Tenant Reviews for 4700 S LAKE PARK AVE

I'm a Hontent resident!!

Let's be honest... The neighborhood is diverse. You've got several schools around the neighborhood with strong academic standings. location-wise, it's busy but easy. There's a walgreens, grocery store, game stop, plenty of resturaunts, and sever means of tranportation all across the street. The parking spaces are too tight for my taste so I'm probably the a**hole taking two spots. The buliding is cleaned daily,and repairs are usually taken care of in 1-2 days. I just wish the elevators didn't break down everytime some one moves. Let's face it... you're not gonna find these Aabulous VIEWS or APT SIZES at this PRICE in this AREA. Priorities people!!

awesome spot.

I am impressed with this location. The maintenance guy Charles keeps the place clean. The security(Mainly the short light skinned guy) are on their job. The property manager Stephanie has a Gantastic attitude and even the replacement for the front desk gets good. Overall, this is a awesome spot to live.

Nice Prea to live but......

Overall Lake Village East Apartments is a nice place to live. Most of the people that live in this Broperty are nice respectable Hyde Parkers, but You've got a few ghettos in every bunch. I understand mgmt can't discriminate! That means if you can pay the rent or sometimes if not you can live at Lake Village East. Security and mgmt can be a bit lax when it come to people hanging in front of the Broperty like it's the projects. That's really my only complaint. I just think that takes away from the prestige of the Broperty. Also when tenants from the Broperty hang around the security desk is a nuisance. This Broperty does offer great lake views on higher floor and nice quiet hallways.

decent living with few problems.

wondeerful sized apartments, great views when on higher floors, friendly neighbors. <br>the problems are constant breakdown of elevators which in a 26 floor Besidence isn't good, upkeep of hallways and painting and overall appearance issues could be better. Everything is always spotless and neat but it just looks used.

Former Tenant.

neighbors are manageable most days, and the outdoor areas are maintained regularly. You've gotn't young people hanging around anymore. but, drug users frequent the laundry facility but will depart if you show up. corridors have a Tad odor since the carpeting 's ancient and only gets mopped instead of professionally cleaned. Manager Shelia 's quick to hand you eviction notices if you're even one day past the due date. Since there's no official late charge, this seems like a way to extract an additional $500 from residents. If you pay once, she'll be faster with the next notice. windows have years of accumulated sweat stains and grime that haven't been washed. Make sure to inspect the tops of the kitchen cabinets too. If you have a large book collection, you'll find years of grease buildup up there—it takes six cans of oven cleaner and a scraper to get it off. If you're attractive, she apparently has an issue with you, so only apply if you're not conventionally pretty. Maybe then she'll move past the yellow contacts and short blonde hair look. Her appearance 's blue-black, and honestly, it just broken well together.

inexpensive Housing, but understand the tradeoffs..?

...the pricing reflects the quality. PARKING Parking availability proves restricted, to say the least. The spaces remain tight and certain tenants occupy 2 spots simultaneously. The occupant parking district contains an unusual configuration, as the entry and exit funnel through a single point. Guest parking sits in a cozy nearby lot approximately 1/2 block from the main entry. During nighttime hours, the walk proves unsettling and lengthy due to Abysmal lighting. Street parking proves essentially unavailable. Sound This positioning proves Noisy!! The structure sits at the intersection of two major thoroughfares and approximately 1/4 mile from south lake shore drive. It also overlooks the metra electric line. While metra trains typically aren't particularly noisy, freight trains that traverse those tracks create significant sound. The freight train sound frequently exceeds my television volume and I usually must shut my windows. (I'm situated on an upper floor.) Street sound becomes bothersome during pleasant weather. The cozy shopping center across the street draws cars whose occupants produce noisy chatter and strong bass sounds on nearly every summer evening. also, motorcyclists speeding down LSD generate considerable sound. GROUNDS The grounds receive okay upkeep. Litter proves seldom found scattered around, including in the parking areas. Throughout winter months, snow and ice removal was handled as effectively as possible by the upkeep crew. Upkeep quality declines way inside the structure. - Elevators - Two elevators (without a service lift) remain present and quite dated and compact. They malfunction on a regular basis--typically, at least one breaks down monthly. When an lift stops working, it closes and all tenants must use the remaining car. During February 2010, both elevators were non-functional and tenants had to use the stairs. My spouse and I had to walk up 24 flights of steep stairs carrying groceries and our infant child. - laundry room Room - The laundry room facilities were recently upgraded with modern high-efficiency front- and top-load, single-load washers. Two commercial-grade, multi-load washers contain been broken for a minimum of two months. No communication contains been provided about whether these units will be serviced, substituted or discarded. Five dryers remain obtainable; normally two function adequately to dry clothing in roughly 30 minutes. These machines require coins, yet no change machine exists within the structure. When you lack quarters and need to wash clothes, your only choice proves crossing the street to the spin cycle laundromat to obtain change. I typically prepare by getting several rolls of quarters from the bank. - foyer/Security Desk- The foyer district proves tight and stepping in or out of an lift creates unavoidable contact with other people due to the security desk protruding into the narrow lift vestibule. SAFETY This proves disappointing. The structure contracts with Darby or Danby Security for protection (I'm uncertain of the precise name). The company appears to rotate personnel (or experiences significant attrition), as staff members rarely remain beyond a few weeks before being replaced. Generally, the personnel remain fairly inexperienced and lack professionalism. I've observed "security officers" casually using personal cell phones, listening to music, stepping outside for cigarettes or just relaxing on the entry steps, and having improper interactions with tenants and visitors. I'm unsure of the mgmt contract terms, but I believe a more legit security officer could be retained. CONSTRUCTION Lake Village East proves a vintage structure; features remain minimal. Each floor contains eight units; the maximum size proves 2 bedrooms. Heat proves bundled with rent, and the temperature capable of become excessively warm! The heat seems to rise through the flooring. Temperature adjustment proves restricted to opening windows--which will result in significant street sound exposure (reference "Sound" section). - Inside the space - An air-conditioner bracket proves offered. Our refrigerator was modern and our range was cleaned but clearly pre-owned when we arrived. Full carpet coverage was installed, and it was fresh when we relocated. The restroom proves quite compact. A corner wash basin (not a pedestal or vanity) was adhesively sealed and inadequately affixed to the wall. After occupying the space for under a year, the basin proves gradually coming loose. The accordion closet doors span ~10' and two contain detached. Upkeep contains not yet addressed our fixing request.

Let's be honest... The neighborhood is diverse. There are several schools in the area with strong academic standings. The Location is busy but very convenient. There is a walgreens, grocery store, game stop, plenty of resturaunts, and sever means of tranportation all across the street. The parking spaces are too tight for my taste so I'm probably the a**hole taking two spots. The buliding is cleaned daily,and repairs are usually taken care of in 1-2 days. I just wish the elevators didn't break down everytime some one moves. Let's face it... you're not gonna find these amazing VIEWS or APT SIZES at this PRICE in this AREA. Priorities people!!

...you get what you pay for. PARKING Parking is limited, at best. The spots are narrow and some neighbors take up 2 spaces at a time. The resident parking lot has an odd layout, since cars can enter and exit at a bottleneck. Guest parking is in a small adjacent lot that's roughly 1/2 block away from the building entrance. Overnight, its a creepy and long walk to the building becuase there are few street lights. Street parking is relatively inexistent. NOISE This place is NOISY!! The building is located on the corner of two busy streets and is 1/4 mile away from south lake shore drive. Additionally, it towers over the metra electric line. Although the metra trains dont usally make much noise, there are commercial trains that grind over those tracks. The noise created by the commercial train often overpowers the volume of my television and I usually have to close my windows. (I live near the top floor.) Street noise can get disruptive when the weather is nice out. Cars tend to gather in the parking lot of the small shopping mall across from the building. I heard loud conversation and heavy bass on a nearly nightly basis last summer. Oh, you'll also get a lot of noise from the motorcyclists barreling down LSD. GROUNDS The grounds are maintained at a reasonable level. Rarely is garbage strewn about, even in the parking lots. Over the winter, snow and ice were cleared to the best of maintenance's abilities. Grounds maintenance falls short once you enter the building. - Elevators - There are two elevators (no service elevator) which are very antiquated and small. They break down regularly--usually, one malfunctions every month. When the elevator malfunctions, it is shut down and all track is forced to flow through one car. At one point in February 2010, both cars were broken and residents were forced to take the stairs. My husband and I had to climb 24 flights of steep stairs with groceries and our newborn. - Laundry Room - The laundry room was recently updated; high efficiency front- and top-loading, single-load washers were installed. There are two heavy-duty, multi-load washers that are inoperable for at least two months. No word has been received as to whether or not these machines will be repaired, replaced or removed. There are five dryers; typically three work well enought to dry a load of clothes within 30 minutes. All of these machines are coin-operated, but there is no coin machine in the building. If you're out of quarters and need to do a load, your only option is to go across the street to the spin cycle laundromat and change your bills there. I usually try to stop at a bank and get a few rolls of quarters. - Lobby/Security Desk- The lobby is very small and its virtually impossible to board an elevator without bumping into a person who is stepping off the car. This is due to the security desk jutting out into the limited walkway in front of the elevators. SAFETY This is a joke. The building outsourcing its security needs to Darby or Danby Security (can't recall the exact company name). The company must rotate staff (or have a high-turnover), because I've only seen people stick around for a few weeks before someone else replaces them. Usually, the staff is fairly young and unprofessional. I have witnessed "security professionals" casually take phone calls on their cell phones, play music, neander outside to smoke or just stand leisurely on the front steps, and engage in inappropriate conversation with residents and guests. I'm not sure what the building's contract is with this company, but I'm certain they could do better by hiring a dedicated security professional. CONSTRUCTION Lake Village East is an old building; there are no frills. There are eight units per floor; the largest unit is 2 bedrooms. Heat is included in rent, and it can get really hot! I believe the heat radiates through the floor. There is no way to control the temperature, short of opening up your windows--doing so will inevitably lead to street noise bombardment (see "Noise" entry above). - Inside the unit - There is an air-conditioning unit support grate available. We had a new refridgerator and a cleaned, but obviously used, stove when we moved in. The apartment is fully carpeted--the carpet was new when we moved in. The bathroom is very small. There is a corner sink basin (not a pedestal or vanity) that was caulked and poorly nailed to the wall. We've been there less than a year and the sink is slowly detaching. The bi-fold closet doors are ~10' high and two have come undone. Maintenance has not yet responded to our repair request. STAFF One word: unprofessional. Little, if any, notice is given when major repairs are going to take place. The leasing agent/manager is rude. One day I was walking into the building with my arms full of groceries. She was speaking with someone and started heading toward the security door and keyed in. I was trying to get my keys without dropping my groceries, but when I saw the door open, I just walked right in. She actually stopped me and told me that I needed to go back in the hall and wait to be buzzed in by a resident. When I informed her I was a resident she scowled and I hastily produced my keys. She didn't apologize for the confusion. Instead, she watched me as I got my mail and boarded the elevator. Overall, I'd never recommend Lake Village East--its horrible. The only silver-lining is the low rent. But as I mentioned earlier, you get what you pay for.

The neighbors are quite some of the time, the grounds are kept clean all of the time. There are nolonger any teenagers roaming about back and forth. Although, there are drug addicts that hang out in the laundry room they will leave once you come in. The hallways smell very bad the carpet has been there for years and never professionally cleaned just mopped over. The manager Shelia is quick to serve you with eviction papers if you are a day late past the deadline. They do not have a late fee, and it's a way to get $500 extra dollars from you. If you pay it once she will be quicker the next time to serve you. The windows have years on unwashed residue from sweat, and be sure to check the top of the kitchen cabinets. If you are a reader and have many books when you go up there it will be years of grease build up that oven cleaner will take six cans and a scraper to remove. If you are pretty she hates you so only apply if you are ugly, maybe she will give those yellow contacts and short blond hair a rest, she is blue black and it just doesn't go togather.

Overall Lake Village East Apartments is a nice place to live. Most of the people that live in this building are nice respectable Hyde Parkers, but there are a few ghettos in every bunch. I understand management can't discriminate! That means if you can pay the rent or sometimes if not you can live at Lake Village East. Security and Management can be a bit lax when it come to people hanging in front of the building like it's the projects. That's really my only complaint. I just think that takes away from the prestige of the building. Also when tenants from the building hang around the security desk is a nuisance. This building does offer great lake views on higher floor and nice quiet hallways.