Avalon at the Hingham Shipyard — Attraction in Hingham

2025 UPDATE: Avalon in the Hingham Shipyard has ongoing failures re. garbage stench filling the 1st & 2nd floor hallways (and sometimes into my unit) since April 2024. Instead of replacing the system, the poor maintenance guys have to shovel and scrub the overflowing dumpster rooms, then air out the dumpster rooms to the parking lot. (This combines with the chronic mice on floors 1&2.)

In full disclosure, after paying on time for 3.5 yrs (as Avalon failed to deliver on the lease), my small business had trouble and I fell behind in rent. Avalon immediately wanted me out, even when I was able to catch up. So I voluntarily left in June, amidst the worst-ever 3 days of stench. (My movers asked me why the place smelled so bad.) As of the end of July, my neighbors tell me that the “wicked stench” continues.

*Also full disclosure, while at Avalon, we suffered two floods that displaced us 3.5 months, due to pipes not being up to code, and also 18 mo of every heavy rain leaking into my living room. (I reported several times, but Maintenance has told me that there are so many maintenance requests, that it’s difficult to maintain the building.) Of course the garbage stench, sometimes 5 days of each week, was the worst, and continues today.

OLD REVIEW: We chose Avalon at the Hingham Shipyard because our focus was being able to work comfortably from home, while being on the water, with everything we need within walking distance, in a quiet and safe, nicer environment. For work, it's always quiet. The wifi is strong. The power does not go out. Packages arrive safely in the Amazon Hub, and do not disappear. I can get away from work and take a walk on the marina two mins from my front door. (Other apartment complexes in the area have a nice newly painted lounge with a TV, but we have, you know, the Atlantic ocean.) The Shipyard is its own community. People will ask where I live, and when I answer, they usually talk about how they wish they could live here. Happens all the time! Because Avalon and the Shipyard are NICE. And SAFE. And FUN. People walk a lot, day and night. There is a large population of dogs here, and of course small kids out on the jungle gym. Hallways are quiet, everyone has a definite sense of decorum. We are mindful of the quality of life here. There is a lot to do within walking distance. Movie theatre. Upper level restaurants, Wahlburgers, ice cream. Dunkin here in Avalon (Starbucks is a 2 min ride down the street.) You can get a massage, get your mani-pedi, shop for clothes, get a haircut. Stop & Shop across the street. The marina is right here, and the population of cute little rabbits! Trails. The Hingham Ferry is right here -- 4 minutes walking from my door and I'm on the boat. Commuters take it daily into town. If you time it right, you can take it to Logan Airport. Seniors will take the ferry with friends and just enjoy the ride together. We make sure to hop on the ferry each month and wander around Boston a bit. In the summer months they have free concerts and fireworks every Friday by the water here in the Shipyard. Of course Nantasket Beach and its restaurants on the Atlantic are about three miles away. (Every week I get my coffee and drive down to do my weekly planning at the beach, watching the waves roll in.) It sounds like an ad (!) but these conveniences are a big part of why I live here. Maintenance is highly professional and highly responsive. A++ for maintenance. You just don't see things out of order here. The guys are definitely no-nonsense but also friendly and part of the community. The rental office staff is efficient, personable and ready to help. The leasing process is quick and easy, all online. If there is a problem, they step up and do what needs to be done. They keep us all informed. There is also a 24 hr service available by phone after hours. The office puts on community events throughout the year. The grounds are always, always manicured and clean. Always. The gym is open 24 hrs (!), good-sized and immaculate. Usually empty. The pool is shallow but clean and safe...

Hang on to your hats...this place is a joke. I have been here for a year and learned the following: This is not "luxury" to the residents, however one might say "luxury" to the people in a different income class. Many families from the Coast Guard live here for 1/2 of what the normal residents pay. Yes, I did a great deal of homework - interviewed many of the tenants to learn that the "exhorbitant" rent helps subsidize others cost of living. The grounds are not well kept - garbage unit was closed for several weeks in which it overflowed and needed to be placed in a nearby dumpster. Many of the plantings are dead and have not been replaced since living here (yes, I asked for them to be removed upon my arrival), the gym equipment does not work (yes, again after being here for one year and asked for attention - was told several times they needed to order a part), cigarette butts everywhere you walk, etc. My unit leaked during the winter - 3 times. The grate covering the airconditioner fell on me while sleeping because it wasn't properly secured. The windows are not well insulated. Check, check, check other residents fee structure. There is no method to the madness. They claim that it's due to "market rates" however I have many friends in the residential and commercial real estate business and they said "not true". Avalon takes advantage of its close proximity to the commuter boat and restaurants (the shops are terrible) and when you add it all up, you can get much nicer for a heck of a lot cheaper. The unit was freezing, space around door jams, doors don't close all the way, garage door not well insulated. I called maintenance during the winter and they ended up bringing me 2 electrical heating units. Yes, my electrical bills were through the roof. If you happen to have guests over, there is no parking whatsoever. My neighbors on either side smoke. I could not only hear them walk throughout their unit, I could smell what they cooked, when they smoked (and I'm not just talking cigarettes). When I called management, they said that there was nothing they could do. I understand this is a common problem - everything permeates through the walls - smells, sounds, etc. And last but not least, there have been 3 break-ins...

My wife and I just moved out of the Shipyard after buying a house, and just wanted to say it was fantastic and we miss it already. The staff are hyper-responsive, the 2bd/2ba apartment we rented was lovely, and the conditions of the facilities and grounds are always pristine. We were especially big fans of the club house, which we got a chance to use for a bridal shower. It's a phenomenal venue for parties, and it's right there for tenants to use.

I've seen a couple of folks argue that it's pricey for the location and sq footage, and that's true. But y'know what? The service level is unbelievable. I never once came home thinking "I hope the landlord took care of [x]," because they were already on it. We experienced 24/7 response to (rare) problems with the apt, could always get someone on the phone, and saw them immediately roll the plows for every light dusting. Heck, they even hold your packages in the office so they don't just sit in the hallway. Point being, I can't say enough nice things about the staff managing this property, they really do foster an environment where you don't have to worry about coming home to problems.

Oh - and of course there's the gym. Who needs a locker room when you can just walk home?

The location, of course, is fantastic. Being able to walk to the ferry for work and for weekend outings to the city was amazing. The nearby shopping center is okay; couple of solid restaurants with some nice outdoor seating for the summer.

I digress. Long story short, we loved living here and would...