Info about Worcester (Salisbury: apartment complex, rentals, lofts)

[Mass-newbie]

Hello everyone,
I'm moving to Worcester this summer and starting my new job in the city and am looking into the different neighborhoods in the area. Which areas are the best and worst for young (mid 20's - early 30's) to live. I will be without a car for awhile and would need good access to public transportation. This a must!

Are there any good apartment buildings you all would recommend touring?
Also, any advice on the 3 decker style apartment buildings?
Also, what is the average rent price for a studio and/or 1 bedroom apartment? Any other advice, helpful information is very appreciated!

[KellyCrash]

Hi!

The West Side is always recommended - Salisbury Street area, Tatnuck neighborhood too.

I lived on Rock Ave off Burncoat Street in a 3 decker for awhile. I loved that apartment. The owner has just recently renovated the entire building. The apartment was HUGE! Built in china cabinet in the dining room. It was beautiful on the inside. This is not always the case with 3 deckers. We were lucky. The area was okay and I never felt unsafe there.

I never used public transportation in Worcester so I don't know much about bus stops.

The only apartment buildings that I'm aware of are Canal Lofts & Voke Lofts Voke Lofts-Worcester
Canal Lofts-Worcester. Voke Lofts being in a nicer area than Canal.

I know there are a bunch of apartments off of Mill Street, but I don't know anything about if they are okay or not. Seems like a decent area of the city tho.

I would avoid Main South, anything near Green Hill Park, & anything too close to Great Brook Valley.

[Mass-newbie]

Thanks for the info! I will look into the apartments that you mentioned.

Are their any pros/cons of living in a 3 decker style apartment building?

[BostonBornMassMade]

3 Decker's:

Pros- lots of natural light due to the healthy amount of wi does compared to a row house of larger apartmentcomplex...all 4 sides of your unit get light

-You usually get a little balcony you can go out on...often times back and front...

-unique layout is more like a single family home in that way than an apartment.

-Depending on The area usually comes with either a small back or front yard or both

-aestethically unique inside and out and if its a condo may have good resale value because of glass doorknobs or wall moldings

Cons:

Usually old as hell thus rickety maybe with a sloping porch or chipping vinyl

Originally built for multti generational blur collar families thus offering poor sound insulation. And poor smell insulation for some reason

-Extremely hard to move furniture into anything on The 2nd or 3rd floor

-Expensive to heat...can over heat the 3rd floor in the summer

-Unless in a gentrifying area its usually occupied by lower class or working class folks and you have to walk by their apartments if our in the 2nd or 3rd floor and can hear and smell everything which matters if they like playing loud salsa music and cooking with 4-29 different spices with every ethnic meal lmao.

Final word:
Again. The buildings are so unique there is so much variation of features. Older homes were usually more pain stakingly done and offer more features (built circa 1880-1900) newer ones are more bare bones. But theyre newer (1900-1930)

[Mass-newbie]

Thanks, that's very helpful! It seems that I keep coming across so many available triple deckers in the area.

Do you or anyone else know the average cost of a studio and one-bedroom apartment in the area? I want to make sure I'm not overpaying or underpaying on a good apartment.

[KellyCrash]

I'm not super familiar with rental properties in Worcester, but I did look quickly just now and apartments start at $800 a month. An apartment on the West Side rents for $995. (good area). The rentals I just saw ranged in price between $800 & $1100.

My realtor has a special login site where I can search Massachusetts MLS. I checked realtor.com for rentals in Worcester and came back with like 6 properties. Searching my realtor's site for Worcester came back with 67 rentals. MLSPropertyFinder.com is what I used to check.

[Mass-newbie]

thanks Kelly!
When looking for rentals in the area, would you suggest using a realtor to assist?

[MINIcoopKJG]

I would personally look to rent a 3 decker apartment. I lived at Tatnuck Arms apartments years ago and it really didn't have the best tenants or management. My place had been broken into once and I moved shortly after that. The landlord let I lived at a couple other places on Mill Street and they were fine. I have also lived in 3 deckers, which seemed to be quieter than the apartment complex.

[Mass-newbie]

Thanks! What websites are best for looking to rent at a triple decker? Im having a semi hard time finding them.

Does mill street have a good amount of rental properties?

[rethcir]

Originally Posted by Mass-newbie

Thanks! What websites are best for looking to rent at a triple decker? Im having a semi hard time finding them.

Does mill street have a good amount of rental properties?

I rented 4 different apartments via Craigslist. You may find that some listings are really just "fly traps" to get you in touch with realtors. But you can work with them to find something that work.