The 2016 list of Chicago’s best landlords

Note: Consult our more up-to-date 2017 list.

The City of Chicago publishes a list of problem landlords, and updates it twice a year. The list has no properties in the prime near-lakefront neighborhoods where YoChicago concentrates its coverage.

A list of bad landlords isn’t very helpful to renters, who are typically far more interested in finding a good one than in avoiding a bad one.

We know some bad landlords. We don’t allow them to advertise at YoChicago, and we don’t include their properties in our reviews and at-a-glance apartment lists.

We also know some very good landlords – some of the city’s best. The properties they manage range from vintage walk-ups to the newest luxury high-rises. We know them because they’re current or former YoChicago advertisers. We’ve been in their buildings, met their staff and informally debriefed residents about their experience living in the buildings. We’d recommend them to prospective renters without hesitation, and would rent “site-unseen” with confidence at their properties.

If you’re looking to rent near Chicago’s lakefront, from the South Loop north to Rogers Park, contact the following before heading to Craigslist or any other source. You’ll find floor plans and near real-time rent and availability info at almost all of the sites listed below.

Atlantic Realty Partners has developed over 3,000 apartments, including The Parker in the West Loop and 1717 in Evanston

Aviation Lofts is a recently-renovated loft apartment building in the South Loop.

BJB Properties and its affiliates own and manage about 40 buildings in the Gold Coast, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Rogers Park, Streeterville and West Loop.

Bozzuto is a national developer and property manager. Bozzuto’s Chicago offerings include OneEleven in the Loop, Atwater in Streeterville, Parc Huron in River North, and Lofts at Roosevelt Collection in the South Loop.

The John Buck Company is a Chicago-based national development firm that has acquired, developed or redeveloped more than 41 million square feet of property. Its most recent addition to Chicago’s skyline, MILA, is a 41-story, 402-unit Loop apartment tower on Michigan Avenue that welcomed its first residents in May of 2016.

Crescent Heights is a national developer of condos, apartments, offices and hotels. The company’s Chicago offerings include Astoria Tower (South Loop), Burnham Pointe (South Loop), Echelon (Fulton River District), Park Michigan (South Loop), The LEX (South Loop) and North Harbor Tower (Loop).

Aerial view of Lake Meadows and Prairie Shores

DK Living is an affiliate of Draper and Kramer, a Chicago-based firm founded in the 1890s. DK Living’s Chicago management portfolio includes Lake Meadows and Prairie Shores (South side), pictured above.

Golub & Co is a Chicago-based international builder. Golub manages Chestnut Place and One East Delaware (Gold Coast / River North), Marquee (Loop), Moment and Sienna in Streeterville, 1001 South State (South Loop) and a portfolio of fully-renovated neighborhood properties.

Greystar manages more than 1,500 apartment communities throughout the United States. Greystar’s Chicago buildings include 1225 Old Town, K2 and Kenect (Fulton River District), One Superior Place (River North) and The Seneca and 420 East Ohio in Streeterville.

Group Fox owns and manages dozens of renovated apartment buildings in prime locations, including The Lofts at River East, the only loft rental building in Streeterville, and Axis in Streeterville.

The Habitat Company has been building great buildings, many of which have been converted to condos, for more than 40 years. Properties currently managed by Habitat include Kingsbury Plaza and Hubbard Place in River North, the new 1000 South Clark in the South Loop, Columbus Plaza on the Loop’s New East side, and McClurg Court in Streeterville.

Lincoln Property Company is the second largest property manager in the United States, with over 163,000 units currently under management. Lincoln’s Chicago properties include West 77 in River North, JeffJack, Circa 922, Arkadia, Gateway West Loop, and The Madison at Racine in the West Loop, 215 West in the Loop, K2 in the Fulton River District, North Water in Streeterville, and Mondial in River West.

Magellan Development Group is one of Chicago’s most experienced developers. Magellan’s Chicago offerings include Wolf Point West in River North, and Aqua, Coast, The Tides and The Shoreham in the Loop’s Lakeshore East.

Morguard owns and manages office, industrial, retail, apartment and hotel properties in North America. Morguard’s local offerings include Alta, a high-amenity, two-tower community in the Fulton River District.

Planned Property owns and manages more than 3,500 apartments in prime River North, Gold Coast, Near North, Lincoln Park and Lakeview locations.

Reside Living and its affiliates own and manage about 30 buildings, including the new State & Chestnut tower, in prime Buena Park, Fulton Market, Gold Coast, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Rogers Park and Wicker Park locations.

RMK Management. RMK manages rental properties with more than 10,000 apartments in Illinois and Minnesota. RMK’s Chicago offerings include the new Scott Residences in Old Town, Halsted Flats in Lakeview, 73 East Lake in the Loop, and Residences at New City on the Near North Side.

Suite Home Chicago rents more than 300 furnished apartments in luxury buildings in city and suburban locations.

Village Green manages more than 40,000 apartments in ten states. Village Green’s local communities include Eugenie Terrace, the only full-amenity apartment tower in Lincoln Park. Cobbler Square (Oldl Town), Randolph Tower (Loop), The Bernardin (River North) and The Streeter (Streeterville).

Aerial view of 2970 N Sheridan, Chicago

Wirtz Residential has more than 80 years of residential ownership and management expertise in the Chicago area. Wirtz has dozens of properties in prime near-lakefront locations, including a broad selection of apartments in Lakeview at 2970 N Sheridan, 529-41 W Wellington, 535 W Cornelia & 634 W Stratford, 3000 N Sheridan, 422-24 W Melrose, 3240 N Lake Shore and 3260-3270 N Lake Shore. Wirtz’ latest offering, 2950 North Sheridan in Lakeview, will begin occupancy in April of 2017.

ZRS Management. ZRS manages Chestnut Tower in River North.

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