Avalon North Station — Local services in Boston

So I've been a resident of the building for almost two years, and have recently signed a lease for a third year at the building. I always pay my rent on time and I've never received any complaints; I am a great tenant. I follow the rules and do not cause trouble. However, the building seems to be increasing rents of current tenants for their renewals in an unfair manner. For example, the same exact floor plan of my unit was posted online for $200 less than what they were charging me for my renewal. No, this was not due to timing. That apartment was available 1 day after mine, and was only 2 floors lower than mine with the same view of a building. I find it ridiculous that I am paying $200 more than tenants who live in the same unit but two floors below me. In addition, a friend of mine got her renewal, which had a huge increase as well. She was able to find a bigger apartment on a higher floor for a lower price than what they quoted her in the renewal, so she decided to move to the other less expensive apartment. When her apartment was posted online, they posted it for LESS than what she was currently paying, even though they tried to increase her rent by more than $100 per month! When she asked to stay in her apartment for the lower price, they said she must move out for 10 days and then move back in.

On top of all of this, I hear a LOUD drummer very frequently at night. Sometimes he plays the drums past midnight on week nights, which definitely interrupts my sleep. If you are trying to move into a building on the TD Garden side of the building, you need to be on at least floor 25 in order to not hear the noise. A friend of mine lives on 22 and is still able to hear the drummer and has a disrupted sleep. This drummer issue has been going on since I moved in, and it is still going on. After every single event at the TD Garden (concerts, games, etc.), the drummer strikes again.

Due to the upcoming "Hub on Causeway" and the new residential building across the street on Lomasney Way, there is a lot of construction noise that can be heard from pretty much all sides of the building. In addition to the noise, most nights the lights in the new buildings that are under construction are left turned on, which can be disruptive. Yes, we do have "black-out" curtains, but we all know that those don't really do the job completely.

Other than that, the building is a great facility, which is why I still have decided to stay. I find that the location is very convenient, being close to 93, Storrow Drive, the North End, West End, Beacon Hill, and Government Center. In addition, the amenities are very nice and the resident events tend to be pretty cool. The apartments have nice floor plans and nice finishes. The elevators can take a while on occasion, especially during rush hour, but I think that's what happens when you decide to live in a 38-floor building.

Update: I have changed the rating from 2-stars to 3-stars because of the building manager's awesome attitude. Tod is wonderful and really works hard to make sure that the building is running perfectly and that the residents are...

I am deeply disappointed with a frustrating moving experience at Avalon North Station, where the management failed to prepare the apartment to meet basic operational living conditions before my move-in. Upon arrival, I encountered multiple severe issues:

Multiple significant defects and unresolved maintenance that should have be done prior to moving-in date present from day one, including (1) unsealed shower and bathtub with continuous leakage, (2) non-functional dishwasher with damaged and unsanitary components, (malfuctional buttions, cracked machine door, oily, charred, and perforated racks and fans inside), and (3) damaged walls near windows of bedroom and living room with noticeable cracks and signs of water leakage. (4) loose door hinges with noticeable off-paint and wood splinters causing annoying noises, risks, and concerns. These living conditions not only violate the Massachusetts housing code but also compromise my living standards and safety. It has been three weeks since the beginning of my lease, and these critical problems should have been resolved before moving-in remain unaddressed. This has severely hindered my transition to what was expected to be a premium living environment. The response from Avalon has been unsatisfactory and unprofessional, reflecting the lack of professionalism, empathy, and support. There was no initial sincere apology or caring words, nor was I provided with a temporary transitional living arrangement on the first day upon reporting these maintainese issues to them. Additionally, there was no any proactive proposal to adjust my rent to compensate for the period where I could not properly inhabit the apartment due to these basic living conditions are not met and unfixed, nor to extend the lease duration as a form of compensation. Furthermore, I was informed that regardless of what reasons - even if I terminate the lease early due to these unresolved issues, I would still require me to pay rent for an additional 30 days post-notice, adding financial insult to injury.

Given the high standards Avalon claims to uphold and the premium rent they charge, the current situation is unacceptable. Future tenants deserve to be aware of the potential challenges involved in dealing with the management and maintenance failures at Avalon North Station.

I urge Avalon North Station management to address these issues immediately and to adopt a more tenant-friendly approach by providing appropriate compensation and ensuring that their apartments meet the advertised standards of quality and...

Update 3/1/19

As we sign our 3rd lease in this building, I wanted to update my original review from 2017. I think as long as you have realistic expectations you will really like it here - ie, you're in a large city with a housing crisis, there is a lot going on all the time so there's some noise, there's some chaos, there's some construction. As long as you know that, you'll be just fine. The building really is great, and the pricing is fair compared to similar buildings. No undergrads is a plus, and the staff really does want what's best for you. Tod and Jessie have been vital in helping us decide to sign again and we appreciate their efforts/patience. I'm not saying I've never been frustrated by anything, but with Avalon you have a company wide standard you can expect. They are trustworthy. A private loading dock that is reserved for your move in is key (ie, no moving permits or stairs for your movers!). We have a great gym and rooftop. Overall the views are great for the majority of the units - which is not the norm for a city apartment. If you want to rent in the city, this is a great choice!

Original post 6/15/17

The entire Avalon experience has left me in awe. This is by far the best leasing experience I have ever had. My consultant is Jacqueline, and never, ever have I met anyone so kind and amazing. She even answered my emails when she was out of the office! Jacqueline spent over six weeks answering questions, explaining floor plans, updating me and helping me find a new home. Any time anything changed she let me know immediately, and she always responded immediately with so much kindness and professionalism. She was able to help me find a unit I never thought I could have. This is my second Avalon building, and even though my last one was amazing, this experience was absolutely top notch. Everyone here has been so kind and professional. We moved in yesterday, and even though I looked terrible (I traveled all night as we moved out of state), I was treated with such white glove service.

Now service aside, the building is amazing! We have a breathtaking view from our unit, and the roof top amenities are like no other. I really love our finishes and how much room we have. Also the unit is carpet free, which is so great as I have a lot...