Moving Out of the South End. Looking for Suggestions (Cambridge: house, neighborhoods)

[id77]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I don't see any similarities whatsoever.

To the South End? How do you figure?

It was on my short list of alternatives and one of the closest in feel I've found. I almost moved there until the right upgrade came along that allowed me to stay in the South End.

[BostonBornMassMade]

I really don't get how Charlestown gentrified heavily before South Boston, South End and some other areas.

[id77]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

I really don't get how Charlestown gentrified heavily before South Boston, South End and some other areas.

Location and price. South Boston has a couple of red line stops on its edge, but most of it might as well be another town. Buses during bad traffic aren't a very reliable option. Charlestown is walkable to the North End and Downtown and has orange line access. Also an easier shot out to 93/1.

The good stuff in South Boston (Seaport) was out of most people's price range already, so Charlestown made the next logical choice.

To be fair, the gentrified part of Charlestown is the stuff south of Bunker Hill where it's still close to the T and walkable to the North End. I'd pay $1.5 million for something in that part of Charlestown, but not up by Medford.

I don't know if I'd say Charlestown gentrified before the South End. The northern part's been gentrified for decades; it's the stuff past Mass Ave that's still not there yet (same as Charlestown's less desirable areas).

Perhaps massnative's comment unintentionally got to the root of the matter. The people driving the gentrification are the yuppy DINKs and former-DINKs with a toddler in their $1000 stroller. They want the 125 year old brownstones next to 15 preppy coffee shops and fancy restaurants, and walkable to retail and entertainment. They're not going to pay $2 million for a wooden triple decker that's still got its gritty feel, and that's a lot of what South Boston still is.

[bostongymjunkie]

The Navy yard solidified C-town as a yuppie stronghold, combined with the its proximity to the financial district, MGH and easy access to 93 and points north to 128 belt high tech jobs. And most of the private housing stock in Ctown is generally better than Southie, at least that on the west side of Southie closer to downtown. It's also more historic and has that "quaint" gaslight feel that attracted some--despite the killings and angel dustheads in the projects. Ctown started seriously gentrifying in the late 80's/ early 90's.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Charlestown looks overcrowded, doesnt have many nice amenities or entertainment so far as I can tell. A huge portion fo it was/projects, the housing stock isnt in and of itself "nice" looks like it had to be rehabbed to that point.

Southie was on the water, a bit more spacious, right next to downtown as well and had multiple T stops.

South End just has way better bones but I think a more entrenched and ingrained crime problem? ITs also close to Roxbury so I guess I see that.

Just my thoughts. I agree with all you all are saying.

[id77]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Charlestown looks overcrowded, doesnt have many nice amenities or entertainment so far as I can tell. A huge portion fo it was/projects, the housing stock isnt in and of itself "nice" looks like it had to be rehabbed to that point.

Southie was on the water, a bit more spacious, right next to downtown as well and had multiple T stops.

South End just has way better bones but I think a more entrenched and ingrained crime problem? ITs also close to Roxbury so I guess I see that.

Just my thoughts. I agree with all you all are saying.

The crime is mostly drug-related (which also attracts gangs), and as long as Mass and Cass remains the epicenter for drugs, the crime's not going away.

[sawyer2]

Never been a fan of Charlestown - always felt isolated/'over there', but have friends who love it with the water access etc.

S End is far better now from a crime perspective, although it seems that the Mass/Cass zombies are increasing in numbers and spreading into the neighborhoods with the closure of L Island bridge.

I much preferred the S End before all the Range Rovers and Uppa Baby strollers rolled in. Of course, when I first lived there the old timers were saying it had changed for the worse too.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Southie was on the water, a bit more spacious, right next to downtown as well and had multiple T stops.

I don't know why people keep peddling this. The "2" Red Line stops are barely into Southie. I'd bet the average Charlestown resident is closer to either Bunker Hill or N Station than the average Southie resident is to either Broadway or Andrew.



The views from Charlestown are imo far superior to most of Southie.

[G-fused]

Originally Posted by massnative71

And that's where it stops. Besides the lack of restaurants and other amenities you mention, it lacks the diversity and atmosphere that make up the South End. Charlestown is pretty much an enclave of white yuppie DINKS and single professionals. Sure South End has that too, but it's that in combination with "everything else" that makes the neighborhood what it is. Charlestown (save for the projects) is basically a bedroom community that happens to have dense historic housing.


When responding to questions here I generally try to be as objective and straight to the point as possible. OP pretty much asked about where he could have the South End but without the crime and "junkie" issues. That pretty much leaves the Back Bay, Fenway, and parts of Brookline. Charlestown, no. South Boston, no. Davis Square, no. Cambridge...MAAYBE Central Square but still quite different in housing makeup and like someone else said it's a completely different crowd and vibe once you cross the river. And then again, junkies galore...

Yep, all that. The OP likes the South End for its scene and feel and Charlestown has nothing like that. It’s dry and boring with not much at all going on. People walk/drive/bike across the bridge to get to venues and then go back to Charlestown to sleep quietly on a pretty street.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Southie was on the water, a bit more spacious, right next to downtown as well and had multiple T stops.

Yes but the stuff on the east side and the nice stuff closer to Castle Island is further from the Red line. I'm not basing it on my personal rating system, but on what I believe most yuppies factored into their decisions at the time. Also, the east side of Southie was home to some of the most powerful politicians in the state. I think not having red line stops nearby might have suited at least some of them just fine, as it undoubtedly discouraged "outsiders" from moving in.