Neighborhood Guide

Back Bay - ?The Back Bay, once a stagnant pool of water behind the Public Garden, now holds some of the most exclusive real estate in Boston. A stroll down Newbury St. will take you from high fashion to hip ice cream parlors, and a walk back up Commonwealth Ave. will let you take in some of the most elegant townhouses in the city. With its rows of historic homes and a vibrant commercial district to boot, Back Bay is an elegant and exciting place to live. Back Bay is also home to the Public Gardens and Boston Common. 

Bay Village - ?Created by landfill in the 1820's by developer Ephraim Marsh, Bay Village has been known as the Church Street District, South Cove and Kerry Village. Many of the homes look like smaller versions of Beacon Hill townhouses because the craftspeople who built the Beacon Hill residences settled in this area and built local residences for their own use.

In more recent times, Bay Village was home to many speak-easys during Prohibition. It housed major players in the film industry such as MGM, RKO and Pathe. Townhouses on Piedmont, Winchester and Church Sreets were demolished to make way for film warehouses. Bay Village was also the home of the Coconut Grove nightclub, which burned to the ground in November of 1942. The aftermath of this disaster led to the creation and enforcement of stringent fire codes nationwide in the hope of preventing another tragedy. In 1983, the City Council enacted an ordinance forbidding exterior alterations in Bay Village without the approval of a Historic District Commission.

 

Beacon Hill - ?The bea con on this hill that used to warn settlers about foreign invasions is long gone, and today Beacon Hill is a close-knit community in a downtown location. The neighborhood's cobblestone streets and brick rowhouses directly border the Boston Common and the Public Garden, American's first botanical garden. The gold leaf of the State House Rotunda adorns the hill and shines across the Common. A great place for families, this historic neighborhood is a blend of classic Boston architecture and expansive green space.

 

Charlestown - ?The traditional home of employees at the now-decommissioned Navy Yard, Charlestown has experienced a shift in its population and industry. The Navy Yard, a national historic landmark, has been converted to residential and office space, and an increasing number of young professionals are joining the families who have lived in the area for years. These newcomers are discovering Charlestown's renovated rowhouses and its accessibility to downtown Boston and the North End. Many residents walk to work in downtown or simply down to the nearby waterfront, both of which are only five minutes away.

Chinatown - ?Chinatown may have been built on a landfill, but you'd never know it while walking around this neighborhood. What identifies this area of the city is the truly mixed uses of land. Residential properties co-exist with family owned and operated businesses, local institutions and, of course, some of the best Chinese restaurants in the country. With four community murals and old ads still adorning the sides of brick buildings, a walk through Chinatown is a cultural and historical journey through the past. Chinatown is also unique in how accessible it is to residents and visitors alike with several nearby MBTA stations and major roadways.

Downtown - ?Downtown is really the heart of the city. Many companies and agencies have their headquarters in the area, and City Hall and the State House are also located here. The area comes alive each weekday around noontime as thousands of corporate business folks and other downtown employees break for lunch and do some quick shopping or run errands.

Fenway/Kenmore - ?The Fenway, perhaps best known as the home for the "boys of summer," is more than just a ballpark. It is actually a dense urban neighborhood with a considerable amount of green space (the "Fens"). Although the Fenway consists of a large number of college students, it also contains a significant population of professionals, young and old. The famous (or infamous) Landsdowne Street, bordering the Mass Pike on the North and Fenway Park on the South, is home to many of Boston's most popular clubs and watering holes. If you travel the street, however, keep your eyes open for the occasional home run ball that clears the green monster.

Fort Point - Tucked between the South End, Downtown, South Boston and the Seaport, is Fort Point. Prior to the age of the automobile, Fort Point Channel was the critical link between docking ships and rail cars. Much of the land primarily occupied by warehouse and manufacturing, is now being developed for residential usage. Now there are magnificent lofts with open floor plans, featuring elements of original architecture.

North End - ?How many other big cities can boast having a neighborhood where residents walk the streets, visiting local fruit stores, butcher shops and corner markets for their groceries? The North End is most famous for its plethora of Italian restaurants and strong ties to Italian roots. With a different Italian Festival every weekend throughout the summer, there rarely is a dull moment in the North End. Need another selling point? The North End is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Boston.

Seaport -  Due to its prime location on Boston Harbor, the Seaport District of South Boston was an industrial area dominated by storage, warehouses and docks. The city's commitment to improving the Waterfront has resulted in a boon for development in the Seaport District as well. In addition to the variety of existing seafood restaurants, there are also plans for new art venues and landscaped green spaces.

South Boston - ?If the dictionary had a listing for neighborhood pride, there would be a picture of South Boston next to it. Its residents are famous in town for their love of and loyalty for their neighborhood. And it's no wonder. Southie boasts miles of beaches and waterfront parks that culminate in Castle Island. There, visitors can enjoy the Revolutionary War era fort, get a bite to eat at Sullivan's, play in the playground, fish off the pier, or simply take a stroll. South Boston is densely populated - known for three deckers and rowhouses, there are single family homes in the neighborhood too. It is also home to a great variety of bars and pubs and, more recently has been the location for some new restaurants. Year round, a visitor can find residents strolling up and down Broadway doing their shopping and greeting their neighbors.

South End - ?The South End, with its blocks of Victorian brick row houses, upscale restaurants, and art galleries, is swiftly becoming one of the most popular places to live in Boston. Many of the row houses underwent renovation starting in the 1960s, and today the neighborhood is filled with a diverse mix of families, young professionals, a gay and lesbian community and a thriving artistic center. Trendy restaurants brush shoulders with coffeeshops and Mom & Pop grocery stores along Tremont Street and its side streets all the way down to Washington Street, which is experiencing an artistic revival - a significant number of artists are moving in, and galleries are cropping up around the area to show their works.

Waterfront - ?Next to the North End, sits a historic collection of wharfs along Boston's inner harbor. Many of the original buildings have been converted from warehouses to lofts and luxury condominiums. Near to the North End, the Financial District, Haymarket and the Seaport, the Waterfront offers fine dining and shops along with splendid views of the ocean.

West End - ?The West End, considerably impacted by Urban Renewal of the 1970s, is a small but significant community tucked behind Beacon Hill. Historically an ethnically diverse and vibrant neighborhood, the West End today is economically anchored by Massachusetts General Hospital.

Greater Boston Suburbs

Brookline - According to the U.S Census, Brookline town has a total area of 6.8 square miles bordering Newton and Boston, Brookline became an exclave in 1873 when the neighboring town of West Roxbury was annexed by Boston, Brookline refused to be annexed by Boston after the Brookline-Boston Annexation Debate of 1873. Brookline actually separates the bulk of the city of Boston (except for a narrow neck or corridor near the Charles River) from its westernmost neighborhoods of Allston-Brighton, which had been the separate town of Brighton until annexed by Boston in 1873. Several private primary and secondary schools, including the Beaver Country Day School, Brimmer & May School, British School of Boston, Dexter School, and The Park School are located in the town as well as many highly regarded Public Schools.

 Cambridge - Cambridge is home to a culturally diverse population of over 95,000. Over fifty languages may be heard on the streets of the city, including Spanish, Creole, Portuguese, Chinese, Amharic, and Korean. Children from 82 different countries of origin attend the public schools. College students from around the world study at Harvard, Radcliffe, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Lesley College. The heavy industries of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries have been replaced by technology-based enterprises, including electronics, self-developing film and cameras, software and biotechnology research.

 Chestnut Hill - Chestnut Hill is defined by its zip code and history. At one time considered remote to Boston, the settlement first formed around a train station, eventually establishing its identity as a community. Named by Francis Lee, who built the first country house in the area in the 1850's, Chestnut Hill is in three different towns (Brighton, Brookline, and Newton) and two different counties (Norfolk and Middlesex). Chestnut Hill began as a neighborhood for friends and family of the original landowners. While it is now surrounded by continuous suburban development, its close proximity to downtown Boston makes Chestnut Hill appealing residential neighborhood.

Milton - The town of Milton is an affluent suburban community between the Neponset River and the Blue Hills. The first English traders used Milton in the early 1620's but the earliest permanent settlement was set up in 1634. Milton is a residential community only eight miles from downtown Boston, with local easy access to the Blue Hills reservation (which offers, fishing, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, horse-back riding and more). The town retains many 19th century country houses and estates as well as early 19th century homes.

Newton - Newton is about 7 miles from downtown Boston the most recent population figure was approximately 80,000 persons and the city has a land area of 17.90 square miles. It is considered part of the Boston Metropolitan Area. Newton was established as a town on December 15, 1691 and incorporated as a city on June 2, 1873. It has a Mayor / Board of Aldermen form of government. The bulk of properties in the city are single family, owner occupied dwellings, which represent some 70.5% of the dwelling units in the city.

 Wellesley - The town of Wellesley founded in 1881 has been made famous by the renown Wellesley College. An affluent Boston Suburb the 20th century has left its mark on Wellesley, which has become a well-regarded suburb featuring a school system recognized as one of the best in the state. Although the town has always had the finest of beautiful land and homes, of schools and colleges, and every advantage of government, there are many who feel that her greatest resource has been her people and their sense of Community. 

Weston -  The Town of Weston is an attractive suburban town on the perimeter of metropolitan Boston.  Incorporated in 1713, the town is located on a rugged upland plateau.  Early settlers discovered that the amount of useful agricultural land was limited as was the waterpower potential in the town. The Boston oriented suburbanization has continued as a major factor in the town's development.  Residents are very proud of the town's school system and the handsome homes in quiet, well-kept neighborhoods, but tend to brush off the town's reputation as one of the most affluent communities in the state.  Weston has carefully retained significant amounts of open space and maintains over 60 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, playgrounds, ball fields, golf courses and cross-country skiing areas.