Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Century Towers

[Xenocide]

I'm searching for a new place right now, and came across Century Towers. I love art deco, so touring it today was enjoyable in itself.

Currently, American Invesco is finishing up development of the place from rental to condo. They don't have a great reputation. Does anyone know anything about this building? I wanted a 1 bedroom, but they've sold out, and there's nothing listed on MLS for the entire building (strange).

Thanks very much!

[editor]

I lived in that building for a year, and left because of the impending condo conversion.

I don't know anything about American Invesco's reputation, but the previous management was very poor. Maintenance requests took forever to be attended to. And even in the penthouse levels the walls are very thin -- you can hear your neighbor's TV even at normal listening levels. If you're next to someone who like some booty-thumping music, then you're doomed.

If you get something in the penthouse, be sure to get a south view. That's because people like to hang out and party loudly on the 21st floor patio until the wee hours. Officially, it's supposed to be closed at 10pm, but the old managers didn't enforce it and ignored complaints about it. Maybe the new ones are better.

Oh, and just because you're in the penthouse doens't mean you shouldn't get flood insurance! A fire standpipe burst several floors above my apartment and everything in my kitchen and closets were flooded and ruined. The old management didn't replace the carpet -- just put fans in for a week, which was aggrivating to live with. The place never smelled right after that.

They'll claim that the windows are extra thick and sound-proofed to keep out the noise of the El, but that's not on every floor. The sound is noticably louder as you go higher and they put in cheaper windows. In the management office, you can barely hear the train. But go up a dozen floors or so and it's deafening, frequent, and runs all night.

The neighborhood was very safe until that club opened a block away. It's the source of a lot of noise and problems. If you have a west-facing window you can hear the crowds and music into the wee hours of the morning and watch the drunken suburban 30ish faux hipsters peeing in the parking garage. Lovely.

That said, the building is very solidly built and the location is fantastic. I can see someone renting there, but I think there are too many disadvantages to make it worth buying.

You can read more about the Century Tower here.

Here's a picture: