Walkable, dog-friendly neighborhoods with easy BU commute?? (Boston, Cambridge: rent, condos)

[DCAtoBOS]

I'm relocating to Boston for a job at BU this summer. I've logged many hours in research, on C-D and other sites, trying to figure out the best place for me to buy a house or condo (I'd rather not rent for a while). I decided it's time to post my own thread to get some direct feedback that matches my situation. So, here's the info on me and what I'd like nearby:

- single male, early 50's, lean left, lean gay, lean green, lean college sports

- big dog lover, as in I have a big dog I love (85 lbs of lab), dog parks?

- walks for the dog every morning and afternoon, but having a patch of close-by space (i.e. yard) for late-night or foul weather business would be ideal

- paved trail/path runner/biker

- eat out/take out a lot and like trying new places, as well as the comfort of the neighborhood joints and coffee shops - all walkable

- whole foods, trader joe's - walkable or with some parking around

- off-street parking or garage where I live and not two blocks away

- nice-day walkable (1-2 miles) or short T ride or short drive (I'll have parking on campus) to BU

I've been focusing (maybe overly so) on Back Bay, South End, Brookline, Cambridgeport, but people have suggested Inman and Davis Squares, and even as far as Newton Center (if I stick to driving). I've thought about JP, but it seems out of the way and I'd like to be able to get out of town quick on weekends.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts. I will be coming up next week or the week after to look at property and I want to narrow things down so I can focus the search. Thanks.

[Cantabridgienne]

These are all good suggestions (I'm biased towards Cambridgeport and Inman, personally). What is your budget and what sort of housing do you require/expect for the $$?

[DCAtoBOS]

Thanks for the quick reply Cantabridgienne. I've learned a lot about the area from your replies to others, so I'm honored to have you weigh in on mine. To answer your question, I'm trying really hard to cap myself at $1,000,000. As I originally posted, I'd like off-street parking and a small (not into yard work) outside space, like a patio or patch of grass. If I can get this in a townhouse or house that's been converted into 2-3 units, that could work.

Inman sounds about my pace - close enough to the T, but not so close that it brings the overwhelming numbers I have personally witnessed around Harvard, Coolidge Corner, etc. I work around students all day, so being somewhat removed from them in the evenings, but still close to shops and restaurants would be great.

Is commuting by car over the BU bridge from Cambridgeport/Central or Inman feasible. I understand there are bus routes over.

[mich14]

Budget? That's the most important factor!

I actually work by BU and considered a couple of the neighborhoods you are mentioning (not BB and SE - dont have that kind of $!)

Before seeing you had sort of ruled out JP, that was my first initial reaction to what neighborhood would suit you. There's a whole foods that just opened there. The Arnold Arboretum is a beautiful place to bike and walk. Centre Street has a lot of cool restaurants and shops. There are a lot of triple deckers, newer condo developments, and single family homes. I am not sure about public transport from JP to BU, but I would look into buses (the MBTA website or google maps have functions to show this).

Back Bay is a very nice ($$$wealthy$$$) area, but you will get a different kind of housing there, more likely high rises and brownstones. It is definitely more city like than JP and your own outdoor space will cost a lot more. Your neighbors will be Tom & Giselle (although they are selling their condo), hotels, sky scrapers, luxury stores, It would be the most expensive of the options. You can easily jump on the green line there and get to BU in 10-20 minutes (depending on where on the BU campus you are working - getting to BU W can take 10-15 min from BU E).

The South End is a more up and coming neighborhood - well actually it is already up. But it didn't used to be so pricey. You'll find lots of newer condo buildings, renos, and brownstones. They have a great outdoor market, and there are a lot of dive bars as well as newer restaurants and shops. Getting to BU from the South End will be more difficult than Back Bay because the SE is not on the green line (well the E line is close by, but you would have to take that inbound to the city, then get off at Copley Stop and switch to the B line - what BU is on). Walking to Copley, depending where you are in the South End would prob take about 10-15 mins, and then you could take the B line to BU (another 10-20 mins).

Cambridgeport may be the most residential of the options (besides Newton), but you can easily walk to Central Square and you may be close to Mass Ave where there are a ton of restaurants and shops. There are a few parks and a dog park in that area as well as a TJ and Whole Foods w/in a mile. You can get to BU driving or walking/biking over the BU bridge. Traffic is usually bad, but it is very close so it will take maybe 15 mins max.

Inman Square is another possibility with lots of good restaurants and shops (my impression is a younger area that Cambridgeport) but I would definitely skip Davis Square. I've driven from BU to over there and it takes forever - tons of traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and stop lights.

Brookline may also be a good option. It is very pricey though. You'll find some condos, but mostly single family homes. There are a few different areas with their own center. I find traffic in the main squares to be pretty bad there, but if you are only going to BU you should be fine. Depending where you are in Brookline you could definitely walk or bike. It's easy to get into the city by train.

I lived in Newton for several years. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in Newton Center. The other villages of Newton also have a lot to offer. From Newton Center to BU you would just drive in on Comm Ave (about 15-20 mins). Getting into downtown you can take the commuter rail, D line, or bus. Most of the housing is single family homes (very pricey) but there are some town homes and condos as well. Of any of the options, I would say Newton has the least to offer in terms of nightlife and is the most suburban feeling.

To boil it down, if I had to generalize into complete stereotypes the neighborhoods you are considering, I'd say BB and SE are the "yuppiest" and more "city-ish," Cambridge and JP are the "crunchiest" with a mix of young professionals, families, and intellectuals, and Brookline and Newton are both the most family-friendly, suburban, and although they have a nice mix of shops and restaurants, are much quieter than the other neighborhoods.

[DCAtoBOS]

Thanks mich14. Great overview and seems to match my general impressions of the areas.

The area of East Cambridge, on a map, looks interesting as there is green line access at Lechmere and red line access (for getting around generally, not for work commute) and Kendall. Anyone know much about that area and commuting on T from Lechmere to Kenmore?

Also, what about driving across the Charles from mid-Cambridge? It looks like either the Mass Ave bridge or BU bridge would be about the same distance to where I would work 1 block from Kenmore.

[Lefleur]

I don't know your budget but I think you should rent (for a year) in Coolidge Corner to get a sense of things and then decide where you want to be. We love CC - we walk to Trader Joe's, take our dog to one of the many dog parks (check out the Green Tags Program with Brookline Parks & Recs), can be at BU in under 15 minutes (walking), easy on the Green Line (B or C) to get to most of Boston pretty quickly, etc. I think you'd really like it.

[Lefleur]

Oh - wanted to add - A block or so off the main strips in CC (Beacon Street and Harvard Street) and you're in quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods with little parks. Seriously. In the evening especially our street (just 3 blocks from the heart of CC) is nearly DEAD!

[Atheneum]

Originally Posted by Lefleur

Oh - wanted to add - A block or so off the main strips in CC (Beacon Street and Harvard Street) and you're in quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods with little parks. Seriously. In the evening especially our street (just 3 blocks from the heart of CC) is nearly DEAD!

This sounds fantastic. Exactly what I would love to find, somewhere near the main strips and public transport but nice treelined roads and quiet in the evening . (sorry for jumping in on this thread, just nice to know these places do exist!)

[Lefleur]

Originally Posted by Atheneum

This sounds fantastic. Exactly what I would love to find, somewhere near the main strips and public transport but nice treelined roads and quiet in the evening . (sorry for jumping in on this thread, just nice to know these places do exist!)

Check out Brookline - particularly Coolidge Corner (plus the areas sometimes delineated out as "North Brookline," "JFK Crossing," and "Coolidge Corner - South Side").

This is what I'd consider this area (within the highlighted area):
Walkable, Urban, Green Brookline - Google Maps

[Atheneum]

Originally Posted by Lefleur

Check out Brookline - particularly Coolidge Corner (plus the areas sometimes delineated out as "North Brookline," "JFK Crossing," and "Coolidge Corner - South Side").

This is what I'd consider this area (within the highlighted area):
Walkable, Urban, Green Brookline - Google Maps

Thank you . If you have any tips on similar areas in Newton would be interested too!