Tenant Reviews for 5496 S HYDE PARK BLVD

I had a furnished apartment which did not have all items that was listed on the form. I told the leasing agent and she went to get everything from Target that same day. There are 4 washers/dryers which can be backed up sometimes and the radiator makes LOUD banging noises at night and in the morning which was a MAJOR headache. I lost a lot of sleep living there! I did complain but nothing could be done. Also, towing was not strictly/easily enforced after office hours. The positives are LOCATION and all utilities are included in the rent. Only responsible for cable and internet. I would recommend it for a short stay but not for years.

DO NOT RENT AT ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES. The management company's corporate office does not respond to tenant concerns, even when safety is involved. Officials like ------------- play phone games and push their work off to someone even less-competent. I lived in the Mayfair Apartments in Hyde Park at 5496 S. Hyde Park Blvd. Right after signing the lease and moving in, several issues came up that made it appear as though the unit was not ready for a tenant to move into such as a leaking toilet and gas smell. Both elevators were constantly going out, as was my electricity whenever someone vacuumed in my hallway. They had construction workers outside of my bathroom window, which was in the shower. The construction went on for months (until I moved) and workers would begin drilling at 8 in the morning. The leasing Agent, -----------, would argue on the phone in the office with her --------- during work hours and once he came up there and ---------------------. Yes, THE LEASING AGENT, -----------'S --------- BROUGHT ----- INTO OUR APARTMENT BUILDING-which has an intercom system so she obviously let him in. -------------, another leasing agent was also very rude when I attempted to get helped and she lied as well. Whoever the ----- person is their reviewing below, is no longer there, ----- is there now.

The Mayfair is an excellent place to stay. Jenny, the manager is so hard-working and kind. Paul, the outstanding maintenance worker is a joy as well. This studio apartment is up for grabs as a sublet in Hyde Park available May 1st 2011 - September 31st 2011. After the sublet, if you enjoy living at the Mayfair, you may sign your own lease w/ Jenny, the on-site manager. We have a fantastic view (7th floor), spacious for a studio, perfect flood of sunlight (plants do well here), big walk in closet, separate kitchen with counter, separate dining area, very safe, parking is always available on the street (for free) or you may purchase your own space in the adjoining lot ($150/month), free access to a near-by work-out studio, you can walk to the lake in 2-3 minutes & there is a snack shop connected to the building, animals under 40 lbs. are welcome. It's been an inspiring stay. $100 in cash will be given to our subletter upon signing the lease ~ This convertible studio apartment is 525 square feet. It is on the seventh floor, facing Lake Michigan! You can see the waves, the sunrise and sunset. The rent is $895 each month. This price includes water, heat, and gas. The heat during the winter is very comfortable, definitely over 80 degrees. The residents in this building include many University of Chicago graduate students, recent graduates & established professionals. We are relocating and will be saying goodbye to this excellent apartment & location here in Hyde Park. http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/sub/2306448265.html If you're interested, please contact: [email protected] Thanks!

The studio was very spacious and had an open floor plan. I was on the 8th floor with a great view of lake Michigan and the apartment was light and airy. The place was newly painted, the kitchen had new cabinets and appliances, the bath room was a bit dated but easy to maintain. I had a furnished apartment which was furnished with contemporary Ikea furniture. The kitchen was fully equipped which was convenient for my short term stay. The laundry room was conveniently located on the first floor of the building. Direct bus service to downtown etc was located just across from the building. There is a convenience store and small grocery on the same block. The post office, walgreens, grocery etc is just two blocks away. All in all its a great location, I had a very comfortable stay, I would definitely recommend this apartment and an added bonus, the apartment manager is super nice!

We moved here in 2009 and have had an extremely positive experience thus far. The Mayfair apartment in Hyde Park is ideal in it's location, being only minutes to the lakeshore and all convenient amenities. We found the residence to be very quiet and very safe during our time here. However, what made this experience most worthwhile was the service provided. The office manager, Jenny, was always extremely helpful and friendly. She was always very proficient and eager to resolve any issues that may have arisen. Jenny also offered various events for the tenants, which provided not only free food, but a chance to meet new neighbours and friends. As well, Juan, another employee of the building, was always very helpful especially regarding specific maintenance matters. Overall, based on our experience, we would be happy to recommend this specific apartment building to anyone looking to move into the area. It is ideal overall in it's location and maintenance.

This is a good place to live: Quiet, Roomy studio apartments in a pest free, pet friendly building. Quick response time from maintenance service. Friendly, knowwelegebale office staff with excellent people skills. Excellent transportation. Metra/CTA within walking distance. Express bus to Loop - makes the ride on CTA a 25 min. trip. New resturant,The Big Easy,on lobby level serves excellent Creole cuisine. All in all the Mayfair Apartments give a good bang for your buck in this much sought after location in the Hyde Park area of Chicago.

First of all, the manager (Jenny) has her act together. I came to her needing a short-term lease immediately and she worked HARD to get an apartment ready by the next day for me. She had me moved in within 24 hours of contacting her. I placed multiple requests to her for minor maintenance issues, and every single one was responded to by the next day. The office is open 7 days per week (and not just half days) and Jenny was ALWAYS there. She was constantly writing herself notes for any request a tenant would place, and she always got those things done. The apartment needed maybe 1-2 minor repairs only because it is an older building that has been restored. That being said, I never had any problem with the elevator or anything inside the apartment falling apart because it was old. It is very well maintained, and had a very comfortable feel to it. Safety was never an issue in the building, the apartment performed monthly pest control that was 100% safe (no evacuation of the apartment needed), and street parking was always available within 3 blocks. When living in Chicago, I was extremely happy parking within 3 blocks! If looking for a spot to park before 6pm, you are very likely to find a spot within a block of the building. My overall experience in Chicago was excellent thanks to this apartment. The rent is slightly higher because it's in Hyde Park, but well worth it for the convenience and safety the Mayfair offered.

Initially, when I moved in here the manager tried to assure me that this was great building. One month later the problems began. First we had mice, then the water valve would not shut off, then we had a possible break-in, then we got locked IN the apartment (could not get the main door to open), then we got locked OUT (we had our keys!) It seems like the problems never end, and the manager just puts it on the backburner. On one occaision, it was dicovered that she never even wrote the maintenance report after I personally told her of the problem. I have also tried to call the corporate office to complain. There is also CONSTANT banging on the radiators overnight when most people are trying to sleep. I complained to the manager about this, and she mentioned that overnight was the only time maintenance could be done on the radiators. As far as what the other reviewer wrote about maintenance entering whenever they want, its 100% true. There was an incident one day when my husband was off of work. He noticed that someone was trying to enter the apartment. He used his body to try and block the door from opening but the person continued to struggle with him. Surprise, it was maintenance. Not once, during the incident did they try to identify themselves. Last month, my husband was arriving at our apt and saw someone in a maintenance uniform at our door, when he called out to the person, they ran down the stairwell. As far as the resident, its touch and go, some of the residents are okay, while others are not. We have a neighbor who appears to be involved in some sketchy activity, judging by the frequent actvity in the hall after 10 pm and also the strong smell of marijuana that takes over the hallway. My husband becomes scared whenever he goes out of town because the building does not feel safe. So happy to be getting out of this place.

I like to start with the negative points first, to get them out of the way. First off the rent is a little steep but then again all the decent apartments in the area are, and these are pretty good size for what youre getting. I am currently paying almost $1000 for a 1 bedroom on the seventh floor, which has a nice view of the lake and of the Chicago downtown buildings. The elevator has some problems now and again, sometimes you have to press the button several times for it to come, but it does come. If you absolutely must have a parking lot spot, you will find yourself on the waiting list for some time most likely. however, it has never taken me more than a few minutes to find street parking within 2 blocks. Usually i find it very very close to the apartment and in very little time. All in all, there is a great view, the receptionist is extremely helpful, the walls are thick and quiet, the neighbors are nice and the area is beautiful. I would not hesitate to recommend the Mayfair, though it has some weak points, they are outweighed by the bright ones. On another quick note, if you would like to come take a look at the apartments and make an appointment to do so, if you would put myself down as the recommendation of how you found this location, i will give you $100 off your rent for the first month. Email me at [email protected] for more information on this."

I just renewed my lease here for another year and glad I did. The building is located in a great location, the staff is very nice and the neighbors are friendly. Very worth the money and there is even a parking lot attached to the building, something not too common in the city.