Aqua at Lakeshore East Apartments — Local services in Chicago

I have lived at Aqua over a year for my grad program, and I just moved out because of finishing the grad program and heading to a new city. If I could stay in Chicago, I would live at Aqua forever.

The location of Aqua is impeccable. It's convenient in all aspects. You can walk to a lot of places and have convenient access to downtown Chicago while enjoy the quietness and calm. Moreover, right under Aqua, there are restaurants, USPS/FedEx, a big grocery store (Mariano's), CVS and other things you need. Aqua is also one of few apartments that have direct access or connection to the Pedway (a nice underground pedestrian walkway network). There's also a cute park right next to the building. The door entrance is at the sideway of the building, so it's super helpful to call Uber/Lyft. The concierge desk will call you when your food delivery arrive and let it to be delivered right at your door.

Aqua also has set a very high bar for my future apartments. You get to enjoy a first-class gym, both indoor and outdoor pools, a gigantic sundeck and running yard, free printers and many more amenities (such as sauna and pool table). Clean and nice trash chute room. There are also two recycle rooms for boxes on the second and third floor. Maintenance staff are always professional and helpful. The leasing office and management office are both super responsive and communicative.

I want to give a big shoutout and show my extra appreciation to two people: 1) Property Manager Cheryl has always been super responsive to my emails and helpful to answer my questions. 2) Mike from the front desk was the first person welcoming me to Aqua. He is always nice and helpful.

I really can't think of anything to improve. If I have to pick one, I would say the package room could be a little better with more resources. Don't get me wrong. The package room staff are very nice and helpful. I never had any issues with my packages. I just felt the package time could be a little bit more timely and flexible. At the same time, I also understand it's an overwhelming workload for one person who has multiple duties. It's really a minor feedback.

Geez. I can't believe I'm getting emotional for writing an apartment review. I love the vibe and people of...

I’ve lived at the aqua for two years. I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to write this review especially considering how my husband and I talk about how much we love living here all the time. I’ve lived all over Chicago in different neighborhoods but it wasn’t until I moved to the aqua that I truly felt at home in Chicago. The people who work here including the door staff, property manager, and maintenance crew are all amazing! Maintenance requests are always handled in a timely fashion. The gym is large and plentiful and has everything you need. The package room is organized and efficient and I have never had to worry about a package being lost or stolen. The outdoor deck on floor 3 is wonderful and beautifully maintained. Walking on the outdoor track is one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice. Access to the pedway is really convenient especially in the winter. The apartments are nice and what they may lack in square footage they make up for in views. The views are really unlike anything else. I’ve toured a lot of other apartments and have yet to find one with views like the aqua. All in all I am thrilled to be living here. The location is wonderful, convenient and a close walk to all the places you want to go to in Chicago including the lake and the river walk. The lakeshore east park right downstairs is also another added bonus. I really could go on and on but yes the aqua is definitely a gem of a building in a...

Having lived in more than a few rental residences downtown, I’ve come to realize that it is the staff who make a place a home - no matter how beautiful the building or location (and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have lived in some of the most beautiful buildings downtown). It’s the folks who oversee the day-to-day who make or break your living experience.

The above considered, let’s talk about the exemplary property manager at Aqua, Craig Perry. Craig is that rare (trust me) PM who genuinely cares about the residents in his building. He is patient and kind - yet at the same time able to be so within the parameters of consummate professionalism. He runs a tight ship in the best way. He addresses concerns promptly, and thoughtfully. The end result being an enjoyable and worry-free living experience for residents.

Special shoutout to Steve Sink (Leasing) for always stopping to check-in with genuine interest and care when our paths happen to cross; to the incredible door staff - esp the weekday morning crew Mike and Senait; and to the maintenance team who always greet you with a smile and are invariably at the ready to assist.

Of course, we can talk about the location of Aqua and its footsteps-away proximity to the lake, Mariano’s, Millennium Park etc... But for my money, the tipping point is the people who work incredibly hard to make your place feel like home. And on that front, these days, I’ve yet to find...