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515 West Briar is a 73-unit, 8-story vintage building completed in 1937 in the Lakeview East neighborhood.
The apartments
515 West Briar has studio and 1-bedroom apartments. Floor plans and near real-time availability are online.
The apartments have wood-look floors, walk-in closets and vintage features that include crown moldings, built-in nooks and arched doorways. One-bedrooms have space-expanding bay windows. Kitchens and baths have been upgraded in a variety of styles.
Amenities, services, policies
515 West Briar has more common-area amenities than you’ll typically find in vintage buildings of comparable size in the neighborhood.
There’s a new lobby-level business center and resident lounge, a bike storage room and a private garden that leads to a private dog park.
There is an on-site laundry room. The building is pet-friendly, subject to a 40-pound weight limit for dogs.
The location
515 West Briar is on a tree-lined one-way street just easy of busy Broadway.
The building’s Lakeview East location at the periphery of Wrigleyville and Boystown affords its residents steps-to proximity to everything those neighborhoods have to offer, and good proximity to Lincoln Park and the lakefront.
Shopping. 515 West Briar residents have good access to grocery shopping.
Trader Joe’s on Diversey and Walmart Neighborhood Market on Broadway are a few short blocks from the building. The Walmart has a pharmacy, there’s a Walgreens a block north on Belmont and a new flagship Walgreens at Clark and Diversey.
There are Target, Marshalls and Bed Bath and Beyond locations nearby for residents setting up housekeeping.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment. Whatever you have a taste for is available in hyper-abundance along Broadway, within a short walk of 515 West Briar.
Argo Tea, New Tokyo and Jersey Mike’s are just a few of the venues at the corner of Broadway and Briar, just west of the building.
Finding a regular breakfast spot is the first order of dining business for many, and 515 West Briar residents are likely to head for nearby neighborhood favorites: Melrose Restaurant and Stella’s Diner.
There are dozens more eateries, bars and locally-owned retail shops along the Broadway strip north and south of the building.
There are nearly two dozen theaters within walking distance of 515 West Briar in the Belmont Theater District, and dozens more venues for live music performances.
Neighborhood street festivals and fairs are a great source of entertainment in the summer. Events near 515 West Briar 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.
Parks, recreation. Lincoln Park, which is a short walk east of 515 West Barry, has almost every recreational amenity imaginable, from an archery range to a great zoo.
The Zoo, the Conservatory and its gardens, the landmark Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and other Lincoln Park draws are all within easy access of the building.
Active recreation opportunities are abundant, some of them unexpected. Fly fishing lessons, for example, are available at North Pond in the park and the golf driving range at Diversey is open year-round. There are clay tennis courts and miniature golf adjacent to the driving range. With a little bit of luck you might strike up a friendship with someone who has a boat in Diversey Harbor.
The park also offers endless opportunities for quiet relaxation.
Transportation. 515 West Briar has good access to public transportation.
The #151 bus stop a block east of the building connects to the Loop via Michigan Ave.
The #36 Broadway bus, just west of the property, also travels into the Loop. The #77 bus on Belmont connects to the CTA Red, Brown and Purple Line stop at Belmont for travel south to the Loop or north to Evanston. The #77 continues west for Blue Line transit to O’Hare Airport. The Belmont stop is about a 12-minute walk from the property.
Lake Shore Drive is a short distance away. There’s a pedestrian underpass at Belmont. Crosstown access to I-90/94 and the city’s expressway grid is inconvenient from this location, and can be time-consuming before and after Cubs’ games.
Taxi service is readily available along Broadway and Sheridan. Zipcar car-sharing locations and DIVVY bike stations are nearby.
The competition
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s Lakeview apartment guide.
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