My time here at Aspire thus far has been anything BUT luxurious and I would encourage anyone who is considering moving here to thoroughly investigate the property and unit prior to signing a lease.
Let me begin with the positives, because there are some, which include:
* Very friendly, helpful front desk and maintenance staff.
* 4th floor amenities and clean co-working space - a big "win" for anyone working remotely.
* Close and convenient walk downtown and great restaurants in the surrounding area.
* Clean, functional gym.
* Networking opportunities with other tenants.
As far as the difficulties with the complex:
When I moved from Florida to Chicago, I chose Aspire because it appeared to be clean, safe and most importantly, smoke-free (based upon the website, that is). In hindsight, I wish I would have thoroughly read each and every one of these reviews prior to signing anything - it would have saved me so much time, money and frustration.
For starters, the unit I toured and the unit I moved into were very different. While I initially anticipated a gorgeous lake view, I look directly into a brick building / duplex. Luxurious city view? I think not.
Second, Aspire was supposed to hire a cleaning crew to deep clean my unit prior to my move in. It turns out they forgot to clean my unit, which means I got to scrub the previous tenant's pubic hair, hair gel, kitchen grease, glitter and who knows what else for 8 hours before I could move any of my belongings in. The unit floor and all of my appliances were black and covered in kitchen grease and soot.
Third, I singed my lease a couple of weeks prior to them offering their "month of rent free" deal. Not only did I miss out on a deal that most of the other tenants received (for some reason they weren't doing it the month I signed), but they refused to honor the deal after I requested it.
Last, but certainly not least, the biggest issue of all: cigarette smoke. Since the day I moved in (two months ago), my place has been infiltrated daily with the stench of cigarette smoke. I indicated this on my move-in worksheet, my move-in survey and have been expressing my concerns with the office on a weekly basis. I have even attempted to take matters into my own hands without escalating by purchasing my own air purifier (a $200 unanticipated expense), multiple oil diffusers (these run all day, every day) and purchasing a storage unit to house most of my belongings, which costs me $35 per month.
The stench is so bad that I slept on my couch (because I couldn't sleep in my bedroom) for the first month. Furthermore, my windows have been open since the day I moved in - at night when I sleep, when it's negative temperatures outside, and yes, even when it's inclement weather. Because of this, my apartment typically sits at about 60 degrees, unless I temporarily run the heat. This not only presents an issue with my electric bill, but also poses a threat to the damage of my belongings.
After multiple discussions with the office over the past couple of months, I was told that the issue was being resolved and that I was to be patient - the end was in sight. Yesterday, that story somehow changed and I was told the issue hasn't even been "pinpointed". Though, I am welcome to do a lease "buyout" due to "the nuisance" - let's be perfectly clear, this is a health hazard.
I'm beyond thankful for the friends I've met here and have no complaints about the tenants in the slightest. The cleanliness is a much different story and I feel as if I'm living in a college dormitory. read more