Do you know Waverly Square in Belmont?? (Boston, Cambridge: rentals, townhouses)

[Eva'sMom]

Hi!

I need any input you can offer...

My husband and I are thinking of purchasing a home and are strongly considering
one in Belmont. Specifically, one in the Waverley Square area. The
neighborhood looked a little run down to us...the shops didn't look the best,
many of the homes could use some updating, etc. Is it us or is this how the
area is?

Any thoughts would be great. I REALLY appreciate it!!

[lz1982]

I don't know a lot about Belmont, but I know all of it is very safe, even if Waverly Square is one of the less tony areas.

[jayrandom]

Waverly square is a little run down, but the whole state looks a little run down when compared to sunny and new states in the South and West. It's actually a pretty nice place to live with a grocery store, a few nice restaurants, a Commuter Rail station and very convenient bus service to Harvard Station. Belmont on the whole is very expensive and Waverly Square is one of the lower priced areas of Belmont, but it's a nice safe area with access to Belmont's well-rated schools.

I used to live in the area so if you have some specific questions I'd be happy to answer them.

[holden125]

It's fine. There are more two-family houses than some other parts of town, but it's safe and fine. Trapelo Rd could use a facelift but it's not run down in a seedy sense by any means. It does have some very reasonable rentals.

[goyguy]

Waverley Square has three things in its favor: the big Wheelworks shop for bicycle afficionados, the Studio Cinema (one screen! one location!), and an expansive Shaw's supermarket which means no long drives for food shopping. It may be the "downscale" section of Belmont, but that translates into unpretentious neighbors and more of a community feel in my experience. Once you've seen block after block of "Dutch Colonial" houses to its north and east, it's a refreshing switch to arrive in the Waverley area and see a hodgepodge of duplexes + three-deckas + various styles of single-family homes. Some of the opinionating that the area is "rundown" or "faded" has to do with the fact that none of the buildings have been made over in pastel colors. Other than a new CVS constructed out of the typical pale-sand-colored brick, the commercial structures along Trapelo Rd have that stuck-in-another-era look also. So do the other retailing areas in town. (Cushing Square, the next "hub" east along Trapelo, even includes one of the last Ben Franklin discount stores in existence.) To sum it up, Belmont is almost defiantly ungentrified and the townspeople have no problem with that. The 1950's-looking environment coincides nicely with other aspects of the community which seem to be lifted out of times gone by: excellent public schools and quiet, safe streets. Yet you're only one town away from Cambridge as well as Waltham when a livelier night than renting a video and getting Chinese food delivered is in order.
If a Mayberry or Pleasantville sort of town is what you're in the market for, you could hardly do better in Greater Boston.

[brightdoglover]

Waverly Square area is a fine area. It's an older, less shiny part of Belmont, but there is absolutely nothing wrong there, in fact, it might just show that "real people" live there.
Down Trapelo Road a little further towards Waltham, just out of Waverly Square, there are gorgeous new townhouses up on the hill- land that used to be part of the opulent grounds of McLean Hospital. They're right across from the venerable Andros Diner.
The public transport from Waverly makes it a valuable spot, too. I would never hesitate to buy anywhere in Belmont, including Waverly, but I've never been able to afford it. Best wishes. It's a fine town and fine area. (I've worked there on and off since 1981).

[Eva'sMom]

Thank you for thoughts!! We put a bid on the house and got it. Moving to Belmont.

[brightdoglover]

Every happy congratulations!
And remember to grab lunch or dinner at Andros Diner, on Trapelo Road right out of Waverly Square. Great Greek food in amounts that resemble landfill.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Every happy congratulations!
And remember to grab lunch or dinner at Andros Diner, on Trapelo Road right out of Waverly Square. Great Greek food in amounts that resemble landfill.

OMFG!
I love Andros! But it is their breakfast that is my favorite

[brightdoglover]

I mostly eat breakfast there, but it's pretty regular, I think. (Love the waitresses, always). I think the Greek food later in the day is really terrific.