The Alfred - Loop — Local services in Chicago

I’ve lived at The Alfred for two years, and now that I’m finishing med school and moving out, I feel well-qualified to write a comprehensive review. I hope this helps future tenants and serves as a sincere thank you to the incredible team at The Alfred for making my time here so special.

Firstly, the staff is amazing. From the building manager to the reception/security and maintenance teams, everyone is incredibly kind, attentive, and truly feels like family. Issues were rare, and whenever they did arise, they were resolved within 48 hours—often faster. Most recently, an item was fixed within an hour, personally attended to by the building manager! Many of the staff have been here for years, which speaks volumes about the environment and team.

Secondly, the location is phenomenal. I don’t have a car and relied exclusively on the CTA, with all 8 color lines just a 30-second walk from The Alfred and 6 of them right outside my window. While this comes with some city noise, I quickly adjusted and would choose this level of convenience again without hesitation. The location made exploring the city easy for myself and my visitors. Divvy bikes are available on the same street. Everyday essentials are nearby, with a Target just down the block for groceries and a Trader Joe's one metro stop away. An underrated feature that I haven't seen mentioned before is the UPS/USPS/Amazon return shop located around the corner. This has been a huge time-saver as a busy person—ordering items directly to the building and returning them quickly and easily if they don't work. There's also a Staples across the street, so I didn't need a printer in my unit.

Thirdly, the building’s amenities are top-notch. The gym is well-equipped and never overcrowded, the rooftop is stunning (perfect for summer BBQs and quiet evenings), and the co-working and lounge spaces are beautifully designed and consistently peaceful. The tenant-to-amenity ratio is ideal: enough people to keep it social, but never so many that it feels busy or disruptive. As someone with a demanding schedule, this balance made a huge difference. I could truly enjoy the amenities when I had the chance. The elevators are quick, and the garbage chute on each floor is always clean and accessible. Mailroom is secure and staff with collect and distribute your packages at all hours.

Fourthly, my unit itself was perfect. I lived in a studio. The high ceilings and massive windows made the space feel airy and bright—visitors were always impressed! Though compact, the layout is very well designed, with tons of storage, an in-unit washer/dryer, and modern appliances, including a gas stove and dishwasher. The bathroom is spacious and bright, with a large shower and strong water pressure.

Lastly, there’s a certain charm about living here. The Alfred isn’t a massive complex, so it feels special and boutique-like, adding to the sense of exclusivity. They also host fun events, most recently Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n' Sweet Cafe” pop-up and occasional rooftop concerts, which added to the unique experience.

I will genuinely miss this place. It's hard to beat. I’ve had the best stay and feel so grateful. Thank you to The Alfred team...

If I were writing this review 1 1/2 weeks ago, there is no question in my mind it would have been 5 stars. Now, 1 star is too generous

Let me start off by pointing out that none of what I'm about to say applies to the people working in the building. Lakisha is an amazing leasing agent. Ty is an awesome resident coordinator. I'm unfortunately forgetting his name but the gentleman who handles maintenance is awesome. And Zhanna is the best property manager I've ever seen.

This poor review is purely because UPPER management since what they've done has occurred across all Flats properties which clues us all in to the fact that none of the physical staff at The Alfred had a say in it. The change I'm referring to is cutting the front desk staff/security

That security was important. The area isn't outright dangerous but it's the heart of downtown. Like any downtown in a major city there's foot traffic at almost all hours, here especially so with multiple major bars around the corner and all the late night food spots immediately next door, some of which are open until 4 AM. All sorts of things can and do happen. The front desk staff being there provided a level of comfort and on multiple occasions I've seen them stop random people from waltzing in and even addressed issues with people who were causing issues right outside the main entrance

Why Flats thinks it's a good idea to get rid of them, especially in the summer when the foot traffic is even higher with all the events happening in Chicago, is beyond me. It honestly might be the most moronic decision I've ever seen from a management group. Aside from the normal security issues living in downtown within the past few weeks alone there was an incident at the Dunkin Donut across the street that led police to shutting down the street and a bomb threat at a Federal building just 2 blocks away that had DHS and FBI swarming the area. Yet despite this they still decided cut the front desk staff/security almost immediately aftermath

This building is bare bones. You got a cool loft style apartment in the heart of downtown and were in close proximity to the 3 schools (if you're a student) but you don't really get anything in terms of amenities. Security was THE amenity

There's no reason for anyone to be paying this much money, least of all if you're a student, if the building doesn't offer the security it once did. For several hundred dollars less a month you can get an apartment in South Loop that offers more amenities, front desk staff/security, be walking distance to multiple grocery stores & food options, onsite parking (if you have a car), and still be within walking distance of the schools. Even if you had to take the bus or train each way, it still comes out to be a couple hundred dollars cheaper

I really do like the building overall. Most people I've come to know in the building do. But I don't know a single resident who is happy about the change. I can very confidently say that if it doesn't revert, I will absolutely be leaving the building at the end of my lease and I would be amazed if others...

Edited 7 weeks after move-in: Living at The Alfred has exceeded expectations, which are high! This is a very well run building, staffed by friendly people who really enjoy delighting others. Once again, Zhanna the building manager is very prompt at answering any questions; a couple of mechanical hiccups in my apartment were addressed immediately by on-site maintenance professionals. My man at the front of the house, Ty, is possibly the nicest person alive. He is always anticipating how he can help me, whether I’m showing up with my dog or hustling multiple packages up to my apartment. Zach, who works the concierge desk on evenings and weekends, is equally helpful and chill.

I am loving The Alfred’s location, about a block from the Art Institute. I am a member there and can pop over anytime I like. The Alfred is very dog friendly, and I enjoy walking my pup in Grant Park, on Michigan Avenue, or any number of other routes through the city. There are always people out and about and I feel safe.

As for the apartment itself, I love living on a floor that retains the building’s original wood floors. My unit has 8 foot tall windows, which let in glorious amounts of light. The apartment is a fantastic mix of both Art Deco and industrial, with enormous 14 foot ceilings. I love the layout of the living space, with an enormous kitchen island. I have owned multiple houses and this is the best cooking real estate I’ve ever had! There is not a lot of storage in the kitchen, though, which I have remedied by putting a large Metro shelving unit into the coat closet. It’s my secret weapon!

In sum, my choosing The Alfred was a fantastic move. Highly recommended!

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My move-in at The Alfred was as smooth as could be. Zhanna the building manager was extremely professional and helped ensure that everything was ready when I pulled up with my dog and enormous pile of boxes and furniture. The concierge Ty was especially helpful, too. The building runs like a clock and is designed to be very safe, which I truly appreciate. I am loving my new home!

Also a shoutout to Kayla, the Alfred leasing agent I worked with. She set a very high bar on responsiveness and professionalism. Moving to Chicago from the West Coast, I had a ton of questions before moving in and she was extremely quick to answer them. Kayla is a huge asset to The Flats, and I have no doubt she has a wildly successful career ahead of her in...