How do you mark your apartment possibilities as you scan the ads? With a highlighter? With a checkmark? With an X? If X is your choice, put two of them beside Central Park East in Arlington Heights.
The 204-unit complex on 10 landscaped acres has two buildings, each with four wings that form the shape of the 24th letter of the alphabet.
Central Park East was built in 1989, but the elevator buildings seem to have aged well. Each white-washed brick building has an arched glass entryway that allows sunlight into the common lobbies, making them feel bright and welcoming.
The clubhouse, with a fitness room and outdoor swimming pool, is between the two three-story structures. The property also has two retention ponds and a walking/jogging path.
The front door of the unit we visited opens into an entry hallway carpeted in gray and with a closet on each wall, one for coats, the other containing a stacked washer and dryer.
The hallway ends near where an open doorway connects to the kitchen, which has a pale gray ceramic tile floor, light wood cabinets, pale gray counters and white appliances, including a dishwasher and a built-in microwave oven.
Another open doorway from the kitchen connects to the dining room, which measures 8 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 5 inches and has a brass chandelier and a double window with a view of the lawn.
The dining room adjoins the approximately 12-by-16 1/2-foot living area with a sliding glass door that leads to a patio.
For relaxation in February, though, you may want to retreat to the approximately 8-by-11 3/4-foot den, which is through a large open doorway opposite the slider. The windowless den frees the living room from double, triple, even quadruple duty as a place to entertain, watch television, listen to music or use the computer. This would be a great setting for a home office.
The bedroom and bathroom are at the end of a short hallway from the living room.
The 12-by-15-foot bedroom has a large window with a lawn view and is linked to the bathroom by an L-shaped dressing area. It has a light wood vanity and a large lighted mirror. The dressing area has three closets.
The bathroom connects to the hallway, where there is a linen closet.
Rents for Central Park East’s one-bedroom, one-bath apartments are $995 to $1,300; one-bedrooms with dens, $995 to $1,305; and two-bedrooms with two baths, $1,320 to $1,585.
Residents have their choice of Metra stations — about 3 miles away in Arlington Heights and about two miles away in Mt. Prospect. It’s a short drive to shopping and Illinois Highway 53.
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The vital stats
Address: Central Park East Apartments, 1551 E. Central Road, Arlington Heights
Size: One bedroom with den, one bath
Rent: $1,005
Security deposit: $600
Utilities: Resident pays electricity and gas, including forced-air heat
Parking: Outdoor, unreserved space is free; heated garage is $110 a month.
For rental information, call 847-640-3060.
