Rent Yourself a Slice of Green

The New Van Ness offers more than the usual potted-plant decor.

van ness fenway

A rendering of Van Ness’s rooftop oasis. Photography courtesy of Elkus Manfredi Architects.

Once the provenance of sweaty sports bars and sweatier nightclubs, the Fenway is now a day- and nighttime destination with restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and even a rock ’n’ roll-themed hotel. Median condo prices in this area have spiked by 81.6 percent in the past decade.

At the center of it all is the rental-only, 172-unit Van Ness. Slated to open in early June, it was developed by Samuels & Associates—the same group that owns the Landmark Center and built Fenway Triangle Trilogy.

While Van Ness’s units come stocked with plenty of luxe essentials—Bosch washer-dryers, GE Café and Profile appliances—its calling card is its greenery. “If you’re living in the city and working long hours, you don’t get a lot of that,” says Samuels principal Peter Sougarides.

So behold: communal terraces with pergolas; a rooftop running track and grilling area; floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Brookline hills and nearby Emerald Necklace parkland; a fitness center with its own terrace; and a lobby wrapped in a wall of plants. Woodsy images line the corridors. Elevator light fixtures are designed to resemble birds’ nests.

The building, which also houses office space and retail, offers studios from 428 square feet, one- bedrooms from 650 square feet, and two- bedrooms from 1,000 square feet. Those facing Fenway Park are in high demand.

If the green initiative doesn’t sway you, perhaps the miniature containers of laundry detergent and pet food will: Van Ness will soon be home to Boston’s only CityTarget, which sells household items sized for urbanites.

Van Ness, 1325–1335 Boylston St., Boston, 866-313-5278, thevanness.com.