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Zack Mishkin went all out to impress his girlfriend on the one-year anniversary of the beginning of their romance.
He treated her to a professional massage in a poolside cabana at their Tempe, Ariz., apartment complex, champagne as they relaxed in a candle-rimmed hot tub and a gourmet dinner he grilled by the pool. In her apartment, she found chocolate-covered strawberries, more candles, and rose petals forming a giant heart on her bed.
All this was engineered by the concierge staff at the complex, Grigio, one of a burgeoning number of apartment complexes around the country that aim to provide the convenience of home and the comforts of a hotel.
From New York to San Francisco, the amenities race is on among some high-end apartment and condominium buildings. Never mind a gym and a doorman -- how about turndown service, pet sitting, gift wrapping, a wine cellar or a private library?
They're all yours -- for a price -- as some residential builders add resort-like amenities, and hotel-industry players create residential properties.
Even at a time when many Americans are struggling to hold on to their homes amid slumping values, tightening credit and a...