Aston Chicago Apartments — Local services in Chicago

Let me save you a mountain of stress, disappointment, and wasted money: Aston Chicago is a scam disguised as luxury living. From the lying leasing agents to the unprofessional front desk, to the run-down interiors and shady post-move-out charges, this place is an absolute joke.

I moved into Aston as a Northwestern student after being reassured multiple times — both via email and in person — that Northwestern students get a leasing discount. This was confirmed by the leasing office prior to signing my lease. Fast forward to the final paperwork, and guess what? No discount. When I brought it up, the staff suddenly acted like they had no idea what I was talking about. No apology, no accountability, just a classic bait-and-switch. I should have known that this was just the beginning of a year-long disaster.

Let’s talk about the front desk, which is quite possibly the worst-managed lobby in any major building I’ve ever seen. There’s one particular front desk woman — African, constantly angry, perpetually on her phone, and always giving attitude — who genuinely seems to hate the residents. She will look you in the face and pretend you don’t exist. I’ve walked past her many times while she’s scrolling or watching something on her phone, and she won’t even say “hello.” If you try asking her a question, expect either a grunt, an eye roll, or a completely unhelpful response. It’s a daily reminder that customer service and basic respect are nonexistent in this building.

Oh, and don’t expect anyone at the front desk to actually be there. It’s common to come home and find the desk completely abandoned, sometimes for hours. So much for "security" — Aston leaves you to fend for yourself. Amazon deliveries? Good luck. Locked out? Too bad. Need help? Don’t bother.

Then there’s the apartment itself. For a place that markets itself as “luxury,” the unit was embarrassingly outdated. The carpet looks like it belongs in a college dorm from 2003 — thin, worn, and permanently stained. The walls are paper thin, meaning you will hear everything your neighbors do, from late-night TikToks to screaming matches. There’s a faint musty smell that never goes away. The fixtures are old, the water pressure is hit-or-miss, and the HVAC system sounds like a dying lawnmower. Definitely not worth the price tag.

Astonishingly shady move-out billing. After vacating the apartment (with it spotless and everything returned), they tried to charge me a $15 monthly renters insurance fee — AFTER I had already moved out. I had emailed them four times (yes, FOUR), called the leasing office multiple times, and even tried to escalate it. Guess what? Still no response. They’re either willfully incompetent or intentionally hoping tenants will give up and just pay the nonsense charges. You’ll also notice that the building loves to charge extra for literally everything.

And every time you complain, they hide behind some vague excuse: “That’s a corporate issue,” or “I’ll escalate that,” or “Let me get back to you,” — which of course, they never do. The building management takes zero responsibility for anything. The leasing agents disappear once your name is on the lease. After that, you’re just a source of income, not a resident they care about.

Honestly, this place is a masterclass in how not to run an apartment building. The only “amenity” you get here is frustration. For the price you’re paying, you could find a far better apartment in Streeterville or River North — with real customer service, updated units, and management that doesn’t lie, ignore you, and nickel-and-dime you to death.

To any Northwestern students: Do yourself a favor and DO NOT live here. This building preys...

DO NOT LIVE HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE CHARGES HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS UPPN MOVE OUT

The only reason that I am giving Aston 2 stars is because the door staff is amazing!! Other than that I would never recommend living here or any Greystar property.

The first couple years were great, until we starting having issues with a barking dog. It would bark 3-4 NIGHTS a week, and only barked at night. I have multiple videos and voice recordings for proof but the office said they could not do anything because they had to catch it while it was happening. That was obviously impossible because they are not there in the evenings. They said there was no way to know that it was the specific unit I kept telling them it was, even though the door staff would call that resident, they would have someone come pick up the dog, and the barking would stop. They offered us to transfer units, but I did not want to go through that hassle when they had proven they couldn’t resolve the issue if it were to start happening in a new unit. They would take DAYS (sometimes 3-5 when the office is open every day) to respond to my email and just stopped responding or acknowledging my emails. They would not let us move out earlier either even though I was unable to sleep a few nights a week or would be woken up from the dog barking.

Once we decided to move out things got worse. They were being very difficult in letting my movers schedule an elevator and start at 8am. They could not provide the written policy and were clearly trying to make things very difficult for us. They said they would make an “exception” to let our movers park 30 minutes earlier, but again could not provide any written policy to this made up rule (see photos of email attached)

After moving out, we received a bill of $800 for “damages” with no explanation. I had to reach out to the office to be provided with information. They would not answer any phone calls and were purposely ignoring my calls until I got ahold of someone in their corporate office that sent them a note. They charged me $150 to removed a couple of curtain hangers that were stuck to the metal rolling shade cover. The only reason we had to put these up in the first place was because the “roller shades” basically do nothing to block out the light and then you wake up whenever the sun rises, which is around 5am in the summer. We were also charged $650 to replace the stove top that was chipped. When they replaced the 2 burner stove that came with our apartment it was during covid and the only option they had was to put in one that was already chipped. They didn’t even know they put this new stove in when they sent me the move in condition form to try and say we didn’t mark this as a defect upon moving in, so they clearly don’t keep detailed records. We had waited 4 months for another stove top that had a vent and on the day of installation they told us they were unable to install that one and had to pivot to using something they had on hand. Mind you, this was the middle of covid so it was impossible to get parts and at that point we didn’t care if it had a small chip in it since we waited over 4 months for it. I’m attaching a photo they sent me of the tiny chip that they are claiming we damaged and now they are charging us $650. The stove was usable for 3 years living there, so it just sounded like an excuse to exploit past residents to pay for their upgrades.

I will never even consider living in a building managed by Greystar again. I have never had any issues like this in any of the other apartments that I...

My wife and I have called Aston home for over three and a half years, and we keep renewing our lease for one simple reason: this place is extraordinary. The heart and soul of Aston is its exceptional staff—Aisha, Ish, Tyler, Anthony, and the entire front door, leasing, maintenance, and cleaning teams. They don’t just work here; they create a vibrant, welcoming community that makes Aston unmatched in Chicago.

Aisha is nothing short of phenomenal. Her professionalism, warmth, and genuine care make every resident feel like family. She remembers your name, checks in with authentic concern, and quietly goes above and beyond to elevate this community in ways most don’t even notice. She’s a true superstar who sets the standard for what exceptional service looks like.

Ish is a morning dynamo, kickstarting everyone’s day with infectious energy and a knack for making residents feel special. His positivity is a daily gift that transforms routine moments into something memorable.

Tyler’s kindness and generosity shine through in every interaction. He’s the warm welcome home after a long day, always eager to hear about your day and ensure you feel valued and cared for.

Anthony, the legendary night man, is a pillar of strength and security. He keeps Aston safe, handles late-night arrivals with ease, and ensures guests and delivery personnel meet the building’s high standards. His no-nonsense approach and genuine care make residents feel secure and supported at all hours.

The leasing office is a model of efficiency and attentiveness. From seasoned team members to new additions, they maintain Aston’s reputation as a top-tier community, showcasing its excellence to both longtime residents and newcomers. The maintenance and cleaning teams are equally outstanding—prompt, thorough, kind, and always approachable, ensuring the building runs like a well-oiled machine.

What sets Aston apart is the staff’s heart. When we welcomed our first child, Aisha and the team didn’t just do their jobs—they celebrated with us, helped us settle in, and made us feel like true family. We’ve explored countless buildings across Chicago, and none come close to the sense of community and care Aston provides. Aisha, Ish, Tyler, Anthony, and the entire staff are the backbone of this building, making every day better for everyone.

Now, regarding Daniel Won’s absurd review: it’s baseless nonsense from a disgruntled individual who clearly didn’t do his due diligence. Student discounts? They don’t exist in Streeterville—check any comparable building. If Daniel had evidence of a promised discount or credit, like an email or lease agreement, he’d have shared it. Instead, he chose to post a childish rant, unfairly attacking a staff that pours their heart into this community. His complaint is an insult to Aisha and her team, who work tirelessly to make Aston exceptional. If he has a legitimate issue, he should address it like an adult, not smear dedicated professionals online. Frankly, Daniel’s the problem, not Aston.

Aston is a rare gem in Chicago’s rental market. If Greystar or Aston takes Daniel’s complaint seriously, they’re missing the bigger picture. This is the best building in the city, bar none, because of its people. If you’re looking for a place that feels like home, choose Aston—you won’t...