Address: Plaza 440, 440 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago
Size: One Bedroom
Rent: $1,302
Security deposit: $1,302
Parking: Attached garage is $185 a month
People who decide to plunk their belongings down at Plaza 440, a 50-story high-rise on North Wabash Avenue, may find they’ll need to stock up on extra blankets, chips and dip, wine, beer or other goodies to entertain visitors who will want to stay a weekend or longer.
Because this beige-colored building is located in the midst of the city, it is likely to be a desirable destination for friends and family from the suburbs and beyond who have been promising to pay a visit.
The building, which is managed by Chicago-based John Buck Co., is within walking distance of where a new Nordstrom store is rising in anticipation of opening next year. It also is just a block from the shops of North Michigan Avenue, close to the rides and games of Disney Quest, and not far from the city’s burgeoning theater district.
An evening at the theater might well begin before the curtain rises with a cocktail or dinner party in the living room of the one-bedroom unit we visited.
Although this fourth floor apartment does not offer the spectacular views of the lake and building tops that some units on higher floors have, it does provide a glimpse of the tower’s urban surroundings and of the ever-changing cityscape.
For instance, the site where the new Nordstrom’s is being built can be seen in a northeastern view offered by the windows of the living room. Before noting this point of interest to friends, however, you would greet them in the unit’s foyer.
This entryway is carpeted in cream and is large enough to accommodate a shelf or a small table for photos or mementos. Guests would find plenty of room to hang their coats in the double-size coat closet that also is located here.
An open doorway from the foyer leads into the kitchen, which has a cream-colored vinyl floor. White cabinets wrap around part of the room, but there is space above them to decorate with woven baskets or green plants. The room also has white appliances, including a dishwasher and a built-in microwave that could quickly heat hor d’oevres.
Those bite-size snacks could be served in the dining/living room, which is separated from the kitchen by a breakfast bar. To reach the dining/living room, however, one must return to the foyer and walk down a short hallway.
The living/dining room measures 24 by 14 feet and has five oversized windows with shades that can be lifted to show the city views.
The dining room is large enough to hold a four-seat table and would be the spot where drinks might be placed as guests chat or nibble on snacks. Although the views from the windows are sure to draw their attention, the room’s decor may draw praise as well.
Unlike many other apartment buildings, Plaza 440 allows residents to choose their own paint colors, wallpaper or borders without the stipulation that the rooms must be returned to the condition they were in when the unit was rented.
The tenant who wants red walls, a floral border or special wallpaper simply purchases the desired paint and/or paper. Armed with these items, the building’s staff will paint or wallpaper the unit as desired before the tenant moves in.
Once guests have admired the living room, they may want to also see the bedroom, which is a short hall across from the open door of the kitchen.
This 12-by-12 room features an oversized window and a double closet. It is across from the bathroom, which, like the kitchen, is decorated in white. Besides a white vanity with a large mirror topped by Hollywood lights, there is a white tub/shower.
In between the bedroom and the bathroom is a door that conceals another walk-in closet, with plenty of room for stowing clothes.
When it’s time to do the laundry, tenants can use washers and dryers in a common area of the building that also features an exercise room and an indoor swimming pool.
Residents who want to entertain guests, but also want to have some privacy, may opt to rent a guest suite for their visitors. These units can be rented for $150 a night.
This building has 457 units including studios, convertibles and two-bedrooms. The rents range from $1,000 for the least expensive studio to $2,450 for a two-bedroom unit.
For rental information, call 312-670-0440.
