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What is this area like ? I might be moving down to Providence soon and i'm looking on the North Side. I am a young professional trying to relocate from Boston due to higher cost of living up here.
I would want to live someplace convenient to downtown with other young people in the area.
Can anyone suggest neighborhoods that might fit better?
Charles was once a blue-collar enclave home to many of Providence's Irish population. Rough, but nevertheless a solid community. As the economy shifted, government policies (like the wonderful HUD and Section 8) ravaged it and similar neighborhoods all over RI and elsewhere. The story repeats itself over and over, formerly blue-collar now "no-collar". The change-over in residents leaves a place not fit for human habitation.
^As I'm sure you've gleaned, Space League, a few posters here have a pretty dour outlook on humanity in general and Providence specifically.
Nevertheless, Holly is right that you'll find a more thriving community of young people on the East Side, downtown and off Broadway in the West End and all are convenient to downtown.
Charles was once a blue-collar enclave home to many of Providence's Irish population. Rough, but nevertheless a solid community. As the economy shifted, government policies (like the wonderful HUD and Section 8) ravaged it and similar neighborhoods all over RI and elsewhere. The story repeats itself over and over, formerly blue-collar now "no-collar". The change-over in residents leaves a place not fit for human habitation.
Why Providence? Job relocation?
I'm trying to lower my cost of living. I live with roommates now but I would like to rent my own place and buy a home pretty soon if I like the area. Even with roommates it is not cheap to live in Boston. Seems like in providence the nice part (college hill, east side) is also quite expensive and naturally the rough areas are lower priced.
The firm I work for has small offices in many new england cities including prov I could work for the same team from another site and ideally lower COL.
I thought Charles had a strong Italian population but I notice there is a good deal of crime in the area.
What parts of the West Side are good? I heard more bad stuff about the west side than the north
I'm trying to lower my cost of living. I live with roommates now but I would like to rent my own place and buy a home pretty soon if I like the area. Even with roommates it is not cheap to live in Boston. Seems like in providence the nice part (college hill, east side) is also quite expensive and naturally the rough areas are lower priced.
The firm I work for has small offices in many new england cities including prov I could work for the same team from another site and ideally lower COL.
I thought Charles had a strong Italian population but I notice there is a good deal of crime in the area.
What parts of the West Side are good? I heard more bad stuff about the west side than the north
Earliest inhabitants were English, followed by some Irish........then Italian. Northside is the old Italian neighborhood.
As I said........go north on Charles towards Mineral Spring.........right side of Charles..........side streets are a mix of single family, duplex and smaller multi-family homes. To the left of Charles........blech.
I know the area very well........as I own investment property there. No vacancies....All of my tenants have been here 9 years+.
Northside is definitely quieter than the Westside.
You'd do your "socializing" out of the neighborhood.
You'd be OK in many other areas including Elmwood, Federal Hill, Pawtucket, nearby East Providence, and areas where J&W students are renting like in the Edgewood section of Cranston. Even around Charles St, Chalkstone Ave. It's just that these areas may not be as nice or as safe as the areas I mentioned previously which fit best what you asked for. Crime stats are online. Just check an address first and then do a google street look.
Cheap rents around here, if they exist, will be a for a reason.
Broadway is a place I frequently hear about as a good alternative to the East Side (and cheaper). However, you can still find places on the East Side that rent for $900/month. If that's too expensive, just about anything less than that is going to put you into a less-than-desirable area.
Frankly, I always paid (and still do) a bit more to rent on the East Side and not have to worry about crime or living in a run-down building. The COL is higher but there are some "freedoms" that come with it. And keep in mind, rents are rising fairly unilaterally because so few people are buying homes. Going to be expensive anywhere that people want to be.
If you work in Boston, have you looked at Waltham (Moody St. I think is the neighborhood) or Davis Sq. in Somerville? Those used to be decent alternatives to the downtown ($$$) lifestyle.
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