Luxe: A Nuclear Community

    

Unlike most Harvard undergraduates, I am living off-campus in an apartment (Luxe @ Alewife) in Alewife giving me a more nuanced perspective to the realities of living alone in a new city. The building I live in seems to meet the needs of what I consider a young modern family who favor efficiency and proximity to essential needs. In terms of the building itself, a dog washing station is conveniently located near the lobby as an included amenity. Pets are welcomed as an essential part of the familial unit and it is buildings like the one I live in that are a testament to this new wave of pet owners who are foregoing expansive yards for the efficiency of dog parks and neighborhood walks. There are also courtyards within the building that include assess to grills and common spaces where it is not uncommon to see family units enjoying meals, laughing, and sharing quality time together. Aside from the in-house amenities, the location of the building actively promotes a walking community, where essentials are never farther than a short ten-minute walk. Stores such as Whole Foods, TJ Maxx, CVS, and Trader Joe’s are all part of this nuclear convenience that promotes exercise and demotes the use of private transportation such as cars. The trains stop is also within a seven-minute walk of the building, allowing commuters direct and speedy access to all corners of the Boston and Cambridge area. There are also playgrounds and daycares, further promoting the belief that the community seeks to meet the needs of its target resident’s. I have included a map diagram of the area which more easily describes the urban planning in the area.