Staying in Boston (Cambridge, Brookline, Harvard: neighborhoods, new construction, place to live)

[jdevelop]

Hi all!

We're about to move to Boston. The office of my company is located at 1st street, Cambridge. What would be the best place to live around (which is cheap enough)? The public transportation (subway etc) is a must, fitness centers and malls around is good as well. We're mostly looking for new buildings.

Thanks in advance!

[silverbelles]

What's your price range? How many family members? Any children? We can't recommend neighborhoods without that.

As for Malls, Boston isn't really into that -- multiple malls are a Sun Belt thing (speaking as someone who came from TX). What Boston's neighborhoods all have are main shopping streets like Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, Newbury St. in Back Bay, Harvard Ave. in Brookline, Downtown Crossing, etc. Though, there's the Cambridgeside Galleria if you are still keen on the malls and Copley Place, which is high-end only. Those are the only two I can think of?

[Cliff Clavin]

New buildings will be also be tough to find.

[donewithpretty]

There's a lot of new construction right near where you'll be working. Lechmere Square/East Cambridge has plenty of newly completed buildings, plus you'd have the Cambridgeside Galleria (mall), fitness centers, and the Lechmere Station subway stop.

[Blueberry Pancake]

Originally Posted by jdevelop

Hi all!

We're about to move to Boston. The office of my company is located at 1st street, Cambridge. What would be the best place to live around (which is cheap enough)? The public transportation (subway etc) is a must, fitness centers and malls around is good as well. We're mostly looking for new buildings.

Thanks in advance!

Malls? You are moving to Cambridge and you want to be near a mall? You also want a new building. We don't have new buildings here in Boston and Cambridge.

[bostonguy1960]

Yes, there are new apt. buildings in Cambridge near Kendall Sq. It's just that they start at probably $1800-$2200 monthly, and likely approach or exceed $3,000 for a penthouse.

350 First in Cambridge at the Kendall Sq. subway has a website; the building is about ten years old. That's considered new in these parts. Museum Towers is across from the Galleria Mall and the Museum of Science. Nearby is One Leighton St., a fancy Archstone property populated by rich foreign students- same with 100 Landsdowne, closer to the other side of MIT. 100 Memorial Dr. has a great river and skyline view but is over 30 years old or more.

But these are large complexes which some hate. You won't find many new residences which are NOT large complexes.