By Collin Bray, President of Sales at Century 21 Cityside

The country’s most luxurious new developments boast some extreme amenities and services that far surpass anything that has been previously offered. Doormen, 24-hour concierge services and private clubs and restaurants are no longer enough to satisfy most residents. NYC’s Sky offers a private park, cell-phone boosters and an in-house stylist from TrunkClub.com. Some buildings go much further than that. L.A. hosts a slew of buildings that offer over-the-top gyms with rock-climbing walls, lap pools with underwater speaker systems and professional-quality basketball and tennis courts.

Boston, which in the years past has not been known for being a luxury real estate destination, has quickly proven its’ metal with some of the most luxurious and service-driven buildings on the East Coast. Millennium Tower and the new Four Seasons are perfect examples, but we are still more than a decade away from reaching Boston’s goal of the “Imagine Boston 2030” housing plan, an initiative headed by Mayor Marty Walsh. The plan entails building 53,000 new homes in Boston. One method developers are using to attract residents is offering new and unique amenities.

Boston has recently taken its’ environmental impact quite seriously; likewise, developers have added many environmentally-conscious amenities and services to new buildings. Many full-service buildings such as the Ritz-Carlton, One Greenway, and The Kensington offer electric car charging spaces in their garages, making current electric car owners happy and attracting those who are interested in purchasing electric cars. A number of buildings also feature pre-installed NEST Thermostats, which make in-unit climate control more precise and more energy-efficient.

Recreation, relaxation and entertainment are all important features to have in full service buildings. Boston residents want services that will make their busy lives more convenient and more leisurely. For residents with pets, The Kensington features a full-service pet spa with professional bathing, walking, and sitting services. The Ink-Block hosts “Yappy Hour” cocktail parties for pet owners to mingle in the building’s private park. One Back Bay features an on-site gourmet market with full catering and grocery delivery and also has a childrens’ play and party room. The W Hotel & Residences, Millennium Tower and Battery Wharf all have spas complete with steam rooms and professional massages. The Arlington even has an ever-demanded private basketball court. For developers with smaller buildings, a common roof deck, bike storage and a daily onsite supervisor to accept packages, perform repairs and keep an eye on the building are the most important amenities to offer. Seville Boston Harbor chose to incorporate these three amenities, which helped pre-sell the building 90% before completion.

What could the future demand of developers to attract condo buyers and renters? Many people who work in the city travel for work; cabs to the airport can be quite expensive, while taking luggage on the T can be a pain. Boston is a huge supplier of Uber and Lyft drivers; accordingly, we predict future new developments will offer private black-car livery services for residents. For the city’s most elite consumers who travel frequently, helicopter pads would be a welcomed addition to an otherwise unused roof. Entertaining guests has also become increasingly important to Boston buyers. Pre-wiring surround sound entertainment systems or wireless Sonos speakers, which offer room-by-room speaker playback, would attract many buyers.

Boston has quickly caught up with the likes of Miami, San Francisco and New York in the quality of its’ new residences and is only moving forward. Many new buildings are coming to Boston; when the city hits 2030, we expect a completely re-imagined city that offers residents the very best amenities available.