I have given much thought into what to say here. We stay at Air BnB's all over in all price ranges and in many countries; we have pretty deep experience in this type of lodging. For the AirBnB system to work, guests need to give accurate reviews. I have no idea how Maria is a Superhost. Truly. I suspect guests are simply not providing accurate reviews. Hopefully, Maria can make improvements to ensure that future guests have amazing experiences as the space has great potential but simply misses the mark.
First, the good. Maria was easy to communicate with and prompt in her replies. We did not realize we were going to be able to park in a garage so that was a fantastic bonus.
The Space: Bright with much natural light and high ceilings. One large open space.
The Vibe: Generally speaking, Maria's unit feels like you are staying in a younger friends early post college apartment. Furniture is a bit beaten up and faded, art is all hung at varying levels, not may dishes and they don't match, chipped coffee mug. etc.
Neighborhood: We once lived in Chicago and understand that you need to leave this area to dine, shop, etc. Be prepared to drive, bike, bus, or Blue Line to get to a place to hang out.
Cleanliness: Much room for improvement. This may simply be an issue with the cleaning service Maria uses not being reliable.
Amenities: The unit needs some basics such as new bed pillows, better sheets, extra blankets, wash cloths, etc. When we stripped the bed, we were horrified to find the only two bed pillows were stained and filthy.
Security: The main entrance to the unit is not the angled corner door shown in the listing. You enter through an unlocked wood gate along the side of the building that abuts the neighboring property, which does not at all feel safe. There is no lock on the wood gate. (Simply remedied with a keypad entry.) Garbage was littering the walk and it looked like it has not been swept in a long time. There is no light at night. You have to use the flashlight on your phone in a pitch black walkway. A motion-sensor light with a shade so that it does not disturb neighbors would be ideal or better yet.... move the entry to the main corner.
Sound: The building is old, which is amazing! Realize that when the modern drywall was installed, no sound insulation was added to the ceiling. The neighbor upstairs woke up at 4 am and so did we.
In this price range, there are simply much better offerings in Chicago to choose from. Hopefully, Maria can provide some simple upgrades to enhance the experience.