Market Central — Local services in Cambridge

I was excited to move to Market Central. From my interactions with their leasing staff, from their marketing materials, and from a walk-through, I had high expectations of professionalism, comfort, and safety. However, I’ve been disappointed on a number of these counts, and have not found the experience they offer to measure up to their marketing or to their price point.

Note (added later): I strongly suspect the responses written on these reviews are written by some sort of third-party reputation management company. If Market Central management read my review, they would be able to easily guess who wrote it, and would be able to reach out directly.

Air quality: Smoking and cooking smells from other units enter mine on a regular basis, despite marketing materials that suggest that each unit has an independent fresh air supply. When the windows are closed, there’s insufficient ventilation — I’ve measured indoor CO2 levels as high as 1400 ppm (the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends levels below 800 ppm.) The range hoods do not exhaust outside. Safety and security: My locked bicycle was stolen from “secure” storage. I’m aware of at least one unit burglary. I have found tailgating to be common, and hard to avoid given how long the door takes to re-lock after being opened. The front desk often seems to be unattended, perhaps due to insufficient staffing for the volume of package deliveries that have to be processed, thus leading to tailgaters going unnoticed. Noise level: I’ve found that the doors do very little to block hallway noise (keep this in mind if you’re considering a studio). The gym floor does not appear to have a shock-absorbing surface (relevant if you choose to live on the 7th floor below the gym), and even trash going down the trash chute is audible from inside apartments. The windows seem to do a poor job of insulating against noise from outside, and I have found the heating / cooling unit to be significantly louder than even a window AC. Maintenance: While maintenance is quick to arrive if there’s an issue, they have often tried to tell me everything is normal or operating as expected. For example, I was told that it’s normal that it’s impossible to get warm water from the bathroom faucet (only fully hot or fully cold), because it was the same in all other units. I suspect the reason is due to a pressure imbalance between hot and cold water — but that wasn’t something maintenance was interested in addressing. Lease terms — Some highlights from the 34-page lease: A video / photo release allowing MC to take and publish photos of you for advertising purposes (you can opt out, but will be asked not to attend community events), and a section stating that you may be required to pay for your neighbors’ rent and relocation expenses if you are unfortunate enough to have a bed bug infestation.

I would spend more time on the positive aspects, but I honestly don’t think that would add much information that isn’t already available. The amenities listed on the website are as described, and the photos and floor plans are accurate. The front desk and leasing office staff are courteous, if unwilling to address the more serious concerns I’ve raised above. The good things about living here are just what I’ve expected, and no more. The negative aspects, however, are not expected given the...

DO NOT MOVE INTO Market Central, Cambridge: 2 Weeks Without Heat, 18 Days Without Floors or Ceiling, and Endless Maintenance Issues – Living in a Room Full of Dust!

I have had an extremely disappointing experience with Market Central since moving in on January 22, 2025. The number of severe maintenance issues and the lack of proper resolution have made living here incredibly difficult. Below is a timeline of the ongoing issues I have faced: • 01/23/25: Reported that the bathroom light and thermostat were not working. • 01/25/25: The washing machine failed to drain, leaving my clothes stuck in water. • 01/29/25: Still no heat in my room, despite multiple reports. • 02/06/25: A leak from the upper floor led to the installation of three large fans and a dehumidifier in my apartment, making it impossible to sleep due to the noise. At this point, my thermostat was still not working, and I had to go in person to report it again. • 02/08/25: Another leak occurred in my room. • 02/10/25: My floor and ceiling were demolished, and my furniture was moved, leaving the apartment extremely dirty with no cleaning provided. My furniture was also not moved back. • 02/14/25: Was told the floor replacement would happen on 02/17, but no one showed up. • 02/20/25: Emailed the leasing office after waiting three additional days and was told the floor would be replaced on 02/24. • 02/24/25: No one arrived. The drywall was reinstalled on 02/25, but excessive dust was left everywhere (on my bed, table, kitchen, and bathroom, everywhere). The washing machine was moved next to my bed and not put back. • 02/27/25: Floor was repainted. • 02/28/25: New flooring was installed, but in the process, the dishwasher was broken and no longer closes properly. • 03/02/25: Leasing office assured me that the paint and flooring were safe, but there is still a strong odor, and I have experienced headaches from staying in the apartment. • 03/04/25: They claimed the dishwasher was fixed, but the door still does not close, and the inside is extremely dirty. For 18 days (from 02/10 to 02/28), I lived in an apartment without floors or a ceiling, with constant maintenance issues making the unit unlivable. Basic repairs were neglected, and I was never provided alternative accommodations during these repairs. I have repeatedly reached out for assistance, and the leasing office’s response has been completely inadequate. I strongly DO NOT recommend renting here. The lack of proper maintenance, poor management, and disregard for tenant well-being make this one of the worst rental experiences I...

I am thrilled to share my amazing experience securing an apartment in this wonderful community. Everything has been exceptional since I expressed interest in making this place my home away from home. Moving from New Zealand and finding a new home in Cambridge was a massive challenge, and I was so close to giving up and returning home. However, the MC Leasing team’s attentiveness and willingness to help speed up the process and settle into this community had been a godsend, especially its walking proximity to Harvard Kennedy School (HKS).

Special mention of Mr Mike Ciarcia of the MC Leasing Office, who was professional, incredibly friendly, and approachable. He took the time to understand my preferences and the urgent need for a place to stay after two weeks in hotels.

The entire management team continue to impress me with their responsiveness and willingness to go the extra mile. Any minor inquiries or concerns I've had have been addressed promptly and with genuine care. For instance, I didn’t even have to be present during the delivery of my furniture, Wi-Fi installation, etc., as I had already commenced classes at HKS. However, all I needed to do was send Mike and the MC management team an email authorising their access to my apartment, and they did the rest. Evidently, they genuinely want their residents to have the best living experience possible.

The amenities provided are outstanding. From the state-of-the-art fitness centre to the stylishly designed and spacious communal areas on the 8th floor providing sweeping beautiful views over Central Square and Boston City, every aspect of this community has been meticulously designed to create lasting memories and enhance the quality of life for its residents.

I couldn't be happier with my decision to call this apartment community my home away from home. The exceptional leasing process, the apartment itself, the attentive management team, the fantastic amenities, and the prime location with easy access to the restaurants and bars downstairs and along Massachusetts Ave all create an unparalleled living experience here in the US. If you're looking for an apartment that exceeds all expectations, do yourself a favour and consider becoming a part of this fantastic community – this is the...