Stephanie Konow and Katie Bommarito are former rental services agents who grew frustrated with that business and set out to connect Chicago tenants directly with landlords by founding Chicago Rentals Direct.
Eighteen months ago they led me on a tour of the six rental high-rises in the New East Side neighborhood – the area bounded by Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, Michigan Ave and the Chicago River. The Lakeshore East development is a newer series of buildings in the neighborhood.
The Coast, the latest apartment tower at Lakeshore East, is slated to begin occupancy next month.
A few weeks prior to that tour Stephanie also led me on a tour of Gold Coast apartments:
The videos help you see how easy it is to find an apartment in downtown Chicago without using one of the many often useless rental services that have contributed to rising rental costs by aggressively confusing renters into using their “services.”
You can see all of your rental options in downtown Chicago, and the Gold Coast and adjacent neighborhoods at our at-a-glance apartment lists and maps.
ADDED: Thanks to commenter Chris for noting that the Chicago Rentals Direct site no longer connects renters directly with landlords.
ADDED 1/28: Landlord connections at CRD appear to be working as billed.
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