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Grace Shores is a 5-story, contemporary elevator building at 639-55 W Grace St in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
The apartments
Grace Shores has studio, 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans. Floor plans and near real-time availability are online.
Apartments have hardwood floors. Closet space is good in the studio and one-bedroom units. Two-bedroom units do not include a separate closet in the second bedroom.
Kitchens and baths have been updated. Kitchens include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, dishwwashers, undermount sinks, gas ranges and built-in microwaves.
Bathroom updates include new subway tiling, pedestal sinks and new floors.
Amenities, services, policies
Like many older buildings, Grace Shores has limited common amenities.
There is a 24-hour fitness center, laundry room and covered and uncovered on-site parking is available for rent. Street parking is scarce in the area.
Grace Shores has on-site maintenance. Cats are accepted; dogs are not, except for medically-required service dogs.
The location
Grace Shores is in the northern part of Lakeview, just half a block west of Lake Shore Drive and Lincoln Park, and adjacent to the Wrigleyville and Boys Town neighborhoods.
Grace Shores’s location at the periphery of Wrigleyville and Boys Town affords its residents close proximity to everything those neighborhoods have to offer without constantly having to experience their congestion.
Shopping. Grace Shores residents have good access to grocery shopping.
Whole Foods is a few blocks southwest of the building at Halsted and Waveland.
There are Target, Marshalls and Bed Bath and Beyond locations nearby for residents setting up housekeeping.
National retail chains, however, are a minor presence in the neighborhood, which draws its dominant character from a variety of locally-owned and quirky smaller shops.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment. In brief – whatever you have a taste for you’ll find in the neighborhood in hyper-abundance.
Finding a regular breakfast spot is the first order of dining business for many, and Grace Shores residents will find Waffles and local favorite Ann Sather nearby. If coffee and munchies suffice, there’s a Starbucks three blocks northwest and several more within a short walk.
Horizon Café and IHOP are also a short walk away.
If tequila’s your favorite breakfast food, El Mariachi is just a block away.
Wrigleyville is a dense bar and restaurant destination for Cubs fans and sports bars are everywhere.
The popular North End is three short blocks from Grace Shores. Murphy’s Bleachers is two blocks further – and once you get past Murphy’s the Wrigleyville scene gets crowded.
Bobby Love’s and Roscoe’s are just a few of the dozens of gay and lesbian bars and nightclubs you’ll find in Boys Town.
Neighborhood street festivals and fairs are a great source of entertainment in the summer. Events near Grace Shores include – to name a few – Northalsted Market Days, the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts, Wrigleyville Summerfest, SausageFest, the Chicago Marathon and, of course, Pride Week.
The websites for the Lakeview Citizens Council and the Lakeview and Lakeview East Chambers of Commerce are a good source to learn about upcoming events.
The Mary-Arrchie Theatre is two blocks northwest of Grace Shores and Oracle Theatre is around the corner. There are nearly two dozen theaters within walking distance of the building in the Belmont Theater District. Dozens of live music venues are also nearby.
Parks, recreation. Grace Shores residents have convenient access to public parks and recreational activities.
The 2-acre Gill Park, a short block west of the building, has an air-conditioned field house with a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium and assembly hall. Outside there’s a t-ball field and a playground.
The 1,200-acre Lincoln Park, one of the great public spaces in America, is two short blocks east of Grace Shores. Lincoln Park has almost every recreational amenity imaginable, from an archery range to a great zoo.
At this point in the park you’ll find a playground, the 9-hole Sydney Marovitz golf course, tennis courts and ball fields, and a picnic area.
Transportation. Grace Shores has good access to public transportation.
It’s about an 12-minute walk from the front door of Grace Shores to the CTA Red Line stop at Sheridan.
A variety of CTA bus routes traverse the area, steps from the property. The #36 bus on Broadway travels south through Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Gold Coast and River North into the Loop, providing access to endless shopping, dining, nightlife and employment venues.
The #80 bus, a block north on Sheridan Rd, travels west to the CTA Red Line and to the Blue Line for connections to O’Hare Airport. Grace Shores residents have a short walk to the #146 (pdf) and #135 bus stops on Lake Shore Drive. The 146 runs express to the 900 Shops, anchored by Bloomingdale’s, on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, and then on to the Loop. The #135 bus provides express service to the New East Side and Loop.
Lake Shore Drive is a short distance away. Crosstown access to I-90/94 and the city’s expressway grid is inconvenient from this location, and can be especially time-consuming before and after Cubs’ games.
Zipcar car sharing locations and DIVVY bike stations are nearby. Taxi service is readily available 24/7 along Broadway and Lake Shore Drive.
The competition
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s Lakeview apartment guide.
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
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