Moving Day

The first tenants were expected to move in on Sunday morning, October 14, 1962. Marina City was most definitely still under construction. There was a large construction crane on top of the east tower. But the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd floors were finished.

(Left) What Marina City would have looked like in October 1962. This view from the northwest corner of the lot shows an unfinished cross-section of the commercial platform. The east tower is on the left. Today, this view would be blocked by House of Blues.

Daniel Aguilar, age 28, and his wife, Jo Ann, age 26, had rented apartment 2135 in the east tower. Daniel was a credit manager and also managed a Flamenco dance team. He thought they would be the first tenants to move in, arriving before noon.

Unfortunately for the Aguilar’s place in Marina City history, their next-door neighbor got there first. Charles Swibel, president of the property management company, gave the first key to Louise Hance, a secretary for the partnership bank Brown Brothers Harriman & Company.

When the Aguilars finally showed, Louise was watching the east tower construction crane lift furniture to her balcony, from which it was then moved inside the apartment. They greeted each other over their balcony railings, and then had coffee later.

Over on the west tower, tenants started moving in on January 12, 1963. At that time, 729 total apartments were rented although only 100 – all in the east tower – were actually occupied. Charles Swibel expected all 896 apartments to be rented by April. He said on January 11 that there were more applications and $50 deposits than available apartments.

(Left) Letter dated February 19, 1963, from Morris H. Swibel, advising tenants Earl Meech and Randel Aaron that their apartment at Marina City will be available on March 20, 1963. Morris was the brother of Charles Swibel and vice president of Marina Management Corporation, the property management company. 316 West Randolph Street was its address prior to relocating to Marina City.