so i’ve been thinking about moving for a while. not just the january carbon monoxide debacle, but, you know, … i miss printer’s row, and i wish my furnace wasn’t so damn LOUD. (i have to pause the tv if i’m trying to watch something and it kicks on. it gets old.) and it’s extremely drafty, and blah, blah, blah. it’d be a great apartment if it was (a) insulated, (b) had central air and heat from a furnace NOT in a closet in my living room, and (c) had a slightly larger living room, so i could have an actual couch, and not just a comfy chair and a giant beanbag (plus my elliptical machine). i wouldn’t turn down (d) had in-unit w/d either. but it’s not a really bad place to live, so it’s been hard to decide whether i should go or whether i should stay.

so there are some new rental buildings downtown that i emailed them to put myself on the waiting list for information when they got closer to opening for leases. one’s at, like, Fulton and Des Plaines, and one’s at 11th and Clark. (that latter one i was a little more interested in, because it’s a so-called green building, and i thought it might be nice to live in a place that, presumably, would be energy-efficient and, say, have caulked walls and other niceties.) then coincidentally, after months of being curious when the buildings were going to be finished, the leasing agents for both buildings got in touch on the same day — the AMLI900 (south loop) people emailed, and the K Station (north loop) people called.

now, keep in mind that just two years ago i was living in printer’s row, renting a 650 sq ft studio for about $800/mo, parking not included (an additional $125). i am now living in wicker park, renting a 850 sq ft one-br+office for $850, with street parking.

the K Station people: “The one bedroom apartments range in price from $1500 to $1965.”
the AMLI900 people: “One bedrooms from $1553 to $1807.”

these people want $1400 for a 636 sq ft studio like i used to rent TWO YEARS AGO for $800! almost twice what i paid TWENTY FIVE LOUSY MONTHS AGO? i’m sorry, including the utilities does not make up for the difference.

i don’t think i’m alone in thinking “hubbidda hubbidda say what?”

part of the problem is, i think, that everything is all new construction and they put in all sorts of niceties that one might put in one’s home if one was focused on having all the luxuries. except for the part that, guys, i don’t really care about marble countertops. i’m perfectly happy with formica that i don’t worry if i drop a coffee mug it’s going to break. and i don’t particularly need a garbage disposal in the sink — when i’ve had one, i’ve always been worried i’d drop a piece of silverware in there and not realize and turn on the machine and destroy it, so i hardly ever used it (and only with great suspicion). i pretty much just want an apartment with enough counter space to knead bread dough, preferably with nice quiet central air and forced heat, located where i can walk to the river east movie complex again. is that so much to ask?