Berkshire native with Boston dliema-where oh where? (Cambridge, Quincy: rental car, apartment)

[berkshiregrl]

Hi all:

I am an in house counsel who MUST go work in Boston for at least 6 months (they think I will stay permanently). I have a relo package that will pay rent for several months. The job is on State St in downtown Boston.

My family will stay in Berkshires and I will travel back as much as possible but will likely stay in Boston area during the week.

There are several corporate apartment type places that I am looking at-some in downtown Boston others in suburbs like Walpole, Quincy, Lexington, Winchester, Brookline, Arlington, Chestnut Hill, Waltham, Newton,Salem, Wilmington, Burlington, Bedford, Reading, Peabody and more.

I will have my car with me but would prefer NOT to use it to commute but I will need a place to park it so its available to get back home. I am not a city girl but I do like Boston but not sure about living there. I'm a Mom and partying days are behind. But, walking to work would be nice. But, I am used to peace and quiet and lots of space.

I am used to driving in from Northern Berkshire cty and parking at Alewife and taking the T but that place seems really crazy in the am and not sure I would want to do that very day. I don't really know how the T commute is from the other towns so any anecdotes would be appreciated. I don't mind driving to a commuter rail location as long as it's not too crazy. I was thinking seriously about Lexington as a place most like where I live but I think the commute would really stink.

Just living in Boston sounds OK but then I have the car issue. Seems it would be hard to find a reasonable parking spot in the state st area but if anyone knows how it is done I'd love to hear it.

So, any personal experience is welcome as I have none!

[shiver]

Day parking in the State St. area is expensive. You're probably talking $200-$300 a month for a reserved day spot. Living in downtown would give you the shortest commute - either via a quick T ride or even walking. However, I don't know if the corporate downtown housing would provide parking. Renting a spot near your apartment will also run you a couple hundred a month.

Ideally, you may want to consider one of the closer suburbs that are on the T. Newton and Chestnut Hill (which is a part of Newton) have stops on the D train of the Green Line which will take you straight into Government Center without any transfers. The area is suburban enough where the apartment should come with parking or at least easy, free street parking. The problem is getting to and from the T stop. Because the areas are suburban, it may not be walkable. You'd have to drive to the T and there is always the issue of the lot getting full and paying a daily rate. Perhaps the corporate housing may provide a shuttle service of some sort.

From Newton/Chestnut Hill, the T ride would probably be around 30-40 min (I'm guessing a bit here). You'd be getting on at one of the early stops so you should get a seat.

[berkshiregrl]

that's a good thought about the shuttle-I should check as it would make sense in this type of corporate housing. I thought downtown parking would be expensive-I guess if it comes with the relo it wouldn't matter but I might be more comfortable in a suburban location where I can just get my car out of free parking in front of the building. I doubt the downtown housing comes with parking as it wasn't mentioned. Thanks so much for your feedback!

Originally Posted by shiver

Day parking in the State St. area is expensive. You're probably talking $200-$300 a month for a reserved day spot. Living in downtown would give you the shortest commute - either via a quick T ride or even walking. However, I don't know if the corporate downtown housing would provide parking. Renting a spot near your apartment will also run you a couple hundred a month.

Ideally, you may want to consider one of the closer suburbs that are on the T. Newton and Chestnut Hill (which is a part of Newton) have stops on the D train of the Green Line which will take you straight into Government Center without any transfers. The area is suburban enough where the apartment should come with parking or at least easy, free street parking. The problem is getting to and from the T stop. Because the areas are suburban, it may not be walkable. You'd have to drive to the T and there is always the issue of the lot getting full and paying a daily rate. Perhaps the corporate housing may provide a shuttle service of some sort.

From Newton/Chestnut Hill, the T ride would probably be around 30-40 min (I'm guessing a bit here). You'd be getting on at one of the early stops so you should get a seat.

[shiver]

If your relo package will pay for parking, consider Brookline as well. I live there so I'm a little biased, but it's a fabulous area. You have a taste of city living right next to Boston, but it's residential enough where you don't feel like you're too urban. You can't park overnight on the town streets so off street parking is a must. There probably are buildings within walking distance (5-10 min) to the C or D trains on the Green Line.

[DreamworksSKG]

Why not leave the car at home and try a service like ZipCar or something? Car Sharing, an alternative to car rental and car ownership – Zipcar

when you need a car you could rent from the zipcar service -

you could live in a town like Arlington which has good bus service to the "T" , or Davis Square area, etc. - or even in the city - and use the zipcar service when you need a car

try to get a town like Newton or Arlington or Cambridge, perhaps even Quincy or the Brookline Village area that has good "T' or commuter rail access into the city

if you do bring your car use craigslist parking space rentals


boston parking & storage classifieds - craigslist

[DreamworksSKG]

Heres an example of a $125/ month parking spot at Central Square Cambridge
Central Square Parking

[DreamworksSKG]

make sure if you do rent a space from someone you write out a contract and have both parties agree to it and sign it so you'll have it for records...and for legal reasons should any arise

[berkshiregrl]

Since I'm leaving my Berkshire mountain view I was thinking of trying to get a seaside location. I actually found a great cottage in Scituate but I'm thinking the commute will be too much. I've been looking at Quincy, Hingham or Winthrop-want to have an easy commute but probably not be right in the city although husband thinks a city place would be great-he's a native New Yorker but I've never lived in the city.

I hear you on the car but I've never been without one since I was 16 and I like to take off on a whim and carry my bike, kayak etc places and can't imagine handling that stuff with a rental car.

Originally Posted by DreamworksSKG

Why not leave the car at home and try a service like ZipCar or something? Car Sharing, an alternative to car rental and car ownership – Zipcar

when you need a car you could rent from the zipcar service -

you could live in a town like Arlington which has good bus service to the "T" , or Davis Square area, etc. - or even in the city - and use the zipcar service when you need a car

try to get a town like Newton or Arlington or Cambridge, perhaps even Quincy or the Brookline Village area that has good "T' or commuter rail access into the city

if you do bring your car use craigslist parking space rentals


boston parking & storage classifieds - craigslist

[shiver]

Scituate isn't an easy commute. Hingham is nice, but the commute is still a bear. I don't know much about it, but there is a commuter ferry between the South Shore (Hingham, Quincy) and Boston which is supposed to be relatively quick. I just don't know how that works in the winter. Check out MBTA > Schedules & Maps > Boats > F1 (Hewitt's Cove, Hingham to Rowes Wharf, Boston) The MBTA site is really good in general for commuting info.

Quincy may be a good option for you. There are some nice on-the-water locations, but still pretty convenient to Boston. You would be near the Red Line which will take you right into Park St. in Boston. At that point you could walk to work or transfer to the Green line for one stop to Government Ctr. Any further out may give you more of a commute than you really want.

[missionhill]

Berkshire-- Why not Hull? There you have Nantasket Beach, sunsets over the water (like California!) and a boat the year-around right into Long Wharf.