Posted on March 6, 2013 by editor

Oglesby Towers at 50: A Vintage Value In Luxury Living on the South Shore Lakefront

At first glance, it’s hard to believe that Oglesby Towers is approaching its 50th anniversary. Indeed, the graceful 25-story building overlooking the southeast corner of Jackson Park could easily pass for South Shore’s newest luxury high-rise instead of one of the oldest.

That’s due in large part to the results of another anniversary: the five-year anniversary of building ownership by TLC Management Company of Chicago.

Over that time period, TLC has undertaken a series of renovations that have dramatically updated the property, both inside and out. Today, Oglesby’s  residences are among the most luxurious in the neighborhood, featuring redesigned kitchens with top drawer appliances and 42-inch cabinets, ceramic tile baths, new carpeting throughout, and custom window treatments to complement the panoramic views of the park and lake.

Building amenities and common areas have received comparable attention.  A brand new community room and leasing office are now part of the mix, along with a spacious top-floor fitness center, business center with free WiFi, a 24-hour laundry center and newly renovated heated parking garage.

And the interior work has been matched by a complete exterior and mechanical makeover that includes roof replacement and significant façade restorations, as well as comprehensive upgrades to the building’s elevators, electrical, plumbing, and safety systems.

The result is a most impressive presence, one that harkens back to the 1960s, when Oglesby Towers was called home by a “Who’s Who” of South Shore dignitaries, including big-name celebrities, ambassadors, politicians and industry professionals alike. Then, as now, the property evoked a feeling of classic urban glamour, from the doorman on duty every evening to the location right across the street from Jackson Park Golf Club and within blocks of South Shore Cultural Center, Museum Shore Yacht Club, and of course, the lakefront itself.

Yet Oglesby Towers today remains surprisingly affordable – again, thanks largely to TLC Management and the company’s commitment to delivering the best value in urban luxury rental apartments. The 25-story building houses 24 studios, 119 one-bedroom and 47 two-bedroom apartments; rents start at $730 per month, with heat and water included and no security deposit required. If you’re looking for the best value in a South Shore luxury apartment today, look no further. Oglesby Towers is calling you home!

About TLC Management
Since their start in 1997, TLC has provided Chicago residents with the best in lakefront living. TLC Management is a Chicago-based company that exclusively owns and operates thirty-five rental apartment buildings on or near Chicago’s lakefront from Evanston on the North to Hyde Park/South Shore on the South. Visit http://www.chicagorentals.com to learn more about TLC Management and their various apartment buildings.

Posted on December 21, 2012 by editor

Printers Row loft apartment building sells for $16 million

Chicago apartment landlord Stuart Handler is moving into Printers Row, paying about $16 million for an 84-unit loft building in the neighborhood just south of the Loop.

An affiliate of Mr. Handler’s company, Chicago-based TLC Management Co., acquired the Regal, an eight-story building at 651 S. Wells St., from an affiliate of Rheinhold Residential, a Philadelphia-based developer that converted the building into apartments back in 1986.

“We’re going to redevelop it to a higher level,” said Mr. Handler, CEO of TLC, which now owns 35 Chicago-area apartment buildings comprising 2,750 units.

TLC plans to renovate the building’s apartments, improve its mechanical systems and add amenities like a fitness center and bike room, he said.

The Regal is the first Printers Row investment for TLC, which owns properties stretching from Evanston to Hyde Park. Recent TLC acquisitions have included three properties in Hyde Park: the 167-unit Flamingo, the 96-unit Versailles and Madison Park, a 150-unit building near President Barack Obama’s home.

Completed in 1910, the Regal is on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally occupied by a printing company, the building later became the home of a box maker and drug company, said Jeff Rheinhold, president and CEO of Rheinhold Residential.

The Printers Row building was the only property in Chicago for Rheinhold, which owns apartments in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Owning one building in Chicago no longer made sense, Mr. Rheinhold said.

“We’re refocusing our development in the Northeast,” he said.

Courtesy of ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20121221/CRED03/121229954/printers-row-loft-apartment-building-sells-for-16-million

Posted on December 19, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co. Buys Apartment Building in Historic Printers Row Neighborhood

TLC Management Co., a Chicago based property management company adds to its already impressive apartment portfolio with the addition of The Regal, an eight-story apartment building in Chicago’s historic Printer’s Row neighborhood.  With the addition of this architectural gem, TLC not only gains another beautiful building, but also gains ground in a new Chicago rental submarket. After closing on The Regal on December 18, 2012, TLC Management can now rightfully declare that it owns and operates thirty-five buildings and 2,750 apartment/retail units on or near the Chicago lakefront.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Regal has been a South Loop landmark since 1910. Luckily for TLC Management, this once box printing plant was re-developed into an apartment building in 1986. Located at 651 S. Wells street, the structure is noted for its classic industrial design. Distinctive one-bedroom apartments range from spacious lofts with split-level designs to traditional one-bedroom den-style units. Most Regal apartments boast original exposed brick walls, timbered beams and wood ceilings.  All apartments feature fully-equipped, European style kitchens, elegant bathrooms and individual washer/dryer units.

Apart from The Regal’s extraordinary architecture and stunning apartment units, the building is also located in an extremely desirable area of Chicago.  Ideally situated within the South Loop/Printer’s Row neighborhood, The Regal is within walking distance of nearby Grant and Millennium Parks, the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, and some of the best Chicago shopping, nightlife and dining.

“With its premier location, striking architecture, and unparalleled amenities, it’s really no question why The Regal regularly experiences near full occupancy,” noted Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management Co. “This building is a wonderful asset to TLC’s portfolio.”

Posted on November 30, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co. Supports Greater Chicago Depository With Annual Holiday Food Drive at All Lakeshore Apartment Buildings

For the third year in a row, TLC Management Co., a Chicago-based property management company, is one of more than 700 Chicagoland organizations that has chosen to host a food drive this year to help aid the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) reach their goal of giving 1,000,000 meals to support those in need.

Located as far North as Evanston and as far South as Hyde Park/South Shore, TLC Management currently owns and operates thirty-four Chicago apartment buildings in a multitude of Chicago neighborhoods, all of which are located on or near the beautiful Lake Michigan lakefront. As of November 19th, a festively decorated box, along with a list of acceptable food items, has been residing in each of these buildings’ lobbies, encouraging TLC Management tenants and employees alike to donate what they can to this season’s holiday food drive. TLC’s food drive will last until December 19, just before the Christmas holiday. In this time period, TLC will accept as many GFFD approved non-perishables as possible. Once the food drive concludes, all apartment buildings will drop off the donations they have collected to the Depository itself or to one of its several food pantries or soup kitchens.

TLC’s goal is to raise awareness for the Greater Chicago Food Depository in general. Many businesses host food drives only during the holiday season. However, people are hungry all year around. In fact, it is currently estimated that 1 in 6 individuals in Cook County are food insecure. TLC hopes that by hosting an annual food drive, such as this, they can inspire as many people as possible to donate and volunteer with the GCFD throughout the year.

“Our goal with the food drive is, of course, to help fight hunger in the communities we serve,” noted Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management. “If we can help one family go to bed without having to worry about where their next meal is coming from we have done what we have set out to do.”

Posted on November 26, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co. CEO, Stuart Handler Speaks at 2012 Chicago Real Estate Symposium.

Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management Co., participates in and shares feedback from the October 29th Northern Trust Co. annual Chicago Real Estate Symposium. The event featured Handler, as well as four other distinguished panelists and covered “What Real Estate Investors Need to Know Beyond 2012”. Whether it was multi-family, retail, or industrial, just to mention a few real estate sectors, each panelist was specifically chosen to speak on behalf of his individual area of expertise. Handler was chosen to represent the Chicago multi-family housing market.

Handler was chosen for a number of reasons. First and foremost, he has been working in real estate for over 40 years. To say he knows the Chicago apartment market would be an understatement. More importantly, Handler is closing in on his 15th year of being CEO of TLC Management, and his company, despite the overall challenges presented in the real estate market, continues to flourish. In addition, TLC is the largest single owner of apartments in the Chicagoland market. Fortunately, in 2012 both TLC and the state of the Chicago market were in a positive place, which was the overarching theme of the late October symposium.

Handler was pleased to share his positive assessment of the 2012 market and his predictions for 2013 with symposium attendees. “Over many Chicago rental sub-markets, occupancies have been at all time highs, and thankfully, all indications point to a similar experience in 2013.”

Handler also offered attendees a few words of advice. “Be weary of cap rates in the coming year, they could be inaccurate. Broker-stated operating expense information is typically understated as compared to the actual costs of operating apartment buildings, and that causes reported cap rates to be higher than what actually occurs in the real world of buying real estate”.

From celebrating the success of the past year, to anticipating good prospects in the next, to Handler, it appears as though the Chicago multi-family real estate market is flourishing right now and is not expected to appreciably change in the coming year.

Posted on October 30, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co. is more than just your average, every day property management company. Not only do they own and operate thirty-four Chicago lakefront apartment buildings, they do so with excellence. This year, as in multiple years before, the Chicago Apartment Association (CAA) has recognized this excellence by awarding TLC Management with five Chicagoland Apartment Marketing and Management Excellence (CAMME) awards in 2012.

The CAMME awards are held annually, as a way to celebrate multi-family housing companies and professionals that have demonstrated excellence in the previous year. This year, they took place on October 26th at the Chicago Marriot Downtown on the Magnificent Mile. The CAMME’s recognize almost every aspect of Chicago apartment management and ownership. Particular individuals, buildings, floor plans, and even marketing materials are all acknowledged, to reference just a few. Of their five CAMME wins, 4 distinguished individual employee excellence and the last was awarded to the Plaisance Apartments for “Property Excellence in a Mid-Rise/High-Rise Built before 1957. The Plaisance is one of TLC’s many rental properties in Hyde Park, Chicago.

Coming away with five wins in 2012, TLC picked up two more awards than they did in 2011. TLC is not the kind of company that just sits back and rests on its laurels. “We take pride in our work and appreciate the recognition we have received from the Chicagoland Apartment Association.” said Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management Co. “We are always striving for new ways to improve the performance of our company and the experience of our residents.” It is this approach that confirms TLC’s position as a leader in the apartment management industry year after year.

Posted on October 2, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Revamps Popular Hyde Park Apartment Building, The Flamingo Apartments

TLC Management Co., a Chicagoland property management group, which owns and operates thirty-four apartment rental communities located on or near the Chicago lakefront, is working to take its recently acquired Hyde Park apartment building, the Flamingo Apartments, to new heights in apartment living with a year long construction and renovation project.

In December 2011, TLC Management Co. added to their already sizeable concentration of apartment buildings in Hyde Park when they closed on the Flamingo Apartments. This building is located just steps from the beautiful Chicago lakefront, and was a perfect addition to TLC’s portfolio. Originally built in 1927, the Flamingo was designed in the Classical Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986. However, despite the Flamingo’s historical and architectural splendor, no significant renovations have been made to the building in more than 30 years. TLC, recognizing a need to bring new life to an architectural classic, has begun improvements to the Flamingo Apartments’ traditional interior.

“You don’t mess with a classic,” said Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management Co. “The Flamingo’s exterior architectural detail is exquisite and we would like to keep it that way.” The Flamingo’s studio, one and two bedroom units are being renovated with new layouts providing more useable space, new paint and finishes, new bathroom fixtures in many units and revamped kitchens with new countertop and cabinets. Some of the hallways and common areas will also see improvements, while the buildings’ vintage moldings and arches will remain untouched. “The Flamingo is a timeless building in a prime lakefront location in Hyde Park that our residents love,” said Stuart Handler, CEO of TLC Management. “And with the completion of this renovation effort, life for our residents is only going to get better.”

Posted on September 26, 2012 by editor

TLC Management of Chicago Announces New Position: Training and Customer Service Manager


In response to strong business and market growth, property management firm, TLC Management Co. has created a Training and Customer Service Manager position. TLC is also pleased to announce that TLC employee, Dennis Hambright, has been promoted to this role.

TLC Management Co. owns and operates thirty-four lakefront apartment buildings in Chicago stretching from Evanston to Hyde Park/ South Shore. Over the last several years TLC has continued to grow, adding two new apartment buildings in Hyde Park and expanding their reach to apartment renters throughout the city of Chicago. Now with growth, comes expanded expectations. Because TLC holds itself to an exceptionally high standard of service, they recognized it was time to create this new position.

Duties of the Training and Customer Service Manager position include developing and supervising company wide training programs, conducting new hire orientation and training classes, re-writing and implementing the TLC Policy and Procedure Manual, and creating a new Customer Service/Satisfaction program.

With a positive attitude, an impressive customer service background from Marriot International, and significant experience in training, customer service, leasing and property management at TLC, Dennis Hambright was an ideal candidate for the position. Dennis has been employed by TLC Management for two years now, where he has been promoted from Leasing Agent, to Leasing Specialist, and now, to Training and Customer Service Manager. Hambright has worked in virtually every TLC Management Co. building and has formed great relationships with the property managers, leasing agents, maintenance and corporate staff of TLC.

“It’s extremely satisfying as a owner to know we have so many well qualified people like Dennis available to promote from within our organization,” said Stuart Handler CEO of TLC Management Co. “This position is a great fit for Dennis’s skills and the growing needs of our company. We look forward to his success in this new role.”

Posted on September 5, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co. takes Chicago apartment searching mobile.

Chicago based property management company TLC Management Co., owner and operator of thirty-four lakefront rental buildings, improves apartment searching for on-the-go Chicagoans with the launch of two new mobile websites. Considering all of the advances that have been made in smartphone and tablet technology within the past few years, browsing the web via a mobile device has never been easier and more in demand by Chicago apartment searchers. Case in point, TLC’s mobile traffic to their website has more than doubled in the past year. Recognizing this trend, TLC has now made mobile a key part of their overall marketing strategy.

“Navigating standard websites from a mobile device tends to be extremely tedious; the text is hard to read and they often require a lot of scrolling and zooming, just to view content and navigate from page to page. This can be very frustrating for the apartment searcher,” said Stuart Handler TLC Management CEO. “We want every aspect of our business, both offline and online, to be as simple and hassle-free as possible.”

To address the needs of the mobile apartment searcher, TLC has introduced not just one, but two mobile websites. The first mobile website is for their primary site, www.chicagorentals.com. The second mobile website is focused on furnished apartments and short-term housing, www.chicagofurnishedapts.com. The new mobile websites make searching for an apartment in Chicago on a mobile device an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. TLC’s mobile websites are optimized for the mobile Internet user, making them easy to read, while not compromising user content. They provide all the basics on TLC’s apartment locations, building amenities, features, and photos. TLC mobile searchers can now get to the information they need without any fuss. Whether it is on the train, on the couch, or in the coffee shop, finding an apartment in Chicago has never been easier.

Posted on August 21, 2012 by editor

TLC Management Co., A Chicago Property Management Company Improves Parking for Residents of South Shore Apartment Building.

TLC Management Co., a Chicago property management company with a focus on apartments on or near Chicago’s lakefront has recently completed construction of a new parking lot for one of their popular South Shore apartment buildings.

Headquartered in downtown Chicago, TLC Management Co, is a property management company that owns and operates thirty-four apartment buildings, all located on or near Chicago’s lakefront. With the goal of providing its residents with a comfortable, enjoyable living experience, TLC has recently completed construction of a new parking lot for one of its popular South Shore apartment buildings, Shorewind Towers, located at 7000 S. South Shore Drive in Chicago.

Taking only four months to complete, the new, 27-space parking lot was finished and ready for use on July 1, 2012. It is an outdoor, detached lot located just one block away from the Shorewind Towers building. Already featuring exceptional views of the city, outstanding management, and beautiful vintage apartments, this new lot just adds to Shorewind’s previously-established charm and desirability.

Prior to the parking lot’s completion, residents were restricted to street parking along congested neighborhood blocks. “We are committed to meeting the needs of our Chicago apartment renters,” said Staurt Handler, CEO of TLC Management Co. “We saw that parking was a concern for many residents at Shorewind Towers and decided something needed to be done about it. This new lot was the result,” added Handler. Shorewind Towers is not the only building TLC has made improvements to this year. Hyde Park apartment buildings such as The Versailles and The Flamingo are both currently undergoing renovations to their apartments and common areas, as well as the addition of amenities.