Apartments in Waltham (Watertown, Lexington, Windsor: affordable apartments, rental, condo)

[khimwooo]

Hello,

I will be moving to Waltham to attend Bentley Unv. upcoming fall.

I've been looking for an apartment since the admission and it does not seem simple task because I am an international and my budget is limited. I am interested in two properties so far, Chalesbank Garden and Briar Glen Village, but since I can't visit the properties, I would like to get some ideas before I make decision.

I am bringing my family including 17-month old baby girl.

Could anyone please give me some ideas on the housing in Waltham?

If anyone knows the both apartments above, please give me some information (such as safety, easy access to Bentley etc.). Or, any suggestion for affordable apartments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[goyguy]

I've not heard of Briar Glen Village. But Charlesbank Gardens is a very nice complex, although it's not convenient to the Bentley campus. It consists of spacious four-unit, two-story brick buildings with porches/patios and with ample room in between them. As the name implies, the property includes the bank of the Charles River. There may be noise issues at times because its location immediately adjacent to the Brandeis campus means student partying would be a fact of life to be reckoned with. But for the most part it's a tranquil, shady environment. Just watch for goose poop!
One of Waltham's main traffic arteries, Lexington St, passes close by Bentley to the west. It's along that street that numerous apartment/condo "communities" are situated. Trapelo and Waverley Oaks Roads are other routes along which many rental units can be found. My personal favorite thereabouts is the Bishop's Forest townhouse development along the street of the same name, just south of Waltham High School and the YMCA. Another popular cluster is known as Windsor Village; this is on the west side of Lexington St and more towards Trapelo. One "selling point" of that complex is that there's free shuttle service to an MBTA rapid-transit terminal.
Downtown Waltham - the area surrounding Main and Moody St's and extending south along Moody - is an older and somewhat sketchy part of town. But it consists of many quiet and shady side streets lined with apartment houses and duplex dwellings. Also, just across the Watertown town line and immediately north of Main St is a sprawling group of well-tended 6-8-unit brick buildings dating back to approximately the 1960's. You'd be within ten minutes' drive from Bentley there.
Bentley should have a housing office devoted to assisting students looking to dwell off campus. Don't hesitate to utilize it.

[nightowl1]

I've lived in Waltham for over 15 years and grew up not too far from Bentley. I just drove through Briar Glen yesterday because I was looking for a change. It looks nice, but doesn't have the amenities such as a gym or pool, if that is the sort of thing you're looking for. It is right on the MBTA 70A bus line, but that bus has some odd hours and doesn't run at night.

One place I'm going to check out myself if called The Ridge on Lexington St, which is not too far away and is close to shopping. There's also a few other complexes close to that as well. If you're not looking for a complex, there are a lot of independent landlords renting out apartments in smaller buildings. You may also want to check with the admissions office at Bentley - I'm sure they have some suggestions that they can give you as well.