Beantown's got a new neighbor. Archstone Boston Common—a 28-story apartment community—is the first high-rise residential development underway in downtown Boston in more than 20 years. The 420-unit project marks a major step in the redevelopment of the city's downtown. Archstone Boston Common is located near the city's theater and financial districts and is adjacent to the Liberty Tree Building, a registered historic landmark.
Developed by Archstone-Smith, a national apartment investment firm, the project offers its residents hotel-style luxury and pampering.
ADD, a Cambridge, Mass.-based architectural firm, designed the high-end apartment development. Its vision: to create a place where indoor spaces provide a peaceful escape. The residential community maximizes potential views and maintains the scale of its neighboring historic landmarks and streets. ADD designed the building with a 15-foot setback at the sixth floor and another at the 13th floor to reflect the variety—and flavor—of building heights that have historically existed in the area.
Archstone Boston Common features various floor plans and layouts, ranging from a 550-square-foot studio to a three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,540-square-foot unit. Most spaces have large bay windows. Other amenities include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, balconies and fireplaces. The development also features an indoor lap pool, massage room, game room, sports club, yoga studio, and fitness center. There's also an Internet lounge featuring complimentary beverages and wireless access.
“Archstone Boston Common is the first high-rise multifamily rental community to grace Boston's evolving skyline since the Devonshire in 1982,” says Frederick A. Kramer, president of ADD. “[It] serves as a catalyst for the continued dynamic urban development of Washington Street and the Chinatown area of the city. Luxury apartment living with a boutique hotel ambiance makes the project a unique addition to Boston's overall mixed-use fabric.”
The apartment complex was completed December 2006 and opened in March. The project is 60 percent leased.
