Harbor Point on the Bay Apartments

"A great place to live. I personally love the business model this place has adapted; absolutely ingenious profit strategy of preying on college students and continuing to raise rent prices while saving money by neglecting elevator safety codes! Some may see this as an issue, though personally I love the thrill I get stepping into an elevator that shakes and is over a year past its inspection date :) Other than that, the laundry machines are also great if you're someone who loves wearing damp clothes all the time! All for the low low price of 1500/month (if you don't mind sharing your apartment with 3 other people) (not including the 250 roommate charges and other various amounts of money they may or may not try to scam you out of)"

"It has its pros and cons, but overall I'm on my 5th year living here and I enjoy it. Pros: 1. LOCATION: so convenient to 93 and if you're going north the traffic dissipates shortly after the entrance. 10 minute walk to the JFK T stop, so that's not bad. Right by the Harbor Walk, so it's an amazing place to go watch the sunset over the city. 2. Safety: I feel totally comfortable going for walks late at night, I've never had any issues. Security seems very responsive for the minor things I've requested. 3. Heat and a/c* are included, which is very nice to not have to worry about those running up your other bills. 4. Convenient off-street parking included 5. Non-smoking property (Though that seems to be not strictly enforced sometimes) 6. Maintenance requests are usually dealt with quickly. Some exceptions, but what place doesn't have some exceptions to that? 7. They salt and plow right away when there's snow or ice Cons: 1. They *strictly* follow some Massachusetts law that says heat must be provided September 15-June 15, which is ridiculous when it can get up to 90F in April and you have to wait another month and a half for air conditioning. Common area a/c isn't ever turned on. Personal a/c units are against the lease, which is incredibly frustrating when it gets so hot. Fans can only do so much, and you can close your windows and use a blanket if it gets chilly at night. This is the reason for the removal of a whole star, it's that problematic. Also the a/c only cools, it doesn't remove humidity, so I have my own dehumidifier that's necessary in the summer. 2. If you care about aesthetics (I don't) the cabinets and appliances are all outdated, but everything works fine. My dishwasher when I moved in was ~30 years old, but when it died I put in the request and had a new one in 3 days. 3. Pricey, but it's a place in Boston that includes the things I mentioned above and a gym, pools, tennis courts, and probably some other things that I'm not taking advantage of. When all that is taken into account, it's worth the cost. Overall I recommend it and plan to stay for the near future."

"Lots of hidden fees: 1. Guest parking overnight? $5 2. Hey, the cameras in the lobby are obsolete and we know your packages keep getting stolen. But, want your package to not get stolen? Pay up (and if you are disabled, good luck getting to and from the security office to retrieve packages). 3. Security deposit? Deducted with no further explanation. Tried to charge me $3000 for a 1B1b. Price is comparable to a luxury apartment but the facilities and services are not. The elevators break down at least once a month. My roommate is disabled and they give "

"The apartments are old and had some rats problem. The AC is available only for a particular time . I like the gym , swimming pool and staying near by beach is a wonderful experience. In 2 years the rent went up crazily which almost went up 50% up (1900-2700) So I have to move to a different location ."

"Below is what I hope is a fair and helpful review, coming from someone who's lived at Harbor Point going on three years and also works in landlord-tenant law. Keep in mind that HP is a large property and the tenant experience will vary. Price: About right, given the amenities, location and market rate -- especially the updated units. Many factors go into determining rent increases but mine have been modest. Property: HP is situated right on the Harbor Walk in a residential area of town close to the red line. Columbia Point is considered a generally safe area. The grounds are pleasant and well-maintained. My building is kept in presentable condition from top to bottom. Your mileage may vary. There is a rodent problem all over Boston, so I buy traps and call it a day. Public Safety: There has been an uptick of incidents here in the last year (namely assaults and minor robberies, per the Citizen app). Cameras absolutely should be installed strategically as soon as it is prudent. Re: parcel theft, Amazon lockers and package concierge are provided to avoid that. Staff: Management, leasing and maintenance have been overall pleasant. Security can be hit or miss. Reaching someone by phone in any of the aforementioned offices can also be hit or miss. Amenities: Surprisingly varied. Two pools, a gym, electric scooters for rent, tennis courts, a barber shop, dog park, etc. I do consider it a luxury property in this regard, and a solid value. Culture: Very diverse. There is a large and transient college student presence but some residents have been here decades and help foster a neighborhood feel throughout. I appreciate the occasional programming such as last year's Juneteenth cookout."