The unfortunate reality of housing in Hyde Park is that MAC Properties manages most of the buildings. In itself, East Park Tower is not a bad building. Although it is a little old, it is renovated and is in a great location close to public transit. However, MAC Properties ruins the experience.
When I rented my apartment, we were promised there would be someone to receive our packages and watch the doors. Six months into my lease, the woman who received our packages was gone and now we have to pick up all of our packages across the street in the Del Prado. We were given no notice of this change, and only received an email about it weeks later. As a result, every time I want to pick up a package I have to go across the street and wait for someone to let me in, since MAC refuses to give me entrance to the Del Prado building. I can't believe this is due to safety concerns since they do not even think it's important to have someone watch the door in my building anymore.
Furthermore, I understand that East Park Tower is an older building, so there must be issues with the plumbing, etc. However, there is always one day notice for when the water is shut off, and the hours are usually from 8am-5pm. Essentially, you have an entire day without water. In the last month, the water was shut off three times. If MAC managed itself properly, it would give us better notice and limit the times without water to only a few hours. Instead, we always just find a piece of paper taped to the elevator telling us there is no water the next day. In addition, parts of the building are just not renovated properly. In my renovated apartment, a lot of my windows are duct-taped shut to keep cold air from coming in. There was no insulation installed around the windows when they were put in, so during the winter I have to move my furniture away from the windows to keep from having cold air blow at my back when I watch TV.
I will also note that since East Park Tower is undergoing a renovation, there is constantly construction. Many mornings I wake up to the sound of hammering, and it lasts throughout the day. Once a room is done being renovated, another room will start with more hammering. Just another thing for people to consider when looking at this building.
The only good thing about East Park Tower is its location and maintenance workers. All of the maintenance guys are extremely friendly and willing to help you if you run into them in the hallway. They are the best experience I've had in this building.

This apartment is totally affordable, but there are certain issues with the management including timely repairs and accessibility. I am not a big fan of Mac in general. I am happy to pay what I do, and feel comfortable and safe in the building, but it is only adequate, nothing to right home about.

Not a fancy apartment, but updated appliances and renovated bathrooms. The building is generally pretty quiet; more working people than students and if students, it tends to be older ones (not undergrads). There unfortunately isn't a doorman anymore and the building shares management with Del Prado across the street (large packages are also delivered to Del Prado for pickup), but the building hasn't had safety issues and is right across from the park, which is very nice. The building has central heating via radiators, and there's been some plumbing problems this year, which they've been spending a lot of time trying to fix, but the maintenance guys are wonderful. The location is really good though; on 53rd St where most of the restaurants are and between the two main buildings where other law students live (Regents and Shoreland).