East Boston…Save a Space

Originally a center of shipbuilding, East Boston has always been a neighborhood of immigrants. Today its population is made up largely of Italian-Americans and immigrants from Central and South America and Southeast Asia. That diversity is reflected in the neighborhood’s myriad of ethnic restaurants. The nation’s first branch library was built in East Boston in 1870. The housing is a mixture of old and new, including many restored triple-deckers. Logan Airport, is located here, making East Boston a gateway to people from around the world. Located across Boston Harbor, East Boston residents enjoy fantastic waterfront views of the city skyline.

Boston’s last refuge for true Bostonians. A city comprised of transplants, immigrants, and students left little room for Boston’s true locals. East Boston’s wealth of triple and double deckers houses some of Boston’s oldest blue collar families and is Boston’s last traditional neighborhood. Locals have a charming tradition of using markers such as lawn chairs to save parking spaces they have shoveled out in wintertime, an act that would likely not be honored in any other Boston Neighborhood

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Jamaica Plain…Brookline charm without the price

Jamaica Plain, or “JP” as the locals call it, is a classic “streetcar suburb” that has evolved into one of Boston’s most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods. The ethnically diverse area is home to many Latinos, young families, and a growing gay and lesbian community. Hyde and Jackson Squares have significant Spanish-speaking populations from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. This blend of cultures is reflected in local businesses, such as the many different restaurants which line Centre Street, one of its main thoroughfares. Residents and visitors enjoy walking, biking, and running along Jamaica Pond situated on the Riverway, part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace.

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Chinatown…Boston’s Greenwhich Village

Boston’s Chinatown is the third largest Chinese neighborhood in the country. Located between the city’s Financial District and Theater Disctrict, Chinatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Boston. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the area�s large selection of Asian restaurants and bakeries, where they can sample everything from dim sum to almond cookies. During the popular August Moon Festival, children carry brightly colored lanterns and revelers eat sweet cakes known as Moon Cakes, each containing a secret message. The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, which opened in 2005, is a tremendous resource for the community, providing residents with English-language classes, childcare, and social and recreational opportunities.

Chinatown is a much sought after neighborhood for Boston’s Bohemian crowd. The proximity of the theater district and the harbor make this a desirable place for the young and artistically inclined Boston crowd.
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Fenway Kenmore

Perhaps most recognized as the home of Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox, Fenway/Kenmore also boasts many of the City’s top cultural institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall. Fenway/Kenmore also has a strong academic presence, including Boston Latin School, America’s first public school, as well as several institutions of higher learning. Many of these undergraduate students, as well as young people throughout the city, are drawn to the lively bars and clubs along Lansdowne Street. The Fenway is another central thoroughfare that encircles the Back Bay Fens, the neighborhood’s preeminent green space, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.

Fenway is certainly worth considering if location is a primary concern for tenants, but space is often at a fairly high premium, so be prepared with an appropriate budget for the area. 2 Beds tend to start at about $2000. You can find more inexpensive options, but you will pay the price in either space or quality. There are also several worthwhile luxury buildings, many of which house Red Sox players and coaching staff.
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