200 Squared apartments, 210 N Wells St, Loop

The 42-story, 329-unit Oakwood 200 Squared, 210 N Wells St in the Loop, opened for occupancy late in 2010. The building also has ground-floor retail space and a 550-space self-park garage.

The building’s name derives from its street-grid coordinates at the intersection of Lake St (200 N) and Wells St (200 W).

The development team included Midwest Property Group as the developer, Solomon Cordwell Buenz as the architect and Lend Lease as the construction manager.

The apartments

200 Squared offers 24 separate floor plans of studio, convertible, 1-bedroom, 1-bedroom plus den and 2-bedroom apartments.

Floor plans are accessible online but you’ll need to contact the building for information on current rents and availabilities.

Apartments are carpeted and have relatively spacious, functional layouts with floor-to-ceiling windows. All of the apartments have in-unit washers and dryers. Two-bedroom plans and select one-bedroom plans have balconies.

Kitchens have stainless steel appliance packages with built-in microwaves and electric ranges, granite countertops and breakfast bars.

Short-term furnished rentals are available via Oakwood.

Views. Some of the higher-floor north-facing units have dramatic views over the river, but most of the units’ view corridors are constricted by neighboring buildings.

Amenities, services, policies

200 Squared has a full suite of amenities on the level above the parking garage.

200 Squared is one of only a few buildings in the downtown area to offer a full-length indoor swimming pool that opens seasonally to an adjacent sun deck.

A landscaped sun deck faces south and west and has gas grills with an adjacent seating area, and a large outdoor whirlpool.

200 Squared has a fully-equipped fitness center with locker rooms and a steam room.

The large resident lounge has a kitchen / bar, gaming areas, a gas fireplace and an adjacent media room.

There’s also a business center, a private dog run / pet play area, bicycle rental and separate storage areas.

An electric car-charging station is available in the garage.

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

Location

200 Squared has a convenient location near the northwest edge of the Loop.

Shopping. Grocery shopping is one of the location’s weak points. The nearest full-service grocery, City Target, is a half-dozen blocks away and the grocery department is on the second floor. Mariano’s is nearly a mile to the east, about the same distance as the nearest Jewel. The farmers market at Daley Plaza is a seasonal favorite.

Walgreens and CVS pharmacies are within two short blocks of the property.

200 Squared residents have quick access to State Street shops and are only a few minutes from North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile shops.

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

Residents have quick access to the thriving River North restaurant, bar and nightlife scene a few short blocks to the north.

Parks, recreation. The expanding Chicago Riverwalk is a block north of 200 Squared. Millennium Park and Grant Park begin a half-dozen to the east, but the Loop is otherwise a park desert.

Cultural attractions. 200 Squared is near many of Chicago’s top cultural attractions. The Loop’s theatre district is a short walk away. The Art Institute, Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony are a few minutes away.

Transportation. Public transportation is outstanding. The CTA El stop at Wells and Washington is two short blocks south and serves 4 different routes, including Orange Line access to Midway Airport. The Pedway, which is accessible across the street, enables all-weather access to the Red Line and the Blue Line to O’Hare Airport. CTA bus routes in the immediate area provide citywide connections.

Metra’s Ogilvie Transportation Center, about a 10-minute walk away, provides connections to west, northwest and northern suburbs.

Taxi service is near-instantaneous at the front door. Zipcars are available on-site and Enterprise CarShare locations are nearby.

I-90/94 and I-290 can generally be reached within a few minutes.

The competition

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