Address: 6455 N. Sheridan Rd.
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Size: Two bedrooms, two baths; about 975 square feet.
Rent: $1,140 to $1,215 a month, depending on the floor.
Security deposit: 1 1/2 months` rent.
Floor: Apartments begin on sixth floor of 16-story building.
Age of building: New; completed in May.
Utilities: Heat and air conditioning included in rent.
Parking: $85 a month in self-park covered garage.
Special features: Fitness center, 24-hour doorman, party room and laundry room.
The location of the Granada Centre apartment building, between Mundelein College and Loyola University, might suggest that this high-rise newcomer has its target audience in its back yard.
But the management of this Rogers Park building is hoping to attract more than the college crowd of administrators, educators and students.
”We`re targeting those affiliated with the two campuses in the area, but we`re also hoping to attract other professionals who work in this area, who commute downtown or commute to Evanston,” said Marilyn Hoffman, corporate director of marketing for SLC Properties Inc., which owns and manages the building. ”Our target audience is anyone who desires this kind of living.”
Old theater site
The ”kind of living” the Granada has to offer is seen when you first approach the grayish-white stone structure, which sits on the site of the razed Granada Theater. Its shiny newness stands out among the older three- and six-flat apartment buildings in the area.
The Granada Centre has 166 apartments, with two-bedroom, one-bedroom and convertible-bedroom layouts. We visited a two-bedroom apartment, designated the ”01 unit” plan. The two-bedroom apartments are on the north and south ends of the building.
The front foyer to this unit has two closets; one could be used for storage and the other for guests` overcoats.
The foyer leads to a combined living and dining room area, which measures about 22 feet by 13 feet and seems a bit small to function as two rooms.
The living room area can accommodate a sofa, a cocktail table and an entertainment center. There is also space for a small dining table for two, maybe four. Anything more or larger in this area would mean a tight squeeze.
The living/dining area makes up for its lack of space on the inside with a far-reaching view to the outside. Five floor-to-ceiling windows extend the length of the living/dining area and residents in this unit will get an east view of the Loyola campus and the lake.
White on white
The 7-by-10-foot kitchen has a U-shaped design and opens into the dining area, which creates an airy feeling. Bleached oak cabinets with white laminated doors provide storage overhead and around the major appliances. The wall over the sink has a cutout window that looks into the dining area.
This kitchen is done in white, from the major appliances to the walls and tile floor. Appliances include a dishwasher and microwave as well as the refrigerator and stove.
An L-shaped hall leads to the bedrooms and the two bathrooms. The first of the two bathrooms, right off the hall, is painted white and has a white toilet, bathtub/shower, sink and vanity, and tile floor.
The two bedrooms, located side-by-side, are almost identical in size, but different in design.
The first bedroom measures about 11 1/2 by 16 feet, and has a wall-length closet with folding doors. A large floor-to-ceiling bay window gives a westward view of the city. There is space here for a queen- or king-sized bed, a dresser and a nightstand.
The second-or master-bedroom has about the same space as the first. A large bay window gives another western view. This room can accommodate a queen- or king-sized bed, a dresser and a nightstand.
While the second bedroom looks a lot like the first, it offers something more. A large walk-in closet leads to the second bathroom, which has a toilet, bathtub/shower and sink.
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The wall-to-wall carpet throughout the apartment is light gray and the walls are off-white.
Roommate possibilities
Overall, the two-bedroom is a good choice for couples or singles. Rents are steep for most students and even some educators to handle on their own, but this could be a good choice for those who have a roommate to share expenses.
For the professional, this unit offers a nice alternative to downtown living.
The Granada Centre is at the gateway to the Rogers Park community, which begins at Devon Avenue and Sheridan Road.
Once you reach the seventh or eighth floor, the apartments offer unobstructed views to the east and west. There is sufficient closet space and average-sized bedrooms, but remember that the space set aside for dining comes up short in comparison with your usual two-bedroom unit.
The Granada Centre is a mixed-used building that has 35,000 square feet set aside for retail space and three floors for offices.
Transportation is literally at your door, with the main bus line on Sheridan Road below and ”L” tracks several feet away.