Dudley Square for family? (Boston, Newton: apartments, rental, lofts)

[Cindy5t]

Hi,

I am considering a loft apartment on Williams Street by Dudley Square in Roxbury. Is this a suitable place for a one year old? We are relocating to this area and need to be close to the commuter rail without outlandish rental prices. My husband will be reverse commuting out to Natick so we are looking for something that he can get to on the T.

We also have a large dog, so, we are finding it very difficult to rent a place that allows dogs. Ideally, we would like to live near the Back Bay Station, or South station, but it seems those areas are extremely pricey. Our budget is only around $2k a month, so i think that limits us, unless anybody else has any ideas???

Thanks!
Cindy

[New Englander]

^

I am not sure that Dudley square is the best place for a young family. Despite the City of Boston's massive efforts to redevelop the area (along with some gentrification), its still in a very tough neighborhood. Besides the basic conveniences like grocery shopping, dry cleaners etc are not closely situated.

Have you considered living in South Boston aka "Southie"? Depending on the location, your husband might be able to walk to South Station.

[Cindy5t]

Where in South Boston would you suggest that would be urban enough to walk to local conveniences, as well as parks and such, that would also be convenient to South Station?

And of course, would be safe enough for us to live in ;-)

[boston mark]

Even without the child, I would stay away from Dudley Sq.

I agree with New Englander that Southie would be much, much safer for a young family. I live there, and actually walk past South Station everyday to get to work. The last 2 apartments I had in Southie I paid, $1,100 and $1,300, and both were 2 bedrooms in traditional triple deckers. The last of which was dog friendly. I'm sure you could find something nice for under 2k.

For the easiest walk to South Station, you'll want to be on the west side, north of Broadway. There are some nice new builds in that area. Fort Point has alot of lofts, but that may be getting pricey since it's accross the channel from downtown and they're slowly getting converted to condos.

[New Englander]

The Seaport/World Trade center area would be ideal but there aren't many residential developments in the vicinity.

Besides that I would say Broadway area. Although this area is close to South Station, I am not sure if its going to be walkable during the winter months. Luckily theres a T Stop (Red Line) in the vicinity. That means your husband might have to take the train one stop. South Boston is much safer/better than Roxbury. Most of Boston's crime in concentrated in Roxbury, Mattapan, parts of Dorchester. So I would avoid these neighborhoods.

Honestly, Back Bay/South End would be perfect for your family but it gets pricey. All the best!

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by boston mark

Even without the child, I would stay away from Dudley Sq.

I agree with New Englander that Southie would be much, much safer for a young family. I live there, and actually walk past South Station everyday to get to work. The last 2 apartments I had in Southie I paid, $1,100 and $1,300, and both were 2 bedrooms in traditional triple deckers. The last of which was dog friendly. I'm sure you could find something nice for under 2k.

For the easiest walk to South Station, you'll want to be on the west side, north of Broadway. There are some nice new builds in that area. Fort Point has alot of lofts, but that may be getting pricey since it's accross the channel from downtown and they're slowly getting converted to condos.

^

Nice Plus there is the Silver Line in the vicinity. The West Side area has a lot of residential development going on but its comparatively limited to other parts of Southie. Would love to see the prices for those lofts.

[eevee]

Dudley Sq has a lot of nice shops to visit (loved Nubian Notions and my family often shopped at that little supermarket across from the graveyard. also remember Woolworth from way back in the day), but I would never think to live there. even if all the run down buildings have been fixed up, it's still a tough area.

even when you disregard the crime (not that you should), it's just not a great area to raise a family, unless you move far away from the square and head more towards Uphams Corner (which still isn't all that great) or Fort Hill (one of the nicest section of Roxbury), or perhaps down Washington St heading towards Egleston Sq. there's little green space, other than Malcolm X Park off of Washington St, few major supermarkets other than Save-a-Lot off of Warren, and far too many questionable people walking around, including those living in the housing right near the Dudley sq. bus stop. up until a police sub-station was installed in Dudley a few years back, there was a lot of crime there, and even w/ the sub-station, there's still issues there (massive congregations of teens that often start fights after school, people trying to sell you bootleg DVDs, people drinking from brown paper bags, etc). not a place I'd live in w/ a small child unless I had no other choice

[tocoto]

Check craigslist Boston. For $2k a month you don't have to live in Boston at all. South Boston is a long commute to Natick. Try Newtonville or West Newton. Both have commuter rail to Natick, on the same line that goes to south station, but miles closer to Natick. Both have walkable amenities and excellent public schools and are in one of the safest cities in the nation. I think you can find a 2 bed 2 bath with parking for under $2k in either area. I would not live in Dudley Square unless I absolutely had to, it's one of the most dangerous parts of the city complete with gangs, guns and murders.

check out
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...ers_in_boston/

[maggiekate]

please donot live there, it is bad, and not safe. If you have 2000-look elswhere.
Southie and maybe newton for the natick trip. what tocto did say in winter that treck
with gas and snow is real far. maybe check out west roxbury, near roslindale