Post Chicago opens as Chicago’s largest co-living building

Chicago developer Structured Development recently announced the opening of a model unit at Post Chicago, a 10-story, 431-bed co-living community. Located at 853 W. Blackhawk, the property will be operated by tech-driven co-living and residential property operator Tripalink, which provides quality and modernized housing solutions across the United States. 

Designed for students, corporate transferees and others in search of flexible, turnkey housing, Post Chicago offers 107 residential units whose bedrooms – between two and four per unit – are fully furnished and individually leased, with rents starting at $1,375 per month. Co-living residents share access to a furnished living room, kitchen and in-unit washer/dryer, as well as a bathroom for those who don’t have their own ensuite bath.

“Co-living at Post Chicago is a fun, affordable way to reside in one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods while making new friends and experiencing all there is to do in this area,” said Jeff Berta, senior director of real estate development at Structured Development, the firm behind the three-building residential project that includes Post Chicago. “For many households, rent is their biggest monthly expense, so Post Chicago is another way we are promoting equitable housing in a location that might otherwise be unattainable.”

Tripalink, which currently operates over 8,000 beds nationally, will manage and lease the property, with an on-site resident services coordinator who will help organize group activities. Cable and high-speed internet are included in monthly rents, and residents also benefit from weekly cleaning service, a community app and full suite of building amenities, including a fitness center, lounge areas for working and socializing, a rooftop deck with grilling stations, bike room with repair station and package room. There will be 43 paid parking spaces available for resident use.

In addition to the co-living units, Post Chicago will offer 19 conventional unfurnished apartments in studio and two-bedroom layouts, with monthly rents starting at $1,799. Those residents will also have full access to building amenities and programming.

Post Chicago is the second of three residential buildings totaling 487 units to be completed in a mixed-use, mixed-income development, Wendelin Park, bounded by Blackhawk, Dayton and Kingsbury streets on Chicago’s Near North Side. The others include The Seng, a recently opened, 34-unit all-affordable condo development and The Foundry, a 27-story, 327-unit market-rate rental tower scheduled to open in early 2024. All three residential buildings are centered around the new 26,000-square-foot Wendelin Park, which is being privately developed by Structured as a public amenity with a nature play area, dog run, community garden and gathering areas.