Half-oval shaped balconies give the look of beehives to two of the buildings at Wheaton Center, a 758-unit apartment complex in west suburban Wheaton.
These beige cement towers dominate the landscape in this six-building complex. They are the tallest structures on the property and in the neighborhood.
Wheaton’s downtown, which has a wide range of restaurants and shops, was developed in the 19th Century. The Wheaton Public Library and the U.S. Postal Service are also downtown and within short walking distance of the complex.
Wheaton Center was built in 1973. It also has two low-rise brown brick buildings that are three stories high and two mid-rise buildings that six and four stories high. All of the buildings have elevators and are amid green lawns.
The community is across the street from an entrance to the Illinois Prairie Path. It also has an outdoor swimming pool, outdoor basketball and tennis courts and a health club. Membership in the health club is free for residents for the first three months. After that, it is $30 a month.
The half-oval shaped balconies are one of the highlights of the 5th floor corner unit we visited. There are two balconies in the living room and one off the master bedroom.
The unit’s front door opens into a beige carpeted foyer. The bedrooms are to the right of the front door. One of the bathrooms is to the left. A long hallway leads into the living room.
The smallest of the unit’s three balconies is in the master bedroom. It has a sliding glass door that leads to a balcony that’s big enough for one or two people. The balcony, with a view to the west, overlooks the outdoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts.
The master bedroom also has a large walk-in closet on the wall opposite the vanity and a door to the master bathroom.
This bathroom has a glass-enclosed shower, beige tile floor, white vanity with a faux marble counter in shades of cream and taupe, mirrored medicine chest and another large mirror over the vanity topped by a row of lights.
The second bedroom is next to the master bedroom and has a walk-in closet and a sliding glass door that leads to the 17-by-18-foot balcony that is shared with the living room.
This ample balcony offers a view to the west. Unlike the smaller one off the master bedroom, this one is large enough to have several people on it.
A hallway outside this bedroom leads to the 18-by-14 living room. Thanks to two sliding glass doors, the living room is a bright and airy space. One of the doors leads to the balcony shared with the second bedroom. The other door leads to a 15-by-7 half-oval shaped balcony that has a view to the north. From this perch, it’s possible to see nearby single-family houses as well as trains traveling along tracks that lead to the Metra Station on Olgivie Street in Wheaton. The station is a block away.
The dining room receives light from the sliding glass doors and is large enough to hold a four-seat table and chairs. A double door connects to the kitchen, which is 12 by 10 feet. It has a beige vinyl floor and a small niche that can hold a two-seat table and chairsThe appliances, including a dishwasher, are almond-colored. There is a common laundry room on the building’s first floor.
A short hall from the kitchen leads back to the foyer, which has a coat closet, linen closet and door to the other bathroom.
Wheaton Center is located a couple minutes’ drive from Roosevelt Road, and is close to the East-West Tollway and the North-South Tollway. It’s about a 10- to 20-minute drive to shopping at either Yorktown Center or Oakbrook Center.
Rents for a studio range from $715 to $853; from $835 to $952 for a one-bedroom unit; and from $1,065 to $1,275 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit.
– – –
Vital stats
Size: Two bedrooms, two baths
Rent: $1,260
Security deposit: $150 refundable deposit plus a $150 non-refundable administrative fee
Utilities: Resident pays electricity. Gas heat is included.
Parking: An outdoor, unreserved spot on the property or a space in a parking deck across the street is free. A space in an underground parking lot is $55 a month.
Pets: Dogs are restricted to one of the low-level buildings. There are no breed or size restrictions. A $450 refundable security deposit plus a $450 non-refundable fee for dogs is required. There are no fees for cats. There is a maximum of two pets per apartment.
———-
For rental information, call 630-653-2002.
