Marina City

I've lived here for many years and love it. All hallways and elevators were fully renovated as of late 2026 — they'd gotten pretty tired before this top-to-bottom overhaul.

Living at Marina City is unlike anywhere else. You're living inside a piece of architectural history — a living, breathing work of sculpture.

There was a tremendous amount of construction in the towers over the past few years, but that's what it took to make them glorious again. The board, heavy with architects and... designers, approved a major surge in renovation spending — many millions of dollars in upgrades. The dust has settled, and the towers are better than ever.

Today there's a wide mix of units: older rentals, beautifully restored vintage time capsules, and cutting-edge contemporary spaces — with pricing to match. There's something for everybody.

Marina City is a global icon that puts you right in the middle of everything Chicago has to offer.

- Highly recommended Read More

Apartments are close together, resulting in frequent noise complaints. We’ve encountered issues with neighbors, including excessive partying and disruptive behavior. This isn’t limited to festive days; people get carried away and endanger themselves and others.
Contractors have consistently delayed projects, often taking over six or more months to complete them, even if they’re finished at all. They disregard any residents who live there. They work during weekends and after hours, causing... excessive noise with drilling and hammering that has worsened over the years. Some of this is due to the building itself, which fails to inform anyone when it’s going to make a lot of noise to fix pipes and other issues. They constantly use the service elevator.
Elevators are perpetually malfunctioning, with jarring stops between floors and loud doors that give the impression of being on a roller coaster. Even during holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, the rules seem to be disregarded, allowing an excessive number of people to fit inside.
Laundry on the 20th floor is a major issue. People disregard the common areas and the machines with your clothes inside. They take your belongings, leave their clothes hanging for hours, and even steal valuables. To make matters worse, the machines are frequently broken.
Marina City Valet Parking has significantly deteriorated. We pay $280 per month to endure a 30-minute wait to retrieve our car, only to be subjected to another 10-minute wait to exit the chaotic traffic that forms in the combined parking lot of the House of Blues and Marina City whenever there’s an event, such as a Marathon, St. Patrick’s Day, or any other event. Valet employees expect a tip, or they will retaliate against you.
Balconies are a significant problem. They lack a proper drainage system, causing large puddles of dirty water to form after every snowfall and rainstorm. Every balcony requires maintenance every two years, and it’s advisable to bring your belongings inside, even if it’s not your floor, as maintenance workers may carelessly spread dirt and debris. Residents constantly have a mess on their balconies, despite the beautiful view some apartments have, which is ruined by their mess.
Security guards can become complacent in their duties, especially when things are quiet, which can lead to a lack of vigilance.
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Moving in or out of Marina Towers is fairly miserable. I'm posting this review to save people some grief. It is a mess in the Marina level area of Marina City so it's a must for you to go down and see for yourself how to drive the truck in, where to park it(no designated place) and how far it is to move your stuff. Neither condo management or Alto realty took me downstairs and showed me where to park the truck or other tips.
Plan on being interrupted at least twice for workmen to use the... elevator. They are rude and think they should have priority over your move. If you want to be nice then empty the elevator load into the hallway so they can move their tools and materials. It's a 50 year old building and seems to have work going on all day. They could at least limit work around month end when people are moving in and out.
You will probably have to move the truck a couple of times to let other trucks get by.
They have hotel cart available but you have to know to ask for it and also leave an ID. They could have it ready and provide more carts.
Be aware of the clearance height downstairs. I hired 2 Men and a Truck and they brought this massive truck for 4 bedroom house and it didn't fit under the clearance so they had to park far away and lug my stuff farther which cost me more money because it took longer. Read More

I just moved to a studio apartment at Marina City and so far it has been a pretty fantastic experience. Living in the corncobs is a dream. The location cannot be beat and I have a balcony that is almost half the size of my boyfriend's old place (I'm not kidding!) I have a clear view of the Sear's Tower and the River and can even see the Lake on the other side! Waking up to my view takes my breath away every single day--I can't believe I live here!

I do the reverse commute and the walk to the... Metra is not terrible (~20 mins), but when it gets colder I will have a plethora of other options due to the high-demand River North location. I can access every L line in under 10 minutes, and several buses pick up just outside the apartment. My place is near anything and everything you might need (grocery stores, home stores, restaurants, bars, you name it) and there is even a dryer cleaner and market that carries everything from deli meat to Ben & Jerry's in the lobby of the place!

Security guards are stationed at the entrances 24/7 and I have felt completely safe living here. I was concerned about closet space but after moving in I realized how silly it was--my closets (there are THREE of them!!) are probably less than 50% occupied.

Bottom line is, for what you get here (amazing location, breath-taking views, a balcony of its size, safety, and many conveniences most places simply do not have), Marina City is the most affordable option there is. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the building is a landmark in Chicago (it's pretty cool to be watching a movie from the 80's, 90's or present and see your building featured..it's truly an icon)! Read More

I adore my apartment in Marina City, a two tower complex affectionately referred to as "the corn cobs." These are iconic buildings I have known and admired since childhood, and I sometimes can't believe how lucky I am to be living in such an architectural gem.

My unit is on one of the highest floors (of 60 total) and I face directly north, providing me a majestic overview of the city, with the river streaming by on my left, and glimpses of the lake to my right. The balcony is gigantic,... fitting a large patio table with seating for six, plus several large flower pots, and still plenty of room to walk around. And that's just the main balcony off the living room. There's also a half-balcony off the bedroom affording me even more outdoor space. They don't build them like this anymore!

Inside the unit, there's a spacious living room/dining room, a super fun retro kitchen (retro in that it has barely been updated since it was built in the early 60s, and I wouldn't have it any other way), a great sized bedroom with room enough for a queen bed and large dresser with tons of space remaining, a nice shower/tub bathroom with separate vanity/sink area, and a walk-in closet! There are also huge closets in the entry hallway, plus each unit has a storage locker on the 20th floor. The 20th floor also houses a small gym with some basic equipment and a laundry room.

The location is right in the heart of the city. River North bars, restaurants, and shopping surround me, and I can easily walk or take public transportation to any other neighborhood.

I have never been so thrilled with an apartment, and I hope to enjoy Marina City for many more years to come. Read More