CHR Camp 2023 - Employee Outing

Managing People’s Homes with Pride since 1969

Company

Who We Are

A Leading Owner/Manager of Multifamily Communities in New England

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
CHR Headquarters in Chestnut Hill, MA
Regency Plaza in Providence, RI

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
Hancock Village at Chestnut Hill Shopping Plaza

Our History at a Glance

Travel Through Time with CHR - No Ticket or Passport Needed!

CHR Timeline

Hancock Village History

Delve into the fascinating past of this historic apartment community

Hancock Village History

 

People

People

Our team shares a common philosophy: deliver a quality product, provide excellent customer service, and foster an environment that attracts and retains the best people.

Join our team

Core Values
Chestnut Hill Realty Core Values Banner

 

Chestnut Hill Realty's Ed Zuker
and Lauren Zuker-Siff discuss
how our Core Values influence
everything we do at Chestnut Hill Realty.

Video Url
Video Url
CHR Core Values - First Class Service

 

Chestnut Hill Realty Core Values - Excellence

 

Video Url
Video Url
Chestnut Hill Realty Core Values - Teamwork

 

Chestnut Hill Realty Core Values - Integrity

 

Video Url
Video Url
Chestnut Hill Realty Core Values - Caring

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Chestnut Hill Realty is committed to promoting the values of inclusion, equity and belonging by supporting policies that promote these values while engaging the voices of our community to promote equality and compassion.

In September 2020, Chestnut Hill Realty Founder and CEO Ed Zuker joined CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. The members of this coalition, now more than 2,300 strong, pledged to take action to cultivate workplaces where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, and where employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion. The Pledge aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace and society at large by working collectively across organizations and sectors.

CEO Action for Inclusion & Diversity logo
2024 DEIB team

Aiming to take a more structured approach to moving our diversity and inclusion agenda forward, CHR formed a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee. Seventeen employees from across our sites and departments volunteered to take part in this important initiative, beginning with the completion of a six-week intensive training program conducted by YW Boston. In collaboration with YW Boston, an action plan was created and later approved by senior leadership. The DEIB Committee’s mission, with the support of the Executive Leadership Team, is to help develop and nurture an organization that is more inclusive and where everyone can reach their full potential.

DEIB Committee Members (L to R): Kerri Speranza, Taylor Goldwater, Kaitlyn Hesse, Melissa Hartman, Heather Perry, Saige Munroe, Keiry Madera, Grant Haggerty, Lauren Zuker Siff.

A company-wide diversity conference, Inspiring Inclusivity 2022, was attended by the entire company of more than 200 CHR employees. Moderated by experts in the field, seminar topics included Courageous Conversations, Tips for Disability Belonging, Exploring Diversity, Talking Race at Work, and Words Matter. During the two, half-day sessions, employees were encouraged to spend time in a Learning Lab where information on Hispanic heritage, LGBTQ, women’s history and other related topic could be explored.

CHR DEIB Conference Fall 2022
CHR Cares
CHR Cares

Chestnut Hill Realty prides itself on its long-standing commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the community. This commitment extends to its employees, residents, and the environment.

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is the practice of conserving natural resources and protecting global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing, now and in the future. Because so many decisions that impact the environment are not felt immediately, a key element of environmental sustainability is its forward-looking nature. Since Chestnut Hill Realty was founded in 1969, long before conservation and sustainability were popular buzzwords, we have looked for opportunities to lessen our impact on the environment. The signature initiative that encompasses everything CHR does to preserve and conserve natural and non-renewable resources and encourage healthy outdoor living is called Nature Positive.

CHR Cares - Village Green Recycling Center
CHR Cares - classroom

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 2023, Chestnut Hill Realty’s charitable donations totaled more than $1.3 million (see chart).

Charity of the Month: Throughout the year, CHR sponsors fundraising and donation drives and encourages employee and resident participation. In 2023, these efforts included National Multiple Sclerosis Society ($1,620), Pine Street Inn ($5,445) and Conquer Cancer Coalition ($11,065).

Opening Our Doors: In conjunction with Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ refugee resettlement program, CHR provided housing, day care and job placement assistance to refugee families in the Boston area to assist in their path to self-sufficiency. CHR’s support totaled more than $240,000.

Property-Based Philanthropy: CHR’s communities are active and have their own initiatives. One example is Move for Hunger where residents can donate nonperishable food items to benefit local food pantries. In 2023, 1,776 lbs. of food were donated – enough to provide 1,480 meals for those in need.

View 2022 Annual Report
View 2021 Annual Report
View 2020 Annual Report

Resident Outreach Event WVV Paint Night

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 activity spaces for meetings, mixers, or events.

BeOurGuest at WVT Mazie Mentoring 2019
News & Awards

News & Awards

CHR Recognized as Best Place to Work for Women

In a national survey of multifamily companies conducted in September 2021 by the Best Companies Group, Chestnut Hill Realty was ranked as a best place to work for women. Achieving a ranking of 15th, CHR is the only company that has a presence in New England. The survey is conducted on an opt-in basis, and the respondents consisted of current CHR employees. Ranking companies need a minimum of 15 women working in the organization or 25%, whichever is greater.

George McHugh Receives MAA 2021 Industry Excellence Award

George McHugh, President of Property Management, has been recognized by the Massachusetts Apartment Association (MAA) as the recipient of their 2021 Industry Excellence Award. The award was announced at their annual Achievement Awards gala, which was held December 1 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston. The award acknowledges George’s significant contributions to the multifamily industry in a career that spans more than four decades.

Boston Business Journal Op-Ed: Property Managers are “Unsung Housing Heroes”

An op-ed article penned by Jen Murphy, Director of Marketing at CHR and President of the Massachusetts Apartment Association (MAA), appeared in the Boston Business Journal. Jen points out that property management teams, and those that support them, belong among the many groups of unsung heroes during this pandemic; caring for residents and helping to keep them safe and comfortable in their homes during this stressful time. They are not traditionally identified as frontline works, but these dedicated professionals are on the frontlines nonetheless.

Chestnut Hill Realty Holds Grand Opening for the First Phase of 175 Rental Apartment Homes Created Under Chapter 40B

Chestnut Hill Realty held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony of the first phase of 175 units created under Chapter 40B on July 13. MassDevelopment was the subsidizing agency for the development and provided the tax-exempt and taxable bonds to help finance the new housing community.

The project, known as Residences of South Brookline at Hancock Village, are the first brand-new rental townhomes built at Hancock Village since the 1940s.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed at Four CHR Communities

In keeping with CHR’s commitment to implementing green energy, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations were recently installed at four of its apartment home communities in MA and RI.  While these properties – Ridgecrest Village, Water View Terrace, Water View Village and Regency Plaza – are currently configured to allow two EVs to charge at once, each location has the infrastructure capacity to support up to 10 charging stations. The program was developed in partnership with Horizon Solutions, and will be operated by ChargePoint.

Hancock Village Apartments in Chestnut Hill Continues $114 Million Renovations of 789 Townhome Residences, Adding Significant Features to Meet Modern Housing Needs

Hancock Village Townhome Apartments, a residential community of Chestnut Hill Realty (CHR), have always been an attractive option for those seeking more outdoor space with private entrances and backyards. These Greater Boston Area townhome apartments, however, have become an increasingly desirable alternative to traditionally constructed rental housing in an era marked by COVID-19 and the residential community’s $114 million renovations.

Created Under MA Chapter 40B Affordable Housing, CHR Brings First New Rental Townhomes to South Brookline Adjacent to Baker School (K-8) Since the 1940s

48 New 3-Bedroom/2.5-bath townhomes enhance 789 apartment townhomes at Hancock Village

Chestnut Hill Realty (CHR) today announced that it is bringing the first brand-new luxury rental townhomes to South Brookline, MA since the 1940s.

CHR Recognized as Best Place to Work for Women

In a national survey of multifamily companies conducted in October 2020 by the Best Companies Group, Chestnut Hill Realty was ranked as a best place to work for women. Achieving a ranking of 10th, CHR is among only three companies in the rankings that have a presence in New England. And, most notably, CHR was the only New England-based company appearing in the top 10. The survey is conducted on an opt-in basis, and the respondents consisted of current CHR employees. Ranking companies need a minimum of 15 women working in the organization or 25%, whichever is greater.

CHR Recognized as Best Place to Work

In a national survey of multifamily companies conducted in October 2020 by the Best Companies Group, Chestnut Hill Realty was ranked 35th. CHR, with headquarters in Massachusetts, is among only four companies in the rankings that have a presence in New England. The survey is conducted on an opt-in basis, and the respondents consisted of current CHR employees. This marks the first year that CHR has participated in the survey, and the ranking will be effective for calendar year 2021.

Jennifer Murphy Elected MAA President

The Massachusetts Apartment Association (MAA) announced that Jennifer Murphy will serve as their President, effective January 1. Jen, who is Director of Marketing, joined CHR 25 years ago and will hold this office at MAA for one year. She is the third member of CHR’s management team (George McHugh in 2010 and Ed Zuker in 1989) to serve in this capacity. Jen has been an active member of MAA (previously known as the Residential Housing Association) for over 15 years and has participated in several noteworthy committees and initiatives.

Preferred Employer Program

Preferred Employer Program

Special Discounts for Your Employees

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, flexible lease terms, and much more.

Ridgecrest Village in West Roxbury, MA
Preferred Employer Program

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.