Evergreen Tower in Chicago, IL

Pros

• Evergreen Tower II has been an exceptional place to live.
• Residents feel welcomed and supported by a caring community and attentive staff.
• The team goes above and beyond to keep residents safe, comfortable, and engaged.
• Maintenance requests are handled promptly and with respect.
• The living spaces are clean, well-kept, and designed with seniors in mind.
• Thoughtful activities and events foster connection and a true sense of community.
• The location is convenient for shopping, appointments, and visiting friends and family.
• Evergreen Tower II provides quality housing with dignity, respect, and a genuine sense of home.

Cons

• The reviewer gave zero stars and says the staff are rude, disrespectful, unprofessional, and confrontational.
• The housing development is described as the worst of the worst in Chicago.
• The shown unit reeked of dirty mop water, and the hallway rug was nasty and never replaced.
• The interior of the unit looked like a mental hospital room; the kitchen was outdated and smelled old; grease stains were on the walls.
• The bedrooms’ rugs were nasty and ripped; windows and walls were dirty; floors were nasty.
• There is no security in the building and the intercom service is not working.
• The facility has declined greatly since previous management, indicating a deterioration over time.
• The building is described as being occupied by government leeches and a slap in the face to homeowners.
• The unit needs to be redone from top to bottom.

Review

Evergreen Tower is best suited for seniors who prize a warm, engaged community in Chicago’s urban core, where attentive staff, dignity, and a sense of home are primary benefits. This is a place where residents tend to feel safe, supported, and connected through organized activities and social events, with maintenance issues addressed promptly and living spaces kept clean and comfortable. The tone and culture tilt toward stewardship and personal attention, and the location supports convenient access to shopping, medical appointments, and visits with friends and family. For families prioritizing a genuine sense of community and proactive staff more than pristine, showroom-condition units, Evergreen Tower stands out as a solid choice.

That said, several families should seriously weigh alternatives before committing. Those who need consistently modern interiors across every apartment or who require flawless security systems may want to shop elsewhere. A pattern of mixed unit conditions has emerged in reviews, including reports of odors, dated kitchens, worn rugs, and dirty surfaces in some units. Security and reliability concerns also appear, with references to nonfunctional intercoms and a sense that safety vigilance is uneven at times. In short, the overall experience can swing dramatically from one unit to the next, and that variability matters for residents with high expectations for environment and safety.

The strongest case for Evergreen Tower rests on the tangible advantages of its care-forward culture. Residents praise staff who go above and beyond, a welcoming atmosphere, and living spaces that feel designed for aging in place. Maintenance requests are described as responsive and respectful, and the sense of community is reinforced by meaningful activities that foster connection and purpose. These elements translate into dignity, respect, and a genuine feeling of belonging, which can offset the rough edges seen in some units. For families seeking companionship, social engagement, and a supportive day-to-day experience, the positives often outweigh the occasional unit-level flaws.

However, the cons are not trivial and deserve close consideration. A number of reviews flag serious maintenance and condition issues within certain units, including smells, damaged or dated interiors, dirty carpets, stained walls, and windows that fail to meet expectations. Such problems can undermine comfort, health, and pride in one’s home, especially for residents who spend a lot of time indoors or who are sensitive to odors and signs of wear. Security gaps , intercoms that don’t work and a perceived lack of consistent building protections , further complicate the decision, particularly for families prioritizing a tightly controlled, easy-to-monitor living environment. These factors collectively suggest that not all Evergreen Tower experiences will feel equally secure or well-maintained.

From a decision-making perspective, Evergreen Tower rewards families who place a premium on community, staff responsiveness, and proximity to daily amenities, while presenting a clear caution for those who require uniform unit quality and rock-solid security. Prospective residents should weigh the social and emotional benefits against the practical realities of variability in unit condition and the potential for security gaps. A frank, on-site assessment is essential: request a tour of multiple units, specifically inspecting a recently updated apartment, the intercom and entry security, and the day-to-day maintenance routines. Speaking with current residents about their experiences can reveal how often staff responsiveness translates into tangible improvements in living conditions.

The practical course is to treat Evergreen Tower as a strong candidate for families who can tolerate some inconsistency in unit condition in exchange for a supportive community and attentive care. For those whose non-negotiables include pristine interiors, uniform maintenance across all units, and impeccable security or intercom reliability, it may be prudent to explore other options or to require a guaranteed model unit before moving in. In Chicago’s senior-living landscape, Evergreen Tower offers meaningful advantages in social capital and daily assistance; it does not automatically deliver a flawless, uniform environment. The right choice hinges on which values, community warmth and responsive care, or perfect unit condition and security, carry more weight for the individual or family evaluating options.

This area of Chicago, Illinois is a vibrant and bustling neighborhood with a variety of amenities close by. There are multiple pharmacies within a short distance, ensuring easy access to medication and healthcare needs. The presence of reputable physicians, dentists, and hospitals nearby offers a sense of security for any potential health concerns. Additionally, there are numerous dining options ranging from fast food to upscale restaurants, as well as cafes serving quality coffee. The accessibility to public transportation makes it convenient to explore the city or visit loved ones. For leisure activities, there are theaters, parks, and recreational facilities in the vicinity. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of convenience and entertainment options for seniors looking to settle in a lively urban setting.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Speciality (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)

Physicians

• Lincoln Park Dental Specialists (0.8 miles)
• University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center: Near West Side (2.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Portillo's Hot Dogs (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Tao Chicago Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• Giordano's (1.1 miles)
• Eataly (1.2 miles)
• Rossi's Liquors (1.3 miles)
• The Purple Pig (1.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (1.2 miles)
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (1.4 miles)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (2.2 miles)
• Rush University Medical Center (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Tiny Tapp & Cafe (1.5 miles)
• Intelligentsia Coffee (1.7 miles)
• Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)

Transportation

• CTA - Fullerton (1.4 miles)
• CTA - Clark/Lake (1.5 miles)
• Ogilvie Transportation Center (1.7 miles)
• Jamba Union Station / Chicago (1.9 miles)
• Cta (2 miles)
• Cta (2 miles)
• CTA - Clinton (2.1 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Webster Place (1.6 miles)

Parks

• Wicker Park (1.9 miles)
• Mary Bartelme Park (1.9 miles)
• Maggie Daley Park (1.9 miles)
• Churchill Field Park (2 miles)
• Churchill Field Park (2 miles)
• Wrightwood Park (2 miles)
• Union Park (2 miles)