About River North
River North is part of the City's Near North Side community area, but this guide focuses on the ARO records that match River North and its immediate edges by address.
The City dataset shows several income-restricted rental properties around Wells Street, Cleveland Avenue, Larrabee Street, and nearby blocks. Those records identify properties with ARO units; they do not show real-time apartment availability.
Local snapshot: This River North guide uses six City ARO records: The Leo, AMLI 808, The 808, 847 N. Larrabee, 868northwells, and 920northwells. Together, the City snapshot lists 121 ARO units across those matched records.
How affordable apartments come to River North
River North's ARO units are tied to private residential developments that triggered the City's affordability rules. The buildings are managed individually, so renters should contact each leasing office rather than looking for a single River North application.
Affordable housing inventory overview
6
Page-specific City ARO records
121
Listed ARO units in those records
12
City records in Near North Side
The City snapshot lists 12 ARO properties across the full Near North Side community area. This page's River North subset includes six records with addresses concentrated around Wells Street, Cleveland Avenue, and Larrabee Street.
The largest River North records in this subset are AMLI 808, 868northwells, and 920northwells, each listed with 32 ARO units in the City dataset. That count is an inventory figure, not an available-unit count.
The City lists 12 ARO properties in the Near North Side community area (our snapshot of September 23, 2026; City last updated the dataset December 30, 2024). A listing means the property has ARO units — not that one is available now. Confirm current openings with each building's leasing office.
The Leo
741 N Wells
Units listed in City dataset: 4
Listed manager/developer: Cagan Management Group
Phone (per City dataset): 872-873-0741
AMLI 808
808 N. Wells St.
Units listed in City dataset: 32
Listed manager/developer: AMLI Realty Co.
Phone (per City dataset): 312-279-0880
The 808
808 N. Cleveland Ave.
Units listed in City dataset: 20
Listed manager/developer: Common Living Inc.
Phone (per City dataset): 312-778-5765
847 N. Larabee
847 N. Larabee St.
Units listed in City dataset: 1
Listed manager/developer: Fulton Grace Realty
Phone (per City dataset): 773-698-6648
868northwells
868 N. Wells St.
Units listed in City dataset: 32
Listed manager/developer: Willow Bridge
Phone (per City dataset): 312-896-4868
920northwells
920 N. Wells St.
Units listed in City dataset: 32
Listed manager/developer: Willow Bridge
Phone (per City dataset): 312-319-9200
Notable income-restricted buildings
AMLI 808
808 N. Wells St.
Included because the City dataset lists 32 ARO units at a Wells Street address in the River North search area.
868northwells
868 N. Wells St.
Included because it is another Wells Street record with 32 ARO units in the City snapshot, useful for renters focusing on the same corridor.
920northwells
920 N. Wells St.
Included because the City dataset lists 32 ARO units at this address, creating a cluster of Wells Street properties to call together.
The 808
808 N. Cleveland Ave.
Included because it is a separate River North-area City dataset record from AMLI 808, with 20 listed ARO units and a separate leasing contact.
How to verify availability
- Call each City-listed phone number and ask for the income-restricted or ARO leasing contact, not just general availability.
- For the Wells Street cluster, compare AMLI 808, 868northwells, and 920northwells in the same call session so you can ask which AMI tiers and bedroom sizes each property currently has.
- If a leasing office says no ARO unit is available, ask whether it keeps an interest list and how often you should check back; the City dataset itself does not answer that question.
Income eligibility in River North
River North ARO properties may use different AMI tiers by unit. At 60% AMI in 2026, the limit is $51,060 for one person and $72,900 for four people; an 80% AMI unit has a higher cap. Verify the specific tier before you apply.
Source: City of Chicago 2026 Income and Rent Limits. Effective May 1, 2026. Last verified: .
Transit access relevant to listed properties
- • Wells Street records are positioned for Brown/Purple Line access at Chicago or Merchandise Mart, depending on the exact address.
- • The Leo, 847 N. Larrabee, and The 808 sit west of the central Wells corridor, so bus routes and river crossings may matter more than a single rail stop.
- • The Red Line at Grand or Chicago can be relevant for east-west trips, but renters should verify the actual walk from each listed building before applying.
Neighborhood-specific affordable housing patterns
- • The River North subset is concentrated in a small number of privately managed ARO buildings rather than a broad neighborhood-wide program.
- • Several records share the Wells Street corridor, making it practical to check multiple nearby buildings at once.
- • Because River North shares the Near North Side community-area label with Streeterville and Old Town, address-level review is essential.
Where to start in River North
- 1
Start with the Wells Street records
Call AMLI 808, 868northwells, and 920northwells first if you want the most concentrated verified ARO inventory in this guide.
- 2
Ask for exact AMI tiers
River North records do not show unit tiers in the City dataset, so ask whether open units are 60%, 80%, or another tier before submitting documents.
- 3
Expand one boundary at a time
If River North has no openings, compare nearby Streeterville and West Loop guides instead of relying on broad downtown searches.
Current opportunities
- • No verified current River North ARO opening was identified in this review. Use the City-listed property contacts to confirm availability directly.
Map
River North affordable housing FAQ
Which River North corridor should I check first?
The City dataset records in this guide are especially concentrated on Wells Street, with additional records on Cleveland and Larrabee. Start with addresses nearest your transit or work needs.
Does a City-listed River North property mean an apartment is available?
No. The City dataset confirms that the property has ARO units. It does not show vacancies, current rents, application deadlines, or whether the property has an active waitlist.
Are River North ARO units handled by the City?
No. Private buildings handle their own leasing. The City dataset points you to the property; the building confirms current availability and application steps.
Explore other Chicago neighborhoods
- Streeterville
Same official community area, but fewer Streeterville-specific ARO records.
- West Loop
A larger Near West Side ARO cluster west of the river.
- South Loop
Downtown-adjacent listings south of the Loop.