The Greenhouse Apartments

Lived in here for 3 years. The best thing is location, great ²⁴⁄₇ maintenance comparing to other apartments in Boston even though the price is getting higher. Stunning view they have in almost every units, very close to every grocery store such as trade joes, wholefoods, and star market. If you’re single, college/​grad school student, and has no car you definitely will be considered to live.

I live in the Greenhouse apartments since february/​14 and I do not recommend living here, unless you are okay with:
— smelling marijuana everyday in the hallway
— cigarette smell everywhere
— extremely unfriendly neighbors (they are usually 18 – 24 years old).
— loud music during day and sometimes during night time
— maintenance having the key to your home and crushing into your apartment without asking your permission first (they simply open the door because they need to check something in the electrical system, and they do not care if you are sleeping, if you are naked or in the toilet, they simply shout «I am coming in!»
It is an excellent location but rent for a 2BD costs over 4000USD. seriously, it is not worth the price!

I lived here from Fall ’06 — Fall ’08 to be closer to college.
Pros:
— The green line is literally a two minute walk away.
— 24-​hour Shaws and ⁷⁄₁₁ are also a two minute walk away (I really miss them… sigh)
— The floors are carpeted in most apartments (I hate that old, warped, rotting hardwood that seems to be in every apartment realtors show you)
— There is 24-​hour security
— You never have to worry about UPS or Fedex posting those little «you weren’t here so we’ll have to return this» notices because all packages are taken care of.
— there is a pool open on the roof during the summer!
— The apartments are well maintained and pretty modern. They won’t have that rundown feel that so Boston-​area apartments do.
— It it is in a very safe area — you will feel comfortable walking back to this bullding at 3:00 a.m.
— Great views from pretty much every side
— Never had a problem with the heat or AC
— laundry rooms on EVERY floor
Cons:
— It is EXTREMELY noisy if you live in the front of the building (not so much in the back) The security will let resident vehicles blasting music at 23,000 decibles just hang out in front of the building at 4:00 am in the morning
— Many Berklee kids reside here, and they need to practice at some point — I had a drummer and an opera singer on my floor. They were really good but… you get the point
— Because it is 90% students, be prepared for the drama. I have seen: huge culture-​clash brawls outside the entrance, plenty of apartment fires, the cops have showed up on my floor a few times, a fair share of violent relationship disputes I’ve overheard, glass bottles have been thrown at people from several stories up. I even witnessed a fired staff member have a nervous breakdown in front of the building and try to walk into on-​coming traffic to end it all. (I had a prime view of that infamous entrance) This place brings the dramz big time, more than your average college setting.
— Laundry is CRAZY expensive. I think it was 2 bucks a wash, 2 bucks a dry when I left and that was two years ago.
— The rent is no joke and keeps getting higher… and there are no studio options for people who don’t need these sprawling, pricey one-​bedrooms.
— I have no use for a gym. You don’t need a gym to stay in shape. If you are one of those sans-​gym people, keep in mind that its presence factors into your rent.

The Greenhouse is divided into North and South Towers but this review is for the South tower where I’ve lived for 2 years.
Pros (in the order of awesomeness):
1. Hot international eye candy.
2. Rooftop «pool» (aka communal tub) with a derrière kicking view of the city.
3. 24 hour Shaws nearby (this Shaws sells beer, wine and liquor until 11 pm !!!) You read it right that’s 5! s
4. Lower level garage with Valet parking ($ 240/​month for residents at the time of this writing)
5. Walking distance to NU, Berkelee College of Music, Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Changs, Coldstone Creamery, Prudential Mall & Food Court and the list goes on…
6. Stumbling distance from most bars in the Back Bay, South End, Prudential and Copley area
7. Complimentary mini gym for working out your fitness. We are talking about a few treadmills, ellipticals and some free weights. This would enrage any meathead but should suffice for the average person nonetheless.
8. Laundry room and trash chute on each floor
Cons (in the order of disappointment):
1. Drafty windows makes you feel like wrapping yourself in newspaper to keep warm during the winter time.
2. The best part of waking up, is the sound of traffic outside if your windows are facing Huntington Ave.
3. Dusty central air. If you collect all the dust bunnies together, you could use them to make yourself a sweater and then some matching sweatpants.
4. Elevators are under renovation at the time of this writing but they used to break down all the time.
5. Sound is not very well insulated in the apartments.
In summary, this place is cheaper than Avalon Residences but you get what you pay for which is the location. Great for singles and students and better if you are both.