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YMCA -- Lakeview
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Lakeview
3333 N Marshfield
(between Lincoln Ave & Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-3333
3333 N Marshfield
(between Lincoln Ave & Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-3333
- Nearest Transit:
-
Paulina (Brown)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for YMCA -- Lakeview
I like Lakeview YMCA! I don't go as often as I should, and I know that. And that's my fault.
Yes, it's not as fancy as X-Sport, or Athletic Club, but for a normal looking girl, I feel comortable (and pretty attractive) at this gym. The desk staff are really friendly, and the price is terrific. They have everything I need (although a few more treadmills would be nice for those really packed days), and the machines are up to date and easy to use.
My only complaints are about the people- there are gym wipes. Use them. I don't want to sit in your butt sweat, nor do I want to wipe it off for you. Also, grunting or whatever is natural, but keep the volume to a lower decible. Please, don't sit at a machine and not use it when other people are waiting. And finally to the weird old men (who are generally not there- don't be afraid!), I'm at the gym- I look gross, and I'm not there to make new friends. Please don't try and talk to me as I try to use the weights.
Beside that, the Y is great, and I really have no excuse not to be there more! Definetely a great price, and a good gym!
Now this is more like it!
I left Lakeview Athletic Club for a gym that better suits my needs...and I found such a gym in the YMCA.
I get in, run on the treadmill, do some crunches, and get out. The showers are too terrifying and gross to use so I just shower at home, thank you very much. So for $47 a month my wham, bam, thank you ma'am (or sir) attitude towards my gym is ideal.
I'm still not comfortable with the weights or the weight machines. The boys stare too much while I'm trying to get situated. Sheesh. I guess my arms are going to stay wimpy until I can get over that.
I enjoy an occasional game of racquetball, too. Hey, YMCA! When are you going to have girls's basketball? I love basketball but the boys dominate the courts. Arent we gals ever going to get some love?
Free classes? Yes, please! If I wanted to join any classes at LVAC it was like $50 on top of my overpriced membership fee. Geez! I'm excited to try out spinning this winter when I return my indoor running routine.
This all over the place, disorganized review has come to an end. I'm happy at the Y. If you're sick of overpriced fluff gyms, come here! You get what you pay for...but if you just want a cheap place to get your workouts done, then the Lakeview YMCA is for you.
I joined the YMCA for the summer promotion. You can't beat the price: ~$25 a month for three months, and no initiation fee (usually $100-$200) at more well known places. The monthly fee does go back to the normal $47/month after the promotion, but you can quit with a 15 day notice.
The good...
-It's Cheap
-It has everything you need: a swimming pool, basketball court, running track above the court, weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment. And, it has lockers and showers.
-They provide sanitary wipes for the equipment.
The bad...
-It isn't 24 hours
-The free weight area is small, only has a few bench press and squat stations, and it's often crowded and hard to do certain routines.
-There is a fair amount of douchery in the clientele. The number of douches is about average, but because the free weights room is so small, you're much closer to them, thus they become extra large douches.
-Most of the weights are old and outdated.
-Finally, they don't provide towels.
I give it three stars simply because of the price and the fact that you can swim, run, lift and play bball.
I LOVE this gym. However, I would much rather work out with the "normal" variety of folks than inside a meat market with musclebound arrogant freaks.
I read the previous reviews and have to comment on some of the negativity. First off, this place is cheap. Like DIRT cheap. For my boyfriend and I to have a family membership it is only $69 a month. For those of you mathematically challenged folks- that's $34.50 per person a month. I dare you to find a cheaper gym. Especially one that offers free classes and personal training. Someoe said you wait in line for machines as well. I have never waited, there are always numerous machines open at any given time of day- and I don't have a work out schedule- I go whenever I can talk my lazy ass into getting off the couch. There has also always been a huge supply of sanitary wipes for the machines and I think the locker room is very well taken care of.
The staff has always been super firendly. They helped us upgrade my membership to include my boyfriend so we could save money and never even asked for proof that we did indeed live together even though we do.
I've never encountered the parking scenario because I live about 7 houses down from the place- but how about if you take the el? Seeing as how the Paulina Brown Line stop is directly around the corner- that extra 20 steps shouldn't be an issue.
I have to say, my favorite part of this gym is the ecelectic group of people you see working out on a daily basis. They range in age from 80 to 18 and they come in all shapes and sizes. I like my gym to represent the real world- not some fake plastic barbie and ken dream house. Kudos to you and your members YMCA!
For the past month or so I've been battling depression, stress, lethargy, worry and, mostly as a result, sleeplessness. What changed? Oh, I'd decided going to the gym was too much of a hassle. Oh, the parking sucks. Oh, it's too hot. Oh, it's probably really busy right now. ..etc.
I went back to the Lakeview Y last night, ran my ass off, and went home and slept like a baby. They've gotten some sweet new treadmills with some crazy high-tech graphics and viewing options. There's some weird construction going on, and there's a sign on the water fountain that says it doesn't work, but it totally does.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/19/2008
I called them yesterday in regards to my bank account being hacked by some jerks who used my entire… Read more »
Wow, I'm not sure what all the kvetching is about here....the Lake View Y offers great bang for your buck: gym for basketball etc., cardio, free weights, weight machines, awesome spinning classes, and all the other fitness classes your heart could desire (yoga, pilates, abs, step, just to name a few).
I admit that the pool is less than perfect, but guess what? A membership at Lake View means you are able to access ALL the Ys that are a part of the metro Chicago Y system. And there are other Ys in the city with better pools!!!!
One thing I definitely love about this place is that it's not a meat market--the variety of ages and abilities that I see here is great, and they offer programs that support members who might be trying to lose weight, be healthy, etc.
As for customer service, I have found the staff to be pleasant and responsive 95% of the time (hey, nobody's perfect) throughout the 4 years I've been a member here. Also during that time period, they've upgraded the equipment and added more cardio options to meet demand.
I can't comment on the parking complaints, except to say that isn't parking anywhere in this city a total pain in the arse? That's why public transit is the way to go to get to Lake View--Ashland bus, Lincoln bus, Belmont bus, brown line (Addison for now, until Paulina reopens).
Sorry to hear that y'all insist on a perfect, spotless gym--have fun paying twice (or three times) as much! I'll stick with the Y.
I had to step up and say something - my safe haven is getting trashed here!
I love the Lakeview Y. I can understand parking complaints, etc. (the lot doesn't look too pleasant), but if you live within walking distance there's really no better option for the money.
For a meager $47/mo, you have access to all of the fitness classes, the pool, weight room, aerobic room - basically the entire facility. The classes are fantastic and are constantly changing - they release four fitness schedules a year that change with the seasons, and with each change there are at least two new classes.
I'm not very athletic - in fact, I was pretty out of shape when I first joined, and I was more than a little apprehensive about attending the fitness classes, afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up. Thanks to the Y's helpful instructors, I've tried several new things, including Spinning - which I now love!
It seems like the members here are kinder to each other, and it feels like more of a family. I've rarely encountered a rude person. The locker rooms, although old, are far from dirty, and I usually (8 times out of 10) see someone in there cleaning while I'm there.
I'd take this place over the 24-hour meathead fest across School (aka X-Sport) any day.
this is definitely not the nicest or best equipped ymca i have visited, but it has what i need, so i'm not complaining. the hours are better than high ridge (especially for a night owl like me), so it's worth the "eh" parking. or shoot, just ride your bike! there's PLENTY of bike parking. :)
the people really make this place great. i've only been there a few times, but every time i've been greeted nicely. also, the folks that work out near me have been exceptionally friendly. i like that a LOT. having spent a year in phoenix, where i couldn't pay people to acknowledge my presence, this is a huge plus.
Hi. My name is Erika, and I'm an ectomorph.
Ectomorphs have been described as possessing a long & lean frame. That's a very flattering description. I mostly refer to myself as scrawny, and awkward.
Like a lot of other ectos, I hated gym class when I was in school. I'm sorry, but standing around waiting for a ball to fly in my general direction is not my idea of a good time. I'd rather exercise my mind with a book than my delts or gluts.
As an adult, I've realized that even I need to exercise. So I joined the New City YMCA & loved it. As far as gyms go, it was pretty no-frills, but that was all I needed. The staff was always friendly & helpful. The exercise areas & locker room were clean, and I never had to wait to use a machine (even during the peak after-work and weekend afternoon time frames). The facility also had a big parking lot, so parking was never an issue.
But then New City closed down to make room for yet another condominium development project, so I switched to the Lakeview Y.
I gave this location multiple chances, but ultimately I cancelled my membership. Everything about it reminded me too much of high school gym class: the dirty locker room, waiting long periods of time for tan, athletic types (aka the popular crowd) to finish their turns on the machines & the overall All-American jock feel to the facility made me want to run & hide. Or at least try to convince my orthodontist to write a note excusing me from gym class because I had my braces tightened that day.
Parking, even with tokens that gave access to the member's-only lot, was also next to impossible. Who wants to drive around looking for a parking spot when they're supposed to be working out? Not me, no sir. It's already half a battle to get me to go to the gym in the first place. So I gave up and quit. Now I exercise at home using the Firm's dvds, and I'm happy to report that the perky Southern gal instructors are really sort of kicking my ecto butt into shape.
I'm a YMCA member, and have been for the past 15 months, because it's the YMCA. It's not XSport Fancy Pants or Pretension Power Gym. It doesn't have floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow passersby to gape at me while I'm sweating. It doesn't have an attached smoothie bar that sells high-calorie snacks that negate my workout. It doesn't discriminate against anyone - you don't have to already be fit to fit in.
They've got a variety of free fitness classes and open gym/swim. They've got staff constantly walking around, just in case you need them. They've got all types of equipment, a separate women-only free weight room, a sauna and whirlpool.
But it also has some older equipment, some creaky machines, a wonkey treadmill or four. The building is old and, in some places, falling apart. The upstairs track is hardly one and so sloped it can be scary to run on.
But it's the YMCA. It's no frills. It's pay-by-the-month. It provides a good workout space for those of us who don't own treadmills. While it might be nice to have some newer equipment and a nicer facility, I wouldn't want that to mean it loses its charm.
NOTE: It can get busy like any gym, particularly after 4:30 p.m. during the week AND during the free enrollment periods, so consider yourself warned. But most members are respectful of the 30-minute cardio machine rule, and there are a lot of machines to go around.
I've been working out here for about 15 years (used to live within walking distance), but am thinking it's time for a change. The High Ridge Y on Touhy is closer (although weekend hours suck, and there are many more kids), but this Y is right next door to Whole Foods and near Trader Joe's, so I can tie my workout in with a grocery shopping trip! Since I'm also usually running other errands when I come here, parking is important.
Conditions at this location could be better. I've also been to The High Ridge Y, The Evanston Y, and the New City (is that one still around?). Anyway, they all are/were cleaner, newer, and more spacious. I have complained about the cleaniness at this Y, and it does seem that there has been some attempt to improve on that. They have added a new workout room at Lakeview, which helps. But parking in this neighborhood has become a pain as the area has become more crowded, and street parking is all permit parking after 5pm now. At High Ridge, there's a big, dedicated parking lot and it's free.
Choice is the beauty of a YMCA membership, that and the pricing is reasonable.
The Lakeview YMCA is an experience. In one sense I feel like there are a lot of people all waiting to get on the same treadmill or elliptical machine-- in another sense, where else can you work out in such a unique environment, like, next to an old fireplace?
The staff here is friendly, but don't count on there being sanitizing wipes to wipe off the equipment. And don't expect a towel. This is a YMCA where everyone is on their own.
All in all, I had a good experience with the Lakeview Y, but with other gyms around the corner offering a lot of extras and nearly the same monthly rate, it's hard stay...unless you really dig the atmosphere, which is pretty cool.
This place is surprisingly clean, stocked with new equipment and air conditioned for a YMCA. It's probably big enough for anything you need, but it loses big points for convenience.
First, forget the parking lot. You have to pay a dollar to get in and people wait in a queue, in their cars, for spaces to become available. Who are these people with the time--or the patience--to do that? That's Lakeview people I guess. At best you can park on Marshfield in one of the few non-loading zones, or on Roscoe in one of the few meter spots. So yeah, can't go to the gym unless you have singles or quarters on you at all times. Sounds like fun.
If you go during the rush, about 4-8, it's not jam packed or anything to the point you have to wait in lines, but it's annoyingly busy in that you're frequently being asked for a work-in. Either that or you have someone giving you the eyeball, waiting for you to finish.
The building layout is terrible. You have to walk through a labyrinth of lockers, following pretty unhelpful signs, up the stairs, and through the basketball court just to get to the fitness center.
I've been here a few times to try it out--normally I go to the Irving Y--because it's much closer to me, being in Lakeview and all. But I'd rather make the long drive down Irving to get free, easy parking and not have to deal with all the people and b.s. The Irving gym is older and not as cool inside, but the weight room is actually bigger and there are far less chad-bros whaling on their pecks, making you wait.
On a side note, I saw this one guy sitting, reading a book under one of the Smith machines for about 30 minutes. I don't know even know what to think about that.
I worked out here for about a year before I left. I left after the second time someone broke into my locker. I understand that there is only so much that the staff can do about that, but I didn't feel very good about how non-chalantly they received my complaints. They intimated that it was a fairly common occurence, and I promptly left.
I don't think there is much else in Lakeview that will give you as much for your money as you will get here. Although the showers are less than clean (I'm being polite) and the pool is warm & over-chlorinated, the people I regularly saw in the weight room were very cool and I felt the most comfortable lifting here. People here regularly wiped down the cardio machines, which is something I never saw at Lakeshore Athletic Club. (although, at LSAC they have people to do that for you)
If you do join, make sure you have a very heavy-duty lock. And expect a wait for cardio machines between 4-7.30 PM. And wear shower shoes!
This place is so dirty and the front door would not even open for me, had to wait for someone to come out. Went in to check out the place and I know it's cheap but the guy at the front desk told me I had to come back the next day to enroll but I could walk around if I wanted. Weird..but glad I did, it stunk and the locker room was filthy.
I feel the need to stand up for my Y based on the other reviews thus far! It is unique, it is fun and it is very much a neighborhood place. A lot of what that means is that it's influenced by the community and members as much as the staff. And the community is great.
A few examples...
- The Pilates instructor was running late one day so what did we do? We started doing warm-up exercises until she got there, led by a long-time student. We're all late to work some days.
- The cardo machines can be crowded (this doesn't effect me much because I'm rarely there at rush hour), but as a whole I've observed everyone being very respectful of the 30-minute limit. People wipe down their machines.
- The staff is mostly young and very likely underpaid. They've always been great to me and I see that a lot of the true regulars seem to be buddies with the staff- a good sign.
- This is a real neighborhood Y, with kids' programs, people in their 80s on bikes in Chucks and dudes you saw on stage at the Beat Kitchen last week trying to get in shape. If you like your neighborhood, you'll like this place.
- The building is old, odd and winding, with lots of stairs and yes, there is a fireplace and wood paneling in the cardio room. I think that's kind of cool.
If you're looking for a good place to work out and not many amenities besides what you'd get by having all the equipment you want in your home, this is the place for you. I live almost right next door so can't comment on the cleanliness of the showers or locker room but in general I feel it's a clean place.
Kind of like Average Joe's Gym in "Dodgeball," if you want spandex, hot bodies and tunes head next door to Xsport and pay for it. If not, we'll take ya as you are.
Btw, this seems to be a renegade, duplicate entry. Go here for more reviews: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I love it here. The people are friendly, there is never a wait even during busy times. They have basketball and raquetball as well. For the price its a great deal. The locker rooms are kept pretty clean, although i get in and out of them asap. It remind me of an old large high school locker room but there is plenty of space for privacy if needed. Has a nice pool as well. When i first signed up a tour would have been nice, the place is like a maze and I felt and i'm sure looked like a chicken with its head cut off. The place is a maze of rooms for sure.
Love it. Can't say enough good things about it. All the staff is great and the ladies in the Mazing Kids Center are great. I trust them w/o a doubt with my 2 year old son. The only thing that I think could be improved are the showers in the women's locker room. Great water pressure but could be prettier :) Clean just not pretty.
So I have no money and lived in the Lakeview area, and I work out like a fiend. For the price, comparatively, this is THE option, because the place had a pool I could swim in before work. But when i toured the pool was closed for a week of supposed cleaning. Swimming in the morning here is a futile exercise because 2 of the 4 20-yard lanes are occupied with very slow moving older people who aren't even swimming, they are walking slowly and with purpose and determination in the shallow end of the pool, complaining about damn near everything, including, and I am not kidding, "kids these days." The lanes are microscopic, and more than one person per lane is like squeezing two people into one pair of pants: no matter what you do, you will always be touching. If you forgo morning swimming for weekend swimming, you can expect to dodge children during family swim, where the cleanliness of the pool and pool area is exponentially worse.
The locker room perpetually smells like bleach, the hot tub gave me a rash, only two of the 6 showers don't ooze water, but are usually occupied by women who seem to really enjoy being naked.
The machine exercise facilities are fine, and predictably crowded at peak times. There are a couple state-of-the-art machines, and there are a few that time forgot. Since I had basically no other option, I could make do with this gym, but the pool is terrible.
