Garrison Square

Tried to schedule a tour. They sent me a confirmation. When I showed up here they told me we have no units to tour but decided to schedule it anyway. Makes no sense. They try to automate too much and their automations don’t even work. There is no human element to their customer service

Ceiling and floors are too thin, can get very noisy!
Concierge is Friendly and Professional, however leasing staff and management is extremely unprofessional. Very Loud Renovation work all the time.

Location location location. That's the primary selling point of Garrison Square. The property is located right on the border of South End and Back Bay, two of the most vibrant and sought after neighborhoods in the city. The location puts you within easy walking distance of the best that Boston has to offer. Of course, you pay for the convenience. Garrison Square charges some of the highest rents in the city... high even for pricey Back Bay.

So, what do you get for your money besides location?… Garrison Square is small scale, charming, and beautiful. It is a good compromise if you want the character of a brownstone with the updates and services of an apartment complex. There are two beautifully landscaped and maintained courtyards and a very nice roof deck with a grill. The units have lots of amenities that are hard to find in Boston, including central air conditioning, in-unit washer/dryers, and wood-burning fireplaces. All of the apartments have just been renovated with contemporary colors and finishes. Every apartment has a unique floor plan, many with balconies or patios. The property is very pet friendly, and there is a great dog park behind the building.

There are, however, significant concerns. Garrison Square is an older property, and even with renovations it doesn't compete with other luxury communities in terms of amenities. There is no community room, no business center, and no pool. A fitness center is currently under construction. There is no overnight concierge service. Common areas will soon be renovated, but at present they are shabby and poorly maintained. Overall, the property doesn't have the premium feel that the astronomical rents would suggest.

I enjoy living here, but I do question whether I am getting sufficient value for my money. There are a number of newly constructed luxury apartment complexes in the city that offer state-of-the-art amenities and a more premium feel for less money. But for location and charm, Garrison Square can't be beat. Read More

We lived at Garrison Square for 2.5 years. I never write reviews but feel it's necessary to put the truth out about this building to help others from making the mistake of living here.

UDR is abusing the system of short term rentals that is currently unregulated in Boston

GS is run like a creepy makeshift hotel instead of a residential apartment building. They do not disclose this and they will lie to your face about it.
Do a search, you will find GS advertised on Expedia, Kayak,… Stay
Alfred, etc.
They keep padlocks on the #30 building gates for "hotel guests" to
gain access.

For the amount of rent they charge, the amenities, upkeep of the property, and the management office is a complete joke.

There have been many incidents with "hotel guests" coming to stay here to party and packing apartments with people, noise violations, police having to come, etc

You will live surrounded by confused tourists asking where they check in, where the trash goes, etc. Their suitcases will crowd the lobby, they will crowd the lobby, the courtyard and the rooftop and it makes a terrible quality of life

There is no gym

There are no trash chutes

You have to collect your own packages from a locker system in the garage. This room isn't even nicely maintained.

The concierge isn't 24/7 and is constantly being pulled away by the temporary guests.

GS doesn't have a grasp on who is coming to stay on property. I once encountered a mother and her three children being evicted from a temporary stay apartment in the #30 building. She said they had come to stay from a homeless shelter and were told without warning they had to get out immediately.

Living in a city can be stressful enough, who wants to overpay to live in a fake "luxury" building surrounded by confused tourists, their garbage, their rudeness and a management office that refuses to take the time and make the necessary financial investments that they could to help improve the quality of life of their residents.

Many residents don't pay full price here because they know it's such a terrible product they will negotiate rent.

Shame on UDR for running a building in such a beautiful neighborhood in Boston this way. Neighbors notice. They see the padlocks on the gate, they hear the constant rolling of suitcases. I was under the impression there was a housing shortage in Boston. Why can't you fill these apartments with real residents? Read More