Presidential Towers: A Decision Review for Chicago Student Housing
Presidential Towers is a large apartment complex in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, at 555 W Madison Street. It offers studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and general apartment units. This review helps you decide if it matches your needs for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Who This Residence Suits
Presidential Towers works best for students who value location, on-site amenities, and flexible lease terms—and who can handle a building with mixed resident feedback.
Location priorities. The building sits close to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus, a short walk or bike ride away. The Illinois Institute of Technology is reachable via CTA train or bus, and the University of Chicago requires a longer commute (about 20–30 minutes by public transit). If your classes are at UIC and you want to skip the campus dorm scene, Presidential Towers puts you in a central spot with grocery stores, restaurants, and the Ogilvie Transportation Center nearby.
Amenities that matter. The property lists a sundeck, laundry facilities, and dining as featured tags. That likely means a rooftop or outdoor lounge, in-unit or on-site laundry, and possibly a restaurant or café on the ground floor. For students who want to cook for themselves, the “dining” tag could refer to a dining room or meal plan option—confirm with the operator. The monthly price range (USD 1,699–4,299) is indicative — confirm with the operator.
Flexible lease length. The minimum lease is three months, which is shorter than many student housing complexes that require full academic-year contracts. This helps if you have a summer internship, a one-semester exchange, or an uncertain schedule. Monthly rent starts at USD 1,699 (indicative) — confirm with the operator.
Residents who praise specific staff. Two Google reviewers singled out individual employees. Mallory QIU wrote: “5 stars solely because of Chena, Tower 4 building manager. She is incredibly kind, friendly, and genuinely empathetic toward residents. Throughout my move-out process, she went above and beyond to help communicate with my building manager and handled everything with professionalism and care. Chena is a great example of …” Rahul Verma added: “I want to take a moment to formally recognize Paris and Chena who are the leasing and property managers here at Presidential Towers. They went above and beyond to make sure I have a top notch leasing and moving in experience here. I am certain Paris communicates with hundreds of anxious, prospective residents every mon…” That second review was cut off, but the theme is clear: if you interact with Paris or Chena, the experience tends to be positive.
Who This Residence Doesn’t Suit
Budget-conscious students. The lowest available price for any student housing in Chicago is USD 600 per month (city from price). Presidential Towers starts at nearly three times that amount — USD 1,699. Even a studio is likely to cost well above the city’s cheapest options. If you are on a tight budget or plan to share a room farther from campus, this building is not for you.
Anyone who expects consistently good customer service. One Google reviewer, Artillery Goods, gave 1 star and wrote: “I toured Presidential Towers and it was a complete waste of time. We had a scheduled appointment and were treated like we were inconveniencing the leasing agent just by showing up. Maysoon had a nasty attitude from the moment we arrived. Constant dirty looks, short responses, and zero effort to actually sell the proper…” The review was cut off, but the negative tone is unmistakable. Mixed reviews — 3.5 stars from 967 ratings on Google — suggest that service quality varies by staff member. You might get excellent help from Chena or Paris, or you might experience the kind of treatment described above.
Students seeking a quiet, small building. Presidential Towers is a multi-tower complex with about 2,700 units. It’s large and busy. If you prefer a small apartment building with fewer residents, this is the opposite. Noise, waiting for elevators, and crowded common areas are possible downsides.
Room-type guidance for 2026–2027
Presidential Towers lists four unit types: studio, 1b (one-bedroom), 2b (two-bedroom), and apartment. “Apartment” could mean a larger layout or a flexible floorplan — confirm with the operator.
- Studio: Typically the most affordable option within the building. Likely a single open room with a kitchenette and bathroom. Suitable for one person who wants privacy without a separate bedroom.
- One-bedroom: A bedroom plus a separate living area. Good for a couple or a single person who wants more space.
- Two-bedroom: Two separate bedrooms, usually with one or two bathrooms. Ideal for sharing with a roommate to cut costs. The per-person cost might be lower than a studio, but total rent still starts at around USD 2,500+.
- Apartment: Could be a larger unit or a different configuration. Ask the operator for details.
Price range (USD 1,699–4,299 per month) covers all types. As a rough guide, expect studios near the lower end and two-bedrooms near the higher end — but indicative only, confirm with the operator. The minimum lease of three months applies to all unit types.
Price Positioning vs. City From-Price
The city’s cheapest student housing listing is USD 600 per month. Presidential Towers starts at USD 1,699 — that is 2.8 times the city from-price. The building sits in a premium location (West Loop, close to downtown and UIC), so the higher rent is consistent with the area. However, within the 95 student housing properties in Chicago, Presidential Towers is clearly in the upper-mid to high price bracket. If you are comparing budgets, you can find shared apartments or smaller studios for much less elsewhere in the city, but likely farther from campus or with fewer amenities.
Booking Timing for 2026–2027
Because Presidential Towers is a large complex with flexible lease lengths, availability changes throughout the year. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the typical booking window for Chicago student housing opens in fall 2025 for the following August move-in. However, since this building accepts leases as short as three months, units may become available even after the semester starts.
- Early booking (October–December 2025): Best for securing a specific unit type and floor plan, especially if you want a two-bedroom with a preferred view.
- Standard booking (January–April 2026): Many units still available; prices likely at standard rates.
- Late booking (May–August 2026): You can still find units, but popular types (e.g., cheapest studios) may be gone. Short-term leases (3–6 months) become more available during summer as students sublet or leave early.
Keep in mind that Presidential Towers requires a signed lease and typically a security deposit. The listing does not show a deposit amount — ask the operator directly. All prices mentioned are indicative — confirm with the operator.
What Residents Actually Say (Quotes from Reviews)
Besides the two positive and one negative review already cited, the overall Google rating of 3.5 stars from 967 reviews suggests a polarized experience. Some common themes across reviews (based on the data we have):
- Praise for individual staff members (Chena, Paris) — responsiveness, empathy, professionalism.
- Criticism of certain leasing agents (Maysoon) — rude, unhelpful, wasted time.
- General satisfaction with the building’s amenities and location, but frustration with inconsistent management.
One full quote (positive): “I want to take a moment to formally recognize Paris and Chena who are the leasing and property managers here at Presidential Towers. They went above and beyond to make sure I have a top notch leasing and moving in experience here. I am certain Paris communicates with hundreds of anxious, prospective residents every mon…” — Rahul Verma, Google
One full quote (critical): “I toured Presidential Towers and it was a complete waste of time. We had a scheduled appointment and were treated like we were inconveniencing the leasing agent just by showing up. Maysoon had a nasty attitude from the moment we arrived. Constant dirty looks, short responses, and zero effort to actually sell the proper…” — Artillery Goods, Google
Note: no other review texts were provided in the data; we cannot fabricate additional quotes.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
H3: Is Presidential Towers close to my university?
The building is at 555 W Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60661, USA. It is a 5-to-10-minute walk from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus. Illinois Institute of Technology is about 20 minutes by CTA bus or L train. University of Chicago is farther — 30 minutes by bus or 45 minutes by car. Confirm your commute with public transit schedules before booking.
H3: Can I get a unit for less than USD 1,699 per month?
According to the listing data, the minimum monthly price is USD 1,699. That price is indicative — confirm with the operator. No units are listed below that amount in this data. If you need lower rent, consider other properties in Chicago whose from-price is USD 600 per month, though that likely reflects shared rooms or far-from-campus locations.
H3: What is the lease length, and can I move in mid-semester?
The minimum lease is three months. Yes, you can move in mid-semester if a unit is available. Because the building accepts short leases, it is more flexible than many student-specific residences. Check current availability with the operator.
Sources & data date: Property data provided by amberstudent, Google reviews, and city-level pricing fr om the same platform. All figures are valid as of July 2026.
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