<p>We are looking at two-bedroom apartment options for next year. Does anyone have any general recommendations on finding housing and living off campus, recommendations of specific apartment buildings that are very close to the campus, or recommendations of apartments to avoid?</p>
<p>Hello!
The best place to look for apartment-searching information is here: [url=<a href=“http://www.uchicagoapartments.com/]UChicagoApartments[/url”>http://www.uchicagoapartments.com/]UChicagoApartments[/url</a>]
MAC has the monopoly on apartment buildings in the area, but Blackstone management have a lot too. Many students also live in Regent’s apartment buildings (about a ten minute bus ride away, right by the lake). There are certain clusters of streets that are very concentrated with student apartments, but check out the website - it’ll help. Have a look at Marketplace too: [url=<a href=“http://marketplace.uchicago.edu/]Marketplace[/url”>http://marketplace.uchicago.edu/]Marketplace[/url</a>]</p>
<p>When I lived in Hyde Park I spent time renting or subletting in five different apartments.</p>
<p>I’d probably start by considering price and location. When I was an undergrad, most students lived between 55th and 51st streets and between Ellis and the lakeshore. 53rd and Woodlawn is probably the center of gravity of all student off-campus housing- and all the better- there’s a liquor store, an organic grocery store, sushi, and a 24- hour diner right there. Lots of walkups. Lots and lots and lots of them. Lots of students. Lots of parties. Perhaps too many parties-- a bunch of my friends lived next door to a bunch of soccer players and another group of my friends lived in the same building as the frisbee team.</p>
<p>Apartments are in a variety of states of charming repair or disrepair. OP, I don’t know if you’re a parent or a student, but most Hyde Park apartments are going to be dumpy by parent standards. Most kids don’t mind an unfinished floor, cracked molding, and the like. But a parent could definitely turn their nose.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for something a little more dolled up, I’d recommend looking into the high rises in Hyde Park. Most of them have 24- hour doormen, exercise rooms, the works and cater to a college student/grad student/retiree/young professional sort. Definitely more tame and grown up, closer to public transportation, and so on. </p>
<p>Laray is right- MAC is the big player in Hyde Park. As somebody who remembers the K&G days, MAC is a big improvement in property management. I’ve lived in three non-MAC Hyde Park apartments and two MAC ones, and I vastly preferred MAC’s service. MAC owns a real range of properties: [Chicago</a> Apartments For Rent | Downtown Chicago Apartments | Chicago Apartment Search](<a href=“http://www.macapartments.com/]Chicago”>http://www.macapartments.com/)</p>
<p>^I disagree with this. MAC might be a big improvement over whatever was there previously, the general consensus among students is that MAC does not offer great service. Typical conversations about new apartments are like this:</p>
<p>A: “Is your new apartment MAC?”
B: “Yeah…”
A: “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”</p>