Honestly I'm probably paying way over market price for this place. It's a concrete prison, and very small. Definitely visit before you sign anything.

I like living in Vue53 a lot. It is super secure, includes a lot of great amenities and events (once came home to free macarons in the common area!), and it is in a super convenient location. The only downsides are 1. a lot of younger students live in the building and are not always super cognizant of their noise level and 2. as a result, there are not a ton of law school students who live there, which can be hard at the beginning of school when a lot of unofficial meet ups occur based on where you live.

There's almost nowhere else in Hyde Park where you can have a washer/dryer in your apartment. The fact that it's located so close to Target, CVS, a cafe, and restaurants puts it over the top.

Don't move here if you don't like a modern, industrial aesthetic. The concrete floors/ceilings could be a little bleak if you don't enjoy that look to begin with.

I live in a north-facing unit, and I regret that I didn't rent sooner in order to get a south-facing one. It can be a bit dark for my taste, especially in the winter.

The gym and common spaces are well-maintained, and I really appreciate the 24/7 doorman. It feels very safe, and you can pick up your packages at any time (usually without any wait).

The apartment has a great location; next to groceries and near the bus stop, and everything that goes on in Hyde Park happens on 53rd street. The building is fairly new, and is just a little plain on the inside, with concrete floors, walls, and ceilings. But it feels comfy.

Pros
1. Rent is affordable for high-rise bedroom with own bath
2. Washer/dryer in unit
3. Free WiFi, indoor gym, and computers/BW printer
4. Front desk is great for receiving/sending packages and security
5. Electricity/gas is cheap! Our energy bill avg $24/mo and gas at $20/mo for entire unit year around
6. Furnished options avail at affordable rate

Cons
1. Electric stove + kitchen cabinetry only enough for 1 person, not ideal for cooking
2. Bedroom desk is tiny and chair is uncomfortable
3. Closet space is very small
4. Bathroom has little to no utility oriented cabinet space

The apartment is modern and bright. There is no carpet and there are furnished apartments available. Close to the University of Chicago.

I moved in the day they opened but the opening was premature. Apparently they were having problems with the construction crew and were very behind. Because of that, there were numerous kinks being worked out (and are still being worked out) sometimes at my inconvenience. This is why my rating isn't higher. I would speculate the issues that I have had and am having will be worked out by next September.