Question for Bostonians
Dec 18th, 2010, 11:42 AM
#2
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Most areas in this vicinity are generally safe. But I ask you to give a bit more info. Describe safe? A female walking alone at 2 AM or safe from your car getting broken into.
Safe to live in, work in, transit thru?
Is cost and issue if you are talking housing. What else matters - type of housing, demographics of residents, parking, ease of commute to where.
Exact location matters a lot in Boston, where a commute of 5 miles can take longer than a commute of 20 miles depending on if it involves multiple MBTA lilnes, driving, etc.
Safe to live in, work in, transit thru?
Is cost and issue if you are talking housing. What else matters - type of housing, demographics of residents, parking, ease of commute to where.
Exact location matters a lot in Boston, where a commute of 5 miles can take longer than a commute of 20 miles depending on if it involves multiple MBTA lilnes, driving, etc.
Dec 18th, 2010, 12:30 PM
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Logan Airport is in East Boston and not as easily commutable to Cambridge. I'd suggest looking north of Cambridge and not east. It's the red line that runs into Cambridge, look at the MBTA website for towns the line runs through and that will give you a better idea of where to look.
Dec 18th, 2010, 07:57 PM
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gail~re-reading your post:
Let's see if I can come up with some beginning answers:
I have a dog.
I won't be walking alone between 10 am and 5 am....
Safe to live in and transit through.
Demographics: Apartments/condos/rooms for rent, safe, Clean, nice people, no parking required
More soon....
Let's see if I can come up with some beginning answers:
I have a dog.
I won't be walking alone between 10 am and 5 am....
Safe to live in and transit through.
Demographics: Apartments/condos/rooms for rent, safe, Clean, nice people, no parking required
More soon....
Dec 18th, 2010, 09:03 PM
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No, do not live in Chelsea -- it's utterly awful with just a couple possible exceptions that are not convenient to public transportation. Logan Airport is in East Boston, and I'd avoid living there as well.
Cambridge is mostly fine if you can afford it. By "north of Cambridge," travelbuff is probably referring to Arlington, which is also very good.
You might also seriously consider going to the city-data.com website, a very useful forum that's often a more helpful and candid spot to get answers on neighborhoods.
Cambridge is mostly fine if you can afford it. By "north of Cambridge," travelbuff is probably referring to Arlington, which is also very good.
You might also seriously consider going to the city-data.com website, a very useful forum that's often a more helpful and candid spot to get answers on neighborhoods.
Dec 18th, 2010, 09:26 PM
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East would end up being Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, Beachmont, Winthrop, ocean. East you have to take the Blue line to connect to the red line, and the commute will take longer.
I grew up in Winthrop which you might take a look at. It's a really nice town, a few restaurants and alot of apartments/houses for rent. There is also a great beach and several nice parks for dog walking. It is on the blue line so you could drive to Orient Heights park and take the blue line into Boston, and change for the red line. The total commute would probably be an hour, but you might find an apartment with an ocean view, or walking distance to the water. Also there is street parking with a permit (small fee).
Hope this helps.
I grew up in Winthrop which you might take a look at. It's a really nice town, a few restaurants and alot of apartments/houses for rent. There is also a great beach and several nice parks for dog walking. It is on the blue line so you could drive to Orient Heights park and take the blue line into Boston, and change for the red line. The total commute would probably be an hour, but you might find an apartment with an ocean view, or walking distance to the water. Also there is street parking with a permit (small fee).
Hope this helps.
Dec 19th, 2010, 03:19 AM
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Most important question - where do you need to be during the day for work/school/whatever. Commute time and ease is likely important - as I mentioned above, a few miles canmake a huge difference
Back Bay area of Boston would be perfect for almost any commute/need - but is also the most pricey of any area within your geographic range. (real Back Bay - some ads call themselves that but are not).
Back Bay area of Boston would be perfect for almost any commute/need - but is also the most pricey of any area within your geographic range. (real Back Bay - some ads call themselves that but are not).
Dec 19th, 2010, 07:20 AM
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In Cambridge, Harvard Square, Central Square, Cambridgeport, and Inman Square are all good. You probably can't afford West Cambridge unless you are senior faculty. North Cambridge may be OK but may be really awful. Local knowledge required.
Somerville is excellent for graduate students, esp near Porter Square and even better toward Davis Square, both of which have Red Line Access. Arlington is good if you live within a block or two of Mass Ave (Massachusetts Avenue, people in Boston abbreviate everything).
Allston and to a lesser extent Brighton are student ghettos on the Boston side of the river, with many undergraduates.
You don't say where you are coming from. It will color your expectations. Many Boston area apartments are in "three deckers", wooden three flat properties built between 1890 and 1925. They can be lovely inside but may look slummy if you come from a place with traditional suburban expectations. You don't say when you will arrive. If it is in the middle of winter for second term, none of these places will be at its best. I'll jump back in as the discussion clarifies.
Somerville is excellent for graduate students, esp near Porter Square and even better toward Davis Square, both of which have Red Line Access. Arlington is good if you live within a block or two of Mass Ave (Massachusetts Avenue, people in Boston abbreviate everything).
Allston and to a lesser extent Brighton are student ghettos on the Boston side of the river, with many undergraduates.
You don't say where you are coming from. It will color your expectations. Many Boston area apartments are in "three deckers", wooden three flat properties built between 1890 and 1925. They can be lovely inside but may look slummy if you come from a place with traditional suburban expectations. You don't say when you will arrive. If it is in the middle of winter for second term, none of these places will be at its best. I'll jump back in as the discussion clarifies.
Dec 19th, 2010, 09:13 AM
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Agreed that Winthrop is quite nice for the reasons travelbuff listed above. The only caveat to consider is that it's very close to the airport, and depending on wind conditions, you may or may not experience a lot of low flying aircraft with all the noise one would expect.
Also agree with much of what Ackislander has to say above. The western part of Somerville is a solid choice, with good subway access near Porter and Davis Squares. For Cambridge, there are pockets that are still good to avoid:
-North Cambridge in the area up Rindge Avenue to the Alewife T-stop, a triangle bounded by Alewife Brook Parkway, Mass Ave., and the train tracks/Pemberton Street. Otherwise, North Cambridge is fine.
-the area immediately northeast of Central Square, most notably around Columbia and Washington Streets and along Cambridge St. in this region. This is bounded roughly by Mass Ave., Prospect St., the Somerville border, Cardinal Medeiros Ave., and Main St. Mapquest refers to this as two neighborhoods, Wellington/Harrington and Neighborhood Four.
Re Cambridge: note also that in the last six months or so, there have been a rash of muggings and robberies on side streets and even a few main streets in several parts of Cambridge after 9 pm (including one each in Harvard Square and Harvard Yard), even in areas traditionally considered perfectly safe. There may or may not be a more concerted effort to stop this by city and university police in the immediate future.
Also agree with much of what Ackislander has to say above. The western part of Somerville is a solid choice, with good subway access near Porter and Davis Squares. For Cambridge, there are pockets that are still good to avoid:
-North Cambridge in the area up Rindge Avenue to the Alewife T-stop, a triangle bounded by Alewife Brook Parkway, Mass Ave., and the train tracks/Pemberton Street. Otherwise, North Cambridge is fine.
-the area immediately northeast of Central Square, most notably around Columbia and Washington Streets and along Cambridge St. in this region. This is bounded roughly by Mass Ave., Prospect St., the Somerville border, Cardinal Medeiros Ave., and Main St. Mapquest refers to this as two neighborhoods, Wellington/Harrington and Neighborhood Four.
Re Cambridge: note also that in the last six months or so, there have been a rash of muggings and robberies on side streets and even a few main streets in several parts of Cambridge after 9 pm (including one each in Harvard Square and Harvard Yard), even in areas traditionally considered perfectly safe. There may or may not be a more concerted effort to stop this by city and university police in the immediate future.
Dec 19th, 2010, 06:00 PM
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Wow!
Thank you to you all.
I visited an old boyfriend 5 years ago, in the year he moved there. He lived in Providence, 6 miles from the train. I remember how I enjoyed the area, and am glad that I'm going on my own terms, not riding on his tailcoat.
The situation right now, I've applied to a college. Not sure if I'll get in or not but when I contacted the professors in the dept, one wrote back with a research proposal. Its not a guarantee at all, and she's just gathering names of people who might be interested. I can't believe that I will (may)have the opportunity that may be coming up and it will be my own effort. Not because of a boyfriend. No offense to boyfriends, it is just so cool to think that it might be my time!
I will print this a break out a map! Thanks!
I appreciate all of your help and the scoop on the muggings will keep me indoors after dark! lol.
Thank you to you all.
I visited an old boyfriend 5 years ago, in the year he moved there. He lived in Providence, 6 miles from the train. I remember how I enjoyed the area, and am glad that I'm going on my own terms, not riding on his tailcoat.
The situation right now, I've applied to a college. Not sure if I'll get in or not but when I contacted the professors in the dept, one wrote back with a research proposal. Its not a guarantee at all, and she's just gathering names of people who might be interested. I can't believe that I will (may)have the opportunity that may be coming up and it will be my own effort. Not because of a boyfriend. No offense to boyfriends, it is just so cool to think that it might be my time!
I will print this a break out a map! Thanks!
I appreciate all of your help and the scoop on the muggings will keep me indoors after dark!
lol.
Dec 19th, 2010, 11:07 PM
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I read that you are following the other similar post - regarding someone working in Copley - Fenway to Cambridge might not be the best recommendation, for example. I know this is now the 3rd time I have responded in such way - but since you indicate this is that this is related to a college, let me say that if you ended up at BU, BC, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern - or any of the several facilities associated with any of these - or at one of the other many colleges - WHICH ONE makes an enormous difference in where you live.
Somerville to BC, for example, is a very different commute than Winthrop to BC - although the mileage is very similar. And even Harvard, with the main campus in Cambridge has a huge Medical School in Boston, other facilities in Allston/Brighton. Living on the Red Line for Northeastern is a more difficult commute. And it is quite possible that we might recommend a neighborhood which would allow you to actually walk to the college that is also on good transportation for access to the rest of the area.
After you hear if you are accepted and/or want to tell us which site of which college, those of us familiar with the area will be able to give more appropriate info.
Somerville to BC, for example, is a very different commute than Winthrop to BC - although the mileage is very similar. And even Harvard, with the main campus in Cambridge has a huge Medical School in Boston, other facilities in Allston/Brighton. Living on the Red Line for Northeastern is a more difficult commute. And it is quite possible that we might recommend a neighborhood which would allow you to actually walk to the college that is also on good transportation for access to the rest of the area.
After you hear if you are accepted and/or want to tell us which site of which college, those of us familiar with the area will be able to give more appropriate info.
Dec 22nd, 2010, 08:25 AM
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I've been communicating with a professor from Harvard. Just last week, he requested my citizenship and a writing sample, as if the project was moving forward. When I advised him I completed my degree in Dec instead of staying in school until May, so that I could be ready to go to Boston, his reply came as, the chances of the project beginning are slim. I'm not sure why he was asking for the citizenship/writing sample in on week, and the next week he's saying it probably won't go through. (his project wasn't 'signed off' yet.)
(My writing doesn't stink.)
P.S. I found, on Harvard's website a page that says, 'the question of one's citizenship is illegal'. 'The question of are you authorized to work in the U.S. is legal'.
Who knows what he's got planned?? I hope that my name being in the mix will help my chances somehow.
(My writing doesn't stink.)
P.S. I found, on Harvard's website a page that says, 'the question of one's citizenship is illegal'. 'The question of are you authorized to work in the U.S. is legal'.
Who knows what he's got planned?? I hope that my name being in the mix will help my chances somehow.
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