Managers of the Sudbury high-rise at Bulfinch Crossing sponsored trivia contests and virtual classes in floral design to connect residents during the pandemic. Image courtesy of HYM Investment Group
Residential events are essential for making a new apartment feel like home. However, during COVID-19, apartment managers have been forced to get creative to offer residents the sense of community they crave while still adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
When The Sudbury, the high-rise residential tower at Bulfinch Crossing, opened in fall 2020, National Real Estate Advisors and The HYM Investment Group worked closely with the Bozzuto management team to bring unique events to residents. While following state-regulated pandemic protocols , we’ve safely engaged The Sudbury’s residents over the past few months and countered the monotony and loneliness that so many have felt during quarantine.
Delivered Entertainment, Fostered Community
We brought delight to residents through a traveling bartender who visited each apartment, offering tropical drinks and fun, upbeat recorded music. These masked, distanced interactions created an exciting, unique break during an otherwise cold and dark winter night.
We’ve also made it a priority to work with local companies when hosting events or offering food and beverages. In a typical year, residents would have more of an opportunity to explore local cuisine. Instead, we brought our favorite treats to them, so that they could check out their new neighborhood’s restaurants without leaving the safety of their unit.
Julie Livingstone
This has been very well received by our residents. In one review of The Sudbury, a resident named Nick noted, “The leasing office … put so much thought into holding free resident events throughout the month. From a bar cart to your apartment door, bouquet making classes and whiskey tasting, they think of everything.”
We also host events that bring residents together through shared experiences. There’s comfort in knowing that every other resident is enjoying the same culinary experience as you. For example, to celebrate the universal joy of Girl Scout cookie season, we offered residents a customized wine pairing for their favorite flavor cookie. Of course, throughout the month we like to offer special surprises, like bagels on the go, “work from home tacos” and beer and wings during the NFL playoffs.
Connected Residents with Activities
It’s no surprise that life in the pandemic can leave you feeling trapped inside your home with nothing to do, so in addition to our regular luxury amenities, we worked to engage our residents in distanced events. This January, we hosted a DIY Succulent Kit event in collaboration with a local flower company to create a memorable floral design experience for each resident. Each apartment unit received a decorative pot and succulent to create a unique piece of their own. We also hosted a Valentine’s Day bouquet class, where residents were given the materials to make their own floral arrangement.
Leah Cataldo
For both events, we arranged a live video instruction call so that everyone could get to know each other from the safety of their home while participating in the activity. In the coming month, we will be hosting a similar virtual pizza-making class to build community amongst residents. We also have a weekly virtual trivia night, which encourages residents to get to know each other through some friendly competition.
When we think of what makes a residential experience truly fantastic, amenities and features come to mind, but so do great service and community support. With creativity, The Sudbury has continued to prioritize the sense of togetherness that residents love, but in a safe and socially distanced manner. Eventually, and hopefully quite soon, COVID-19 will be long past us. But our team will still use the lessons we learned during the pandemic to guide us in choosing the best and most engaging events for our residents.
Julie Livingstone is senior development manager at The HYM Investment Group and Leah Cataldo is general manager at The Sudbury for Bozzuto Management Co.
