How Shared Living Spaces Create a Sense of Community

Moving to a shared living space, such as a nicely appointed apartment community, often requires a few adjustments. Tenants often migrate from single-family homes, and younger residents move out of their parents’ houses.
Either way, the new apartment tenants leave a setting that contains a built-in sense of community, and move into an unfamiliar environment. Although they might not realize it, though, they’re now part of a new community that offers its own distinctive benefits.
Increased Social Engagement
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to maintain social connections. With stay-at-home lockdown orders, and many people still working from home, social isolation has become a growing concern in large cities and small towns alike.
Fortunately, a shared living space offers opportunities to meet neighbors of varied backgrounds. A morning greeting in the elevator, or a brief chat while checking the mailbox, provides tenants with the benefits of engaging with another human being. In fact, research has shown that people who stay in contact with their neighbors have a higher sense of well-being.
Sharing of Common Interests
When multiple tenants have similar interests, it’s easy to strike up a conversation and perhaps arrange a casual get-together. Whether it’s talking about genealogy at a local coffee shop, or enjoying a regular jog through the local park, sharing common interests can take many forms.
Children’s Play Dates
Parents with young children often look for two-child play date opportunities. These lively interactions enable the youngsters to develop their social skills and learn to get along with their peers.
For toddlers, indoor play date activities include dancing or a scavenger hunt using safe toys such as tennis balls or good-sized plastic blocks. A painting party, memory games, and good old-fashioned toy playtime are also good choices.
Older children might enjoy card games, puzzles, superhero games, or baking adventures. Younger and older kids alike will enjoy a visit to a nearby park.
Dog-walking Groups
Friendly, well-behaved dogs are great social ice-breakers. In fact, dog owners of all ages and backgrounds easily gravitate to each other. Maybe they enjoy a brisk walk along the river or through a downtown park. Or, perhaps they share dog food brands or training tips.
Group dog walks also offer socialization benefits for the dogs. If a resident’s canine companion doesn’t have much contact with other pooches, group walks will provide opportunities for controlled interactions. Of course, all dogs should be leashed and should be current on their vaccinations.
Cultural Interests and Hobbies
Meeting other apartment community residents with similar cultural interests and hobbies is always a bonus. Maybe several tenants enjoy a similar music genre, or perhaps they participate in shared cultural activities.
Musical enthusiasts may enjoy gathering in someone’s apartment for a virtual concert. Or, tenants who want to celebrate a certain culture might organize a potluck featuring a feast of ethnic foods and beverages.
Small Business Development Magnet
Not surprisingly, a demographically diverse apartment community draws small businesses to serve those tenants. Restaurants, cafes, bars, service businesses, and specialty shops often pop up within walking or easy driving distance.
With a good selection of quality-of-life businesses close at hand, residents
can often meet most of their needs without venturing too far from home. This further enhances the concept of a self-contained community with its own identity.
Highly Engaged Property Managers
A vibrant, well-maintained apartment community depends on a property management firm that’s committed to a top-tier experience for its tenants. In addition to handling routine maintenance and service issues, the company should ensure that its property receives necessary upgrades. In addition, onsite company personnel should be personable and accessible to residents.
How Out-of-Town Management Misses the Mark
Renting from an out-of-town property management firm puts tenants at a disadvantage. First, absentee property managers don’t understand the specifics of the neighborhoods in which their apartment communities are located. In many cases, the owners are simply investors who are looking for the best return on their money.
In addition, the absentee managers have no concrete connection to their properties. Even if they hire a local manager to handle the day-to-day property oversight, the absentee owners have no real incentive to “go the extra mile” for the tenants.
This shortcoming is especially applicable to the properties’ upgrades. If an absentee owner purchases a property that needs substantial renovations and/or upgrades, they may not be willing to undertake that major expense. Instead, they might decide to minimize costs while waiting for a buyer who enables them to reap a profit on the transaction.
Why Local Ownership Often Makes the Difference
In contrast, Beal Properties has been a Chicago-area property owner for more than 30 years. This community-focused property management firm has renovated many historic buildings in the Chicago metro area.
For Beal Properties Chicago, keeping the structures’ striking facades is important, as they add a rich character to the larger community. Not surprisingly, improving Beal Properties-owned buildings enhances property values for other area structures. At the same time, adding more regional rental capacity enables rates to remain affordable for tenants of varied income levels.
Equally importantly, Beal Properties’ investments are made with longevity in mind. As a mainstay of the Chicago property landscape, Beal Properties maintains and improves its properties rather than viewing them as “buy-sell” vehicles. Over time, this philosophy helps to stabilize communities and leads to economic growth.
Onsite Staff Are Valued Community Members
Beal Properties’ commitment to its tenants is reflected in the quality of its onsite staff. Many building managers live in the properties they oversee, giving them plenty of opportunities to engage with other tenants. For their part, tenants know that Beal Properties’ employees understand and value their concerns, and will quickly work to address emerging issues.
To recognize its high-quality team members, Beal Properties regularly spotlights them on the company website. This exemplary action serves two purposes.
First, viewing online staff profiles enables tenants to get better acquainted with their building managers and other staff members. In addition, tenants know that local property managers are committed to maintaining a quality living environment in which tenants and their families can thrive.
These desirable attributes are reflected in the many positive Beal Properties reviews. Collectively, they demonstrate that this longtime local property management firm, along with its employees, have the ongoing respect of tenants in many Chicago-area rental communities.