First-tier cities like Chicago are often accompanied by first-tier rental prices, but living in the Windy City is now becoming more affordable and convenient thanks to a new wave of stylish coliving spaces.
(Photo: Common Addams Coliving)
Sharing an apartment with strangers used to mean arguments over dirty dishes and wobbles over the TV remote, but coliving is slowly changing that. An antidote to soaring rent prices and lonelier cities, coliving brings like-minded people together in a shared space for a more affordable price. Residents will usually have their own bedroom and bathroom, and share communal spaces like the kitchen and living area. Most coliving spaces today also boast the sorts of amenities you would expect to find in a luxury apartment block, plus an array of events and activities, from yoga to onsite cinema nights. We’ve selected five of the most stylish coliving spaces in Chicago.
Common Addams Coliving
Located in the Illinois Medical District, Addams Coliving is the largest coliving space in Chicago. It’s run by Common, a property management company that is reinventing the concept of coliving with beautifully-designed apartments in ten cities across the United States. Addams offers move-in-ready private bedrooms in fully-furnished shared apartments. This includes appliances, toiletries and furniture, so technically you only need to bring your toothbrush and a spare change of clothes on moving-in day. The building also boasts upscale amenities including a fitness centre, rooftop and tenant lounge, plus a dizzying calendar of activities, entertainment and events.
1407 W 15th St.
L Logan Square
A typical living space a L Logan Square (Photo: L Logan Square)
Billed as ‘the place for the constantly curious to connect’, L offers 120 luxury apartments steps away from the California Blue Line Bus Stop. It’s easy to find your perfect living set-up, with a range of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments to rent, as well as the ‘Rent By the Bedroom Coliving Program’. Interiors are sleek and modern, with a graffiti-covered bike basement, a coworking lounge and landscaped roof deck with grills. Inside the apartments, it’s all wide-plank wooden flooring, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and walk-in closets. L Logan works with local businesses to furnish the spaces too, with foam mattresses from Leesa, sofas from Interior Define and kitchens from Chicago Salvage Works.
2211 N Milwaukee Ave.
30 East
A standard bedroom in an apartment at 30 East (Photo: 30 East )
It might be marketed towards students, but you don’t need to be a student to live here and there’s nothing remotely dorm-like about these digs. 30 East offers a range of studio, convertible, two, three and four-bedroom apartments to choose from, all fully furnished. The emphasis here is on designing a community and the communal areas – a penthouse sky lounge, outdoor pet park and flex-friendly fitness centre– reflect this priority. There’s also a strong focus on wellness and residents can participate in a ‘Live Here, Live Well’ programme, which promotes nutrition, active lifestyle and giving back to the community.
30 E Balbo Dr.
XChicago
The roof terrace at XChicago (Photo: XChicago)
X Chicago Apartments is a brand new apartment community located southwest of the Loop neighborhood. You can either choose to rent a bedroom in a fully furnished apartment or a private studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment. The building is bursting with premium amenities and facilities, such as a hangout saloon for parties, hammock loungers and a mobile app for keyless entry. There’s also a cocktail terrace with a fire pit, dog run, grills and picnic tables. Unsurprisingly, the apartments themselves are just as high-spec, featuring large energy-efficient windows, oversized closets and in-unit washers and dryers.
710 W 14th St.
Common Briar
Stylish, hip and comfy, Common Briar boasts a brilliant Lakeside location, a short stroll from Broadway and Clark. Unlike most Chicago coliving spaces, the Briar offers a more intimate living scenario with just 14 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms. Everything in the building has been designed to make it easier to build friendships, from spaces that encourage spontaneous get-togethers to curated events. Management takes care of laundry, utilities, essentials, cleaning and WiFi too, removing all of the typical sources of unnecessary household dramas.
455 W Briar Pl.