McClurg Court is a 45-story, 1,075-unit full-amenity apartment two-tower complex at 333 E Ontario St in Streeterville. The complex was completed in 1971. It originally included a 1,000+ seat movie theater that once drew crowds but has since closed. The space is slated for redevelopment (pdf) as restaurants and retail shops.
Jerrold Wexler, who may be best known as actress Daryl Hannah’s stepfather, was the developer. Solomon Cordwell Buenz designed the slender Miesian towers.
The apartments
McClurg Court offers 16 different floor plans of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Floor plans are online, but up-to-date availability and rent information is not. Advertised rents at Apartments.com as of late September 2013 started at $1,285 for studios, $1,400 for 1-bedrooms and $2,100 for 2-bedroom, 2 bath units.
The apartments have been updated with new baths and kitchens with stainless steel appliances, new cabinets, granite countertops and stone tile floors.
The buildings’ long-and-narrow configuration lends itself to functional floor plans with lots of windows and minimal loss of space to hallways. Closet space in most of the floor plans compares favorably with many of the newer apartment buildings. None of the units have balconies or in-unit washer / dryers. Ceiling heights, lower than today’s new buildings, are typical of the era in which McClurg Court was built.
Furnished short-term rentals in the building are available through Churchill Corporate Housing.
Views. McClurg Court’s website boasts of “spectacular views of downtown, Michigan Avenue, North Shore, and Lake Michigan.” Views from most of the units don’t match that description, and construction that’s underway and planned in the area will compromise views from McClurg Court.
Construction has begun across Ontario St on a new 27-story, 1.2 million square foot facility for the recently-rebranded Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The new building will sharply restrict the currently open views to the north. Construction will continue well into 2016.
Amenities, services, policies
McClurg Court’s well-equipped fitness center includes an indoor pool, a whirlpool and three indoor tennis courts.
A spacious sundeck has a variety of seating areas, tables, trellises, and gas grills. There are several shaded cabanas, but shaded locations are easy to find on the sundeck, given the height of neighboring buildings.
McClurg Court has a party room and a business center with a small conference room. The laundry rooms include a lounging area.
The complex has heated indoor parking with an on-site car wash service. There’s a large separate bicycle storage area, and storage lockers.
On-site service establishments include a bank, a 24-hour 7-11 convenience store, dental office, dry cleaners and shoe repair.
McClurg Court has on-site leasing, management and maintenance staff, and 24/7 door staff in each tower lobby.
Cats and dogs are OK, subject to limits.
The location
McClurg Court is four short blocks north of the Chicago River, midway between Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier, with convenient access to Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University’s downtown campus.
Shopping. A Dominick’s grocery is a block east of the building. Treasure Island, which bills itself as “America’s most European supermarket,” is two blocks northeast.
A Walgreen’s Pharmacy is two blocks south of McClurg Court.
Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile shops and the Shops at North Bridge, anchored by Nordstrom, are a few blocks west of the building.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment.
There are literally 100s of dining and nightlife options within blocks of McClurg Court.
The misleadingly-named Hilton DoubleTree Mag Mile, adjacent to McClurg Court, is home to Markethouse restaurant and an Einstein Bros Bagels outlet. Yolk, a block away, is the go-to breakfast spot if you don’t mind a wait.
Many of the local restaurants and night spots cater heavily to hotel guests, tourists and office workers, but you won’t have any trouble finding a go-back-to neighborhood favorite. Timothy O’Toole’s Pub, a few steps from McClurg Court, gets mixed reviews but has its regulars and a large selection of beers on tap.
If you’re a bowling or movie buff, hit the lanes at Lucky Strike then head downstairs to catch a movie at the 21-screen AMC River East, two short blocks south of McClurg Court.
Parks, recreation. McClurg Court has good park access.
A block southeast of McClurg Court is a pleasant park that’s actually the roof of a parking garage.
The building is two blocks from Navy Pier, Jane Addams Memorial Park, Ohio Street Beach and the Lakefront Trail. River Esplanade Park, home to Centennial Fountain, is a few blocks south of the building.
Lake Shore Park, which has a running track, softball fields, tennis courts, a playground and a small field house, is four short blocks north. The Museum of Contemporary Art is at the west end of the park and just west of the museum is the delightful, tree-shrouded Seneca Playlot Park.
Transportation. Access to CTA and Metra train lines is inconvenient from McClurg Court.
CTA bus service, via multiple routes, is excellent along Michigan Ave, Illinois St (one-way East-bound) and Grand Ave (one-way West-bound). Many residents of McClurg Court may opt for cabs as their preferred mode of public transit, and cabs are always plentiful in the area.
Zipcar has an on-site location and I-Go is across the street.
McClurg Court has easy access to and from Lake Shore Drive. Reaching I-90/94 and the rest of the city’s expressway grid can often be time-consuming. Expect near-gridlock conditions when there’s a major event in the neighborhood.
The competition
McClurg Court’s‘s most direct competitors will be the older buildings immediately to the east: 420 East Ohio and Lake Shore Plaza. The building also competes with other nearby rental buildings.
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at sharply lower rents than in the new apartment buildings.
You’ll find additional tips and options at YoChicago’s Guide to renting in Streeterville and our at-a-glance list of Near North apartments.
McClurg Court in the news
More recent items are listed first.
Streeterville health club faces eviction suit
McClurg Court Center sells for $127 million
McClurg Court Center up for sale
Share your take on McClurg Court
If you’ve lived at or visited McClurg Court, and are not a real estate agent, add your thoughts in a comment. Comments are moderated, and commercial messages are not allowed.