Recently, I visited The Batch Yard, the new Everett apartments on the site of the former Charleston Chew factory.
From my office in Back Bay, it’s about six miles and I got there in about 16 minutes. Yet, Batch Yard really feels like only a hop, skip and a jump to Boston. For instance, as soon as I passed the Science Museum, I felt like I was halfway. And a moment later, when I took a left after Bunker Hill Community College on to Route 99, I felt like I was heading down a final straightaway to Batch Yard.
The industrial neighborhood Batch Yard is located in is probably unfamiliar to most, but it’s real close to that lone wind mill often viewed from route 93.
My favorite things about Batch Yard were…
the amenities. The main building has a big lobby with a fireplace and banged up old factory doors, which looked part art and part nostalgia. In the lobby, I could get a cup of Starbucks Coffee from a machine for $1 and hang out. Just
down the first floor hallway, I could visit Batch Yard’s above-average gym, the Batch Yard library room, kill time in another sizable common room with a kitchen, TV and dining/conference room, or cool off at the Batch Yard pool, which had a grill area, an all season ping-pong table, and a large screen for watching movies. Yet,my favorite Batch Yard amenity was the roof deck, which is one of the more sizable roof decks I have seen and which offers some pretty cool views of Boston. Unfortunately, the Batch Yard staff wouldn’t let me smoke a cigar out on that deck, as it’s a smoke free building.
Apartments
I saw two different style two bedroom apartments at the Batch Yard. One had a more finished look and one had a more lofty look. The lofty apartment had cement floors, piping running across the ceiling, and a second bedroom that had light coming in from a window facing the kitchen rather than window facing outside. The more traditional style two bed-two bath I saw had split bedrooms. Some of the apartments had private decks and balconies and some didn’t. I liked the main building, one of the original brick Charleston Chew buildings, because it’s easier to get to the amenities.
Pricing:
Studios: $1700+
1BR: $2000+
2BR: $2400+
3BR: $3000
Apartment pricing included one garage spot and it was $125 for another spot.
Incentives:
On March 13, the leasing staff told me that Batch Yard would
- Pay the broker’s fee.
- Hold apartments for 60 days.
- Provide prospective tenants a $500 gift card if they make a decision within 48-hours of viewing.
What I didn’t like:
- The bus to the train type of mass transit commute.
- The location lacked attractive retail and restaurants within walking distance
- Some of the very industrial views
