This review is as honest as it gets, so read up and pay attention.
here are the good points:
the location is almost perfect as it's situated dead center between kenmore square and coolidge corner. there are 2 T stops (St. Mary's Green C-line and Fenway's Green D-line) within a 2 minute walk, so if you commute anywhere in backbay and downtown, it really doesnt get any better. It's also in somewhat of a decent neighborhood with some upper end homes on the west side. Fellow tenants seem to be very friendly and quiet (some elderly folks like to stop you for a moment to chat - especially an older lady in a electric scooter with her dog 'Chico'). The units are on the spacious side for this area, studios are about 500 SF, 1 beds 600-700 SF and so on. My kitchen looked like it had been redone prior to my move-in, which was nice. The windows are fairly large, so if you get a unit facing east, there's a good chance you'll get a nice view of Fenway park and the Prudential. a view facing east gives you an equally great view, but of green landscape. Overall, not a bad spot for a building to be in. The common lobby, hallways and elevators have also been renovated to somewhat contemporary standards. And something that I've just noticed recently, the elevators move very quick in this building. There is an older guy on the maintenance crew (Gino) who has been very friendly since my move in. He seems to be working 24-7 (i remember i had laundry to do at 4am, Gino was roaming around the hallways for security reasons i suppose). Unfortunately, he is the only man in the building I can say good things about.
Now here's the bad:
For one reason or another, head of maintenance (Francisco) talks like he's the boss of everything. Just a few weeks ago, I asked if he could fix my window blinds (something that desperately needs replacing throughout the building) and in a very condescending manner, he told me that he wouldnt until I put my window screens back on, might I mention in front of a potential tenant . (BTW if he ever pulls that ---- again, I might have to get a little more than verbal). There's also a rude doorman who always has his white shirt tucked in and out (very unprofessional) who acts like a wannabe gangster. Not a very comforting feeling as you walk into your home.
The building's exterior facade desperately needs to be worked on, although this may be done in the future. Just across the alley sits the garage that is going through major construction. I've been told that you can reserve a spot for $235 monthly, but that the structure was being built to state of the art standards (whatever that means). The noise from construction can be unbearable at times, especially @ 7am during the week and on Saturdays. The problem should be gone by the time the garage is finished, anticipated August 07.
There are indeed rats that crawl between the floors and ceilings of the building. Sadly, I've grown accustomed to them, so it hasnt been much of problem lately. The bathrooms have also never been remodeled since they built the place (although some units may have).
One last thing- the apartment owner is also a tenant of the building, and during the evening, he runs around the building smoking a cigar with shorts and an open robe. And as someone here mentioned, he does drive like a madman in right at the entrance of the building. I've always thought of him as an idiot, but it hasn't bothered me yet.

Overall, I'd say there are more positive things I can say than negative. If only maintenance learned some proper etiquette and respected the building's tenants, it would be almost a decent place to live. However, the great location and economical rent make it one of the better choices in the Brookline/Boston area.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/29/2007
Do the rats make their way into your apartment? Are you an end apartment?

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