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Asbury Plaza, 750 N Dearborn St, is a 33-story, 384-unit apartment tower in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
Asbury Plaza was completed in 1981. It was only the second rental high-rise ever built in River North, a neighborhood that was then far from achieving its current popularity. The first rental building, River Plaza, is now a condo and was in what was at the time a far more established location.
The Habitat Company was the developer of Asbury Plaza and Schipporeit Inc was the architect. George Schipporeit, a student of Mies van der Rohe, is best remembered as the co-architect of Lake Point Tower.
The apartments
Asbury Plaza’s 384 apartments include 4 different convertible, 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans. The rents are among the lowest in River North high-rise.
Floor plans and a near real-time availability check are accessible online.
All of the units have recessed balconies. Closet space is generous compared to most buildings in the neighborhood.
The units are all-electric and lack the hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer / dryers and high ceilings that are standard in the newest buildings. On the plus side, the apartments are often larger, have interesting, angled floor plans and updated kitchens and baths.
Asbury Plaza has apartments set aside for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), but there’s typically a waiting list for these units.
Views. The building is angled on a northeast – southwest axis, affording good skyline views to the north and south from many of the apartments.
Amenities, services, policies
Asbury Plaza has a limited amenities package compared to newer buildings.
There’s a pool deck on the southwest side of the building, and an adjacent 24-hour fitness center. A furnished guest suite is available. Bicycle storage is complimentary.
Reserved parking is an option in the attached garage. The size of the building’s site eliminated the need for the multi-story parking podium found on many of the newer high-rises, resulting in less street-to-space travel time.
Asbury Plaza has on-site management, maintenance and leasing staff, and 24/7 door staff. Cats are welcome; dogs are not.
The location
Asbury Plaza is at the northern boundary of the River North neighborhood, with good proximity to the Gold Coast and Streeterville, and to the Loop.
Walk Score gives the location gives the location a “Walker’s Paradise” rating of 97 and a “Rider’s Paradise” transit score of 93.
Loyola University’s Water Tower campus, home to its law, business, education and communications schools, is a block north and east of the property. Northwestern and Lurie Children’s hospitals are a short walk further east.
Asbury Plaza is a block from what Whole Foods bills as its “Gold Coast store” despite its River North location.
A number of convenience stores are nearby, as are Walgreens and CVS pharmacies.
Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile shops and Water Tower Place are four short blocks east.
Oak Street boutiques are a few blocks to the north. Big-box retail stores abound in the Clybourn Corridor, a mile northwest and a new Target is a half-mile north.
The economy has been shrinking the River North Gallery District in recent years but it remains a scene worth visiting.
Dining, nightlife Asbury Plaza residents are a few minutes’ walk away from the stunning array of dining and nightlife options to the east and south in River North, and to the north in the Gold Coast. They may have more fun by avoiding the crowds and exploring the more relaxed scene outside their door and to the west in the 700 blocks of Clark, LaSalle and Wells.
Across the street from Asbury Plaza, Bella Luna serves up great pizza, pasta, sandwiches and more.
A block west on Clark St the options include Zed 451, 25 Degrees, the Clark Street Ale House and Woodhaven Bar + Kitchen.
Café Iberico is known for its tapas and for an outstanding selection of affordable wines.
The 700 block of Wells St hosts Brehon Pub, Prosecco, Karyn’s Cooked and the ever-popular Yolk.
Parks, recreation. Washington Square Park is a tranquil, tree-shrouded oasis with a fountain at its center, just blocks north of Asbury Plaza.
Lake Shore Park, which has a running track, softball fields, tennis courts, a playground and a small field house, is a few blocks east of the building.
The popular Oak Street Beach is within walking distance.
Transportation. Public transportation is excellent. The CTA Red Line stop at Chicago Ave is a block east of Asbury Plaza. The Chicago Ave stop on the Brown and Purple Lines is a 7-minute walk west.
A variety of CTA bus routes traverse State St and Chicago Ave steps from the property.
The location has easy access to I-90/94 and the city’s expressway grid via the Ontario St / Ohio St on / off ramps.
A Zipcar location is on-site and Enterprise CarShare cars are nearby. Taxi service is available 24/7.
The competition
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s comprehensive River North apartment guide.
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at sharply lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
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