Great building!

Great view to the lake, quiet, great location- definitely recommend

My condo has more amenities than the standard Evanston apartment/condo. It has in-unit washer/dryer, granite counter tops, gym/ indoor pool, heated parking, doorman, an extra den that could an extra bed room, etc. The unit is 925 square feet. The one down side is the central air, meaning that there is not a thermostat where you can set a temperature that turns the system on/off -- there is only an on/off & low/medium/high switch that you can control the air speed.

Optima Horizons provides nicely updated, modern condos that are central to everything Kellogg as well as downtown Evanston. Pets are allowed in the building (which is not the case everywhere in Evanston) the staff is generally friendly, and you have a covered spot to park your car (really nice when it's way below zero outside).

I won't lie, Optima Horizons is an expensive community. And the value that you get for those dollars does not go particularly far (there is no building social scene to speak of, the gym is modestly appointed at best, and there is not really an indoor space to host events). A lot of your experience will also depend on your landlord. He/She may not allow pets and the condition of each individual unit (hardwood vs. carpet, updated vs. dated cabinets, quality of the appliances) will vary. No spot in the building is "bad," per se, but the aesthetics of each unit are different.

Overall, I've had no major complaints about living here. The distance to both school and things to do in town is clutch, which matters a lot given all that will happen in your two years at Kellogg!

Great place to live, management can be a bit difficult. Owners and students sometimes have rough relations (but honestly, it's a college town - you should have known what you were getting).

Great location, decent price (for Evanston - still pricier than equivalent properties downtown). Each unit varies noticeably, so make sure to tour your unit before signing a lease.

Nice building; we had a carpeted unit we liked; location ideal.

Great place to live if you go to Kellogg.

Dave, our landlord, is also amazing and has been incredibly responsive and helpful.

This building is very close to campus and McManus. 10 minute walk at most to the Jacobs center. Rent includes water, heating, basic cable, and most everything else except for internet and electricity. Heating and air conditioning works rather well, so no need for extra heating/cooling devices. Laundry and driers are in every unit. There is a person at the front desk from early morning to about 11:30pm on weekdays and 24hrs on weekends. They take care of deliveries so no worry of missing a package. Parking garage is indoors and in the same building, so you can get from car to unit in one elevator ride(unlike many other expensive buildings!) Also, garage is warm even in the cold winter. We have a rather small indoor swimming pool that has warm water so great for kids to play in all year round. Also a small hot tub for parents to relax in. Small exercise room and individual storage room also available.
Every unit has a different structure, so it is good to find floor plans for each unit you are interested in. Half of the units face the lake, while the other half faces railroads. Half of the units facing the lake might have blocked views of the lake due to another adjacent building.