3950 Lake Shore Dr

I have lived here for over 8 years and I Love it! Location is everything, the views of the lake in every room can not be beat! All of the utilities are covered in the rent, there is a gym, roof top deck and the Blue Angels fly over every year for the air and water show.
There is also garage parking.

I lived in a two bedroom unit in the E complex for two years, with my landlord living in a 1BR in the unit next door. My experience was mostly positive; the unit was large and fully rehabbed. My landlord was very kind and sweet, and the surrounding neighbors were also very kind. The only downside was the moving policies, so make sure to read all the fine print before you sign your lease. There is a $ 250 moving in fee and I believe the fee to move out was $ 150. If you have to move any large items in, you must schedule it at least 24 hours in advance; which makes things complicated if you end up buying a large item on a whim that happens to go on sale. If you are caught moving an item in, say a 40″ television or anything larger without scheduling a move, you will be fined a minimum of $ 300. The front door staff was amazing, by the way, built some great relationships with them.
Best,
Charlie

I have had the pleasure of renting at this building for the past 4 months and I just need to respond to the negative reviews. My experience at this UNDERVALUED building has been terrific (and a great surprise!). Here is why:
1) My unit – a 2 bedroom one bath– is very quiet and has panoramic views of the lake in contrast to other more expensive places… And I’ve been searching up and down lakeview to rent or buy apartments on the drive!!!
2) The maintenance staff is outstanding. They arrive within hours to fix what is wrong.
3) The building manager, Paul; is a utter gem (the sad news is that he may be leaving
but I just have to put in this plug!!)
4) the elevators arrive within seconds or minutes and ALWAYS work…
5) being on the corner of Irving Park you can get right on the drive within minutes (and the express bus is at your door.)
6) the building has a commissary and cleaners right on site.
The downside of living here is that there is a waiting list for parking… and the lobby and common areas are VERY far from drop dead gorgeous… (a bit shabby, but not too bad)… but given the above, who cares?

NOTE: This is a review of the building management team NOT of the maintenance and front desk staff, who are all amazing!
3950 has been my home for the last four year and I’ve just loved living here… UNTIL recently, when I’ve had to deal with the building management team. Come to think of it, the only issue I’ve had was with management. The folks in THAT office have much to learn from their amazing and highly competent support staff!
I echo what other reviewers said: the system for moving in/​out of this building is a huge SCAM. I called a couple of weeks ago to schedule my move — almost fell off my seat when I learned about the move-​out fee, but whatever. When I called today to schedule a time to drop my check (I’m moving on Friday), this woman tells me I’m not in the books and the soonest I can leave is August 7. Looks like double-​booking is not uncommon here.
I wrote the manager and left messages, but haven’t heard back. Awful service.
It’s really too bad that I’m leaving with such a bad last experience. It’s been amazing living here. I had the best landlord and again, maintenance staff is great. But management’s incompetence and total disrespect for their tenants’ time is more than enough for me to say: stay away!

I had a contract to purchase a great unit in this building. I was warned about the terribly rude management and the strict rules but did not take it seriously. I had my lawyer get me out of the deal because I met one of the miserable women from management myself (I hear the other lady is worse) and after receiving the 45 pages of rules and regulations I knew living in that building was no longer an option for me. It appeared that management would have its nose in everything and the rules made me feel like it was a mix between dorm room and a retirement home. I can’t tell you how hard it was to walk away from that awesome unit but I can tell you how right I feel about the decision I made today.

This is the single worst place I’ve ever lived, and I’ve had 4 other apartments in the past 4 years. I had to relocate here from Cleveland and was forced to find an apartment in a pinch. Between the $ 100 move-​in fee, $ 300 deposit for the elevator, first full month’s rent security deposit for the apartment, and the ridiculous $ 200 (don’t quote me on that) price to change the name on the mail box, I was out a considerable amount of money. Four months later I was informed that *surprise!* my apartment had been foreclosed on months prior (although the condo association, whom I pay my rent to, had no idea) and we were getting kicked out because there was a new owner. Then tack on an additional $ 300 elevator deposit for the move-​out, $ 200 fee for my car getting towed (while security said they would watch it while my boyfriend walked my parents up to the unit) and the $ 150 move-​out fee… Then to make matters even better, they double booked the move-​out, so my truck was not even able to get close to the loading dock. $ 450 to move-​out of this mediocre-​at-​best apartment and the morons in the management office double booked us.
I know several people that have moved into this building when they first moved to the city, and the general consensus is the same: I’m glad I got out. Nightlife around the area blows. The buses are inconsistent and the train is 15 minutes walking. This may be a decent area to own a condo, but renters get completely screwed and this is not the ideal location they make it out to be.
One plus: the people that work the front desk are seriously awesome and the only saving grace to this place. The guys that run the convenient store and laundromat are nice people as well.

I just have to post something about my (still relatively short) experience at 3950. I’ve lived all over, but mostly in apartments with building managers and on-​site management companies.
I just cant’ say enough about the amazing team they’ve assembled at this property. From the property managers — they have their rules and protocols — but seem to go out of their way to make sure that the tenants are well taken care of, to the engineering and maintenance staff. Timely, prompt and incredibly helpful.
In most larger apartment buildings I’ve inhabited, tenants often feel like the management company is the Gestapo intent on «ruling» your life to death. Not this crew. They just «get it.»
The building is also incredibly well constructed, virtually soundproof, and has a terrific mix of tenants of all age ranges and other demographics. Really refreshing to see such diversity.
If you’re considering buying or renting at this location, I’d sincerely endorse the notion.

I have certainly enjoyed living here (I rent, so this isn’t a review for owners). It’s a good building that they’ve been updating a bit, such as the front lobby and hallways. It doesn’t have central air or a party room. The gym is sort of like a closet. But still, people are nice and it’s in a great location.