Fenway transformation continues with luxury building ‘inspired by the Emerald Necklace’
The posh new Van Ness is just the latest in a series of deluxe apartment high-rises to reshape the once-dingy streets surrounding Fenway Park.
The posh new Van Ness is just the latest in a series of deluxe apartment high-rises to reshape the once-dingy streets surrounding Fenway Park.
Steve Samuels’s new twin tower development, which just celebrated its grand opening last week, features 172 apartments, more than 230,000 square feet of office space, and 500 below-ground parking spaces.
And the development, with its 11 and 13-story high-rises, is using an unusual approach to attract urban renters, appealing to those with a yearning for more green space in their lives.
The new Van Ness, about 30 percent leased so far, is making its pitch to renters with an outside/in approach, one that focuses on providing soothing green space and greenery inside the new development and its grounds.
And it’s also offering a little financial sweetener as well – one month’s free rent if you move in on or before July 14.
“The entire campus has been inspired by the Emerald Necklace,’’ said Kay Nilakantan, general manager of the new apartments for Samuels & Associates. “It’s all about green living and bringing the outside in.’’
In fact, one of the first things prospective tenants see at the Van Ness is a leafy, fern bedecked “green wall’’ in the lobby.
Take a peek inside the Van Ness:
The Van Ness also provides other venues to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving the grounds of Fenway’s newest residential and commercial address.
There is an outdoor courtyard, plus roof decks on each tower, “each equipped with plenty of outdoor space with two rooftops gardens, lounge, grilling areas, green space and a terrace,’’ according to a press release put out by the developer.
The whole campus, including every apartment, common area and retail space, is also smoke free. There is also an array of more traditional amenities.
The Van Ness has a concierge service on-site, an around the clock maintenance team, a fitness center and community space that includes a “gaming lounge’’ with space for poker and billiards.
The new apartment towers are also pet friendly, with Baroo providing a pet concierge business featuring pet walkers and “pet wash stations.’’
All that greenery doesn’t come cheap, though.
Rents range from $2,900 for a studio to nearly $5,800 for a top floor, two-bedroom unit with a view of Fenway Park.
And the Van Ness isn’t lacking in competition, either. More than $2 billion in new residential and retail development has taken shape around Fenway Park over the past decade, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
In fact, the Van Ness is the third major residential project Samuels & Associates has opened around the ballpark, with the 576-unit Trilogy having made its debut in 2006 and the 200-unit 1330 Boylston St., which opened in 2008. Both have tens of thousands of square feet of restaurant and retail space as well.
Samuels is gearing up to start construction on its next project, The Point, which will feature 220 new apartments, later this year, while pushing ahead with planning to build 550 new apartments as part of an expansion of The Landmark Center.
Meanwhile, the Abbey Group recently opened the Viridian, a 342-unit luxury apartment tower, on Boylston Street.
But Nilakantan, the Van Ness’ general manager, contends the Fenway’s newest luxury apartment address’s green theme will more than help it carve out its own, unique niche.
“With the Van Ness, there is really an emphasis on the outdoor space,’’ she said. “You walk in from the hustle and bustle of the city and you enter this quiet, serene space.’’
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