Facts at a Glance

• Year Founded: 1969
• Mission: Managing People's Homes with Pride
• Vision: Chestnut Hill Realty is dedicated to sustainability and long-term strategic growth through its commitment to our residents, employees, investors, and the greater community.
• Founder and Chief Executive Officer: Edward E. Zuker
• Headquarters Location: Chestnut Hill, MA
• Employees: 220
• Portfolio Value: $1.5 billion

Owner/Manager of Apartment Properties

• Apartment Properties: 32
• Units: 5,000
• Locations 
  • Greater Boston: Boston, Brighton, Brookline, Canton, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Framingham, Newton, Norwood, Plainville, West Roxbury
  • Rhode Island: Providence
• View a List of CHR Communities

Owner/Manager of Commercial Properties

• Square Feet: 180,000
• Property Types: Retail, Office, Medical Office
• Locations
  • Greater Boston: Brookline, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Framingham
  • Rhode Island: Providence

Environmental Sustainability

Natural Resource Conservation: CHR has reduced its footprint by over 80% since the 1970s and continues to seek further reductions in gas, oil, electricity, fossil fuels and water. Energy Star appliances are used throughout the portfolio.

Landscape Management: Irrigation smart controls are utilized at all properties, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage. Plants are selected based on disease and pest resistance qualities so there is less reliance on pesticides. Grass clippings and leaves are composted and used for fertilizer.

Emissions Controls: Battery powered landscaping equipment is used at select properties, resulting in zero emissions and less noise pollution. Approximately one quarter of CHR’s communities are 100% smoke free. Electric car charging stations are being installed as space and need permit.

Recycling: A recycling program for collection of household waste is being implemented at 100% of CHR communities. Of these, six have onsite recycling centers.

Paperless Workflows: CHR implements paperless workflows companywide.

Sustainable Purchasing: All copy paper is manufactured from 30% recycled materials. Toilet paper and paper towels are Green Seal approved. Residents receive reusable shopping bags as move-in gifts.

Employee Development and Well-Being

Professional Development: CHR University’s curriculum includes programs for onboarding new employees, leadership development, and mentoring. Employees who participate in Walk in Someone Else’s Shoes Day develop stronger collaboration skills and relationships by doing a coworker’s job for one day.

Continuing Education Credential Programs: Leasing and Property Management employees receive instruction to qualify for advanced credentials including National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM). Maintenance Services staff are eligible to obtain Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) credentials. The Maintenance Services Department also conducts in-house skills-based training at its Center for Maintenance Excellence training facility.

Health and Well Being: Programs for employees include wellness incentives and reimbursements, time off to volunteer, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and team building events sponsored by CHR’s Actively Coming Together (ACT) committee.

Insurance and Financial Planning: Benefits available to full and part-time employees include insurance (medical, dental, vision care, short and long term disability), 401(k) program, legal services, paid parental leave, student loan debt repayment, and flexible spending account.

Philanthropy and Community Service

Corporate Philanthropy: In 2019, Chestnut Hill Realty’s charitable donations totaled more than half a million dollars (see chart).

Charity of the Month: Throughout the year, the Company sponsors fundraising and donation drives and encourages employee and resident participation. In 2019, these efforts included Toys for Tots (703 toys); Pine Street Inn (500 lbs. of food) and The Jimmy Fund.

Hope in Bloom: The Horticulture Department donates materials and labor to create a home garden for cancer patients.

Property-Based Philanthropy: CHR’s communities are active and have their own initiatives.  One example is Move for Hunger, for which residents are asked to donate unused food when they are moving out of their apartments. In 2019, 1,198 lbs. of food was donated – the equivalent of 999 meals for families in need.

View 2019 Annual Report

Resident Outreach

Property-Sponsored Resident Events: In keeping with the goal of building communities at CHR properties, the Company sponsors numerous resident events throughout the year so they can get together and interact with each other and the property management staff.

Community Outreach

The Be Our Guest program provides local businesses and non-profit organizations complimentary use of CHR’s corporate and property-based amenity spaces for meetings, mixers, or events.

Quality Housing, Convenient Locations

Our Preferred Employer Program (PEP) offers employees at participating companies access to a range of conveniently located unfurnished and furnished apartments in the Greater Boston area and Providence, RI, and a special discount up to $1000 off their first month's rent. Why join PEP? Chestnut Hill Realty has owned and managed apartment homes with pride since 1969. Residents living at our communities receive industry-leading customer service, 24/7 maintenance response, a 30-day move-in satisfaction guarantee, flexible lease terms, and much more.

Participating Companies

Employees receive personalized apartment search services to help find the home that's right for them. There are no fees or charges for companies or employees.

The list shown on the left represents some of the companies participating in our program. If you're an employee, please contact your HR or Benefits Manager to see if your company is enrolled.

If you're an employer, and would like to join our program, please Contact Us.