Fast forward 12 years and I have returned to Chicago, and am back at Aqua. I wanted to take a…read moremoment to post an update to shine a light on the exemplary property manager, Craig Perry, who oversees this building with kindness and empathy - all within the parameters of the utmost professionalism. Craig runs a tight ship in the best way. He GENUINELY cares about residents' concerns and wastes no time in addressing them and arriving at a solution. As I mentioned in my previous review, I've lived in several rental communities in downtown Chicago - and have worked with a few outstanding property managers, but Craig is head and shoulders above the rest, which is an absolute necessity for a positive living experience. Hands down. Special shout out to Steve Sink (Dir of Leasing) for always taking the time to catch up when we cross paths - another kind human, and consummate professional. And, finally, to the incredible door staff - looking at you, in particular, Mike and Senait, the weekday morning crew; and to the maintenance team - always smiling and friendly, and at the ready to help. I realize this update is primarily about the day-to-day operations team at Aqua, rather than the building itself, which I've already addressed below. I just feel that in a sea of pretty similar rental options downtown, it's the people you interact with on a regular basis who truly make your living experience enjoyable. And this team led by Craig, well, I've yet to experience its equal.

We chose this building in part because of the advertised amenities, but our experience with them…read morehas been consistently disappointing, as has the level of responsiveness from the management office. * Sauna: To our knowledge, the sauna has been out of service since we moved in. It was working when we toured, but we have not seen it operational at any point since becoming residents. * Hot tub cleanliness: On February 28, 2026, when we turned on the hot tub jets, a grimy black film resembling dirt began accumulating in the water. I took photos that night (see attached). This raised serious concerns about maintenance and cleanliness. * Swimming lessons representation and lack of response: During our tour in November 2025, a leasing staff member told us that free swimming lessons were offered to renters, and we confirmed this multiple times because it mattered to us. After moving in, an onsite swimming instructor told us that, to his understanding, there are no free lessons. When we mentioned we had been told the lessons were free and asked whether he had heard similar questions from other residents, he told us yes. We emailed management on February 19, 2026 asking how to enroll or to clarify whether free lessons are offered, and as of March 1, 2026, we have not received any response. In other replies to reviews that complained about amenities, the rental office has said the hotel manages the amenities. But these amenities are still advertised as part of the residential experience, and from a resident perspective the distinction doesn't change the outcome--we relied on what was represented when deciding where to live. If these issues are resolved or clarified, I will update this review. For now, prospective residents should independently verify the current status and availability of any amenities that are important to them.

I've lived here for 3 years and have generally had an okay experience, which is why I've never left…read morea negative review--until now. For the past several months, there has been persistent, construction-like noise coming from the upstairs unit. This includes repeated tool use (drilling, sawing, assembling) and heavy impact sounds throughout the day--far beyond normal residential noise. The situation escalated recently when I was woken up around 5:50 AM by continuous jigsaw-like noise. Since then, the disturbances have continued during the day while I'm working from home. I have reported this issue multiple times and documented the noise. However, management has not responded or taken visible action for over two weeks, which is concerning. At this point, it feels like the upstairs unit is being used more like a workshop than a residence. The ongoing noise and lack of resolution are unacceptable and are significantly affecting my daily life. I strongly urge management to address this issue seriously and enforce building policies to ensure a livable environment for residents.

Where do I start? The units are over priced for the sqft. For a new building, everything is falling…read moreapart. The leasing office is full of rude and unprofessional people. The door man is helpful at times, but treats my guests like thieves and curses like a sailor. Dog poop is everywhere by the entrance and the is an understatement. The walls are thin and I am not happy living here. I have 7-8 months to go and I cannot wait to leave.

As long as you don't mind dealing with the world's unhappiest and rudest doorman, it's a nice…read morebuilding with great views.

What a great building! I love calling 5855 "Home." The location is ideal, the views are awesome,…read morethe staff is terrific and the neighbors are friendly.

For those looking to purchase a unit in this building, I just moved out and wanted to give my…read moreliving experience to those who are interested. Purchasing a unit is not only expensive, but it is a 5-7 commitment. The building was built in the 1960s. In order for the billing to stand as it does, it has to have air constantly flowing through it. You will hear while you're waiting to get onto the elevators the air from the outside, sounding almost like a hurricane, while waiting for an elevator. I had air in my unit all the time. The unit that I purchased was not level and there were lots of times when I felt the building was leaning. My guests would come into my building and state that they felt it too. On very windy days, you may get stuck in the elevator. Another resident with myself got stuck in the elevator together. We were told to bang on the door to try to get it to move so that the elevator would move. This was a very scary experience. Processes are dated as well. There are lots of units in this building and the mail room only has one person taking care of all the packages for the entire building. This created problems with residents getting other residents packages. And getting your packages in a timely manner. Carts, that were provided for the residents to use were all broken. You will hear screams from the Ferris wheel and bands playing at the pier since the building is right next to it. You will also hear fog horns from the boats. If you like the lake, the Lakeview was very nice. At least during the day because at night it was pitch black unless your unit faced the pier. If you purchase a parking spot, which I did, there was a problem with entry into the parking garage as they placed valet directly in front of the door to get in to the garage. Those that are trying to get in and park were asked to wait until the parking attendant valeted the cars that wanted to be valeted. When asked to address this, their remedy was to enter the exit door of the garage if a car was blocking the door to the entrance. There are a lot of buildings in Chicago that are old, but they are constantly kept up and their processes are constantly updated. This is not one of those places. Something that you would not know unless you lived there personally. Buyer beware.

Well, I had a tour to rent an apartment there. The lobby, people and amenities are great. However,…read moreinside the apartment the furniture and appliances are old. Great gym and garden, perfect view to the lake. Location is good, but away from CTA. Overpriced

This is a severely troubled and problematic building…read more Beginning in 2024, a fire in the trash chute exposed deeper failures in how the property was being managed. The restoration work became the subject of a City of Chicago lawsuit alleging Building Code violations, including work performed without the required plans from a licensed architect or registered structural engineer and without a permit. Within months, the building was facing another lawsuit from its former property manager, who alleged she was wrongfully terminated following an intense internal power struggle. The board then descended into political chaos. Factions formed, accusations were hurled, and anonymous mass emails circulated in an effort to influence owners. The consequences reached far beyond internal disagreements. Conventional financing became unavailable for a period, leaving owners with a severely restricted buyer pool and preventing prospective purchasers from financing units through ordinary channels. A failure of that magnitude reflects serious problems across the association, the board, management, and the people entrusted with protecting the property and its owners. Even apart from the governance issues, the building has a tradeoff that prospective residents should understand. The public supermarket is extremely convenient, but it also draws substantial outside traffic into and around the property. This becomes especially noticeable during busy summer days when visitors are coming from the lakefront and nearby parks. Teenagers and other members of the public sometimes wander farther into the building, which can make the environment feel less private and uncomfortable. The building itself is beautifully designed, many residents seem pleasant, and the staff members appear friendly and professional. Unfortunately, the record of the board, management, and those in control tells a very different story. Their actions speak for themselves.

I bought a condo here in 2022, having done due diligence on the HOA and learned it has never had a…read morespecial assessment in 50 years! My experience has exceeded expectations now that I've had to work with engineering to repair some plumbing. They are so professional and responsive! I can't say enough good things about the entire staff. And the community feel is rare. People have moved here and never left. Even their kids are now moving here. As a solo senior I had hoped to find a place such as this. Lucky me- I have! Bought here- no regrets.

Best Condominium complex in America. I enjoyed my stay for 6 years renting from the owner Mike…read more Alexia

From the owner: Luxury Condominium Rentalread more

I am not a resident but stayed with a family member during my last trip to Chi Town. This place is…read morenice. Full security to greet and let you in the facility. The interior of the apartments are clean and the exterior grounds are well maintained. Parking garge is safe with a place to hold your bike. Since this location is near downtown it is perfectly located to dining and the mall within walking distance. The two bedroom unit my cousin lived in had hard wood floors, upgraded appliances and a tiny balcony. Very modern apartment that is trendy for the young business professional.

This was our home for four years! I miss it everyday. The place is unique as it offers families or…read moreany residents who want a less bustling life than the city has to offer while literally being a 3-5 min drive to the local bars or Chicago restaurants. The Chicago river is behind the building so one can walk around the path. There are two dog parks nearby, which your pup will surely love! Chase bank is in front of the building. There is a parking garage across for visitors. You can try to find a spot on the street but since Larrabee is free parking, it gets full pretty quickly. They just opened up a new Starbucks a block away, too. Streets nearby are permit at night and pay to park in the morning. Bus stops for both east and west directions are a couple steps outside. The staff have all been amazing and friendly. If we needed help, they responded quickly. It's a plus that my pup loves them! Whenever my dog hears Kevin's voice, she knows she'll get a treat. They have a bottle of treats in the front for homeowners with dogs. Great building and investment for those who are interested! PS: A few food truck parks across the street. The Fat Shallot is delicious!

Haberdasher Square Lofts is the premier loft conversion in all of Chicago. A seamless combination…read moreof 2 different buildings brought together as one, one side is the "timber" side with timber beams and ceilings and the other side is the "concrete" side with mushroom columns and, in many concrete units the original "lunch box" floors. Most people balk at the assessment fee until you begin the laundry list of amenities and services that are included not the least of which is an on-site staff including the building manager, maintenance team and 24-hour doorman. Talk about security! Other amenities include gas (cooking and fireplace), water, cable TV, parking (indoor, lot and street), outdoor landscaping, snow removal, garbage removal, and on-site dry cleaner. Pets are allowed at Haberdasher and the new dog park nearby has been a real boon to residents. The east lobby is beautifully appointed and well-maintained and is where the cleverly disguised common mail box area is. The west lobby is just as beautifully appointed and leads to the on-site dry cleaner (!) The elevator in the west lobby is where you can gain the easiest access to the top floor where there is a hospitality room you can rent, a mens and a womens restroom, the free on-site gym and half basketball court. Here too is where you can access the roof top deck with it's sweeping views of the south, east and west side, or the grill area, a concrete area with 4 gas grills for residents to share. Committees made up of residents put out a newsletter and coordinate activities mainly built around the holidays where residents can gather and celebrate with catered food and drink. Haberdasher Square is situated at Jackson at Des Plaines, 1/2 block east of Halsted which allows extremely close access to Halsted St and the circle interchange of expressways. Halsted between Washington and Van Buren is where Greektown is and just a few blocks away are the restaurant rows of West Randolph and Jefferson Street. The Taste of Randolph occurs each summer and is within walking distance of the lofts Union Station is a couple of blocks east making it easy to get out on the trains, or welcome your family and friends when they come to town. The main grocery store is Dominick's at 1 North Halsted while Presidential Towers is looking for a new owner of their expanded grocery store, opening soon no doubt. When I moved downtown in 1999 there wasn't much going on in the neighborhood. The area has gentrified beautifully without risking the history, spirit and character. Haberdasher Square Lofts was the development that lead the way and continues to be the type of building with the first class amenities for which others strive.

Haberdasher is an amazing development! The units are unique and the common areas have so much to…read moreoffer. Probably one of the best things about the building is the property management and door staff. They are so attentive and go above and beyond in making sure the owners and tenants have their questions answered and issues addressed. We owned our unit for 10 years and had an amazing experience while we were there. We recently sold our unit and the property manager was critical in helping us coordinate our sale. We couldn't have done it without them. Can't say enough enough about this building!

Lived in this building for over 2.5 years and I couldn't be happier with both the building and the…read moreamazing leasing experience I've had here -- and a huge part of that is thanks to Serena the leasing consultant helping me upgrade my unit this past year. She brings such positive energy and professionalism that instantly set the tone for a great living experience. She's also just fun to talk to, carries a welcoming attitude, quick follow-ups, and deep knowledge of the building made the leasing process smooth and enjoyable. Beyond just the leasing experience, the building itself is a gem. The location is unbeatable -- close to everything, yet just far enough removed to feel like a peaceful retreat in the city. And the views are absolutely stunning, whether it's sunrise, sunset, the unobstructed views of the city skyline never get old Serena is always upbeat, helpful, and genuinely passionate about creating a great experience for residents. She sets a high standard, not just for leasing agents, but for customer service in general. If you're thinking about moving here, know that you'll be in excellent hands -- and that you're choosing a place that offers both luxury living and a fantastic team behind the scenes. Thank you, Serena, for making this building feel like home from the very beginning!

I was recently in town and per my usual, I had stayed at the Gallery on Wells. I have friends who…read morelive in this beautiful building whom I visit a few times a year. The building is conveniently located to everywhere I need to be, the amenities are top notch, the hospitality of the door staff and the office team are exceptional, my friends, who are 5 and 6 year residents, absolutely love everything about living at the Gallery on Wells. I highly recommend this building if you are in need of a conveniently located apartment home, run by professionals, who actually recognize you and know you by name!!!