Is the Boston area beginning to sprawl? (Worcester, Cambridge: condos, how much)

[Parsec]

I came across another post that got me thinking, but I wanted to create a new post for it so I don't hijack the OP's post.

Originally Posted by sparklingforest

Yes, yes to this. Waltham and Watertown are under-valued right now. Their locations are so good prices will rise quickly. People with incomes of 150 - 250k are being priced out of the "better" towns and need a place to live near the job centers.

This got me thinking of NYC. People with incomes of 150-250k got priced out of the closer suburbs, so what happened? People started moving 1.5-2 hours outside the city. Commutes became so bad that employers began creating new employment bases in the middle of the suburbs. Small cities started becoming real cities. Look at the 90 story condos going up in Jersey City. Look at all the private equity firms that moved to Stamford, CT.

Here in the Boston area we are seeing commercial developers building more office parks in the middle of the suburbs, mostly notably in the Burlington-Lexington-Waltham area. Do you see any small cities like Worcester becoming major employment hubs in the next 10 years? Will this bring more housing development to far-flung towns like Auburn, for example? An Auburn to Boston commute is hell, but you could practically walk to Worcester from Auburn.

[Whatsnext75]

It will be sad to see Boston become NYC I hope this isn't where we are headed. Only time will tell what will happen. I lived in watertown for a year and I recall the houses being ugly. I'm really not familiar with Waltham. There are many towns near Boston that no one wants to live in at the moment. Only time will tell what will happen to these places. The impression that I get of Watertown and Waltham is that they people who currently reside there are not moving and there is nothing getting built there.

What about Dedham? This town is right next to Boston and has the commuter rail. Why would this town not become 'hot'? There is so much talk about the next up and coming place.

[sparklingforest]

Most of the tech jobs are in Cambridge or Lexington-Waltham. Only people I know who work in Boston are in finance or are MDs.

I think the job centers will continue to grow in the west suburbs toward Worchester along the turnpike.

[Whatsnext75]

'I think the job centers will continue to grow in the west suburbs toward Worchester along the turnpike.'

they really need to. I work in cambridge and my boss is ok with people working from home, but overall it seems to be preferred that people are in the office. Commuting to southie could be a lot worse, but given how many people there are during rush hour it's never easy. I am not sure why more places around here dont promote working at home.

[sparklingforest]

Cambridge is horrible as a job center. It's hard to get to. No place to park. Limited public transport options.

[timberline742]

Cambridge has limited public transit options?!??!?!

[Whatsnext75]

Cambridge is a pain to get to by car...but it is what it is by bus or train.

[sparklingforest]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Cambridge has limited public transit options?!??!?!

compared to boston, yes.

[Steephill2]

how diversified is industry in cambridge? it is mostly biotech? wonder how much the values in surrounding communities are affected by growth in biotech. and what are chances of downturn there?

[Whatsnext75]

I think right now a hot are to live IN Boston is Roslindale. Not everyone wants to live in the city, but this is a great place to currently buy a home. I think it could end up being like JP, but it doesnt have the large homes that JP has.