Holsten Management

Is there a zero star rating? Okay, the star is for the area… In fact, 4 stars for the area which is quite walk-​able. 4 stars for cleanliness. 3 for quietness. Zero for management, unless you want to be/​or appreciate being disrespected, and talked down too. Management (most of them I have dealt with at the Old Town complexes) are rude and unorganized. Weight your options!

holsten management sucks. they fire employees then hire them back. peter holsten is very nice, his wife jackie is someone you cannot trust and will believe everyone else lies and jackie is very money hungry. poor management and maintence is not kept up or in a timely manner. they love to give lease violations and you think you are back in the projects. robbing and the crime makes it not a great place to live. the security guards are very unprofessional, they talk about their the tenants with the staff members. they do not treat their employees fair, so how do you think they treat the tenants???

I have never experienced this before application process was a true marathon for me.
First I believe that God make things happen for a reason. Under their new Chicago management HILLIARD PROPERTIES located on State and 21^st st, you must be able to afford to place a large deposit plus first month rent in which i learned at the end of my approval application from the file review department. But i didnt argue because i knew i wasnt going to win against them because they are going to stick together to cover themselves. I Justleave it in Gods hands. You must meet very strict low income housing program requirements.
You must take an drug test in which was an first for me and it wasnt a problem for me, but it was time consuming and last minute notifications to when and where to go take the drug test. The application process is a lot of paper work and lengthy and Its like applying for your first HOME that has a car garage and a back yard. If you have a 401k plan and bank statements to see how much money you have in your account.
Now even though I passed everything with flying colors. A realtor friend I consultated about this matter. He asked me 2 things 1.)what do I like about the apartment? I stated the apartment is ok but I love the location. 2.) Is it worth it putting a large deposit on it? And I said no.
Then my realtor friend say there it is! Why would you risk ruining your fair/​good credit or not paying your bills on time for something you cant afford. You work to hard to building a good credit score and you been paying your bills on time.
Its not worth risks
My realtor friend also stated usually it takes only 48 hrs or a week for approval. Beware of being asked for deposits. Because in the past few years the apartment application process has changed to where small fees are asked now for about $ 200 – 300 dollars because realtor know that people in today’s economy cant afford to put down a large deposit for an apartment. But the low income housing programs are always lengthy and a lot of paper work etc.
Example:
The day before you move in you pay for 1 bedroom in which was a studio first month rent $ 840 and deposit $ 840 =$ 1680. They thought I didn’t know the difference between an 1 bedroom and a studio apartment. It was a studio split in half with no bedroom door attached. LOL!
Now that’s a lot of money to put down for low income/​non-​luxury housing program.
The review department did ask someone from Holsten management if they could waive the $ 840 Deposit but Holstein management said no in which I knew that alreadybefore they said no. But it was worth a try. Started application Aug 28 and approved on Sept 24^th 2014. Once again Hillliard Properties on State and 21^st st the apartment application process was most strenuous, oddest and strangest I have ever experienced in my entire life when applying for an apartment.
Success!
All and all I found an apartment on Clark and Division in which I was approved within 2 days and only paid $ 225 for deposit plus 1 month rent. And the staff is very nice and down to earth. My apartment on Clark and Division is a great apartment and great location.
Smile:)

Not Worth It! I lived here for 2 years and it was a constant hassle. The un-​popular manager: Marica Zaric has communication issues, as in she «talks AT you» and like the previous poster noted, talks over you. I have also caught her in a lie on more than one occasion. She does play favorites. I have also noted that people are moving out of here on quite a regular basis, for one reason or another.
. They make you take a drug test to move-​in and every year. They came to my previous apartment to check my bedding for bed-​bugs before allowing me to move into The Bryn Mawr. They don’t trust the tenants, so be prepared for ongoing, regular apartment «inspections’ for one reason or another, for various reasons.
There is an old angry man at the Front Desk who harasses visitors, even if they sign-​in. I hate to use the word, but Marica Zaric is a compliance Nazi and finds fault in anything that she can. As a 45 yr. old man who has lived in better cities and building nationwide, I found the managment too condescending, as they treat you like children that can not be trusted.

Ridiculous!!! I have lived here for nearly 6 years, and I consider the manager of this building at 5550 N. Kenmore, Marica Zaric, a friend of mine. My current apartment, which I love, was the first I had ever gotten, and Marica was the first friend I made when I moved to Chicago. She told where the post office was, and the grocery store, and whether or not I wanted to pay $ 100 to wait on a list to park my SUV. She has done nothing but her job since I’ve known her. Her husband and both of her sons are first class, and would do anything to help. They are the nicest people I’ve ever met. The building isn’t noisy at all, at least my floor isn’t, and every repair request I’ve made was completed before I even noticed. I appreciate the cameras, because they are really for our safety, and despite the comings and goings of your neighbors, it is a comfort to have them there. I would recommend this building for anyone who would want to choose a studio apartment, or a one or two bedroom in a nice area near the beach, and 20 minutes to downtown shopping.
Roberta W.

Terrible! I had several problems with the management company at 5550 N Kenmore. I lost my keys, and was told every time I would have to come into the building it would cost twenty dollars, just for them to push a button to let me in. Also, the land lady doesn’t speak much English, and yelled at me any time I ever asked her to help me with something in the building. One time someone stole my laundry, and there was construction going on in the hallway by the laundry room, and I asked if they moved it for some reason, and she screamed at me saying that she was not responsible for my clothes. Also, I had two noise complaints the entire year I lived there. The first time, a different person took care of the problem and things were great after that, and the second time she did (Marica Zaric), and when she couldn’t «find the sound» she came pounding on my door! She screamed at me and told me I was lying to her. I explained I was not, and told her to listen to the noise, and at that point she said «Well, what do you want me to do?» I responded with a snappy, «Your job.» This infuriated her more. She presumed to go «find the sound,» and came back and told me there was nothing, although the problem was not solved. Any issue was quickly resolved in her opinion by screaming that she was not responsible or she did not want to deal with the problem. Then you would try to explain or ask a question about the situation and she would yell over you. One time while she was yelling over me I just kept repeating my question, and finally she shut up. Ever heard the expression, «Like talking to a brick wall?» At first I thought that it was because she didn’t speak much English, and maybe she just wasn’t sure how to talk to people accurately, then I realized that she just hates her job, or her life, or maybe me. Then I realized that it was not just me that really got to her though, because I would walk past her office sometimes, and hear her on the telephone talking to people the same way as she did with me.
Every time you bring a guest over, you are required to sign them in. Also, there are cameras everywhere! Kind of a little creepy in my opinion, but made me feel safe.
Although the apartment is clean, normally quiet, cheap, and pretty nice, don’t plan on living here if you can’t deal with paying someone to yell at you.