Coast at Lakeshore East, 345 E Wacker Dr, New East Side

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The 49-story, 515-unit Coast, 345 E Wacker Dr, is the eighth residential high-rise at the Lakeshore East development in the New East Side neighborhood. It includes 18,000 square feet of retail space, 18,000 square feet of amenities and parking located below Wacker Dr. Pedestrian access is from Wacker Dr.

Coast opened for occupancy in March of 2013.

Magellan Development Group is the developer. Brininstool Kerwin Lynch was the architecture firm and McHugh Construction was the general contractor. Loewenberg Architects is the architect of record.

The units

Coast offers studio, convertible, 1-, 2- and 3-bedrooms. All of the apartments except for the 06 tier of convertibles have balconies that span the width of the unit. Floor plans and availability are accessible online.


Unit features include 8 ½-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, in-unit washer / dryers, gas ranges, dishwashers, vinyl plank flooring in living areas and carpeting in bedrooms.


Closet space, if that’s a concern, is more generous than you’ll find in most new apartment projects.

Furnished short-term rentals in the building are available through Suite Home Chicago.


Views. North-facing units front Wacker Drive and the Chicago River and offer dramatic 180-degree views. Most of the south-facing units look into the Lakeshore East complex and have limited views.

Amenities, services, policies

Coast’s common-area amenities include a heated outdoor pool and a landscaped terrace with a fire pit and barbecue grills.


There’s a spacious 24-hour fitness center with a variety of cardio and strength-training equipment and two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Coast has a large resident lounge with several office rooms that can host a small business meeting or a study group.

There’s a bar adjacent to the lounge.

Several carrels behind a translucent half-wall host Mac and PC computers. Free Wi-Fi service is available in the common areas.

Coast has 24/7 door staff, and management, maintenance and leasing staff are on-site. The building is 100% smoke-free. Cats and dogs are accepted, subject to limits.

The location

According to Coast’s website:

Coast’s soothing modern apartments create your personal urban beachside resort. Stroll home from work, kick off your shoes and roll-up your pants. Experience a coastal retreat on the shores of Lake Michigan.

That description goes well beyond acceptable marketing puffery into the realm of outright deception. The location is nowhere near a beach, and can’t legitimately be described as “coastal” or “on the shores of Lake Michigan.”

Coast legitimately has a walk-to-nearly-everything location. Pedway access is available via Coast’s garage.

Shopping. The Mariano’s Fresh Market at Lakeshore East is a major draw for residents and typically garners rave reviews. A CVS Pharmacy is located around the corner from Coast in the nearby Aqua building.

Coast affords its residents quick access to shops in the Loop and along North Michigan Avenue.

Dining, nightlife. There are abundant options in the immediate area, but most cater heavily to tourists and office workers.

Parks, recreation. Coast has outstanding proximity to parks and recreational activities.

There’s a 4.6-acre park within the compact New East Side neighborhood and convenient access to the many attractions and events at Millennium Park, Grant Park and the Chicago Riverwalk.

Cultural attractions. Many of Chicago’s top cultural attractions are a short walk or quick cab ride away from Coast. The Loop’s theater district is a few blocks to the west and the Art Institute and Chicago Symphony are a few blocks to the south.

Transportation. Coast residents have quick access to CTA buses and trains. The South Shore Line and Metra Electric, a block southeast of the property, both connect to McCormick Place and the University of Chicago. Bus routes connect to Metra’s Ogilvie Transportation Center and to Union Station.

Lake Shore Drive is nearby and connects to the Stevenson Expressway. Travel times to I90/94 are not burdensome.

The competition

You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s comprehensive Loop / New East Side apartment guide.

You might also consider condos for rent in New East Side buildings – they’re occasionally available at sharply lower rents than you’ll find in the rental buildings.

Share your take on Coast

If you’ve lived at or visited Coast at Lakeshore East, and are not a real estate agent, add your thoughts in a comment. Comments are moderated, and commercial messages are not allowed.

Coast at Lakeshore East

Address 345 E Wacker Dr
City Chicago
# of Units 515
Pets Cats & dogs OK, subject to limits.
Parking On-site garage
Completed 2013
Management Morguard
Website Coast at Lakeshore East

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Furnished apartments at Coast from Suite Home Chicago

(Visited 3,884 times, 1 visits today)