Chasen brings Hello Alfred’s concierge service to Baltimore tenants

In February, Baltimore-based Chasen Construction and Development will begin offering tenants access to concierge services through hospitality startup Hello Alfred.

The move means New York-based Hello Alfred is entering the Baltimore market.

Chasen, which was founded in 2015, operates 14 buildings in Baltimore, with a total of 250 units. The company renovates properties into “boutique luxury” residential properties of about 10 to 35 units in areas like Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and Fells Point, said CEO Brandon Chasen. After development and buildout, it also owns and manages the properties. (Its commercial properties include the Vision coworking space in Federal Hill.)

The company wanted to offer concierge services that would match what other buildings could offer with an in-house concierge, as well as go “above and beyond,” Chasen said, and so his team began exploring tech-enabled offerings. After vetting several services, they settled on Hello Alfred.

“Our tenants can now have a person that they talk to through the app, where they can get anything and everything they need through the concierge,” the CEO said.

A key was a weekly “tidy up” service offered by Hello Alfred, which includes sending a person to make beds to hotel standards and other tidying acts. It also offers services like stocking a pantry and laundry or dry-cleaning delivery, and help with booking appointments for pet care, making dinner reservations and more. The service is initially offered as part of a lease, but tenants pay for any of the items delivered or connections with outside services that are made.

Hello Alfred will initially be available at four properties, with eyes toward expanding to its other properties: The Wilkes, The Darcy, The Courtland, and The Roland.

“This is a new level of offerings that nobody else in the market has,” Chasen said.

Along with design and location, offering technology is one of the areas where Chasen is looking to differentiate itself. On that front, the apartments also have smart home technology, with voice-enabled controls for some functions via Alexa.

The company has a team of 11 based out of Vision. Some D.C. properties are also in its portfolio, but Chasen remains committed to Baltimore.

“We’re in it for the long haul in Baltimore with everything we’re doing,” the company said.