Mike,
I'm sure you already explored this option but I gotta ask.... what type of heat the condo uses? The reason being is that if you have gas heat (hard to believe a condo in Chicago would use a heat pump or electric to heat) then you have the availability right there. The Gas Co. (or a plumber) could tell you if a line can be added or tapped into for the kitchen.
Having been through both the gas and electric routes for coking I'd have to say that gas is the way to go. But if there is absolutely no affordable way (reasonable too) to do the gas line maybe an induction top like the new Electrolux might just be in order
Never owned a GE smooth top electric so I can't say what to do but..... having had a Maytag and Kitchen Aid, the Maytag was close to 7 years ago and the Kitchen aid was as recently as two years ago, I'd say the range is not working properly. My experiences with GE (Monogram included) would have to guess that the Tech called the service help line and got no-where with them and this is why nothing was wrong. If the appliannce was newer I'd say apply a little more squeek to the wheel and the grease would follow. Unfortunately if the appliance is 5 years old then it's almost lived it's full life and maybe just needs to be replaced.
As an observation......GE ain't what it once was. In the last 5 years (2 houses worth mind you) we have gone through warranty replacement of a Monogram cook-top (36" gas with grill and 4 burners), 2 Monogram Dishwashers plus a Monogram Refrigerator at our previous house and in the second and current house it's been a GE Profile Refrigerator (1 year old and the same unit as the Monogram only less expensive unfortunately this one cost us big-time because it died and was full of food), a Profile oven that has needed 2 circuit boards and a control panel in less than 2 years and an Advantium oven that has needed a new fan motor for the Convenction and speed cook operation in the same time frame.
Makes me wonder if we should taken out the bigger loan to get the Wolf and Sub-Zero.
And companies wonder why consumer confidence is at historical lows. By the way....just remember to say.....Extended warranty.