Thoughts on Medford Mass???? (Boston, Cambridge: rich, estate, areas)

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Not everyone has the history of Boston. Talk to people in Lima, Tokyo, Istanbul, etc and Boston is "ah, MIT" ... "ah, Harvard!"

And Boston would be a far cry from what it is without those two institutions.

but those institutions are in Cambridge because Boston exists.
Saying Cambridge is why Boston is successful is like saying San Bruno, CA (home of SFO) is a hub for international travelers. While true many people travel to San Bruno from all over the world, it isn't like San Bruno would have a major international airport if it wasn't for the fact it was right next to San Francisco.
If Harvard was in say Salem, a city that developed independently of Boston, I would agree with you.

[OrganicSmallHome]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Not everyone has the history of Boston. Talk to people in Lima, Tokyo, Istanbul, etc and Boston is "ah, MIT" ... "ah, Harvard!"

And Boston would be a far cry from what it is without those two institutions.

That's ridiculous. Harvard and MIT don't make Boston what it is. They do, however, make Cambridge what it is.

[bohemka]

Originally Posted by timberline742

And Boston would be a far cry from what it is without those two institutions.

This is the easiest "chicken or the egg" game ever.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by OrganicSmallHome

That's ridiculous. Harvard and MIT don't make Boston what it is. They do, however, make Cambridge what it is.

You might find it ridiculous, but its mine and lots of peoples experiences. When I'm overseas and I say I'm from Boston, that's what they associate it with, except when I've been in Central America and then its mostly a Red Sox player.

And without Harvard/MIT Boston would be a far cry from what it is, its tech and healthcare sectors would be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced and probably nothing all that special. Which of course it is, especially the health care sector.

[rethcir]

This isn't a "measuring contest." Boston and Camberville are undeniably both great places in the same metro, that most people call Boston.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by pennyone

Obviously it has its own identity. It's only 4.2 square miles in size and incredibly dense in population, and its architecture, no offense to the city, is very unattractive. It certainly will never be Cambridge, so of course it's going to have its own identity.

And you can just as easily argue that Boston is what it is because of Cambridge, due to MIT and Harvard.

Go walk around East Cambridge or North Cambridge, Much of the city is unlike the historic homes and brick sidewalks you see between Harvard and Porter. Then compare those areas to Prospect Hill and even some very nice parts of Winter Hill and you may have a different perspective.

In Cambridge the T accessible areas are some of its most aesthetically appealing. In Somerville it's actually the opposite.

Granted, Cambridge has the mansions of Avon Hill and Brattle street.

[OrganicSmallHome]

Originally Posted by timberline742

You might find it ridiculous, but its mine and lots of peoples experiences. When I'm overseas and I say I'm from Boston, that's what they associate it with, except when I've been in Central America and then its mostly a Red Sox player.

And without Harvard/MIT Boston would be a far cry from what it is, its tech and healthcare sectors would be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced and probably nothing all that special. Which of course it is, especially the health care sector.

What people "overseas" think of Boston is irrelevant to the identity of the natives of Boston.

And once more: Harvard and MIT are in CAMBRIDGE, not Boston.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by OrganicSmallHome

What people "overseas" think of Boston is irrelevant to the identity of the natives of Boston.

And once more: Harvard and MIT are in CAMBRIDGE, not Boston.

It isn't irrelevant at all, actually. Worldview of a locale is critical to its identity.

And no crap, I worked at one, and grew up here.

But the modern reality is Harvard is in Boston too, and expanding more and more there. Soon it will have as big a footprint in Boston as it does in Cambridge. But its all the same thing in reality. It's all "Boston" in the grand scheme.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by OrganicSmallHome

What people "overseas" think of Boston is irrelevant to the identity of the natives of Boston.

And once more: Harvard and MIT are in CAMBRIDGE, not Boston.

Harvard Med would disagree.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Harvard Med would disagree.

As would Harvard Business School. And Harvard Business Publishing. And a bunch of other growing parts.