2021 Communities of Excellence Award Winners
Sustainable Living Innovation Award
Bower, Greystar
Bower offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes averaging 749 square feet. The property is designed to use 21% less energy than a typical building. As a result, Bower is LEED Gold and has been recognized as a 2021 Fitwel Best in Building Health Award Winner. Each apartment is equipped with Ecobee Learning Thermostats, energy efficient LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances and low- flow fixtures. Bower utilizes View Smart glass technology that automatically tints in response to outside light levels. In addition to this, Bower offers regular events promoting reusable bottles and sustainable products.
Bower offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes averaging 749 square feet. The property is designed to use 21% less energy than a typical building. As a result, Bower is LEED Gold and has been recognized as a 2021 Fitwel Best in Building Health Award Winner. Each apartment is equipped with Ecobee Learning Thermostats, energy efficient LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances and low- flow fixtures. Bower utilizes View Smart glass technology that automatically tints in response to outside light levels. In addition to this, Bower offers regular events promoting reusable bottles and sustainable products.
Senior Community of the Year
Millhouses of Adams, Wingate Companies
Elderly units make up more than half of the apartment units at Millhouses of Adams, making the community well-versed in ADA compliance, accommodations and fulfilling needs as they arise. Millhouses of Adams is heavily dedicated to providing the best maintenance and property management services to their residents; 24-hour emergency maintenance ensures residents remain safe and maintains confidence in their services. In addition, the property organized two on-site COVID vaccination clinics, creating ease for any resident wanting to get vaccinated, as well as delivered meals to every resident on Christmas Eve last year. Millhouses of Adams remains at 100% occupancy at all times with an average retention rate of over 7 years.
Elderly units make up more than half of the apartment units at Millhouses of Adams, making the community well-versed in ADA compliance, accommodations and fulfilling needs as they arise. Millhouses of Adams is heavily dedicated to providing the best maintenance and property management services to their residents; 24-hour emergency maintenance ensures residents remain safe and maintains confidence in their services. In addition, the property organized two on-site COVID vaccination clinics, creating ease for any resident wanting to get vaccinated, as well as delivered meals to every resident on Christmas Eve last year. Millhouses of Adams remains at 100% occupancy at all times with an average retention rate of over 7 years.
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Greystar
Greystar’s core values foster an environment of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging and establish a foundation to serve their team members, residents, communities, and partners. In 2020, in partnership with Franklin Covey, mandatory Unconscious Bias training was rolled out for all team members from the CEO and Executive Committee on down. The Greystar Careers team has an integrating interview platform available as a resource that provides access to non-biased, performance based, behavioral interview questions and scenarios. Greystar’s largest achievement in 2021 for the Northeast Division was the Greystar Live Proud campaign in celebration and support of Pride Month and donated $15,000 to the Trevor Project.
Greystar’s core values foster an environment of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging and establish a foundation to serve their team members, residents, communities, and partners. In 2020, in partnership with Franklin Covey, mandatory Unconscious Bias training was rolled out for all team members from the CEO and Executive Committee on down. The Greystar Careers team has an integrating interview platform available as a resource that provides access to non-biased, performance based, behavioral interview questions and scenarios. Greystar’s largest achievement in 2021 for the Northeast Division was the Greystar Live Proud campaign in celebration and support of Pride Month and donated $15,000 to the Trevor Project.
New Construction Community of the Year (Large)
Emery Flats, National Development
Emery Flats is a 224,000 SF, 200-unit, community that brings urban level luxury finishes and amenities to a premier suburban setting which has become increasingly attractive to today’s young professionals, empty nesters and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the community offered more than 80 virtual events including glass etching, candle making, charcuterie 101, and many more. Emery Flats was the first new apartment community in over 15 years in the city of Woburn to not only add upscale market rate units but also contribute to the City’s 40B program offering 25% of its units to moderate income renters. The property was able to achieve stabilization in May 2021, right in line with its budgeted goal. Since then, the property has maintained an average occupancy level of 96.75% to date.
Emery Flats is a 224,000 SF, 200-unit, community that brings urban level luxury finishes and amenities to a premier suburban setting which has become increasingly attractive to today’s young professionals, empty nesters and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the community offered more than 80 virtual events including glass etching, candle making, charcuterie 101, and many more. Emery Flats was the first new apartment community in over 15 years in the city of Woburn to not only add upscale market rate units but also contribute to the City’s 40B program offering 25% of its units to moderate income renters. The property was able to achieve stabilization in May 2021, right in line with its budgeted goal. Since then, the property has maintained an average occupancy level of 96.75% to date.
New Construction Community of the Year (Small)
North Square at Mill District, Beacon Communities
North Square at the Mill District, located in the heart of North Amherst, is a mixed-use, mixed-income, sustainably designed community. Construction of North Square was completed in early 2020, with a total of 130 apartments comprising of one, two, and three-bedroom floor plans, along with 22,000 square feet of retail commercial space. The property was built to LEED Gold standards, and each apartment also features a high-efficiency washer/dryer or combination unit, and all stainless appliances are energy star rated, along with high-efficiency HVAC systems. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the property continued to connect with and provide exceptional customer service for applicants (35% closing ratio) and residents (4.6 rating on Google).
North Square at the Mill District, located in the heart of North Amherst, is a mixed-use, mixed-income, sustainably designed community. Construction of North Square was completed in early 2020, with a total of 130 apartments comprising of one, two, and three-bedroom floor plans, along with 22,000 square feet of retail commercial space. The property was built to LEED Gold standards, and each apartment also features a high-efficiency washer/dryer or combination unit, and all stainless appliances are energy star rated, along with high-efficiency HVAC systems. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the property continued to connect with and provide exceptional customer service for applicants (35% closing ratio) and residents (4.6 rating on Google).
Affordable Community of the Year
Reservoir Towers, Wingate Companies
Reservoir Towers provides necessary housing to students, families, patients receiving medical treatment, working professionals, and subsidized housing to elderly and disabled residents. The community offers translation services to the predominantly Russian-speaking elderly population. Reservoir Towers partners with non-profit groups such as Hospitality Homes, which is a nonprofit organization that provides short-term housing in volunteer host homes for families and friends of patients receiving medical care in the Boston area free of charge. The team is always looking for ways to improve the community so that residents will continue to remain satisfied with their living experience.
Reservoir Towers provides necessary housing to students, families, patients receiving medical treatment, working professionals, and subsidized housing to elderly and disabled residents. The community offers translation services to the predominantly Russian-speaking elderly population. Reservoir Towers partners with non-profit groups such as Hospitality Homes, which is a nonprofit organization that provides short-term housing in volunteer host homes for families and friends of patients receiving medical care in the Boston area free of charge. The team is always looking for ways to improve the community so that residents will continue to remain satisfied with their living experience.
