The dip in the economy in recent years forced many developers to change course and rent their newly built condominiums instead of selling them in a sluggish market. Mezzo Design Lofts, located in Charlestown, is one such posh complex that allows renters to move into state-of-the art units without having to shoulder large mortgage payments.
Situated in Sullivan Square, steps away from the T station, these lofts opened three years ago boasting high-end appliances (including Bosch washers and dryers), polished concrete floors, granite countertops and balconies.
“I’ve always been in these white-walled apartments where I don’t feel like I’m living there. I feel like I’m borrowing it. It’s not like that here,” says Shana Leberman, who has lived at Mezzo with her boyfriend for two years. “I’m 28 years old. When I go home I don’t feel like I’m in an old person’s place. It’s a modern, funky place.”
When a new tenant moves in, they are allowed to choose from an array of paint colors and have an accent wall in the unit painted to suit their taste. These small options make renters feel like the units are their own, according to Robin Boersner, property manager at Mezzo Design Lofts. “I’ve been a property manager in the city for 10 years. The people who rent here don’t leave. We are at 100 percent leased,” says Boersner.
The property also includes several shared amenities, including a lush courtyard, a fitness area, free Wi-Fi and a community room where tenants can gather for movies, parties and game nights. According to Leberman, people take pride in their units and socialize with other tenants. “It feels like a home,” he says.
