Boston is booming in case you haven’t heard.  They are adding residential units to the City’s stock like a short order cook turning out pancakes on a busy Saturday morning.  They say we need them, and perhaps THEY are right.  It’s astounding nonetheless.  Micro Units – those teeny, tiny 350 SF rentals that are more like dorm rooms than apartments as the building offers all the social interaction, and third place opportunities that your room and board, I mean bed, cannot.

600 Harrison Avenue . New Atlantic Development . Utile Design

In the South End, Harrison Avenue said good bye to the Boston Herald, and hello to Ink Block a two building complex and the focus of this post, Sepia, and a 160 Unit Mixed Use Complex being designed by Utile and developed by New Atlantic Development whose construction will be wrapping up this summer.  Albany Street won’t be outdone is it has The Troy, and The Flower Mart just down the street is going to be flattened like those pancakes and tossed to make way for more….you guessed it, mixed use residential units.

600 Harrison Ave . New Atlantic Development . Utile Design

Having been blessed with an early release – thank you Lisa Wexler for helping us start summer off right – I took the chance to see what all the hype is about. Ink Block is comprised of 4 buildings – 3 of which are cleverly titled InkBlock#1, InkBlock#2, InkBlock#3, and Sepia.  There are 471 units, amenities include; a Whole Foods in Ink #1, an outdoor heated swimming pool – with Life Guard (I’m not kidding), a gym, a yoga studio, conference and meeting rooms available at no additional charge, underground parking, and I am sure much more.

InkBlock

I took a tour of the property with Heather Kavanagh, a young, energetic, and well informed leasing agent.  I suspected it would mostly be young people that lived there as the vibe is urban edgy, but unless they are rich young people, they’ll have to find other accommodations.  I did see a Mom with two kids, and a guy my age – if you think that means I’m telling you my age, you are crazy – so a mix of folks.  Heather reported that the flexible leasing timeframes mean that they get a lot of out of towners on assignment, and she also shared that many moved in while they were having their houses renovated.  Interesting.

InkBlock . 1 Bed

The units I saw where quite nice – a good size, a little over 500SF for a studio, and 700 plus SF for a one bed.  They are well appointed with modern design aesthetic, in unit washer and dryer, and AC.  Some units face the pool which are no doubt much quieter than those that face the highway.  Each to their own.

InkBlock Common Areas

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  I thINK I give Ink and A.  #InkBlock