The Blessing — and Curse — of Being a Baumhart Hall Resident

When I first learned I was going to be living downtown in Baumhart Hall for the 2023-24 school year, I was pretty upset.

Due to an issue with my initial housing application not going through by the deadline, I didn’t have any say in where I would live or who I would room with.

I knew living downtown meant being far away from all of my friends, who were all planning to live together at the Lake Shore Campus. It also meant commuting to my classes every day, which I had signed up for with the expectation that I would be living at that campus. 

What I saw then as an inhibitor to my college experience became an incredible way for me to get to know the city I live in. I’m closer than ever to North Michigan Avenue, Oak Street Beach, the Riverwalk and too many restaurants to try in only a year. The best part is that it’s all for the price of student housing. 

The cost of a one bedroom apartment in downtown Chicago for 2023 averages at about $1,400 per month, according to Apartment List Blog. Baumhart Hall quads each have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared kitchen space. They cost $10,600 annually, or about $890 per month from each person, according to the university website. 

This rate includes all necessary facilities and repairs, just like the residence halls at Lake Shore Campus. Although it doesn’t include the cost of food, it’s ultimately a reasonable and inexpensive option for somebody living in downtown Chicago. 

There is a second-year meal plan requirement for second-year students to have an all access meal plan, according to the university website. 

Baumhart residents are exempt from all meal plan requirements as there is no dining hall downtown, according to the university website. 

Lu’s Deli has a meal swipe exchange program for students who do have meal plans, and also accept Dining Dollars from meal plans, according to the restaurant’s website. 

Although I’m a multimedia journalism major and have a fair share of classes downtown, I have at least one class at Lake Shore Campus every day, so there’s a lot of commute time as a result of my living situation. 

I will usually take the shuttle bus between campuses, which is an approximately 25 minute ride each way once the bus is moving, plus an additional 15 to 20 minutes of time spent waiting for the bus to arrive. Occasionally I will take the train, which has about 10 minutes of wait time and is a 30 minute ride each way.

Despite this commute, the experience of living downtown has been worth it. I’ve loved the chances I’ve had to explore the city after classes that I didn’t have last year when I was living at Lake Shore, usually settling in at home before dark. 

With all my morning classes this semester at Lake Shore, my commute has become a relaxing way to make time for myself. I usually listen to a podcast, read a book or listen to music. 

Oftentimes, my friends visit me downtown to take advantage of my proximity to new restaurants and spend time in my apartment after we go out to eat. Living on the 13th floor and facing East Pearson Street, my view is incredible. I have floor to ceiling windows with a pretty clear view of the city. When the sun sets and rises, it reflects off of all the buildings in the area and lights up the room in a way I can only describe as magical. 

On days when it’s warm out and I’m done with classes, I’ll pack a lunch and go to the Riverwalk for a picnic. It’s a great place to people-watch and enjoy the fresh air. Sometimes I follow it up with a trip to Oak Street Beach, just an 11 minute walk from my dorm. 

Being one block away from Michigan Avenue provides the perfect opportunity for me to go on morning runs down the Magnificent Mile and invite friends over to window shop.

I only have a year living here before I’ll be moving back to the main campus, so I’ve been trying as hard as I can to take full advantage of the opportunities I have living here. 

No matter how intimidating it may be, I see a lot of value in students taking the leap and living downtown for at least a year of their Loyola experience. It has made me so much more comfortable with the city and public transportation. 
Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S., according to the city of Chicago’s website. It’s an amazing thing that I get to live right in the heart of it at such a young age. I hope others will have the courage to do this — even though it can seem intimidating at first — because it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Feature image by Ryan Pittman / The Phoenix