red line) is also a big plus.
Based on my experience thus far I would highly recommend this place. It’s worth the price given that the units are clean and new, washer/​dryer in unit, covered parking available, staff is very friendly/​helpful, and it’s conveniently located.
*This review is for a 1BR/​1BA unit, top floor, facing the city (Lake Michigan).

We moved in less than 2 weeks ago and have already had plenty of problems. The maintenance and front desk people are quite friendly and accommodating and the leasing consultant that we worked with was great, but the manager that we escalated our issues to is not and has so far refused to compensate us for the troubles.
The day we moved in the elevator that we had reserved was broken, so our movers had to share the elevator with all of the other residents in the building. That was stressful, but the Leasing Manager was very friendly and agreed to reimburse us for the extra costs we had to pay the movers.
There were other problems that were quite preventable and were caused 100% due to the building’s negligence and lack of attention to detail however.
1– They gave us FOBs that didn’t work.
2– They gave us a parking transponder that didn’t work– THREE TIMES!!!
3– The floors near and under the appliances in the unit were filthy.
4– The dishwasher left us with dishes that were dirtier than when they went in.
5– They didn’t bother to change the smoke detector battery before we moved in because 10 days later it woke me up chirping at 3 AM.
6– There is a disgusting stain between the glass doors of the oven. Not sure how someone managed to spill something down there, but the building should have figured out a way to get rid of it before letting someone move in.
7– They never showed up to the first service call and never bothered to call me. I came home to find the dishwasher still didn’t work after running it.
8– The floors are actually coming up near the washer /​dryer. The rest of the wood floors are badly scratched and damaged.
After all of these issues it became apparent to us that nobody at the Roosevelt Collection is proactive enough to check things out before you move in. We paid a $ 250 fee to move in, but the manager won’t refund it. He says it wasn’t a move in fee, but rather an administrative fee. Regardless of what it is, this is supposed to be a luxury building and this experience has been anything but. Here’s the email that the Manager, Scott, sent me:
As I’ve apologized to both you and Jason in person and on the phone about your problems with the move-​in day, I can not back in time to change the fact one of the elevators happened to malfunction on the day you moved in or that you experienced problems with the fob/​garage opener. We are reimbursing you for any extra time the movers billed, addressed the cleaning of the floor under the appliances before your movers arrived and have apologized for this inconvenience. As I explained to both you and Jason, we do not charge moving fees. You were not billed a move-​in fee and you will not be billed a fee for move-​out. The $ 500.00 administrative fee at time of application (of which $ 250.00 was credited back to you) has nothing to do with elevator reservations, move-​in, or maintenance issues.
Can someone please tell me, if the $ 250 doesn’t cover the elevator, move-​in, or maintenance issues, then what the heck does it cover???
Other things to watch out for in this building are the internet and tv providers. DirecTV requires a 24 month contract, yet the leases here range from 3 months — 1 year. The building management really should have selected a provider without a contract, such as Comcast or RCN. Also, the internet provider is a very small, mom and pop company that doesn’t have billing capabilities outside of paper. They actually wrote our credit card number down on the contract when they installed it. They also won’t make any changes to your account over the phone and insist that everything be sent to a generic email address. The woman insisted that «their system» won’t let them make changes over the phone and that «their system» automatically makes changes when you email them. (Clearly they don’t hire the brightest people.)
Again, nothing about this experience (outside of the friendly maintenance and door staff) has been luxurious! Hopefully we will change our minds as we’re able to enjoy the amenities and retailers here, but in the meantime, we felt compelled to warn other prospective renters.

My husband and I have lived here for the past 2 years in a 2BR/​2BA and have had a great experience with the building and staff. We’ve actually had a lot of life changes happen while living here — from getting a puppy to getting engaged/​married — and the staff was more than helpful throughout everything.
I’ve read a few bad reviews on here and some of the things (lack of dog walk, no retail, weird placement of the jungle gym) we agree with, however a lot of the other complaints seem to be bad judgement/​reactions on the tenant’s part. I know we all would appreciate a break every now and then but when it comes to leases and breaking them I can see why they wouldn’t be more lenient. As for the price, try finding something this nice for what you’re paying anywhere else in the city…
We’re buying a house this year so we’ll have to leave our place but will definitely miss the great staff (especially Rian) and beautiful finishes.

Okay before I spoke with the Assistant General Manager, Scott (yes, I’m calling him out personally), I would’ve given this place 4 stars. After our lease renewal discussion, I’m decidedly at a 1-​star.
The lease renewal letter, and my lease both state, «If we do not hear from you regarding your decision to renew, your lease will go to a month-​to-​month status as of mm/​dd/​yyyy, at a rate of $x. If you choose not to renew a lease, a written notice of your intent to vacate is due 60 days prior to the end of your current lease.»
Now nowhere in that paragraph (which is the same language as on my lease) does it state when I have to decide to renew. To me, this implies I can decide on a renewal the day before the listed date of going month-​to-​month. Scott was pretty condescending when he informed me that was not the case and that they didn’t have to explicitly state it because, «we assume people understand their lease.»
Understand this, if you don’t state it explicitly, I’m not going to interpret things in your favor. Furthermore, you opened the door when you explicitly detailed the other two options.
What good is offering a rate we can renew at, but no deadline for when that rate has to be exercised? They have to offer us the rate in our renewal letters up until we decide regardless of how their algorithm projects the «market price.»
If that means the price goes up, good for us because we have the lower rate offer. If the price goes down, better for us because we can then renew at the actual prevailing market rate and not just trust that their projected rates were correct. They claim there is no flexibility in the algorithm. I guess that means I have no flexibility in my negative Unilocal review.
Additionally, they now plan to change the utility package so that it will be based on actual building usage. They plan to pro-​rate the entire building’s bill based on your apartment square footage.
This means I can’t choose to be more conservative with my usage in the winter/​summer on heat/​AC if I prefer to be frugal. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if they metered each apartment individually, but since they can’t, two massive thumbs down.
The apartments themselves are actually beautiful. The maintenance and security staff have all been top notch and deserve 5 stars. Unfortunately, their positive ratings are not enough to overcome my negative feelings towards this entire renewal process.

This rating is largely based on my experience with management and the thousands of dollars I paid to get out of living here. Living here could actually be great for you, but my experience is worth the read. I would have liked to hear this prior to deciding to move here.
I found the Lofts without actually living in Chicago or knowing too much about any of the great neighborhoods. The actual apartments seemed impressive to me, after living in New York for several years. I never thought twice about the expense of these apartments, again, having come from the New York market.
I will save the list of positives for the end in case I lose some of you, because my negative experience far outweighs the pros of living here.
Neighborhood: There really is no neighborhood, not in comparison to what I have now seen elsewhere in Chicago. Why I never saw this is beyond me, but keep in mind that these apartments are bordered on the south side by a highway, east side by train tracks (literally 20 feet from the building), and the north and west by vacant overgrown plots of land.
Price: Again, I never did a whole lot of research but after getting in several conversations with workmates and friends throughout the area, these units are priced far above what you can find elsewhere. It grew somewhat embarrassing to continue to tell people what I agreed to pay at Roosevelt.
Building: Seemingly convenient at the time, I was told that retail would be going into the lower floors along with a landscaped plaza. After almost a year of construction, I was able to see the plaza which seems nice except for the playground which still seems odd due to the traffic on either side, but I digress. I never actually saw any sign of a retail outlet opening in the time that I was there, only two floors of vacant space.
My experience:
I moved to Chicago largely in part to take care of my mother. I wasn’t sure if it would be permanent but at the very least for a year and so signed a year lease. When we moved in, we did not have a pet, but were told that the building was pet friendly. After a few months we adopted a small puppy, again, thinking it was a pet friendly building.
I remember signing the pet addendum in the lease, I knew pet owners on the floor, the staff had regularly seen me with my dog on my floor and around the property. About 8 months into my lease, Rian (leasing manager) stopped us in the elevator and couldn’t have been more rude in explaining that pets were not allowed on our particular floor. Thinking possibly this elevator scolding was the end of it, I got a notice stuck to my door a week or so later with my options: move to another floor, get rid of the dog, or move out. Awesome.
At about this same time, I was certain I was moving back to New York and would not be renewing my lease in 4 months time when it expired. Thinking I could explain my situation and reason with them, I sent an email explaining (1) my dog was all of 5 lbs, hypoallergenic, non-​shedding, potty trained and did not at all bark (2) I was moving out in a few months for personal reasons (3) I have never once missed or been late on a rent payment and never once had any complaint.
Not a single effort was made to compromise on this situation. They were nothing but rude in their dealings with me over the phone. Long story short, I weighed the cost of all of the options presented to me and chose the cheapest which was to move out. Paying to move to a different apartment and then to move again in a few months was not efficient. Paying to board my dog and stay in the same apartment was also too expensive. I think all in all, the early termination set me back over $ 4000.
In the spirit of being objective, if you’ve seen these apartments, you know that they are very nice. They were originally built for use as condos so the walls are thick. There is no noise from neighboring apartments. If is a very lofty feel, which I appreciated outside of the carpeted bedrooms and the lack of doors on the closets. Appliances are excellent. The staff, outside of Rian and Scott, are very warm and friendly, particularly the maintenance staff.
I would advise to think long and hard before you move here. Or save yourself some time and headache and look into another complex.

So I wrote a previous review and I must admit that it was primarily done out of anger with one person that works at this complex. Rian, the leasing manager, is the only person here that really is out of touch with reality. She is very rude and disrespectful.
However, the remaining employees in particular Mike and Scott in the maintenance, Erica, Paula, and Joel at the front desk and Scott with management, are all amazingly friendly and helpful people. My lease is up in February and I will be leaving this complex and I will terribly miss the staff that I have grown to love. The things I will not miss though include the playground in the middle of the complex and the construction that always seems to be going on. Overall I have not had many issues with the apartment and the interior was probably the best I have seen in the city. Unfortunately the lack of amenities and the high cost is what is pushing me away. When I moved in, I was told that the retail would be open in September of 2012. Well it is now almost the end of January and not one has opened — I am doubtful that any will open prior to leaving. The gym is terribly small and was downsized a month or two ago. Other than the small gym, there are really no other amenities worth talking about.
Again, the apartment that I am in 2BR, 1Bath is awesome and I will miss it when I move. Nothing I have seen in the city compares to the interior itself. Unfortunately with the lack of amenities, I believe the apartments are overpriced by about $ 200 each. The apartments are actually really quiet, minus the construction and kids on the playground when it is warmer out. 99% of the employees that work here are great and the residents are friendly for the most part (there is one person that has a big dog that refuses to pick up the massive poop in the East building). If you plan to just stay in your apartment and have no needs for amenities, this may be the place for you. If you want the amenities, this place will not deliver and you will overpay for the promise of retail.
I also raised my rating to ³⁄₅ primarily due to being overpriced with a lack of amenities. Overall, nice place to live just avoid Rian.
Tommy

My boyfriend and I moved to Roosevelt Collections about 5 month ago, and as everyone else we just fall in love with interior of units. But from the first night being there we are sleepless. The, rattling, knocking sound coming out from the wall where AC is located is so loud, that we are going crazy every night. It took 3 months for maintenance personal to figure out what is wrong with AC, and it was fixed Hallelujah, for some time, but now the noise came back. Both I and my boyfriend are exhausted from dealing with management, noise and dirt from contraction. This place is really badly managed. I don’t like to live here, even though the units are very pretty. Would I suggest that place to my friends, no absolutely not! Management personal have absolutely ridiculous attitude towards tenants. They are very rude and inexcusable careless.
In addition to all problems we have with the unit, the area disappointed us a lot. We have been told that highway is right behind the corner, but the contraction of Wells Street that leads to highway is brutal. Roosevelt ave itself not the safest area, 10 minutes walk to red lane is really unpleasant especially for ladies. Its just scary. The whole place in a mess.

I have nothing but good things to say about living at the Roosevelt Collections. My fiancé has been living there for the past year and he and I renewed his lease this past June. The apartments are spacious, quiet and well-​equipped. The two leasing agents, Rian and Roxie, are incredibly friendly, prompt and helpful and the maintenance and security staff always asks how your day is going. The gym and lounge are pretty state of the art and placement between Target and Whole Foods completes the deal. I walk to work everyday in the Loop and my fiancé walks to the train station. Even if you never see a movie at the theatre, living in the complex is well worth it.
~Lauren

Great time at the movies. Nice to have reserved seats so you don’t have to show up early. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased in the bar and brought into the VIP theaters.

my previous review of these apartments and the building were a little high figuring I had JUST moved in so here is an updated review:
The neighborhood sucks! The building is located right in the middle of this massive street/​highway/​bridge that seems to conduct all of Chicago’s wind into one massive spot! In the winter, it’s ten times worse! Want to go to the grocery store or Starbucks? Well, better own a car because if you walk it’s at least a 10 – 15 minute walk in EITHER direction… most of which is uphill! I was told by several people that this area USED to be a ghetto but has really made progress over the years. Really? i see some nice buildings but why do I feel like the minority in this neighborhood?
Now, the apartments. They’re pretty nice, especially the bathrooms! If you don’t mind a «loft» style apartment, then you will like this building I suppose. Keep in mind a couple of things: the gym has like one or two weight machines (if you can call them that) but plenty of elliptical and treadmills. The lounge is nice but isn’t 24 hours like the gym. There is no pool and they have a small rooftop terrace. The staff and management were very nice and friendly to me while I lived here so no complaints there. There is a huge movie theater almost attached to the building which is cool if you like paying extra for reserved seating. Overall, not a bad place to live except for the location… that’s why I’m moving really.

Great apartments, all new everything, great views. The management staff is very responsive and courteous. I love living here. Too bad there is not a pool!