Arrgh, can you take another "moving to boston" thread? (Cambridge: apartment, rental)

[distance_to_cover]

Moving to Boston in about a month. I have a relo package and will have a low six-figure salary. no kids, one dog. i like city living (walking to public transport, coffee shops etc) but at this point not necessarily "urban pioneer." not ready to part with my car and do the zipcar thing just yet, and would like a garage spot. i will be working downtown. My research draws me to JP, Roslindale? maybe buying a nice condo? any thoughts? Other areas I should consider including close-in 'burbs with a city rather than suburban vibe?

[holden125]

Cambridge and Somerville are separate municipalities but not suburban in the least. They're closer to downtown Boston, and as urban (if not more urban) than plenty of parts of the city of Boston. Probably an easier commute than Roslindale, unless you take commuter rail from Roslindale. In the areas near the Red Line, there are probably more coffee shops, restaurants, etc. than in Roslindale too.

Brookline, particularly the NE corner (i.e. anything above Beacon St and the area between Beacon St. and Route 9 east of Washington St. or even Tappan St.) is pretty urban and quite nice. Also close to downtown Boston. Though much of Brookline below Route 9 is a semi-rural estate area, there's a small pocket of urban along Cypress St too. Brookline does not allow overnight on-street parking so you'd have to find a place with a spot or rent a spot. It can be a pain to find a rental spot close to one's apartment.

[shiver]

You'll severely limit your housing options if you are determined to find a garage spot in a semi-urban area. Off-street parking, however, is very doable (but may be extra). I second all of Holden125's suggestions. Maybe even throw in Newton Centre in Newton (the rest of Newton may be too residential for you).

Renting with a dog is tough too, although the smaller the pooch (under 25 lbs), the better luck you'll have. JP is a good bet for dogs. Ideally, I'd recommend renting for a year so you can get a feel for the area.

[redpanda]

I agree with all the above...JP is a very dog-friendly area. And yeah, you might as well forget the garage space. I've only ever known one person who rented and happened to have one. You may luck into one, but they're so rare it's not worth even having on your list, IMO.