A six-story apartment building that has been under construction for two years on a high-profile stretch of Morrissey Boulevard next to the expressway is welcoming its first tenants this week.

Imprint Boston Apartments, built on the former site of Phillips Old Colony House at 780 Morrissey Blvd. includes 219-units of rentals, many with sweeping views of Dorchester Bay. Imprint offers several floor plans including studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with starting prices listed between $2,700 and $4,500.

The Michaels Organization, a New Jersey-based company that manages the 179,435 square-foot property, describes it as a multi-family community with amenities across each floor, including a fitness center, a sky view terrace, outdoor courtyards, co-working spaces, and several lounges. Each unit has a fully furnished kitchen, spacious bathrooms, ample closet space, and a washer and dryer. The complex also has 29 affordable units that will be filled by tenants selected from 1,799 applicants. 

A view inside an upper-level living room.

A lower-floor patio includes seating and views of Dorchester Bay, the gas tank, and the I-93 traffic

“The goal is not to be stuck in your apartment 23 or 24 hours a day,” said Barrington Gibbs, one of the property managers. “We want you to get outside and meet your neighbors. We want people to enjoy the space and we want our residents to enjoy each other and make that lasting.”

Residents can find common areas to grill dinner, compete in bocci or cornhole, play poker with friends, or get work done, he said. 

“In addition to the space you’re getting, you’re getting a strong team behind you,” Gibbs explained. “We’ll make sure that it will be an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. That’s something I pride myself on. Making sure my team is strong, and friendly, that they’re timely, that everyone’s needs are met, and that we’re offering above and beyond service for everybody that comes through the doors.” 

Gibbs and his team expect most units to be filled by young, working professionals. The complex has a shuttle service that includes UMass Boston on its route, and this week they will showcase the site to the school’s students.

The complex also houses a 136-car parking garage, that has storage for up to 400 bikes.

“The bikes are something the city was really pushing. They are trying to cut cars and be more eco-friendly,” Gibbs said.

Michaels Organization staff members Tori Goodman, Barrington Gibbs, and Valena Lugay

Since the apartment building is located on prime property that once was home to The Old Colony House and Freeport Tavern, Imprint believes residents will explore outside of the complex into the larger Dorchester community.

“We’re hoping it adds a little additional life to the neighborhood,” Gibbs said. “More people coming in brings more business and that’s our goal. We just want a positive impact.”

Imprint is the first of two large residential buildings that have been approved for the Neponset end of Morrissey Boulevard. The board of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved a second project in Dec. 2022 that will see the demolition of the Ramada Inn next door to Imprint at 800 Morrissey Blvd. and the construction of 229 residential units on that site. That project, which carries a development cost of $115 million, is expected to create 206 jobs, according to the BPDA.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to fix an original error referring the number of applicants for the affordable lottery for this specific property. The correct number is 1,799, not 38,000.