New apartment buildings continue to escalate the battle of over the top amenities

When the now AvalonBay apartment building opened at 1st and M Streets NE, it took apartment building community amenities to the next level with a bunch of elements that no one else had:

- a section of the building was designed to accommodate dogs, with a side entrance to make it easier for taking the dog out for a walk
- a dog grooming lounge
- a large refrigerator at the front desk, for holding grocery deliveries
- a couple of band/music practice rooms with appropriate sound dampening to minimize impact on other areas of the building
- they were also supposed to be putting in a bike maintenance "lounge" too, although I never doubled back to see if it had been installed--it hadn't been at the time I went on the tour.

Since then, AvalonBay's AVA brand has added new community lounge elements and the ability of residents to do some in-unit customization, including painting--and AVA will provide the paint.

Image from HillNow.

While Notions Capital calls our attention to the opening of Station House (with an actual place-related name, since it's across the street from the Union Station complex) at 701 2nd Street NE because of the irony of the headline of the HillNow story, "Bowser Touts Affordable Housing in Luxury Building Near Union Station," this building's package of amenities has some new elements that take amenities offerings to another level also:

- a game room, including skee ball and ping pong tables
- a demonstration chef quality kitchen
- they have the requisite rooftop pool, but also a rooftop garden with sitting area
- and apparently a dog walking area on the roof as well

along with 10 electric car charging stations in the garage and other stuff.

Of the building's 378 apartments, 28--fewer than 10%--are set aside to be offered at "affordable" rental rates.