Known as "the Cuisinart of the city
neighborhoods," for the varied blend of
people that reside in this section of the city,
Allston/ Brighton is the second most populous
area in Boston . Boston University on the Boston
side of Allston, and Boston College at the far
end of the trolley line past Brighton in Chestnut
Hill account for the many students, faculty,
and staff residing here.
The main thoroughfare is Commonwealth
Avenue , where the tracks of the Green Line's
Boston College branch are laid. Houses along
this street and cross-streets in Allston include
brownstones, row houses, and old apartment buildings..
Brighton boasts many traditional wood-frame
houses. Multi-family houses are plentiful in
this area and are considered good investments
Harvard Street comes into Allston
at Commonwealth Avenue and provides a small
commercial center. Shoe stores, clothing boutiques,
several restaurants and nightclubs populate
this area.
The Allston/Dudley bus, making
stops on Harvard Street , provides cross-town
transportation through Brookline , Jamaica Plain,
and Roxbury, connecting with various MBTA stations
for quick travel to all sections of Boston .
The Massachusetts Turnpike and Storrow Drive
also traverse Allston/Brighton, providing car
routes to and from the neighborhood.
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- Back Bay -
Whether it's spring and the magnolia
and dogwood blossoms are in full bloom (a
striking contrast against the brownstones
and wrought iron gates), or winter, with a
light blanket of snow dusting the bare branches
of the stately trees, the Back Bay enchants.
The entire eight-by-five
block area sits on what was once a mud basin
of the Charles River . One hundred years ago,
in need of more residential space, the city
filled the area with dirt hauled from the
suburbs and formed the Back Bay--an address
that quickly became, and continues to be,
one of Boston 's most prestigious.
The neighborhood boasts more
architectural styles within any single block
than does any other city in the country. With
styles ranging from Greek to Classical
Revival this architectural panorama houses
students and Brahmins alike, as well as schools
and businesses.
Many of the apartments in
this largely residential neighborhood have
been converted to condominiums in recent years,
and the trend is continuing. Rentals
do exist, and finding a characteristic one,
with 10-foot high ceilings, bay windows, and
working fireplaces, makes a search worthwhile.
Most of the buildings were first built as
single-family homes, complete with servants'
quarters, for Boston 's wealthier families.
The changing times have forced most to be
sold and converted into condominiums.
The unofficial entrance to
the Back Bay is the Boston Public Garden ,
one of the city's most beautiful parks. In
the spring and summer colorful plantings edge
the walkways, and the enchanting swan boats
float in the duck pond, retracing the path
of the ducklings in the children's classic,
" Make Way for Ducklings ". One of the
best views of the Public Garden is from the
nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel at the corner of
Newbury and Arlington streets.
Meandering down Newbury Street
, you'll find a selection of shops, galleries,
and restaurants as varied as the area's architecture.
Avant-garde and traditional art, haute couture
and collegiate fashion, beauty salons and
hardware stores--they're all within steps
of one another along Boston 's most fashionable
street.
One block over on Boylston
Street is Copley Square with the grand Copley
Plaza Hotel, the Boston Public Library (an
architectural and literary wonder), and the
Richardson-designed Trinity Church . Towering
above them all is a beacon for the Back Bay
: the shimmering John Hancock Tower, whose
panes of glass change color with the weather.
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- BEACON HILL -
Beacon Hill evokes the essence
of picturesque Boston : cobble-stone streets,
brick sidewalks, purple-tinted 18 th century
windowpanes, gas street lamps, brass door
knockers, and wrought iron grillwork. Despite
its historic facade, Beacon Hill is a stunning
example of the contemporary urban planning
that offers a reasonable alternative to suburban
living.
Perched in the shadow of
the shining golden dome of Boston 's State
House, Beacon Hill has been home to many famous
people throughout its long history, including
Daniel Webster and the son of president John
Quincy Adams. The Hill is also home to many
lesser-known folks--students, young professionals,
and families, who enjoy the sense of community
and historic atmosphere.
Many of Boston 's architectural
gems are here, some divided into apartments
or condominiums, others still maintained in
their entirety by families or organizations.
Housing is tight on the Hill, but rental and
buying opportunities do exist. The lack of
expendable space here has contributed
to the creation of a unique enterprise: condominium
parking garage spaces.
Much of this neighborhood's
appeal lies in its sections, like the stately
Louisburg Square , a privately-owned park
surrounded by gorgeous mansions. Only residents
here hold keys to the statue-studded park.
And Mt. Vernon , Pickney, and Chestnut
streets boast stunning Federal-era homes.
In an effort to preserve Beacon Hill 's unique
character, local laws govern what alterations
residents can make on the street-side walls
of their homes.
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- Charlestown -
Charlestown is older than Boston
itself, settled in 1629 by 10 Puritan families.
Boston was founded later when a group of Charlestonians,
suffering from Native American attacks and
a lack of fresh water, crossed the bay to
what was then called Shawmut.
This is a history buff's
heaven. The 220-foot granite tower of the
Bunker Hill Monument at Breed's Hill houses
a museum featuring a diorama of the Battle
of Bunker Hill. The Navy Yard, a busy place
until the last decade, has been preserved
and developed as an historic waterfront park
where the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest
commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy, is
docked and open for tours.
The area is a mix of neighborhoods
with old brownstones and apartment buildings,
many of which have been renovated, including
the navy yard and waterfront area. This, combined
with Charlestown 's being so close to Boston
(with a lovely view of downtown and the harbor),
has made it a popular place to live.
Housing prices vary as much
as styles. In the area of Monument Square
at Bunker Hill , there are expensive townhouses
and condominiums. Thompson Square , between
historic Bunker Hill and Interstate 93, recently
underwent renovations and is now offering
somewhat more moderately priced housing. Bunker
Hill Community College is in this area, and
the Orange Line subway provides public transportation
to and from Boston . A shopping mall, also
in the Thompson Square section, caters to
residents.
Charlestown is a proud community
and the many professional families who have
moved in recently share the common concern
of preserving older structures and historic
sites, repaving the streets, and installing
amenities such as gas street lamps.
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- Chinatown -
Boston has the country's third
largest Chinese neighborhood, a small area
located next to the Massachusetts Turnpike
and bordered by the business district. The
official boundaries of Chinatown are Beach,
Hudson , and Tyler streets.
Chinese immigrants first
came to Boston in the early 1800 ' s as laborers
in textile mills and construction industries,
and also as workers in Chinese restaurants
and laundries. Many were simply saving money
to send to families in their home country
and eventually returned to China themselves.
But the 1940 ' s saw a wave of Chinese immigrants
settling in Boston , forming the cultural
pocket that became Chinatown .
The area is densely populated,
and almost exclusively Chinese. Tucked over,
under, and between Chinatowns 's many small
commercial establishments are apartments in
older buildings.
Chinatown is convenient to
public transportation, and to everything that
makes Boston famous. The Theatre District
and the Downtown Crossing shopping district,
flank the neighborhood of Chinatown on either
side.
A close-knit community, Chinatown
has several civic groups which work to improve
the quality of life through the support of
neighborhood revitalization.
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- The Fenway -
The Fenway is part of Frederick
Law Olmsted's green belt, known as Boston
's "Emerald Necklace", to which
the old Victory Gardens and the Muddy River
also belong s . The area is South-Southeast
of Boston's downtown, bordering Brookline
on one side and Roxbury on the other.
The Fenway is unique in its
combination of parks, numerous apartments,
and cultural and entertainment attractions
including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella
Stewart Gardener Museum, and Fenway Park,
home of the Boston Red Sox. Several colleges
and universities are located here as well:
Simmons, Northeastern, Massachusetts College
of Art, Wheelock, and Emmanuel, as well as
the renowned Harvard Medical School . On the
Western fringe of the Fenway is Boston 's
famous hospital district, with Beth Israel
and Children's hospitals and the Sidney Farber
Cancer Institute.
Apartments abound on Park
Drive , Gainsboro, Peterboro, and Hemenway
Streets, and on Symphony Road . Most are in
older buildings currently emerging from
or undergoing renovation. Condominium conversions
are common here as well as elsewhere in the
City.
Residents are a hodge-podge
of students, interns, and nurses because of
the proximity of colleges, museums, and hospitals.
Nearby Kenmore Square caters to every shopping
and entertainment whim.
The area is close to transportation
via the Green Line's Riverside or Arborway
subways, and has all the ingredients for further
growth, redevelopment, and general upgrading.
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- Jamaica Plain -
A city section just three miles
from the heart of Boston , Jamaica Plain is
an ideal location for those seeking a semi-suburban
atmosphere with a relatively short commute
into Boston .
Some of the lovely old Colonials
and Victorians in the area have been converted
into distinctive condominiums offering more
residents the pleasant view of Jamaica Pond
and the convenient location of the Center
Street area.
On nearby Sumner Hill, there
are many Victorian homes situated on large
lots providing housing for mostly elderly
residents, but these homes are attracting
more young adults and families as replacement
buyers. The common goals in these Jamaica
Plain neighborhoods are to keep streets safe,
property values up, and to maintain the harmonious
mix of diverse resident backgrounds and interests.
Jamaica Plain is situated
along Boston 's extensive planned park system,
19th-century landscape architect Frederick
Law Olmsted's "Emerald Necklace". Arnold
Arboretum, a kind of botanical garden with
ponds and open landscapes, and the park land
banking the Jamaicaway are part of this system
and compliment this unique neighborhood.
Proximity to museums, colleges,
employment, hospitals, and the best of Boston
's shopping makes this an ideal place for
city professionals who want a touch of suburbia.
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- North End -
The North End, Boston 's "Little
Italy", is a charming world unto itself,
located just steps away from the hustle and
bustle of Boston 's downtown and the Faneuil
Hall Marketplace. The city's oldest residential
neighborhood and home to generations of immigrants,
the North End was once predominantly Italian.
The sights, smells, and spirit here make the
North End one of Boston 's most vital neighborhoods.
Bordering the waterfront
on one side and the central artery on the
other, the small, densely packed North End
probably boasts more restaurants, grocery
stores, bakeries, and pizza shops per square
foot than any other neighborhood in the city.
Here you can find delectables like homemade
pasta, fresh breads, imported olive oil, rum-laden
pastries, spices and coffees from around the
world, and countless other treats.
This is a close-knit community
where everyone keeps an eye on each other's
property. Such consistency has given the North
End a reputation for being a very safe
place to live.
The North End streets are
alive with people in the warmer weather. It's
not an uncommon sight to find the sidewalks
lined with neighbors chatting on kitchen chairs,
conversations held from apartment window to
sidewalk, or old men playing "bocce".
In the summer months there are festivals that
draw thousands of visitors.
Not only is the North End
a rich repository of Italian heritage, it
is also a living museum for American history.
Here stands the 17th-century home of Paul
Revere (the oldest frame building in Boston
), St. Stephen's Church (Boston 's only standing
church by architect Charles Bulfinch), the
famed Old North Church (where lanterns were
hung signaling the British attack), and Copps
Hill Cemetery (the second one in the colony).
Winding your way through the narrow, cobble-stone
streets, you will also see a majestic statue
honoring Revere .
Condominiums are the only
types of housing available in the North End.
Higher priced units stand next to subsidized
housing for senior citizens and stylishly
renovated apartments are found tucked in back
alleys behind charming gardens. Still,
no amount of redevelopment can threaten the
spirit of the place, that which makes the
North End unique and endearing.
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- South Boston -
Connected to downtown Boston and
the harbor, South Boston is convenient to
work and leisure. Homes are passed down through
families from generation to generation, and
the neighborhoods themselves are close-knit.
Old brownstones with attractive details and
quality workmanship have been revived and
converted into condominiums and apartments.
This, of course, has triggering an influx
of new business.
Housing styles vary here,
from older triple-decker apartments to brownstones
and single-family homes in established neighborhoods.
The spirit of the Irish has
dominated history in South Boston, the peninsula
which juts out into Boston Harbor . It is
still home for many people of Irish descent,
whose Catholic ancestors supervised the building
of St. Augustine 's Chapel at 9 F Street ,
the first Catholic church in the Commonwealth.
The chapel's cemetery is the resting place
of Boston 's first Irish policeman. Even George
Washington acknowledged the heritage of residents
when he made the password to his concealed
fort site "St. Patrick" during the American
Revolution.
The Southeast Expressway
gets drivers into South Boston , and the MBTA
Red Line makes stops in the area. South Boston
benefits from its urban/suburban location
by being just minutes away from work and leisure
activities.
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- South End -
The South End is another city neighborhood
where you will find the townhouses being revamped
and attracting new residents taking part in
the back-to-the-city flight. Newer residents
are also often former suburbanites who no
longer need their large homes and wish to
be close to work and entertainment. Located
just over the line from the Prudential
Center in Back Bay/Copley Square , the South
End is has enjoyed a renewal which to makes
it one of the city's most desirable locations.
Built as a fashionable new
residential neighborhood in the mid-1800 '
s, the South End's brick bow-front townhouses
are often smaller than those on Beacon Hill
and in the Back Bay . The homes have exposed
brick walls, beamed ceilings, floor-to-ceiling
windows, and massive archways inside and out
that mark entrances and stairways. Jutting
walls, overhanging rooms, balconies, and hidden
backyards abound here.
Years ago a shell of a house
needing major interior and exterior renovation
could be found for a moderate price. Today
that same address in good condition will fetch
many times the old price. Restored townhouses
and condominiums carry high price tags.
Newer street lighting serving
the dual purpose of safety and beauty, newly
paved streets and sidewalks, nine pockets
of parks set off by handsome iron fences,
and an exciting array of newly-planted trees
combine to contribute to this area's charm.
The Holy Ghost Cathedral and Boston City and
Boston University hospitals are neighbors
to about 50 restaurants, jazz clubs,
and eateries, making the South End a much-visited
section of Boston .
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Neighborhoods of Somerville
-
Central Hill -
Central Hill is home to Somerville High School,
the Public Library, and City Hall, as well
as a small residential area clustered around
the hub on Highland Ave. The area is situated
at the top of a hill, affording wide views
north, east, and south.
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-
Cobble Hill -
Cobble Hill is a wide area running from Somerville
Ave south to Beacon Street, and on the east
side from Porter Square all the way to Interstate
93 Although the east side of this diverse
district is predominately industrial, a thriving
residential neighborhood can be found tucked
away behind the commercial strip along Somerville
Ave. The Purple commuter line to Fitchburg
runs through this area, which features easy
access to shopping and transportation, and
proximity to Harvard Square. Porter Square
has begun spilling over into Cobble Hill to
join the established community here.
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-
Davis Square -
The Davis Square area, centered around busy
Davis Square, is comprised of a mix of residential
and commercial streets. Davis Square itself
boasts a variety of restaurants, shops, and
commercial establishments, including used
books and records stores, clubs bars, and
even a movie theatre. The surrounding neighborhood
is mostly residential, bounded by Highland
Ave on the north and Massachusetts Ave on
the south. Houses and yards tend to be more
ample here, and gardens and funky Victorian
paint jobs are more common here than elsewhere
in Somerville. Davis Square is well situated
between Harvard Square, Cambridge and Tufts,
and is on the MBTA Red Line.
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-
East Somerville -
Commercial property predominates in those
areas of Somerville east of Interstate 93.
Assembly Square is the location of the Assembly
Square Mall. A cinemaplex and retail superstores
like Circuit City and Home Depot anchor the
retail sector on the east side of Route 93,
which also includes office space and other
commercial property. The Mystic River borders
the area to the north, as shown here.
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-
Inman Square -
Inman Square is actually in Cambridge, but
borders Somerville. This city neighborhood
is a relaxing urban landscape of coffee shops,
ethnic restaurants, bookstores and boutiques.
The city has begun a major renewal project
on Cambridge Street, which, along with Hampshire
St., is one of the two main thoroughfares
in this neighborhood of single-family, as
well as two- and three-family homes.
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-
Magoun/Albion -
Magoun Square serves the large residential
neighborhood of West Somerville as well as
the neighborhood known as Winter Hill on lower
Broadway. Compared to the recent development
of areas closer to Tuft University and those
neighborhoods bordering Cambridge this residential
area remains largely unchanged. It offers
convenient access out of the city west into
Arlington and North Cambridge, and east onto
Route 29 and Interstate 93.
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-
Porter Square -
Though located in Cambridge, Porter Square,
with its shopping, restaurants and access
to the MBTA Redline and Commuter Rail Stations,
is a central destination for the thousands
of Somerville residents living close by. The
large influx of students, artists and professionals,
who have moved into Somerville in recent years
find the area around Porter Square especially
desirable. It is within walking distance of
Harvard Square in Cambridge, and Davis Square
in Somerville.
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-
Powder House -
Powderhouse Circle, with a few restaurants
and business establishments, overlooks the
athletic fields and campus of Tuft University.
The neighborhood boasts large homes and larger
lots than most Somerville neighborhoods and
more closely resembles the nearby suburban
neighborhoods of Arlington and Medford. Powderhouse
is only a short distance from both Teele and
Davis Squares.
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-
Prospect Hill -
Prospect Hill is a residential area lying
directly south of Central Hill. It is a neighborhood
of wide, tree-lined streets where large, older
houses are the norm. At the highest point
of the area is Summit Ave, where the Monument
presides over a magnificent view of Cambridge
and Boston. The area has several parks but
no public transportation.
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-
Spring Hill -
Spring Hill is a largely residential area
east of Porter Square, which runs from Highland
Ave south to Somerville Ave, and from Hancock
Street east to Central Ave. Like many Somerville
neighborhoods, this one is quite hilly, affording
handsome views into Cambridge and Boston beyond.
Tree-lined streets and numerous gardens make
this one of the most picturesque districts
in Somerville—as long as you don't mind
walking up a lot of hills.
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-
Sullivan Square -
Sullivan Square is the Northeast tip of the
city of Boston. It borders Somerville and
serves as a transportation hub in and out
of the city. Sullivan Square is an Orange
Line stop on the MBTA and there is a large
bus terminal nearby. Like many of the old
warehouses in the area, the Schrafts Candy
building, a city landmark, has been converted
into commercial office space. I-93 runs through
the southeastern corner of the area.
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-
Ten Hills -
Ten Hills offers unique access to the Mystic
River, along Shore Drive. The river area was
a popular bathing spot at the turn of the
century, and today you can picnic there as
all the river frontage is MDC park land. The
neighborhood itself boasts some interesting
older houses amid newer, more functional constructions.
Some light industrial establishments remain,
reminders of the areas gritty past. A historic
note: Ten Hills was the site of Governor John
Winthrop's house in the seventeenth century
and of Captain Robert Temple's elegant mansion
in the eighteenth century.
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-
Tufts & Teele Square -
The Tufts area is primarily composed of Tufts
University and surrounding community. A well-maintained
college neighborhood with easy access to Tufts
University, Davis Square, Red Line, shopping,
and recreation. Powderhouse Park borders it
on the east, West Somerville on the west,
and Davis Square on the south. It shares a
border with neighboring Medford as well.
Teele Square, with several popular nightspots,
seems almost an extension of thriving Davis
Square, which is just a short walk down Holland
Street. But most of this bustling commercial
sector serves local residents. Teele Square
borders Medford and is a short distance from
Tufts University, Route 16 and the Arlington
line.
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Unoin Square -
Like Porter and Davis Squares, the commercial
area of Union Square has become a popular
destination for visitors beyond the immediate
area. Union Square boasts many excellent restaurants
and specialty stores, plenty of parking and
convenient access to Interstate 93. The affordability
of office space attracts a variety of entrepreneurs.
Union Square borders Cambridge and is a short
distance one from of that city's popular visitor
destinations, Inman Square. The lion shown
here stands outside the well-known Neighborhood
Restaurant.
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West Somerville -
West Somerville is due west of the Davis Square
and Tufts areas, and is the last community
before exiting Somerville into Arlington.
The neighborhood itself is mostly residential,
and features many older homes. Nearby Davis
and Teele Squares offer shopping and restaurants.
Easy access to Alewife T, Route 2, and Alewife
Brook Parkway.
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-
Winter Hill -
Winter Hill is a large residential area north
of Highland Ave in central Somerville. Great
for families, the area boasts plenty of shopping
and several large parks. Houses here tend
to be somewhat more affordable than similar
homes in areas closer to Cambridge.
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Neighborhoods
of Cambridge
-
Agassiz -
A small neighborhood east of Massachusetts
Avenue and north of Harvard Square, more than
half of Agassiz is occupied by Harvard University
and Lesley College. This is the home of Harvard
Law School and many of Harvard's renowned
art and science museums can be found here.
The northern point of Agassiz is Porter Square.
The large shopping complex here recently underwent
major renovations. Agassiz borders a particularly
thriving stretch of Massachusetts Avenue with
restaurants, independent stores and a small
mall in what was once a Sears & Roebuck.
The mall includes a health club and numerous
shops and restaurants, many with an accent
on Japanese food and fashions. Residential
property consists mostly of single- and two-family
homes with some larger multi-family units
and dormitories. Porter Square provides MBTA
Redline access as well as Commuter Rail access
to Boston's North Station.
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Avon Hill -
Avon Hill is an upscale residential neighborhood
close to Porter Square. A mixture of stately
old houses and classic brick apartment buildings,
the neighborhood is easily accessible to Massachusetts
Avenue without the noise and traffic.
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Cambridge Highlands -
North of Fresh Pond and separated from the
rest of Cambridge by the Alewife Brook Parkway,
Cambridge Highlands, with about 600 residents,
is the smallest of Cambridge's neighborhoods.
The Highlands borders Belmont and includes
the Fresh Pond Mall. The neighborhood also
borders the Alewife MBTA station and has convenient
access to Route 2.
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Cambridgeport -
Like East Cambridge, the neighborhood of Cambridgeport
has made the transition from a traditional
factory-based economy to a more modern and
dynamic mix of commercial endeavors. Cambridgeport
adjoins MIT on its eastern border, and its
proximity to this renowned high tech/research
Mecca has made the neighborhood attractive
to entrepreneurs and professionals in both
its commercial and residential sectors. The
neighborhood borders the Charles River to
the south and offers convenient access in
and out Boston via Memorial Drive, Storrow
Drive and the Massachusetts Turnpike. The
residential property is a mix of single-family
and multi-family homes as well as large apartment
buildings. The neighborhood has retained some
of its working class roots and is popular
with the Cambridge arts community.
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Central Square -
Area 4 is one of the most densely populated
residential areas in the city. The neighborhood
abuts Central Square and includes the numerous
restaurants and retail establishments along
Massachusetts Avenue between Prospect St.
to the north and MIT to the south. Residences
consist mostly of two- and three-family houses,
and large apartment buildings. The Central
Square Red Line MBTA Station offers convenient
access to Boston. The neighborhood also borders
both Inman and Kendall Squares.
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East Cambridge -
East Cambridge has benefited in recent years
from its proximity to M.I.T. The old factory
buildings, in what was once one of the region's
major industrial districts, now serve as headquarters
for a variety of high tech start ups and even
an art gallery, The Zeitgeist, on Broadway.
East Cambridge borders the Charles River and
enjoys convenient access to Boston via the
Lechmere MBTA Green Line Station and connections
to major thoroughfares in and out of the Boston
area. East Cambridge has many parks, ethnic
restaurants, boutiques, and independently
owned stores, while the northeast corner is
home to a booming shopping complex, the Cambridgeside
Galleria. The city has embarked on a neighborhood
renewal project for East Cambridge and is
currently developing a transportation and
urban redesign plan for Cambridge Street.
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Harvard Square -
Mid-Cambridge represents the institutional
and geographic hub of the city. The main campus
for Harvard University is found here, as are
Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Cambridge
Hospital, City Hall and the main branch of
the Cambridge Public Library. Most of this
bustling neighborhood is framed by Cambridge
St. to the north, Prospect St. to the east
and Mass. Ave. to the south and west, with
another major city throughway, Broadway, running
east to west through its center. Mid-Cambridge
also adjoins Central, Inman and Harvard Squares,
three of the five busiest squares in the city.
The residential mix includes much of Harvard's
student housing.
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Huron Village -
Huron Village is bordered by Harvard Square
on the East, and Fresh Pond on the west. It
is an upscale residential neighborhood, with
many attractive older homes. The area offers
plenty of convenient access to Fresh Pond
recreation areas, shopping, and Route 16.
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Inman Square -
West of East Cambridge, and about half the
size, Wellington Harrington includes Inman
Square, a relaxing urban landscape of coffee
shops, ethnic restaurants, bookstores and
boutiques. The city has begun a major renewal
project on Cambridge Street, which, along
with Hampshire St., is one of the two main
thoroughfares in this neighborhood of single-family,
as well as two- and three-family homes.
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Kendal Square/MIT -
Area 2 is a triangle shaped neighborhood abutting
the Charles River on its longest side. The
area consists almost entirely of the MIT campus,
as well as some office and commercial property.
Residents of the neighborhood are predominately
MIT students. There is a small shopping mall
across the street from the MIT dome on Massachusetts
Avenue and convenient access to the MBTA red
line. The banks of the Charles River are especially
popular here for outdoor recreation.
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Larchwood -
Larchwood, just northwest of Harvard Square,
is close to Avon Hill and Porter Square Largely
residential, with many attractive older homes,
it is considered a highly desirable area to
live.
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Mid-Cambridge -
Mid-Cambridge represents the institutional
and geographic hub of the city. The main campus
for Harvard University is found here, as are
Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Cambridge
Hospital, City Hall and the main branch of
the Cambridge Public Library. Most of this
bustling neighborhood is framed by Cambridge
St. to the north, Prospect St. to the east
and Mass. Ave. to the south and west with
another major city throughway, Broadway, running
east to west through its center. Mid-Cambridge
also adjoins Central, Inman and Harvard Squares,
three of the five busiest squares in the city.
The residential mix includes much of Harvard's
student housing.
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North Cambridge -
North Cambridge is a large and diverse neighborhood.
The southern section is close to Porter Square
and the commercially vibrant section of Massachusetts
Avenue north of Porter. The eastern section
is close to Somerville's Davis Square, which,
like Porter Square, underwent an astonishing
transformation in the 1990's. The area west
of Alewife Brook Parkway consists largely
of industrial/commercial property and is the
location of the MBTA Alewife T-Station. Shopping
abounds in the area around Alewife near the
towering Fresh Pond Apartments. The neighborhood's
central area, west of Massachusetts Avenue,
is predominantly residential with single-
and multi-unit dwellings.
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Porter Square -
Porter Square, with its shopping, restaurants,
and access to the MBTA Redline and Commuter
Rail Stations is a bustling community shared
by Cambridge and Somerville residents alike.
The neighborhood is comprised of single and
multifamily homes, of all shapes and sizes.
It is within walking distance of Harvard Square
in Cambridge, and Davis Square in Somerville.
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Riverside -
Riverside stretches from the Charles River
to the south up to Harvard Square, which is
known all over the world for its unique array
of shops, restaurants and cultural and recreational
activities and as the home of Harvard University.
Harvard dormitories occupy the northwest section
of the neighborhood and there are two parks,
Holt Field and Riverside Press Park. The main
Post Office and Police Station are also located
in Riverside on the eastern tip near Central
Square. Despite its large and vital commercial
and tourist sector, Riverside, in nearly all
crime categories, is below the city average.
Residents enjoy easy access to both the Central
Square and Harvard Square Red Line MBTA stops.
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Strawberry Hill -
The area west of the Fresh Pond Parkway and
south of the Fresh Pond reservation is the
small Cambridge neighborhood of Strawberry
Hill. This neighborhood is known for its large
single-family homes and small lots. West Cambridge's
two primary roads, Brattle St. and Huron Ave.,
extend into Strawberry Hill. The neighborhood
borders both Belmont and Watertown and has
convenient access into and out of Boston and
Cambridge via the Fresh Pond Parkway.
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Wellington-Harrington -
West of East Cambridge, and about half the
size, Wellington Harrington includes Inman
Square, a relaxing urban landscape of coffee
shops, ethnic restaurants, bookstores and
boutiques. The city has begun a major renewal
project on Cambridge Street, which, along
with Hampshire St., is one of the two main
thoroughfares in this neighborhood of single-family,
as well as two- and three-family homes.
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West Cambridge -
Brattle Street runs from Harvard Square through
the center of this neighborhood of stately
homes on large lots. The eastern section encompasses
much of Harvard Square, with Kingsley Park
and Fresh Pond making up the Western sector
of Cambridge’s largest neighborhood.
The Charles River marks the southern border,
and there is quick access to Memorial and
Storrow Drives. This is one of the most desirable
and expensive neighborhoods in Eastern Massachusetts.
The neighborhood has a substantial institutional
presence with Mt. Auburn Hospital, the Buckingham
Brown and Nichols School, many Harvard properties
and several elementary schools all located
here.
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