Brookline--Washington Square (Boston: apartment, buying a home, neighborhoods)

[opossum]

Hi,

I'm considering of buying a home in Washington Square and was wondering if people could share their candid perceptions of the area. Namely, is it kid friendly, older, snobby, orthodox, liberal, artsy, diverse, etc.

Thanks!

[holden125]

I like Washington Square. It's hard to answer if it's kid-friendly as that is subjective. It's more urban than a leafy suburb, less urban than something like the South End in Boston. The elementary school district is the Runkle, which I think is quite good, and perhaps one other district. So it's kid-friendly in the sense of not being especially dangerous, having good educational opportunity, and having access to intelligent and interesting people. If that's what you mean.

I wouldn't describe it as older or snobby. It is liberal. Maybe not artsy in a meaningful sense but there are plenty of cultured people around. It's somewhat diverse though there are not that many diverse neighborhoods outside Boston. There's a moderately strong Russian immigrant presence in the general area. If you mean heavily orthodox Jewish by "orthodox," it's not as orthodox as other parts of town further east. If you mean conventional, I'd say yes and no. It is not one of the super-funky parts of Greater Boston and you won't be living in an artists' commune, but it's not an uptight Stepford suburb either. It's a nice and quiet but generally sophisticated urban neighborhood. Some good places to eat.

[clevedark]

I live in a different neighborhood in Brookline (formerly known as "the Irish Channel") but I have a friend who lives in the Washington Square neighborhood. A Catholic from Seattle, she lives in a single family with her kids and hubby, kids go to private school. Her next door neighbors are a large Jewish Orthodox family who send their kids to Jewish private school. Across the street is an apartment building where her divorced, single parent friend from Columbia sends her child to the neighborhood public school (Runkle). There is a lovely retired couple on the street who organizes block parties.

So there's pretty much a smidgen of everything on my friend's street. It's a nice spot because you can walk to the Star Market and Starbucks, and there are a thousand tennis courts in the park. Plus parking seems plentiful and along Beacon St there are tons of overnight spots which are hard to come by.

[lz1982]

The elementary school district is the Runkle, which I think is quite good, and perhaps one other district.

I live sorta near there, and I'd guess some kids go to Driscoll School too.

It's a nice neighborhood, and there's a mix of families, college students and young singles. Only issue for me is the subway, which can get crazy to and from downtown during baseball season.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by lz1982

Only issue for me is the subway, which can get crazy to and from downtown during baseball season.

Yep. Major issue if you depend on the Green line. Though convenient if you're going to the game too.