Top 10 West Loop Managed Apartment Buildings

Renting in Chicago may seem to be kind of tricky as there are quite a few different options for the Chicago renter:

• Listings represented by a Brokerage for an owner (usually listed on the MLS)

• Listings for Rent by Owner (on zillow, hotpads, etc.)

• Listings for Rent by Property Management Company : these often have a leasing team on site who usually work only with their specific building or company.

If you’re trying to figure out where to begin, I am a licensed agent who can help you sort through all different types of listings, including those in the Property Managed Buildings.

Property managed buildings started what I like to call an “amenity war” where each building being built over the last ten years or so starting adding luxury amenities that make you feel like you’re in a resort on Miami Beach (at least in the Summer): pools, gyms designed by Equinox, party rooms, cabanas, business lounges, private clubs, swinging chairs and sweeping rooftop views; these buildings are making most of the common areas. Unfortunately after touring many of these buildings, the personal living space often feels cramped when compared to what you might get at the same price point in a listing represented by a Brokerage on the MLS – who’s buildings often don’t have quite as many common area amenities.

And don’t forget utilities, parking and pet fees. Yes, if you have a pet you will likely pay “pet rent” on a listing from the MLS too; but sometimes listings by a private owner will include cable, internet and gas. That’s because those utilities are already included in the buildings monthly HOA fees (the Home Owner’s Association who manages the monthly fees required to run the building; which owners already have to pay to live in the building – if they’re renting to you, they’re calculating that into the cost of rent for them).

Because property managed buildings don’t have that association, they will require the tenant to pay all of the utilities – gas, electric, cable, internet and sometimes a trash and pest control too. Parking is a given and must be paid on top of rent (which sometimes can be included in privately owned units) and the pet rent which varies based on the breed of your animal. The only exception to this pet rent is if your animal is a service animal, then they can’t charge you rent for that.

According to yochicago.com, there are 29 property managed buildings in the West Loop. Based on my (personally biased) scale, which combines different factors including: age of the property, amenities, location, friendliness of staff and a peek at their google/yelp page for a community review, these are my favorite top 10 property managed buildings in the West Loop:

Key:
🏋 – Gym
🏊 – Pool
⛱ – Poolside Cabana
🛋 – Lounge(s)
☕️ – Coffee Bar
🌇 – Rooftop with Skyline View
🍔 – Grill Station
🍸 – Bar
🎱 – Game Room
💻 – Business Center
🚲 – Bike Storage
🚗 – Parking
🐶 – Dog Run & Pet Wash
📲 – Free Wifi
🌳 – Community Garden
📚 – Library
🧑‍🍳 – Demonstration Kitchen
🧘 – Yoga Studio

All of the following pricing is current as of publication and subejct to change.

10. Circa 922

🏋 🏊 ⛱ 🛋 ☕️ 🌇 🍔 💻 🚲 🚗 🌳🧑‍🍳
Opened: 2014

9. The Jax

🏋 🛋 🌇 🍔 🚲 🚗 🐶🧑‍🍳
Opened: 2020
The Jax is proud to offer 33 apartments in accordance with the City of Chicago Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO). If your annual income is below $72,800, you may qualify for special pricing on these studio or 1-bedroom apartments, based on availability.