Archive for the ‘The South End’ Category
July 10, 2008
When engineers for the City of Boston laid out plans for the newly-created Back Bay and South End, they drew inspiration from Europe: long Parisian boulevards and narrow parks dominate Back Bay, while narrow streets and London-style neighborhood parks dominate South End. In 1852, Ezra Lincoln designed Chester Square, a park to lure the wealthy from Beacon Hill to the South End.
According to the Chester Square Area Neighborhood Association:
[T]he park was landscaped lavishly by the city while developers and property owners began building the seventy townhouses that surround the park. The handsome houses are a combination of flat fronted central buildings and stepped forward, bow fronted buildings at the curved ends and “are more grant and opulent in style and influence” than any other South End houses.
The plan worked for a while, but by 1950, the South End had fallen into sad shape:
Within a few decades, the handsome houses of the South End became successively homes for small artisans, rooming houses and the residential entry point for waves of immigrants. Many fell into disrepair and were boarded up and abandoned. In the 1950’s, in the worst excesses of urban renewal, whole square blocks of the South End and Lower Roxbury were torn down as slums. Although none of the buildings that constitute the architectural framework of Chester Square were razed, in 1952 when the Southeast Expressway was completed, funneling thousands of cars into Boston from the South every day, the city took the center of Chester Park for four lanes of traffic. On its 100th birthday, the center of the historic residential square became a flowing river of traffic.
Have you ever seen the narrow fenced-in lawn on both sides of Mass Ave between Tremont Street and Shawmut Avenue? That’s all that remains of Chester Square: two narrow strips of sod.
Want to see homes near the square? I listed the following apartments in Boston instead of their respective neighborhoods because nobody can tell me whether they’re in Roxbury or the South End. I’m reasonably confident it’s the South End, but I’m afraid to make that my final answer.
570 Mass Ave, #1
Boston,02118
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1182
$479,900
582 Mass Ave, #2
Boston, 02118
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 1010
$585,000
520 Mass Ave, #3
Boston, 02118
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1106
$579,000
And this one is directly on Chester Square:
534 Mass Ave, #2
Boston, 02118
Beds: 1/ Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 740
$430,000
Boston Sweet Digs Home
Top Five: The Most Expensive Homes in the South End
June 19, 2008
It seems nobody agrees on the name of the area roughly outlined by Mass Ave, Melnea Cass Boulevard, and Columbus Avenue. The debate surrounding the name of the area often erupts into name-calling and subtle racism.
What is the dividing line between the South End and Roxbury: Lenox Street, Melnea Cass, or Mass Ave?
Although several issues arise regarding the name and dividing lines, they focus on two main topics:
- Crime. The city benefits when police label the area Roxbury. By ghetto-fying crime, surrounding neighborhoods look safe by comparison. Crime hurts one neighborhood, not several.
- Real Estate Values. South End properties are more attractive than Roxbury properties, demanding higher prices, therefore sellers benefit by calling the neighborhood South End.
I got a headache trying to determine who is right and what to call the place. I’m sticking with South End for now; Melnea Cass Boulevard is a stronger line of demarcation than Mass Ave. The land surrounding the boulevard is mostly non-residential, creating a huge chasm between the neighborhoods, whereas Mass Ave is just a four lane street that looks like any other street in the South End.
But the area doesn’t really share much with the South End stylistically…I’m stumped.
These homes could be South End, or they could be Roxbury. You tell me.
200 Northampton Street, #1
South End/Roxbury, 02118
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 445
$215,000
1914 Washington Street, #3
South End/Roxbury, 02118
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 1427
$434,900
8 Newcomb Street, #8
South End/Roxbury, 02118
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1614
$649,000
Dine and Dash: It’s All in Allston
Sweet Digs Boston Home
June 4, 2008
285 Columbus Lofts at Columbus and Clarendon, the intersection of form and function (according to their website), began closings last month. Boston Residential Group, of 360 Newbury fame, renovated the 20’s era Earle Building, turning out sixty-three high-end apartments. The small one-bedroom units begin at half a million, and the large, two-bedroom units include a study for about $1.5 million.
Although I live close enough to throw rocks at the place, I haven’t been inside yet. Kind of like test driving a new car or holding a helpless puppy, I don’t think I can resist the intoxicating scent of sawdust and paint, the hypnotizing shine of new appliances, and the virgin appeal of unsoiled apartment.
I don’t know how long I can hold out. Even if I find the willpower to not over-extend my budget, I still get to struggle with The Bryant on Columbus in a few months.
285 Columbus Avenue,#203
South End, 02116
Beds: 1/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1011
$695,000
285 Columbus Avenue, #607
South End, 02116
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1240
$1,015,000
285 Columbus Avenue,#805
South End, 02116
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1578
$1,545,500
Hitting the Links, May 31
Sweet Digs Boston Home
May 13, 2008
Last month, Cosmo discussed a Beacon Hill apartment with a valuable perk: a parking spot. The condo is nothing special, but that deeded parking spot increases the value tremendously. Hopefully the seller finds someone who sees that value.
The South End isn’t as dense as Beacon Hill, but searching for a parking space can still be a project. Finding a home with a deeded spot is nice, but finding one with a deeded space and a garage space is like hitting the jackpot. We all know the benefits of garage parking: less time scraping off ice and snow, less opportunity for accidental damage and vandalism, and less money spent on tickets, towing, and boot removal. The best benefit of all: leather seats don’t bake in the sun on hot summer days.
Those who don’t need both spaces could rent the extra space. Demand probably isn’t as high as in other neighborhoods, but it might earn some quick, easy cash.
These homes all have an outdoor space and a garage space:
1313 Washington Street, #310
South End, 02118
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 828
$539,999
7 Warren Avenue, #15
South End, 02116
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 985
$649,000
1200 Washington Street, #412
South End, 02118
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 1124
$750,000
More of Alyk on the South End
Sweet Digs Boston Home
April 23, 2008
Last week, I professed my affection for the Columbus Avenue/Dartmouth Street area. I love the non-stop activity, the convenient shopping, and the world-class dining. I also get to enjoy amazing views of the Prudential, 111 Huntington and the John Hancock(s). Steps from my front door I can catch the T to shuttle me to anywhere in the city. Fun, beauty, and convenience, all in one place.
Several homes a quick walk away from the Back Bay T station dropped their prices in the last two weeks. Unfortunately, even after a quarter-million dollar price drop, I still can’t afford 151 West Canton Street. The dream of buying indoor acreage remains a dream.
These price drops will surely entice some more nice, wealthy families to move into the neighborhood.
51 Appleton Street
Beds: 4/Baths: 3
SQ.FT.: 2575
was $1,595,000
now $1,485,000
30 Montgomery Street
Beds: 4/Baths: 3.5
SQ.FT.: 3100
was $ 1,695,000
now $1,649,000
151 West Canton Street
Beds: 4/Baths: 4.5
SQ.FT.: 3357
was $3,295,000
now $2,995,000
More of Alyk on the South End
April 19, 2008
Gaslight, a brasserie with good-looking brunch menu, sits on Harrison Avenue about halfway between the Mass Pike and Mass Ave. The French toast stuffed with sweet cheese caught my attention, while Mr Alyk’s eyes lit up at the mention of steak and eggs with biscuits and gravy. Along with a full menu, Gaslight created a few unique cocktails that might make open houses a bit livelier.
Harrison Avenue lies in the southeastern edge of the South End. This area formerly housed much of the city’s manufacturing; therefore, plenty of factories and warehouses begged for conversion. Gaslight’s building looks like a converted factory; however, I really don’t anything about its past life, so I’m not sure what it was.
Washington Street, the South End’s main thoroughfare, lies one block north of Harrison Avenue. Back in the 80’s, the MBTA dismantled the elevated tracks, opening up the formerly shady street, making it safe for the rest of the world. Several new residential developments decorate this now sunny street, including Wilkes Passage, Laconia Lofts, and Gateway Terrace.
1313 Washington Street, #314
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 948
$579,000
Open House: Sunday, April 20, noon-1:30pm
1200 Washington Street, #415
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 1104
$599,000
Open House: Sunday, April 20, 1:30pm-3pm
1166 Washington Street, #v205
Beds: 0/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 496
$339,000
Open House: Sunday, April 20, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Bonus: The first building, Wilkes Passage, planned another open house just down the hall for those looking for a little more space.
1313 Washington Street, #330
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1,994
$1,349,500
Open House: Sunday, April 20, noon-1:00pm
More Alyk on the South End
April 13, 2008
The northwest corner of the South End, more specifically the intersection of Dartmouth Street and Columbus Avenue, is one of my favorite areas of the South End. Classic Victorian-South End architecture makes up most of the area, but a healthy dose of 60’s and 70’s urban renewal projects remind me I live in the inner-city. Urban activity never ceases in the area, it just slows down a bit for a few hours in the middle of the night. The constant flow of pedestrians creates a feeling of excitement and anticipation, as though something is about to happen.
While wide boulevards, narrow side streets, and impassible alleys make for a fun recreational walk and urban exploring, almost everything I need for daily life remains within walking distance. A few blocks south I find the Boston Center for the Arts and all the trendiest new restaurants in town, while a few blocks north I find the best retail shopping in New England. Copley Place, Shops at the Prudential, Boylston Street, and Newbury Street all cater to my consumer wishes. I get to enjoy the best of the South End and the best of Back Bay whenever I want.
If all that isn’t enough, I can walk to the Back Bay Orange Line station in four minutes, allowing quick access to Chinatown, Downtown, and the North End.
These three homes all sit within a five minute walk of the Back Bay station:
368 Columbus Avenue, #A
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 791
$289,900
380 Columbus Avenue, #3
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 894
$575,000
18 Yarmouth Street, #2
Beds: 3/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1,744
$1,390,000
Several new buildings along Columbus Avenue promise even more activity in the area, but that has to wait for another post, another time.
MORE FROM ALYK ON THE SOUTH END
REDFIN SWEET DIGS BOSTON HOME
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD-CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
April 11, 2008
Sunday’s Dine and Dash begins at one of my regular stops: Flour. It’s sometimes convenient, usually quick, and always delicious. Their sticky buns beckon me from all the way across the South End. This sad love affair blessed me with an unintended benefit; I have one more reason to wander through my neighborhood.
As we stroll the city Sunday, our route takes us through Columbia Square (aka Blackstone Square and Franklin Square) and past the beautiful Rutland-Washington Community Garden. The South End Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust operates fifteen similar gardens throughout the South End and Roxbury. Members of the trust pay a fee for the right to tend a garden plot as they wish, growing whatever they want, provided they don’t sell the fruits of their labor.
Flour sits directly across the street from the community garden. A leisurely walk through the gardens would be nice, but I don’t know if the grounds are open to non-members. Even if we can’t get in, we can enjoy the view through the wrought-iron fence before beginning the dash.
121 West Concord Street, #2
Beds: 2/Baths: 3.5
SQ.FT.: 1843
$1,195,000
Open House: Sunday, April 13 11:30 to 1:00
112 West Concord Street, #3
Beds: 2/Baths: 3
SQ.FT.: 2046
$1,350,000
Open House: Sunday, April 13 12:45 to 2:30
27 Rutland Street, #2
Beds: 3/Baths: 3.5
SQ.FT.: 1782
$1,230,000
Open House: Sunday, April 13 12:30 to 2:30
More of Alyk on the South End
Redfin Sweet Digs Boston Home
Photo Source
April 9, 2008
Anyone who drives in Boston knows about parking in the city. Parking garages outside downtown are rare and expensive. On-street parking is impossible to find, and the city reserved most on-street spots for residents. Resident parking permits are difficult to acquire, and don’t even guarantee a parking spot–they only guarantee the hunt for a spot. And parking enforcement runs all day, handing out costly tickets for violations. Those with money can buy parking spaces, running $50K and up, but bloated SUV’s and poor driving skills often require two precious spots.
I don’t have a cure for Boston’s massive parking problem; I wouldn’t even know where to start. I do, however, have a suggestion for individuals looking to avoid keeping a car in the city.
Zipcar.
Zipcar began in 1999 as an auto-sharing program in our very own Cambridge, but quickly expanded other cities around the US. Here’s how Zipcar works: customers pay a fifty-dollar annual fee and, when they use a car, a small hourly fee. The hourly fee, usually only nine to fourteen dollars, covers gas and insurance for up to 180 miles of driving.
Zipcar differs from auto-rental agencies in several ways.
- Customers make all reservations online or on the telephone; no dealing with rental agents and long lines.
- Zipcar rents by the hour, not by the day. Customers pay only for the time they need.
- No additional fees. Unless the daily mileage limit is exceeded or if the car is returned late, customers pay no other costs. Hourly rates include all gas and insurance.
- Zipcar placed pick-up locations all over the city, not in huge, inconvenient lots
This is my favorite part (two parts, really): cars are located all around the city, and they are nice cars. Coopers (convertible!), Volvos, BMW’s, Jettas, and even pickup trucks. They have about twenty pick-up locations in the South End and over one hundred spread throughout the rest of the city.
Mr_Alyk works with someone who owns a car, but gets an SUV every time he visits Ikea or moves apartments (JS, time to settle down and buy. With Redfin, of course!)
Another friend uses her Zipcar to shop at South Bay a couple of times a month. She spends sixty dollars a month for her zip car and sixty dollars a month for her Charlie Card. She saves a ton over owning a car in the city. If she kept a car in the South End, she would have to pay all the regular car costs– financing, maintenance, and gas—and then some. She’d also have to pay another couple hundred a month for parking. Her insurance would double, and parking tickets would kill her.
Zipcar isn’t the cure to all the world’s ills, but it’s pretty convenient for those who could use a car, but don’t want to keep one in the city.
More Alyk on the South End
Redfin Sweet Digs Boston Home
March 30, 2008
No news this week regarding the Pine Street Inn purchase on Upton Street; however, a Fenway News post from last summer about my NIMBY neighbors included a letter from the co-president of the Union Park Neighborhood Association. It sounded like she wanted to distance the association from the most vocal opponents of the Pine Street Inn:
Both Jerry Frank and Norm Knickle are expressing their own personal views, not the views of the neighborhood association, which has purposely taken no position on this issue. Neither gentleman is an abutter of Hope House. This is a private sale, and the neighborhood association cannot dictate to whom property owners can sell their holdings…
The people of Hope House have been good neighbors, no one disputes that, and the neighborhood will sorely miss them.
HARRIET FINKELSTEIN, Copresident, Union Park Neighborhood Association, Boston
I’m going to guess she was one of the recently-replaced board members. In a sad turn of events, Linda Rodriguez of the South End News referred to Finkelstein as a former board member, Frank as the president, and Knickle as a board-member. According to the South End News:
Norm Knickle, an Upton Street resident for more than three years and a member of the UPNA board, said that their primary concern is the actually the size of the proposed project. Knickle, who refers to the three row homes as a “complex,” said that the three residential homes “will really define the street.”
Norm, buddy, the character of the street was defined long before you blessed the South End with your presence.
Several Upton Street residents placed their homes for sale recently. If you chose to purchase a home on that street, I feel obligated to warn you:
- Hope House operates a transitional-living facility on that street.
- Pine Street Inn will purchase the facility and continue its operation as a transitional-living facility.
- You shouldn’t whine about it; Hope House moved in long before you.
7 Upton Street, #1
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1750
$/SQ.FT.: 502
$879,000
14 Upton Street, #1
Beds: 2/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1637
$/SQ.FT.: 433
$709,000
27 Upton Street, #3
Beds: 3/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 1831
$/SQ.FT.: 791
$1,449,000
And, closest to the “complex”:
46 Upton Street, #2
Beds:1 /Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 645
$/SQ.FT.: 712
$459,000
More of Alyk on the South End
