Recent info on Lincoln Park Plaza? (Formerly Rienzi Plaza) (Chicago: low income, section 8)

[kamjah]

so my roommate and i checked out a 2br/2ba at lincoln park plaza. and i'll be honest, we loved it. it was modern/clean, tons of features all included in the rent, and a nice view. it went straight to the top of our list of possible places to live.

then i went on apartmentratings.com and looked it up and the reviews were just awful. complaints about communal facilities, management, maintanence, and the residents (some mention of section 8).

the thing about the reviews was that the most recent one came from 2007. now obviously a lot can change in 2-3 years. i've been scouring google looking for LPP in news or other review sites, and i can't find anything relevant or recent. so we were wondering if anybody had any recent personal experience with this building, or know anybody who has who can give us a helpfull information in making our decision.

thanks

[surlycue]

Just did a quick search and found this article. It's old but doesn't necessarily mean they've discontinued renting to section 8'ers.

Sheldon Baskin - Keeping Current - Rienzi Plaza to keep on renting to low income tenants - Brief Article | Chicago Reporter, The | Find Articles at BNET

ETA: and here is another review site: http://www.apartmentreviews.net/rati...park-plaza.htm . poor maintenance seems to be the biggest issue.

[kamjah]

Originally Posted by surlycue

Just did a quick search and found this article. It's old but doesn't necessarily mean they've discontinued renting to section 8'ers.

Sheldon Baskin - Keeping Current - Rienzi Plaza to keep on renting to low income tenants - Brief Article | Chicago Reporter, The | Find Articles at BNET

ETA: and here is another review site: Lincoln Park Plaza Apartment Ratings and Reviews - Chicago Illinois Apartments . poor maintenance seems to be the biggest issue.

i've seen both of those already, but thanks! yeah i'm kind of a google fiend and i've been looking for any kind of helpful information in making our decision.

we've already talked to the management about section 8, and from what we've been told, it's only floors 1-6, and the requirements to be eligible are that you have to be older than 60. so for the most part it's the elderly/immigrants/hopital patients.

one conclusion i am leaning towards is that since 2007, they have changed/improved their management/maintanence to a point where people don't feel compelled to write a terrible review about it (but not to so great a level that people feel compelled to rave about how great it is).

so i guess what i'm really looking for is some word of mouth or personal experiences with the building to ease our minds (or scare us out of renting).

[surlycue]

I would see if the realtor can show you the place again, this time around 6 pm on a weekday that way you can catch residents coming home from work and get the skinny directly from them. I've never lived in a building bigger than a 6-flat but it's always worked for me as the most direct way to assess the building and surrounding neighborhood.

[kamjah]

Originally Posted by surlycue

I would see if the realtor can show you the place again, this time around 6 pm on a weekday that way you can catch residents coming home from work and get the skinny directly from them. I've never lived in a building bigger than a 6-flat but it's always worked for me as the most direct way to assess the building and surrounding neighborhood.

well, we are going to check out a different unit in the building some time next week for an august lease (the first one we saw was for july). but that's a good idea, thanks!

[kamjah]

bump. looking for anyone who has any input on this building.

[marciann]

Did you find out anything? We are also interested in an apartment there.

[soulful]

I know a guy who lived in the building for years and moved out recently because he could no longer afford the rent (he moved to a vintage courtyard type building which was older and cheaper). Anyway, he loved Rienzi Plaza(Lincoln Pk) and the location was great. Only moved to save money. Good luck with finding your new place.

[WGFTS]

I live in this building and LOVE it. Nowhere in Lincoln Park can you really find a 2-bedroom, 2-bath highrise for the same price (we were paying a little over $1,700). The views were spectacular, there was no noise between the units and everything was safe, secure and sturdy.

The Section 8 was not bothersome. It seemed to be older Europeans living there rather than thugs. Never had any problems with loud music nor crime. They seemed to be confined to floors 1-6 which was a different elevator wing.

My only complaints about the building were that the elevators could be a little slow at times and that they didn't seem to provide air conditioning in the lobby. However, the a/c in the unit itself worked just fine.

For the price, location and safety, I don't think this building can be beat by most others in its same price range.

[paytonc]

Originally Posted by kamjah

we've already talked to the management about section 8, and from what we've been told, it's only floors 1-6, and the requirements to be eligible are that you have to be older than 60. so for the most part it's the elderly/immigrants/hopital patients.

I remember when the tenants -- a bunch of old Russian women -- organized to renew the building's Section 8 contract. Very little to be afraid of there. From the outside, it certainly looks like the retail parts of the building have been spiffed up in recent years, but I can't say anything about the apartments inside.