Chicago’s best Loop / New East Side apartments – expressway access

Chicago’s Loop includes the area known as the New East Side, which in turn includes the Lakeshore East development. You’ll find all of your major apartment options in the Loop and New East Side on our at-a-glance list of downtown apartments.

Our goal is to help you find the apartment that best fits your needs. Renters simply have so many differing priorities – and budget constraints – that singling out an overall best building would be a pointless exercise. We’ll identify the Loop / New East Side buildings that rank highest on each of eighteen different criteria in three main groups:

Location. Views; Grocery shopping convenience; Public transit access; Close to parks, beaches; Proximity to the expressway grid; Walking distance to the Loop; Most dining, nightlife nearby; Shopping

Building features. Affordability; Amenities package; Boutique ambiance; Pet-friendliness

Apartment features. Apartment finishes; Private outdoor space; Studio / convertible floor plan; One-bedroom floor plan; Two-bedroom floor plan; Three-bedroom floor plan

Properties in the West Loop, Fulton River District and River North have better access to the city’s expressway grid than Loop / New East Side properties.

Lower Wacker Drive, as illustrated in the above video, facilitates access from New East Side properties to I-90/94/290, but doesn’t bring them up to par with buildings in the Loop.

If your typical car commute takes you northbound on I-90/94 your best option is 200 Squared, via the Ontario / Ohio St on / off ramps. You’ll bypass what’s typically the most congested part of I-90/94.

If you’re headed westbound on I-290, the Fisher Building has the best proximity via Congress Pkwy, which also connects to I-90/94.

Chime in with a comment if you disagree with our selections.

You’ll find links to our objective, visually-rich apartment reviews of Loop / New East Side buildings, and links to near real-time availability checks for most of the buildings, at our downtown apartments at-a-glance list, and some tips and advice at our Guide to renting in Chicago’s Loop / New East Side.

We’ve also spotlighted the best apartments in River North, Streeterville, the South Loop and the West Loop / Near West neighborhoods.

Next topic: Walking distance to the Loop.

(Visited 524 times, 1 visits today)