Free Wi-Fi, in-unit washer and dryer and open kitchens are an expected amenity for todayβs apartment hunters.
βWhat else you got?β Seems to be the question.
And developers are answering.
From facilities to wash the pooch, to charging stations for electric vehicles and private studios for work-from-home meetings or recording podcasts, the newest apartment complexes in the Tucson area are upping the offerings to entice renters.
One local complex includes a gated, 4-acre park with a dog yard exclusive to residents.
Amavida Marana opened earlier this month with 200 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom models.
Located at 5555 W. Ina Road, near Silverbell Road, Amavidaβs private park has four pickleball courts, a playground and a walking/jogging loop, as well as a ramada with a barbecue area.
The Amavida Marana apartment complex at 5555 W. Ina Road features a gated 4-acre park exclusively for tenants that has a pickleball court and dog yard.
The community also has electric vehicle charging stations, an indoor/outdoor fitness center and pet-washing stations.
Rents range from $1,575 for a 766-square-foot, one-bedroom unit up to $2,300 for a 1,323-square-foot, three-bedroom model.
βIf you want relaxation, recreation or a lush place to work out, having an exclusive park in the community is something all residents can enjoy,β said Amity Dalton, vice president of new development for Bryten Real Estate Partners, the management company. βAmavida Marana is a place where residents can find an exceptional place to play and stay active.β
Rents at Amavida Marana apartments range from $1,575 to more than $2,300 a month.
In a quest to get a potential tenantβs attention, apartment developers across the country are adding all sorts of perks to their properties.
And, the ultimate amenity being location, a newly opened complex along Historic Fourth Avenue is commanding rents of more than $3,500 a month to live on the entertainment strip.
Located at 211 N. Fourth Ave., next to OβMalleyβs Bar & Grill, there is a streetcar stop just outside the main entrance.
The complex, Ari on 4th, which held its grand opening this past week, is 13 stories with 323 units with 748 beds in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom models with a corresponding number of bathrooms.
But, itβs not student housing, in that the units must be rented as one. Traditional student housing allows residents to rent by the bed.
The Amavida Marana apartment complex held its grand opening this past week.
Given its location, developers expect to get a fair amount of student tenants, but also anticipate young professionals who are starting out in their career and want to share living expenses, said Jay Ramos, senior director of real estate development for The Opus Group.
Retail space on the ground floor has not yet been finalized, but Opus is working with local retailers, Ramos said.
The complex features a pool deck overlooking Fourth Avenue and a 12th-floor observation deck with views of downtown.
Location being the ultimate amenity, Ari on 4th has an observation deck on the 12th floor with a view of downtown Tucson.
There is a gym, sauna and serenity room with blackout curtains.
Four work-from-home office spaces are also available to tenants.
βMany business owners have said weβre a sight for sore eyes, having that many residents on the street,β Ramos said.
Rents range from $1,599 a month for a 392-square-foot studio to a 1,598-square-foot unit with four bedrooms and four bathrooms for $3,596.
Among the amenities at Ari on 4th is a sauna for residents.
The average apartment rent in the Tucson area is around $1,300, but newer units in the downtown area are upwards of $3,500 for a two-bedroom model and student housing towers near the University of Arizona campus rent for upwards of $2,000 per bed.
The amenities game is on a fast track across the country, according to RentCafe, a site that aggregates rental prices and perks.
Among its list of quirkiest apartment amenities in 2024 were on-site recording studios, private subway entrances, observatories and luxury car elevators.
Analysts say amenities are a big part of the βemotional decisionβ when choosing a place to live.
You're in the market for a new home, but those prices seem out of reach. At what point is it better to rent rather than buy? Find out which cities are impacted the most. (Scripps News)
