Optima horizons gives you a little bit of everything you want in an apartment. You’ll find buildings that are cheaper or that have more amenities, but nothing that has both. Biggest downside is that you must sign a 2 year lease and can’t sublet over the summer.

The apartment is in an older building, and thus does have some quirks. The interior of the apartment has been updated to include ceiling fans, a dishwasher, etc, but it does not have A/C and laundry requires that you go outside to get to the laundry room. My apartment has radiator heat (which I like, due to the higher humidity level), but others have been upgraded to central heat. Nonetheless, for the space, it's a great deal. It's only a 15 minute walk to the Global Hub and the surrounding neighborhood near the Noyes CTA stop has a very cute coffee shop, a few good restaurants, and a small grocery store that meets the vast majority of my needs. It's a 10 minute walk from downtown, so it's pretty well positioned to get anywhere you'd need to in Evanston easily.

Bonus extra storage units in the basement that are ~ 7x10ft. Property also includes a small fitness center with treadmills, an elliptical, and a stationary bike. Indoor bike storage is also provided by the building.

2247 Ridge is a decent place to live. It's only about a 15 minute walk from the Jake.

Pros: Free internet, affordable rent for a 1BR, close to train, close to shuttle stop, good restaurants nearby
Cons: Vintage apt (no dishwasher, no washer/dryer), far from Kellogg social events