Pros: Location
Cons: Bad Management; Mixed Neighbors; Small Apartment; Crime

I've lived here for two years, which I believe is long enough for anyone to come up with a review. What I'm going to write is based on my personal experiences, which is up to you to take it or not.

1. Location
3-4 blocks off Mass Ave in Central Sq, nicely located between Harvard and MIT. When my family moved in two years ago, despite the very high rent ($2100 vs $1500-1700 for a comparable apt in Cambridge), this was the single most determining factor: three of us could walk to work or school.

2. Management
When I renewed my lease for the second year, the property manager sent me a renewal notice letter that I need to let her know 90 days in advance and make an additional security deposit. In fact, the notice was 60 days and no more security deposit was needed, according to my lease terms. When I questioned her, she just tried to sound like a simple error, but I bet if I hadn't read my lease again, she was sure to have manipulated me.
There have been some other cases where the property manager and her team were often rude, manipulating, and deceptive.

3. Apartment
It's a bit crampy for two bedroom apt (820 sq ft), especially when you have to pay to use "in-unit" washer/dryer which use your rented space and paid electricity. Before we move in, it was advertised that W/D was included, but not it was changed to "coin-op" W/D was included. Again, I think the property management was not forthcoming.

Furniture, appliances, and other fixatives in unit are second grade. These are not my words, but from a maintenance personel. We had frequent maintenance problem on closet doors, bathroom bathtub and sinks, garbage disposal, and A/C, and that's what we heard from him after a number of repair visits.

The morning before we move in, we checked our unit and to our surprise it was very messy. Appliances were off the hook and off the wall, debris on the floor, and dirt all over. After our complain, they tried to clean up but there still were uncleaned spots on carpet, cigarette butt marks on the wall, oily dirts on blinds, windows, and appliances.

Our unit inlcudes a balcony, but balconies in this apartment do not have roof on the top floor, so when it's rainy or snowy, it's not much of use. It's only good during fair weather.

4. Parking
Parking space is crampy and assigned. The space is something you'd see in a commercial, where a man literally lift up a car and slide it into a real, tight parking space. Still no complaint here, and I became an expert in parallel parking. The real problem is when a visitor or whoever is taking up your parking space. Usually, the problem solves with a few honks. However, this tends to happen quite often, which is mroe than annoying, and sometimes the owner just don't show up and you end up parking on street. What good is it then' Once I called the managment, and the person on the other end "scolded" me that neighbors should be nice to each other and suggested me to wait... for 2.5 hours. In other times, they were very vigilant and accidently towed my car... twice, and didn't admit their mistakes.

5. Neighbors
There are many different races, occupations, and income levels in this community. If you want a more homogeneous population, this is not the place. Some neighbors could be noisy and others be rude. Luckily, I had nice ones upstairs and downstairs.

6. Crime
Inside community it's pretty safe, even though sometimes I notice some high teens/early twenties gather around and smoke pots. Surrounding the apartment is a development called "University Park" which is a mix of biotech/pharmaceutical industries, hotel, grocery, other apartments, and a park. I've felt safe, but then again, through other routes, I heard the incidents of (minor) crimes around the park, so I guess I was lucky.


In conclusion, I would not recommend this apartment and I would not live here again, because of the management practice and other options sprung up around the area. Be careful with your choice and good luck!

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