I've lived at The Algonquin (1605 E 50th St) for a year, and it’s been a consistently frustrating experience. Maintenance response times are painfully slow — I had to escalate issues multiple times just to get basic appliances like the dishwasher replaced (which took a month), and my bedroom AC never worked since move-in. Some lights don’t work at all, and I’ve stopped reporting issues because the hassle isn't worth it. Package delivery is also chaotic — items go missing or end up in the wrong building, and I’ve had to dig through Regent’s Park’s package room just to find mine.
The building was once managed independently but is now lumped into the much larger Regent’s Park complex, making it nearly impossible to get timely support. Management recognizes me by face at this point but still gives the runaround on unresolved problems. Laundry theft is another serious concern — my clothes and basket have both gone missing from the shared machines. Overall, the building feels neglected, and management is unmotivated to address long-standing issues. I would not recommend living here.

Close proximity to bus stop that will take you to the campus, great coffee, shop, nearby, cheap price, safe environment, clean

Small, slow management responses, unsafe area

Pros:
* Big windows, lots of sunlight
* A/C and heater are very effective
* Hardwood floors and granite countertops
* Modern kitchen appliances
* Lots of storage space (two closets, tons of cabinets)
* 1-minute walk to 172, 6, and Metra stops
* 5-minute walk from Whole Foods and Marshalls
* Prompt response to maintenance requests
* Friendly neighbors (mostly families, few parties)
* Inexpensive storage units in basement ($10/month)

Cons:
* Slow response times from management; sometimes better to go in-person
* The mail room is in Regents, which experiences delays (but they're installing an Amazon Locker in the Algonquin to mitigate that problem)

The building is well maintained and no major issues

In front of Regents, so still close to a large law school population.
The gym is only located in one of the Algonquin buildings, and it's really bad.

Cold air comes through the windows, so the apt. doesn’t stay heated.
Management is responsive and nice, but they don’t follow through most of the time.
The first floor always smells like marijuana.
The apartment itself is nice and close to Whole Foods and the bus.

Avoid MAC property management at all costs.

The apartment itself is very nice - good location, good appliances and generally well laid out. Unfortunately, the management (MAC Apartments) is so bad that the frustrations of dealing with them outweighs the benefits of the apartment. It took me six months to obtain full access to the building (functional key fob + name in intercom) due to MAC's incompetence and general unresponsiveness. Our building's laundry card machine has been "pending maintenance" for three months. So long as nothing ever goes wrong in the apartment (unlikely, given MAC's track record), it's a nice place, but if something goes wrong, good luck ever getting MAC to respond to it in a timely manner.

Algonquin is a really good value for a 1BR that has been renovated within the last 7 years. Mac is kind of annoying to deal with, but you only have so many options in Hyde Park, and it's been a lot better than I was anticipating at the outset. Water is included in rent, and gas (heat) is capped at $40/month, which is really nice in the winter. It's next to the Metra to get downtown, buses to UChicago and downtown, and Lake Shore Drive. It's also close to Regents, which is where a decent amount of law students live, so there's a social group right across the street. Street parking is decently easy if you're not driving somewhere every day and know how to parallel park. Definitely a good building for 1L year.