Presidential Towers in Chicago, Illinois
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Presidential Towers
555 West Madison, Chicago, Illinois, West Town 60661 United StatesPrint this page   •   Share this page   •   Map This

The Presidential Towers complex presents itself as a series of four nearly identical towers, each a step back from the leader, and spanning two city blocks.

Leadership is not a bad attribute with which to brand this development. It was one of the pioneering residential projects in the River West neighborhood. An area that was once seen as nothing more than a ramshackle collection of old brick warehouses in an area known as the Midwest's version of "Skid Row" was seen as an opportunity by its developers.

Seen through 21st century eyes, it only makes sense. The towers offer easy access to three major highways, walkable access to the city center, two commuter rail stations, an Amtrak station, and Chicago's growing business core along the Southern branch of the Chicago River. The real question is Why wasn't this opportunity seen earlier?

Individually, the buildings wouldn't seem like much -- some generic brown 40-something story towers. But there's strength in numbers. Just as one ceramic kitten is a knick-knack, but a dozen are a "collection." Their staggered formation gives as many residents as possible a shot at seeing the city without having to see their neighbors.

Quick Facts
Notes
    > April 18, 2007 - The complex is sold to Waterton Residential for $470,000,000.
    > February, 2008 - As part of a larger reworking of the complex, a plan is floated to turn one of the four towers into a hotel.
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Your Thoughts

There are four comments.

  I've lived in Tower 3 for about 15 months. I love it!!! I live in a small efficiency in one of the top floors. Maintenance staff has been great. Haven't needed much other support. Short walk to work. Security is tolerable, but, I agree, youngsters on a power trip. Wouldn't raise a family here, but great for a single like me who just needs somewhere to live close to work.

Jim - Friday, August 22nd, 2008 @ 10:42am  

  This place is terrible. The only benefit of it is you're right across the street from the train station.I have not talked with one person who said their apartment wasn't filthy when they moved in. Mine had a dirty bandaid, pubes in the bathroom, plush duck and other stuff that should have been cleaned. Common a bright yellow duck under a bed? If you don't spot that you're not doing you're job.The staff is terrible and won't fix things when they should. It's amazing how easily they lose work reports. I'm still missing light bulbs. The security staff is no better than the cleaning staff either.And things break all the time. About one a month somebody gets stuck in an elevator. The building's internet and cable will go down every so often. It's just really not where you want to live.For the price you can find other places around the area that are a lot better.

Tom - Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 @ 9:22pm  

  We rented at Presidental Towers, Tower 1 for only 6 months. The place gets old FAST! Imagine having your laundry room shut down constantly because of water leaks. And imagine slipping and falling in puddles on tiled floors because the floors are never clean. Management is AWFUL! They lie and don't care about what happens to you, they've got 2,600 units, what's one more complaint? And I couldn't agree more about the staff that runs the front desk, one evening I heard them talk about selling marijuana and smoking it after their shifts. Please stay away, spend the extra hundred or two and stay somewhere else.

Ryan - Friday, March 2nd, 2007 @ 10:33pm  

  have rented several places and by far the worst living experience of my life. Management is rude and lie about complaints. Extremely biased staff and security, or what you can call security. It's basically a bunch of little 20 year old kids with flashlights who are on a power trip.

Raju Mehta - Friday, December 29th, 2006 @ 10:31am  

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