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Reside on Surf is a 9-story, 144-unit vintage high-rise at 425 W Surf St in Lakeview, a block north of the Lincoln Park neighborhood and a block west of the park itself.
The neoclassical building was designed by Grossman & Proskauer and completed in 1922 as the Sheridan-Surf Apartment Hotel. It has a two-story terra cotta base and brown brick cladding on the upper stories.
The building is easily recognizable today by its sidewalk canopy.
Reside on Surf was one of the first apartment hotels built in the landmark Surf – Pine Grove District (pdf), which encompasses the 400 and 500 blocks of Surf St and part of the 2800 block of Pine Grove. For a few brief years the building enjoyed unobstructed views of Lincoln Park to the east.
The apartments
Reside on Surf has seven different studio and 1-bedroom floor plans. Studios range in size from 402 to 567 square feet, and 1-bedrooms span 589 to 961 square feet.
Floor plans and availability are accessible online.
Apartments have a mix of wood-look floors and carpeting. Vintage touches include crown moldings. Kitchens have been updated with newer cabinets, dishwashers in some units, and built-in microwaves.
The apartment layouts vary in functionality and closet space. Multiple windows in the apartments maximize light.
Views. The views from many of the apartments are constrained by the building’s limited height and the height and density of its surroundings.
Amenities, services, policies
Reside on Surf’s amenities package compares favorably with most vintage buildings in the neighborhood.
The building has a resident lounge with free Wi-Fi adjacent to the lobby hall.
There’s a fitness room, a business center, a bicycle storage area, storage lockers and an on-site dry cleaners.
A limited number of parking spaces are available for rent.
Reside on Surf has on-site maintenance. Cats and dogs are welcome, subject to limits, a one-time fee and monthly pet rent.
The location
Reside on Surf is on a tree-lined, one-way residential street in Lakeview East, just north of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. It’s a convenient, attractive location, close to the park and a wide selection of bars, restaurants and neighborhood shops, and steps from Saint Joseph Hospital.
Shopping. Reside on Surf has good proximity to grocery shopping.
For starters, there’s a Convenient Food Mart two doors east of the building. There’s a 7-Eleven a block southwest on Diversey.
Trader Joe’s on Diversey and Walmart Neighborhood Market on Broadway are a few short blocks from the building.
The Walmart has a pharmacy and there’s also a Walgreens at Clark and Diversey.
Anyone setting up housekeeping for the first time will appreciate having Bed Bath & Beyond a few short blocks west.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment.
There’s a good selection of bars and restaurants within a short walk of the building along Clark, Broadway and Diversey, and nearby in the park.
Duffy’s Tavern, Pars Cove and Miss Asia are just a few of the venues you’ll find clustered along Diversey just west of Reside on Surf. The popular Yolk is opening shortly at Pine Grove and Diversey. Expect a wait for breakfast on weekends.
Chipotle, Starbucks, Potbelly and Panera are also on Diversey, within a short walk of Reside on Surf.
Grill in the Park is a little-noticed spot to grab a quick bite when the weather’s good. The North Pond is a highly-rated restaurant in a tranquil, beautiful setting.
Century Centre Cinema is just north of Diversey on Clark St.
Parks, recreation.
Lincoln Park has too many attractions to list.
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 a half-dozen blocks of the building.
Active recreation opportunities are abundant, some of them unexpected. Fly fishing lessons, for example, are available at nearby 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. Reside on Surf’s access to public transportation is good, but not great.
The #151 bus, two doors east of the building, connects to the Loop via Michigan Ave. The #22 Clark and #36 Broadway buses are two short blocks west, and also connect to the Loop.
The nearest CTA train stop, at Diversey, is a 15-minute walk, or a short bus ride on the #76 Diversey route.
Taxi service is nearly always available just east and south of the building. Several Zipcar car-sharing and DIVVY bike locations are nearby.
Access to I-90/94 and the city’s expressway grid is inconvenient, and can be a source of major misery during peak hours.
The competition
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s Lakeview apartment guide.
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
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