I lived at Urby for a bit (2 year lease). The following are highlights at best: outdoor and gym amenities are contemporary and revitalizing, staff-- exclusively maintenance management team was helpful (shout out to Rob), and neighbors became family. The cafe and or snug room were social pods—a reminder that life still exists beyond Covid and any personal challenges we face. Yoga/ studio was helpful. The main lesson I extracted from living at Urby...?

Live. Take the good w/ challenges as with anywhere you live or go.

Crash barbecues (respectfully)—joking. But do connect with neighbors. host intimate meet-ups (in consideration of restrictions); go ahead and do it! There are several rockstars: a wealth of creatives, entrepreneurs (therapists, personal trainers, acupuncturists, spiritual/ ministers, web developers, graphic designers, influencers, etc.) to enjoy and engage.

Apartments (especially closets) are quaint, but there is plenty of space in the communal areas, making up for it— stay positive. If needed they have storage in the apartment buildings on roughly every other floor.

When dealing w/ leasing & touring, please don't hesitate to ask deep clarifying questions around pain points such as:

(1). Concierge vs. "Resident Coordinators" (front desk logistics): What does the front desk do? What can I expect or not expect when if I choose to move in? How much aid or guidance will they provide you, guests, delivery guides, etc. Please note that although front desk may present or be perceived as concierge, they're referred to as residential coordinators. Therefore the level of service you may expect from them may clash. The front desk does get busy as sometimes they're forced to aid others, and you're waiting around to get mail, or perhaps and a delivery guy enters and has no idea where to go. Generally speaking the front desk team is kind and helpful, but definitely BUSY. Be gentle w/ them.

(2). Mailroom: I'd focus on asking questions regarding mail handling. Ask how mail is handled and stored if you're home, not home on vacation, and upon moving ( I too lost over $200 worth of mail, as it was later stated to me that my mail was returned, yet the vendor confirms this wasn't the case). Ask about small packages, large packages (furniture size) etc. Confirm text notifications are working and that your email (if added to the system) will also work.

(3). Onboarding and syncing apps: Ensure that every app is working and synced with your apartment (to things like heating and lighting). At the time I was living there, you had an app that controlled access to your apartment, amenities, and also could provide guest keys.

You also have apps that control your heat/ac as well as lighting. Clarify if you're expected to set that up yourself or if the building maintenance team can help. During touring, it was mentioned that building maintenance would help with setting up the app that controlled heating and lighting. I realized, after moving in that maintenance wasn't obligated to do so. Clarify this. The maintenance team does get swamped and although it can be presented by touring/leasing that maintenance is there to provide you support in such ways, it does appear they aren't responsible for doing so.

(4). Autonomy over indoor or outdoor (if you have a patio) personal decor: ask questions around restrictions.

(5). Instagram Ready Living: Yes, the place is beautiful and the spaces scream "creatives-create-in-me." But new management seems to take a more strict approach to video or picture shoots on the premises (confirm the needs for waivers etc). If your livelihood is tied to entrepreneurship and content creation, you want to 100% confirm how truly flexible they are with video and photography on premises— especially if you're trying to get ROI for your living-at-Urby investment.

(6). Protocol for Amenities: pool passes (bringing guests), access to the fire pit, grill areas, communal kitchen (costs associated with any of it).

Good luck & negotiate negotiate negotiate! Get everything in writing via email.