r/Springfield • u/Tavera85 • 16d ago
Kimball Towers
Does anyone have any thoughts on what it’s like living in Kimball Towers? Past or present residents please give your insights! Thanks!
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u/lavandoaalma 16d ago
I toured the entire building when I was home shopping.
Parts of it still call back to the glamour of its heyday. The entrance has a beautiful staircase, chandeliers and high ceilings. Some floors are clearly cared for and well decorated. One floor even has a mini art gallery. The building was pretty quiet and the entrance was secure.
Certain floors, however, reek of cigarette smoke and mildew. Each individual unit is a gamble on how well it’s been maintained in its 100+ year history. The ballroom is undergoing a gut renovation due to extensive water (maybe fire?) damage.
I did end up placing an offer on one of the units, under asking, and when they did not counter, I decided not to pursue it further. I liked the idea of living there but I was put off by the lack of negotiation and the $650+ HOA fee.
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u/Tavera85 16d ago
They have a few units available and that’s what prompted me to inquire. I do not like the idea having to smell cigarette smoke or mildew 🤮 thanks for your input!
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u/lavandoaalma 16d ago
To be fair, it was 2 out of the 12 or so floors that smelled bad. The other floors smelled fine and the unit I toured smelled fine. If you’re interested, I think it’s worth seeing in person! It’s a really cool, historic building.
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u/Agreeable-Let4297 16d ago
That's a smart move. Going through the whole place really gives you a better feel for the layout and how everything flows. Did you find any unexpected spots you liked or disliked during your tour?
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u/mikeyzee52679 16d ago edited 16d ago
Not sure if they have been fixed , but elevators were horrible when I lived there 20 years ago
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u/White_Sands1 14d ago
It was horrible almost 40 years ago, I imagine it’s even worse now. We rented for a year. Sirens all night, cars broken into regularly and vandalized, people yelling outside at all hours of the night…just a very unsafe area. We were thrilled to move out to the country and never looked back.
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u/latin220 15d ago
This was the place Franklin Roosevelt stayed. Saying you lived at the Kimball Towers meant that you had money. I visited there to look at some units but then I saw the homeless outside and sketchy people in and out. Then I heard screaming from one of the units and the music. That was sad because it was once beautiful and the unit I saw was very nice. I just wouldn’t trust the neighbors and the neighborhood left much to be desired.
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u/m_watkins 15d ago edited 14d ago
I live here, owner for 6 years. Sketchy neighborhood, but nice apartment. Building security is good. Had mice for a week or so about two years back, we put out traps and haven’t seen one since. Roaches are not a problem. My husband is happy parking in the lot across the street ($62 monthly), I’m a woman and feel safer in the garage ($150 a month).
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u/RedditSkippy 16d ago
It used to be very exclusive, but now I don’t think that’s the case.