The rental apartments at Cobbler Square (1350 N Wells, Chicago) are the biggest rip-off in Old Town, Chicago. This place is such a nightmare to live in, it practically feels like living in a slum. I had never experienced anything like it, having lived in three other apartments in Chicago and two during college and never had any issues at all anywhere else.
And beware, looks can be deceiving the apartment units and the complex itself dont really -look - like a slum, and its even located in a pretty nice neighborhood, but read on
When this building was converted from an factor into residential apartments, it was done so cheaply that there is totally inadequate insulation between units (both side-to-side, as well as above and below). The noise issue is so bad it completely negates any moderately decent renovations theyve done to the units.
To get an idea of how bad it is, you can hear your neighbor talking on the phone at a normal conversational level, you could probably transcribe their conversation even! So it goes without saying that you can of course hear when they watch TV or listen to music. You cant blame the other tenant though, theyre just living in their apartment as anyone would! You cant expect everyone to tip-toe around and do absolutely nothing that makes any sound in their own apartment.
But the worst part may be that you can actually hear when you neighbor takes a piss in their toilet! Ive literally been woken up in the morning to the sound of my neighbor pissing, and then I can hear the shower curtain open and the shower turn on.
They even have recently performed renovations to individual units (although still have just carpeting and low-end laminate countertops though), and even while performing these new renovations, they didnt bother to properly address the insulation problem. The leasing agents claim that theyve added some kind of db guard between units, however, having lived in an apartment that has already been renovated, I know that the terrible noise issues remain; and even what they claim they did would only help side-to-side units, not above and below.
So, the leasing agents are running quite the scam, trying to lease apartments at market rate ($1300-$1500 for a one-bedroom), whereas they are worth nowhere near that! Maybe if they were priced absolutely dirt-cheap, you would know what youre getting into; I guess if the apartments were only $500 or $600 per month (which would be low for the this Chicago neighborhood), these terrible conditions could be expected; but not when youre paying upwards of $1500!! Such a rip-off!
What is further frustrating for me, is that if I had just checked the reviews on this apartment complex I would never have taken out a lease there. A quick check on apartmentratings.com alone would have been all I would have needed to know to look elsewhere.
Clearly the leasing company is banking on the fact that a lot of people dont check out reviews first, otherwise they would have a very difficult time leasing them out, unless they reduced rents to absolutely dirt-cheap prices. If it was as common for individuals to check out the property management company as it is for them to credit-check individuals, then theyd be out of business!
Anyway its great to be out of that slum! Oh well, at least now I have a good story of how I went slummin it once too! I own a condo now and may never end up renting again, but you better believe if I do, Ill be doing my own credit-check on the property management company first!
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