1407 on Michigan — Local services in Chicago

I signed my lease when RMK was managing the property and the move-in process left a sour taste in my mouth. Willowbridge worked with me to correct things. I have rented mostly from Willowbridge Properties and do notice some distinct differences between how this property is managed versus some of the others. They are always eager to fix things and maintenance is really fast. Willowbridge has come in and ensured that our amenities are working and that we have upgrades. However, I do feel that the front desk staff aren't always very welcoming. At other Willowbridge properties, they are much friendlier. One person in particular just stares at you until you ask for your packages at the front desk.

The other thing that I will say is that every few months they send emails about some new rule that they are enforcing and it feels more like a college dorm than a place that you rented as a working adult. I do understand the need for rules but, I do hold my breath every time we get an email because it is either a new rule being implemented or fines for breaking a rule. I have never experienced this at other properties. I will say management is very accommodating if you talk to them and explain your situation. I had an instance where Bilt wasn't accepting my card for some reason and they definitely helped me out with not racking up additional fees. I so appreciated it and am/was grateful.

I received a fine (first time in all of the years I have rented from WB) for leaving a box in the trash room after I sprung my knee and had been in the hospital all night. The injury limited my ability to drag it down stairs to the dumpsters outside. I was charged $20 or $25 for a single box. My neighbors often leave open food and trash in the room rather than put down the chute. I typically throw it away as I am in the trash room. I know the manager said he would look into who was leaving food in the trash room and I believe he has tried his best to do so. He does follow through on what you ask. But, I'm not sure those neighbors are being charged for not disposing of things properly.

I just wish I felt more freely living here. There are lots of rules and lots of emails sent regarding rules every month. They are strictly enforcing the 2 guest rule now--where unless I pay to rent out the lounge, I can't have more than 2 guests. This will not enable my parents and siblings to visit at the same time for something as simple as a Sunday dinner. Things are already expensive in this economy and paying for a lounge to see my family seems absurd. It feels more like a college dorm than an apartment. I think sometimes the rules can be taken to the extreme here. Otherwise, I think management does a good job with the building and can be accommodating in certain situations if you...

There's been a reoccurring issue where the doorstaff refuses to allow my deliveries to be brought upstairs. The management has told me this is permitted and should not be an issue. I've had deliveries stolen from the lobby area by other residents, and I have a disability that causes undue hardship to go downstairs to get the deliveries. I've emailed the building management team multiple times, and they are unresponsive.

I pay $2,400 in rent for a 550 sqft apartment in a sub-par building to be directly disrespected by the employees that work here.

I HIGHLY recommend exploring The Paragon and Nema, similar-priced apartments that I have experience with, within two blocks of 1407, with incredible amenities and customer service. All of the recent negative reviews are accurate, in addition to one of the two elevators being broken for a week before receiving communication that it would take another week to fix it.

Avoid this place at all costs.

In response to managements response

These “repeated” communications about the elevator that you describe are actually one email, after the elevator was broken for a week, informing the residents that it would take another week to fix, as I stated. I haven’t been “so upset over” a fine, this is actually the first I’m hearing of a fine. I paid my rent for November on 10/24 and my balance was $0. To my surprise, I log in this morning, because of managements response, and have a $300 damages charge on the account which has been applied since I wrote this review. I checked my email to ensure I didn’t miss anything from you but in fact, you did not send any communication about damages charges. This fine was clearly imposed as a retaliation of my review. Sure, allow me to correct the misinformation of the rent and size of my apartment. I pay $2,360 per month and a $9.95 “service fee” so $2,369.95 for rent, not $2,400 as previously stated. And my apartment- the 1B03 layout- is 546 sqft, not 550 as previously stated. I’ve lived at Paragon and read through all of their policies and procedures, which they furnished in writing, and they were amazing. I have a good friend that lives at Nema, and I’ve had amazing experiences there as well.

Again, potential future renters, I implore you to avoid 1407 On Michigan at all costs. If my review wasn’t enough to deter you, please allow the managements response to the review, a $300...

The studio apartments themselves are so small it will soon wear on your mental health. The common spaces suck. Other than it is ok... a decent transitory place for someone new to the city and confused about where to live or a newly divorced person or something. But even if you think you'll renew just for the sake of not having to move again... they will be as predatory as possible. I got a studio at $1650 for a 12 month lease and assumed that my rent would only go up a little bit. I received my lease renewal terms about a month before my lease was up and was shocked.... a $700 increase for a 12 month lease but only a 2% increase for an 18 month. Obviously this sticks you in a vicious cycle because if you pick the 18 month, you'll have to look for new apartments in Chicago summer time and if you pick the 12 month, you are paying $2500+ for something that feels like a cramped hotel room in Europe. I begged them to be reasonable since I was not financially or mentally ready to make a move in a few weeks and my broker assured me that they would negotiate. They didn't't budge and were actually very mean, and I ended up having to find a new apartment in two weeks while dealing with a new heart condition and all the medical bills from that. Do not lease here and if you do, prepare to leave, because they WILL take advantage of...