AMLI Evanston — Local services in Evanston Township

We lived at AMLI Evanston for almost 2.5 years, and unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant. From the very beginning, there were problems. When we applied online, we were shown a unit over video that turned out to be completely different from the one we were actually given. The apartment we moved into was on the second floor facing an alley, with the view almost completely blocked by another old building. The thermostat never worked properly — it was freezing in winter and hot in summer. In October 2023, the building management decided not to turn on the heating, and we both ended up catching colds several times. When we reached out to the manager for help, she was unresponsive and extremely rude, insisting that nothing would be done. We also dealt with recurring spider issues in our unit. It eventually got so bad that the management had to hire a pest control company to clean the area — another stressful experience that could have been prevented with regular maintenance. Throughout our time there, we found the staff to be dismissive and often impolite. They rarely helped with residents’ concerns and often tried to avoid addressing issues altogether. Even in simple situations — like when residents are carrying heavy items and struggling to open the door — the staff just stand by and watch. It often felt like they were there only to collect their paychecks, not to support residents. It also made me wonder: what would disabled residents do if there are no automatic door openers inside the building? After the first year, we decided to move to a 5th-floor unit, paying higher rent just to avoid the hassle of relocating to a different building. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t improve. The washing and drying machines in the unit were of very poor quality — clothes often came out with stains and odors no matter how much detergent or how many cycles we used. I had to throw away several items of clothing because the machines simply didn’t clean them properly. This issue is the same for most of their unit with same brand machines. Another issue to note: when AMLI advertises “four-month leases,” you actually don’t get a full four months. The lease typically runs 6–10 days shorter, and if you need to stay for those remaining days, you’ll have to pay an expensive daily rate. Make sure to confirm the exact number of days in writing before signing anything. They show zero flexibility with your moving days. Be careful. When we moved out in September 2025, we received an important government letter on our last day. Since we had already returned our keys, we no longer had access to our mailbox. Despite several polite requests to the management team (E. and C.V.) to help retrieve or forward the mail, they were completely unresponsive — showing no sense of responsibility or basic human decency, even though we had been residents for over two years. If there’s one positive thing to mention, it’s that the units are clean and relatively new. But that’s not unique — you can easily find better apartments nearby with similar or even nicer units, better amenities, and much more respectful management and staff. Overall: AMLI Evanston is not worth the price or frustration. The staff’s attitude, poor support, and lack of accountability make it a stressful place to live. If you’re considering moving here, my honest advice is simple — look elsewhere. You’ll find better value, service, and...

While there are a few positives—such as spacious units that stay warm in winter without the need for heating, a well-equipped fitness center, and a responsive maintenance team for basic tasks—these do not outweigh the core issue that made my time here extremely difficult: persistent and unresolved noise disturbances.

Sound insulation between units is almost nonexistent. From the unit above, I could regularly hear heavy footsteps that caused subtle floor vibrations, running water from the bathroom, appliances being plugged in, occasional slamming doors, and even washer and dryer cycles. These noises occurred frequently and unpredictably, but were most disruptive in the early morning hours around 6–7 AM—often waking me up and making it difficult to fall back asleep.

Despite reporting the issue consistently over several months, I received no meaningful help from the management office. I initially raised the concern in person and followed up by email. I was advised to call the emergency line whenever the noise occurred so it could be tracked. I followed that instruction and called during early morning disturbances, only to be told later not to call repeatedly until an investigation had been completed. Weeks then passed with no updates.

Later, I was informed that no action could be taken because the noise hadn’t been verified during office hours—even though I had clearly explained that the problem occurred primarily outside those hours. At one point, management even advised me to call the police to knock on my neighbor’s door, which I found both impractical and unhelpful, especially considering the early timing of the disturbances.

To support their investigation, I stayed up through multiple early mornings and managed to record audio clips. This was extremely difficult due to the low pitch and intermittent nature of the sounds. After sending the recordings and receiving no response, I followed up again—only then was I told I could request an in-person investigation by an on-call maintenance staff member through the emergency line. That option could have been communicated much earlier.

A maintenance staff member eventually visited around 6:30 AM and confirmed that the noise was not mechanical, but came from normal living activity in the unit above—exactly as I had described from the beginning.

Even after this confirmation, the final response from the office was that the noise was “normal” and not excessive. No solution or further assistance was offered. After months of communication, documentation, and disrupted sleep, that was the conclusion.

I’ve lived in many apartments over the past eight years and never experienced noise issues at this level, nor such an inconsistent and ineffective process for resolving them. The sound transfer is significant and easily noticeable—something anyone could observe during a brief tour of the building.

As a side note: if you're hoping to transfer to a different unit due to a noise issue, AMLI requires six successful rent payments and charges a transfer fee. In my case, the only real options were to endure months of daily noise or pay a steep lease buy-out fee—which is ultimately what...

Yesterday Eric organized an ice cream social event at Amli Evanston which was a great chance to interact with staff and residents. Eric has been especially good in making us feel at home here and should be given special praise for hard work and personal creativity in making Amli Evanston a great place to live. Five stars for Eric. Jim and Nova Moore

Nova and I would like to acknowledge a number of others at AMLI Evanston for the way each has made our life so good here. In particular, we would thank Cathy for her kind help and understanding, always courteous and willing to listen. She has made every effort to make us feel welcome here.

Nova and I would also like to thank both Fernando and Adam since every time they have come to manage issues each has that have needed attention in our apartment, each has been prompt and have addressed all matters professionally but also with friendliness that again makes Nova and I so appreciative of our time here at AMLI Evanston. In addition, they have been so warm and friendly every time we greet them in passing no matter what they are busy doing as part of their job here.

So, we thank everyone here at AMLI Evanston for making living here so rewarding.

Yesterday, December 18, 2023, The Staff at Amli Evanston hosted a holiday Winter gathering. Our lounge was decorated in a festive and delightful way with plenty of food for the occasion. Nova and I wish to thank the staff, especially Eric for this delightful evening. Many came to enjoy the event and the conversation. We believe this was among the best events ever hosted at Amli Evanston in our ten years here. We would rate this with 5 stars. Great work Eric. Jim and...