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11 West Division is a 12-story, 110-unit Gold Coast high-rise, built in the mid-1920s and recently renovated.
The building stands out as the only high-rise on a block of 1-, 2- and 3-story buildings. The pedestrian scale of the block and the proliferation of colorful bars and night clubs tend to focus your attention at ground level. If you look up at the building, its richly ornamented brick and limestone façade takes you back to its early days as a hotel.
The apartments
11 West Division is an all-studio building. Floor plans are available online.
The apartments have been renovated with a number of vintage touches, including hardwood-like floors and crown moldings.
All-electric kitchens have dishwashers and built-in microwaves.
Unless you’re paying attention, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the bath tubs are less than standard length.
Views. East-facing units offer a “New York view,” i.e. a glimpse of the lake and skyline.
North- and west-facing apartments have a cityscape view.
Amenities, services, policies
11 West Division, typical for vintage buildings in the Gold Coast, has a limited suite of common-area amenities and no on-site parking.
The building has a first-floor fitness room and laundry room.
The first floor of the building is home to Bootleggers, which boasts “the world’s smallest beer garden” and Gold Coast Pizza, where you can pick up a New York slice until 4 in the morning.
The building has on-site management. Cats are welcome; dogs aren’t.
The location
11 West Division has the legendary Division Street bar and club party scene right outside its front door, but it’s only steps away from much more varied Gold Coast venues.
Shopping. Residents of 11 West Division have convenient access to several major grocery stores, in addition to the popular seasonal farmers market on Division St.
A new Jewel Foods is under construction at 1200 N Clark St and is slated to open summer 2017.
Treasure Island, which bills itself as “America’s most European supermarket,” is a half-block west and a short block south of the property.
The new, upscale Plum Market is a few blocks west on Wells St, just north of Division. A new Target recently opened on Division St, half a mile west. A number of convenience stores and delis are near the building.
A Walgreens pharmacy is on the corner and CVS is also nearby.
Glamorous Oak Street boutiques and Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile shops and Water Tower Place are a few minutes’ walk from the building.
Just south of Oak Street on Rush is an array of shops with appeal to a younger set.
Dining, nightlife. Step outside the front door of 11 West Division.
You’re in the middle of the Division Street nightlife strip, home to Mother’s, Mother’s Too, the legendary Butch McGuire’s and more than a dozen other establishments.
One of the densest, most interesting restaurant and nightlife clusters in Chicago – what some call the Viagra Triangle – is around the corner from 11 West Division.
Locals just call it “the triangle,” after the shape of Mariano Park.
Parks, recreation. Residents at 11 West Division have good access to a variety of parks and recreational activities.
Oak Street Beach, with its spectacular views of the Lake Shore Drive skyline, is two blocks east.
The fabulous Lincoln Park, home to the Zoo, Conservatory, North Avenue Beach and a host of playing fields and other attractions, is half a mile north.
Transportation. Public transportation from the location is excellent.
The CTA Red Line stop at Clark and Division is a 2-minute walk west of the building.
A variety of CTA bus routes criss-cross the area along Division, State, Clark and LaSalle Streets.
Access to I-90/94 and the rest of the city’s expressway grid can be slow along Division St during peak hours.
ZipCar car-sharing locations are nearby. Taxis swarm the area 24/7.
The competition
There’s a wide variety of vintage and contemporary rental buildings in the immediate area. Rentals are also typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s Gold Coast apartment guide.
Share your take on 11 West Division
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