Watermark Kendall West

The building feels peaceful and welcoming, with mostly friendly, respectful working professionals. That made for a quiet community, a big change from our previous apartment. The location is hard to beat, one minute from the red line in a safe, walkable neighborhood with plenty of places to eat. The leasing team and concierge are organized, capable, and always willing to help residents feel at home. We're moving out of state, otherwise I'd happily stay for years. I can't recommend this Watermark enough!

Stephanie and Matthew helped me understand the available units even though I was overseas and couldn't view them in person. That made it possible to choose this apartment as my new home, and I'm so glad I did. The location is incredibly convenient for MIT, CVS, grocery stores, and getting around, and I also love the farmers market, open every Thursday with quality products. The apartment is beautiful, tidy, and very well kept. The rooftop terrace is breathtaking, and the second-floor garden terrace is lovely too. I'm grateful for my new home and for all the professional, kind staff. ^^*

March 26 update: I've lived in three apartment buildings in this area, and this is the first time I've been charged nearly $100 for trash removal at move-out. We removed all the large trash before leaving, so I asked about the fee. The reply was, “They did not give the apartment to you in that condition.” Future residents may want to keep this in mind when moving out. October 2025: I've only lived here a short time, and it's been disappointing. Construction noise hasn't been as bad as I expected, but workers are constantly visible from the nearby site, so keeping the shades open during the day feels uncomfortable. The gym isn't included and doesn't feel like a resident amenity. It's basically an outside business that residents can access, and it feels inconvenient and unwelcoming. To reach the terrace and lounge, I have to go outside, enter the East building, and check in with the concierge each time. There's little else available. The only accessible thing is a lobby couch that seems intended as visitor decor, not for residents. The mailroom is especially frustrating. At my previous apartment I could collect packages myself, and in over a year I never had a problem. Here, residents can't access the mailroom even with staff present; staff have to hand over packages. In just one month, a package went missing, which had never happened to me before. I don't want to bother the staff, so sometimes I've given up trying to collect one. I had to follow up at least once before the leasing office replied to my email. During move-in, there was confusion because the loading dock was double-booked. Compared with nearby apartments in the same price range, the one-bedroom is more spacious, but otherwise the building doesn't feel like home.

The people are what made us sign at Watermark and renew. Mathew Chong, the leasing professional, listens, remembers, and follows through. He made the process feel personal at a time when leasing in the city can feel rushed and impersonal. The concierge staff keep that going day to day. They know us and our dog's name, notice when we've been away, and ask how things are going. Their quiet, consistent warmth makes a large building feel neighborly instead of anonymous. The apartments are comfortable and practical, a bit larger than most nearby, and thoughtfully renovated. The location makes life easier, with the Red Line, Boston, universities, and hospitals all close by. There are real gaps in the amenities. There's no building gym, pool, or shared gathering space. A public gym is in the building, but it costs extra and isn't worth the price, so we go elsewhere and pay more. Getting around easily is the only thing that softens that inconvenience. There are two towers, and one has a grill area for residents, but reaching it from the other tower is oddly complicated because the public gym blocks direct access to the outdoor space. A simple convenience turns into a walk around the block. We renewed and would do so again, because the people running the building get so much right. If the gym were building-owned and renovated as thoughtfully as the apartments, Watermark would go from a very good place to live to the obvious choice.