Avalon Residences at the Hingham Shipyard — Local services in Hingham

Loved my time at Avalon Residences in the Shipyard. Having lived at several different Avalon communities including Avalon North Station downtown and Avalon Lofts in Cambridge, I can say first hand that these apartments in hingham are very well built and even the ‘standard finish’ units all feature amenities that are considered upgrades at most other complexes, if even available at all.

All of the units have high ceilings with extensive recessed lighting in the kitchens, living rooms and hallways which makes such a difference. Under cabinet lighting, expansive kitchens with pantries, pull out trash cabinets, disposals, large bathrooms and huge walk in closets are all also available. Most of the items I just listed are not common in these types of communities unless you are in the “upgraded style” units on the top floors or paying much more per month.

Aside from the units, the building itself was truly beautiful and very impressive. 3 or 4 different courtyards each offering something different in addition to a 5th common area up on the top floor - an outdoor roof deck and indoor rooftop lounge hangout area. I’d have friends come over and we’d use the games courtyard that had fire pits and yard games, and we’d always have the whole courtyard to ourselves. The pool courtyard has an incredible club like cabana with outdoor TV and lounge areas. Very awesome but usually pretty busy/full.

The only downsides about the building/community in my view was just how many kids/children lived there. I found myself staying away from the pool courtyard as it was always filled with children running around, riding their scooters, playing tag etc and always unsupervised. Same goes for the 5th floor roof top lounge and deck - it was always filled with teenagers and young children escaping their parents/apartments. There’s a review on here where a mother even says how great the community is because their children and children’s friends had there own hangout area on the 5th floor lounge. Having just moved there from a downtown Boston Avalon, I may simply have just not been used to ever living in a community with so many children - and this may be the norm in the suburbs I’m sure.

The second and final downside is that there is a cost for parking. I found this to be very odd considering it’s located in the suburbs and everyone living down there has a car. The only parking the community offers is in its garage under the building (which is very large and convenience) but they charge I believe $85 per month to park in it. The only other parking option is in the 15-20 parking spaces out front, but that’s mostly just for guest parking and for future tenants visiting the leasing office. It’s common for communities in more urban areas to either charge for parking because most don’t even have cars that live there, or to have a garage that cost to park in, and an exterior surface lot that doesn’t cost. I could see if Avalon had to build a totally separate parking structure, or had to rent spaces from the ferry lot, but the garage is literally part of the building, so it’s not as though there is an extra cost there. If there needs to be a cost, it should be nominal, like $10 per month or something.

Finally, I had a great experience with the leasing team. Liz showed me around and had such a great energy and passion. She pointed out all the great things about the unit and community and was great at making conversation and making me feel welcome and comfortable. She communicated with me on a regular basis throughout the whole process and was very patient. What’s more, after just a few months living there, I informed Liz that I’d need to break my lease as I was being moved for work. Normally, this is when leasing agents/property managers pull out their devil horns and become rude and unfriendly - but not Liz. She was totally understanding and helpful through the move out and transfer process.

Overall would highly recommend Avalon Residences to anyone considering the area. I miss it everyday and is a great bang...

We are deeply disappointed with our experience at Avalon. Despite its premium pricing, the poor unsafe and unhealthy living conditions, the abusive harassment from the management company, unsafe maintenance and management’s responsiveness make this one of the worst managed apartment buildings in the entire Greater Boston region.

Safety Hazards: A broken blind fell unexpectedly, injuring my head and hand, and narrowly missing my 2 year old daughter. Such incidents raise serious concerns about the safety and maintenance standards upheld by the management.

Health Concerns: Persistent black mold growth in the shower area has been a significant issue. When reported, management unreasonably insisted that its removal was solely our responsibility, disregarding the health implications associated with mold exposure.

Poor Maintenance: The cabinets in the apartment are rusted, reflecting neglect and a lack of proper upkeep. The trash pullout is covered in rust and mold from when we moved in. The vents blow out mildewy air, and I am sure many long term residents have developed respiratory issues as a result. This is a class action lawsuit against a publicly traded company waiting to happen.

Unreasonable Management Practices: After my daughter accidentally broke our family dresser, I placed it outside temporarily to prevent injury, awaiting my husband’s assistance for disposal. Instead of understanding the situation after calmly explaining (and the dresser being outside the door for 2 days), management reported us and threatened eviction with a formal letter from their lawyer. On Halloween, our daughter wanted to put a pumpkin outside of our apartment door— to which management immediately threatened eviction again. These small, victimless concerns which could be addressed with empathy and a conversation were instead escalated to eviction notices which is deemed tenant harassment by Massachusetts state law.

Pervasive Toxic Odors: The building is consistently filled with strong chemical odors from the cleaning agents used in every corner. These cleaning products often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to respiratory irritation and other health problems. The cleaning service uses harsh bleach-like chemicals all throughout the day in elevators, gym, and common areas. It is toxic to live in this building and the MA State Board of Health should be aware.

Unaddressed Noxious Smells: We reported a persistent, unpleasant odor in our unit that was never resolved. Additionally, there is a constant strong smell of marijuana in the garage and throughout the building. Exposure to marijuana smoke can cause respiratory symptoms and exacerbate health problems, especially for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

In summary, the combination of safety hazards, health concerns, subpar maintenance, and uncooperative management makes Avalon shipyard an unsuitable choice for prospective tenants. I strongly advise looking elsewhere for a residence that values its tenants’ well-being and upholds basic living standards.

UPDATE: After we moved out, Avalon hit us with over $1,500 in carpet replacement charges, despite the carpet being heavily worn from years of use before we even moved in. During our pre-move-out inspection, the inspector told us “this is normal wear and tear—you won’t be charged.” That turned out to be false. We submitted an appeal with evidence, and Avalon overruled it with no explanation.

Avalon acts like a luxury property but treats tenants like they’re disposable. There’s a total lack of empathy, accountability, and fairness in how they handle residents and disputes.

I would never rent from Avalon again, and I strongly recommend others document everything—they will smile in person and then bill you and bully you after you’re gone.

Tenants deserve better than this. If you’re considering Avalon, be prepared for misleading promises, aggressive management tactics, and...

Extremely Disappointed ⚠️⚠️⚠️‼️ Avalon Shipyard is Not What They Promise

I don’t normally leave negative reviews, but I feel obligated to share our experience so other families can make an informed decision. Avalon Shipyard advertises itself as a luxury residence, but unfortunately, our time here has been filled with frustration, health concerns, and poor treatment from management.

⚠️Safety Issues:

A broken blind in our apartment fell suddenly, hitting me on the head and hand — narrowly missing my young daughter. This incident was not only frightening but also completely avoidable with proper maintenance.

⚠️Ongoing Health Concerns:

There was persistent mold growth in our shower. Despite reporting it, management told us mold removal was our responsibility — completely disregarding the known health risks associated with mold, especially for families with young children.

⚠️Neglected Maintenance:

Our cabinets were rusted, the unit showed clear signs of poor upkeep, and these conditions did not reflect the premium pricing we were paying.

⚠️Management’s Lack of Understanding:

My daughter accidentally broke a drawer. To prevent any injury, I placed it outside temporarily while waiting for my husband to come from work to assist with disposal. Instead of handling the situation with empathy or understanding, management reported us and threatened legal action — an extreme overreaction.

⚠️Unfair and Dishonest Move-Out Charges:

Before we moved out, a staff member inspected our apartment and confirmed everything was in acceptable condition. He even mentioned that the carpet might be replaced due to age, not damage. Yet weeks later, we received a $1,500 bill to replace the carpet — the reason? A minor, washable marker stain, caused by an ultra-clean, child-safe marker that management was fully aware of. They knowingly exaggerated the situation to charge us, which feels completely dishonest and unfair.

⚠️Toxic Odors Throughout the Building:

The building constantly smells of harsh chemicals with strong fumes, likely containing VOCs, which can affect respiratory health. There is also a constant marijuana odor in the garage and hallways, which management has never addressed despite complaints.

⚠️Excessive Application Process:

Even getting approved to live here was overly complicated and stressful — ironic given the living conditions that followed.

‼️Final Thoughts:‼️👌

We moved into Avalon Shipyard with high expectations, but our experience has been disappointing on every level — from unsafe conditions and health hazards to poor communication and unfair treatment. We are reasonable people, but the lack of care for residents, especially families, is unacceptable. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend living here.

Please do your research and consider your health, safety, and peace of mind before choosing...