Local News

Home of the Week: See you at the rooftop pool

Two buildings at Dot Block open for lease with room for Fluffy and Fido and rents starting at $2,500.

The kitchen comes with an island, stainless steel appliances, and white smooth-front cabinetry at this Boston apartment complex. (John Davenport)

By John R. Ellement

May 31, 2023

Home of the Week pick: 1211 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester

Rent

Studio (from $2,500); one bedroom and one bath (from $2,975); two bedrooms and one or two baths (from $3,815); and three bedrooms and two baths (from $4,865). Rent for the model unit featured here is $3,511.

Units 245 (to date)

Year built 2023

Utilities Tenant responsible for water, sewer, Internet, and cable.

Pets $100 for dogs and $50 for cats per month. Breed restrictions. Two pets per unit.

Parking (Underground garage) $250 a month

Dot Block is not just a blueprint anymore.

Some eight years after the idea was proposed, the first tenants are moving into the apartment complex on one of Boston’s most important streets, Dorchester Avenue.

The six-story Dot North and four story Pleasant buildings are complete, with two more on tap before the development, which is about a third of a mile from the Savin Hill stop on the Red Line, is built out.

Dot Block is a rental complex on Dorchester Avenue at the intersection of four neighborhoods: Savin Hill, Meeting House Hill, Jones Hill, and Fields Corner. – Rendering courtesy of Samuels & Associates

Already complete is Unit 235, a model in the Dot North building with an asking rent of $3,511 a month. It’s a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment that’s 675 square feet. The other one-bedroom apartments range in size from 521 to 729 square feet and are priced between $2,975 and $3,385.

The entrance to the unit reveals a short foyer (under 4 feet deep) and offers a view into an open layout the kitchen and living/dining area share. A wall of windows pours light into the space.

Natural lights pours in through an expansive window in the model’s living area. – John Davenport

A door on the left opens to the unit’s shower-only bathroom. It’s 69 square feet and has a single vanity topped with quartz and flooring and a shower surround of ceramic tile. Pull off your socks and throw them directly into the stacked washer and dryer here. This laundry setup is available in all units.

The 110-square-foot kitchen is defined by an island with seating for three and a quartz top. Just to the left is a line of cabinets and a quartz countertop that forms the main work area. The smooth-front cabinets are modern and white, while the appliances (the stove is electric) are stainless steel. There are two closets here: One is for the water heater, the other has a doorway that spans 5 feet.

The combined living and dining areas make up roughly a quarter of the unit’s living space (156 square feet). There’s plenty of room for a sofa, two armchairs, and a small dining table. The flooring is a vinyl plank that mimics oak.

The flooring continues into the bedroom, which is 113 square feet and offers recessed lighting, a walk-in closet, and a tall casement window.

The bedroom in the model has vinyl plank flooring that mimics oak. – John Davenport

Grab your bathing suit and towel and head up to the rooftop pool. Other amenities include a community indoor-outdoor kitchen, a fitness room, secure mail and package rooms, a lounge, shared work spaces, bike storage, a pet-grooming area, and complimentary coffee.

The rooftop pool includes lounge areas and outdoor dining facilities with grills. – Rendering courtesy of Samuels & Associates

Tenants have access to the fitness center. – Rendering courtesy of Samuels & Associates

Tenants have access to a shared kitchen and work-from-home spaces – Rendering courtesy of Samuels & Associates

Originally, the ground level of Dot Block called for big-box-type stores, but developer Samuels & Associates changed the focus to small stores, neighborhood restaurants, and a greenspace open to the public.

The buildings center on a greenspace that is open to the public. – Rendering courtesy of Samuels & Associates

Tenants are required to maintain renter’s insurance.

Samuels & Associates is also managing the property.

Follow John R. Ellement on Twitter @JREbosglobe. Send listings to [email protected]. Please note: We do not feature unfurnished homes unless they are new-builds and will not respond to submissions we won’t pursue.