Living in River North, Chicago: A Renter’s Guide

Where River North sits

River North is the neighborhood just north of the Chicago River and the Loop, west of the Magnificent Mile. Exhibit On Superior sits at 165 W Superior St, near the corner of Superior and Wells — close enough to walk to the Loop, the riverwalk, and Michigan Avenue, but a few blocks removed from the heaviest tourist foot traffic.

The neighborhood built its reputation on art galleries and design showrooms, and it is now one of the densest restaurant districts in Chicago. For renters, the practical draw is simpler: almost everything a week requires — groceries, gyms, coffee, transit — is within a few blocks.

Getting around without a car

This is the part of River North living that surprises people most. Per Walk Score, 165 W Superior St rates a 99/100 Walk Score (“Walker’s Paradise”), a perfect 100/100 Transit Score (“Rider’s Paradise”), and an 86/100 Bike Score (“Very Bikeable”) — errands here genuinely do not require a car.

The Chicago station on the Brown and Purple Lines is about two blocks away at Chicago Ave & Franklin St — roughly a three-minute walk. The Red Line’s Chicago/State station is about 0.3 miles east, around a seven-minute walk, and the #66 Chicago Ave bus stops one block north. The Loop is one L stop away — about ten minutes door to door — or a twenty-minute walk of roughly a mile down Wells Street.

Both airports are reachable by train: per the CTA’s published schedules, O’Hare takes roughly 45–55 minutes on the Blue Line, and Midway roughly 45–55 minutes on the Orange Line with a transfer in the Loop.

What renting here costs beyond rent

Every building prices extras differently, so ask for the full fee schedule before you apply anywhere. At Exhibit On Superior the structure is straightforward: there is no security deposit. Applicants pay a $60 application fee per person and a $500 administration fee per apartment, and the administration fee is refunded if the application is denied.

A monthly Utility & Service Amenity fee of $95–$195, depending on the floor plan, covers water, sewer, trash, heat, air conditioning, and natural gas — electricity through ComEd is the only utility you set up yourself. Garage parking is $335 per month, storage lockers are $25 per month, and bike storage is free.

Apartment styles you will find

River North’s rental stock is dominated by high-rise towers, and layouts run from compact studios to full three-bedrooms. At Exhibit On Superior, homes range from studios and convertibles to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, spanning roughly 448 to 1,528 square feet across floors 2 through 34.

Interiors here include floor-to-ceiling windows, an in-home washer and dryer, quartz countertops, and driftwood-style plank flooring — features worth putting on your comparison checklist for any building you tour in the neighborhood.

High-rise life: floors, views, and quiet

Floor choice changes the experience more than most renters expect. Lower floors put you closest to the street energy; higher floors trade a longer elevator ride for bigger skyline views and less street sound. Exhibit’s tower runs from floor 2 to floor 34, so there is a wide band to choose from — our team walks renters through the trade-offs on every tour.

Building amenities carry more weight in a high-rise neighborhood because they extend your square footage: Exhibit residents have a 75-foot indoor lap pool, an outdoor hot tub, and a sauna, among other spaces.

Bringing a pet

River North is a dog neighborhood — you will see them on every block. Exhibit On Superior allows up to two pets per apartment with a one-time fee of $650 for one dog, $750 for two dogs, or $325 for cats, and there is no monthly pet rent.