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The Seneca, a 16-story building at 200 E Chestnut St in Streeterville was built in the 1920s as a hotel. It was designed by the Burnham Brothers firm, named for Daniel Jr and Hubert Burnham, who were sons of the legendary Daniel Burnham.
Waterton Residential acquired The Seneca in June of 2012 and began renovating the property and converting it to 260 rental apartments.
The apartments
Studio, 1- and 2-bedroom, 2-bath units feature wood-finish vinyl flooring, updated kitchens with stainless steel appliances, refinished baths and custom window treatments.
All of the units have at least one walk-in closet, and some of the 2-bedrooms have two.
Views. The Seneca is not a view building due to the density and height of the neighboring buildings.
Amenities, services, policies
Building amenities include on-site dry cleaning, a new fitness center and a large rooftop sundeck.
The building also hosts Francesca’s Restaurant and the Saloon Steakhouse.
The Seneca has on-site management and 24/7 door staff. The building is pet-friendly, subject to breed and weight restrictions.
The location
The Seneca is in the long-established north section of Streeterville, an area characterized by a rich architectural mix but dominated by high-rise buildings dating to the 1920s.
The building has an attractive location immediately east of two of Chicago’s most instantly-recognizable buildings, the iconic John Hancock Center and Water Tower Place.
Shopping. The nearest full-service grocery stores, each about a half-dozen blocks from The Seneca, are Treasure Island, which bills itself as “America’s most European supermarket,” and Whole Foods.
Several delis and convenience stores, including East Delaware Pantry, are within a block or two of the building. A Walgreen’s Pharmacy is a short walk away on Michigan Ave.
Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile shops are a block west of The Seneca, and Oak Street boutiques are just beyond.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment.
The Seneca has several restaurants in the building and is in a restaurant-dense environment, with something for almost every mood and palate. Much of the scene caters to hotel guests, office workers and tourists, but there’s also a plethora of neighborhood favorites. River North nightlife is a few minutes’ walk away.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a block south of The Seneca, adjacent to Lake Shore Park. Head further south and east to Navy Pier if you’re in a tourist state of mind.
Parks, recreation. A block south of The Seneca and just east of the Museum of Contemporary Art is Seneca Playlot Park, a tree-shrouded oasis that always seems to be flooded with small children enjoying two playground areas.
Lake Shore Park, which has a running track, softball fields, tennis courts, a playground and a small field house, is a few steps south of the building.
The Seneca is a few blocks from the popular Oak Street Beach.
Transportation. CTA bus routes stop a block from the building and represent the most accessible form of public transportation. CTA trains and Metra rail service are not within what most would consider convenient walking distance.
Access to and from Lake Shore Drive is convenient. Reaching I-90/94 and the rest of the city’s expressway grid can often be time-consuming. Expect near-gridlock conditions when there’s a major event in the neighborhood.
Taxi service is readily available, 24/7. Zipcar and Enterprise CarShare cars are nearby at 260 E Chestnut St.
The competition
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at sharply lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s comprehensive Streeterville apartment guide.
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