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Construction of the 45-story, 500-unit apartment tower at 500 North Lake Shore Drive began in September of 2011 and occupancy began in May of 2013.
Related Midwest is the developer, in partnership with the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust. Lend Lease is the general contractor, and Solomon Cordwell Buenz the architect.
The apartments
Floor plans and near real-time availability info can be accessed online.
The apartments have 9-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, wide-plank flooring, in-unit washer / dryers and open kitchens with Snaidero cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances and quartz countertops. The units have plank flooring throughout while some competitors limit it to living areas and offer carpeted bedrooms.
Views. 500 LSD is on a direct east-west axis with Lake Point Tower, which obscures the views of Navy Pier. East- and south-facing units should, however, enjoy a view of the Navy Pier fireworks.
Amenities, services, policies
You can see a lengthy description of 500 LSD’s services and amenities at The Chicago Architecture Blog.
The 30,000 square foot amenity package includes club rooms for entertaining and relaxing on the 11th and 45th floors and a fully-outfitted catering kitchen to service the club rooms, outdoor spaces and residences. The residents-only Equinox fitness center includes a stretching and yoga area.
The building has a landscaped roof terrace with an outdoor pool, sundeck, private cabanas, grills and a fire pit.
There’s on-site bike storage and a Zipcar car-sharing location.
The building is seeking LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council.
The location
500 North Lake Shore Drive sits at the point at which Lake Shore Drive becomes elevated to span the Chicago River.
Navy Pier and other nearby attractions make the location a major tourist draw, which is either a plus or a minus, depending on your preferences.
Shopping. The nearest full-service grocery, a few blocks north, is Treasure Island, which bills itself as “America’s most European supermarket.”
A Target Express recently opened in October 2015 a block west of the building.
Whole foods recently opened a few blocks west of the building.
A Walgreen’s Pharmacy is a short walk west.
Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile begins a few blocks west of 500 LSD.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment.
Head east to the restaurants at Navy Pier if you’re in a tourist state of mind. Head west and you’ll quickly encounter a restaurant-dense environment, with something for almost every mood and palate.
Show up early or expect a wait for the large portions at Yolk, a popular breakfast spot at the corner of Grand & McClurg.
If you’re a bowling or movie buff you can loft a few over the lanes at Lucky Strike then head downstairs to catch a movie at AMC River East, a long block west of 500 LSD.
Parks, recreation. The building has very convenient access to Navy Pier, Jane Addams Memorial Park, Ohio Street Beach and the Lakefront Trail.
Lake Shore Park, which has a running track, softball fields, tennis courts, a playground and a small field house, is a few short blocks north.
There’s also a 3-acre park with a dog run immediately west of the building.
Transportation. The location is poorly served by public transportation, with the exception of CTA bus routes.
Access to and from Lake Shore Drive, as you’d expect, is superb. Reaching I-90/94 and the rest of the city’s expressway grid can often involve a tedious, time-consuming slog. Expect near-gridlock conditions when there’s a major event in the neighborhood.
Taxi service is readily available, 24/7.
The competition
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings. In most cases, the condo buildings don’t have amenities that are comparable to the apartment buildings.
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s comprehensive Streeterville apartment guide.
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