Chicago Rental: Urban Lofts in West Loop for $995

Now that temperatures in Chicago are averaging in the 80s, the priorities for a new apartment shift a little, and moving to the top of the list is naturally some outdoor space. Perhaps a sundeck to soak in the rays and to grill out with the roomies?

That's reason No.1 to check out these one- and two-bedroom apartments in the West Loop, a former industrial part of town where old factories have been converted into posh living spaces. Private balconies and terraces usually come with a premium, but you can find buildings with communal rooftop spaces that are priced at just about the same rate as an apartment without the outdoor amenity.

According to local data, the average one-bedroom in the West Loop costs $1,437 while the average two-bedroom runs $1,904. Depending on floor plan, one-bedrooms at this complex, known as Lake Street Lofts, start as low as $995.