Which neighborhood near North Station would you prefer to buy a 1+ br condo in at this point, and why?

The Ladder District is the old Combat Zone. It's basically the small neighborhood between Chinatown and Downtown Crossing. To give you a visual, Felt is in the Ladder District.

Ladder District is between Chinatown and South Station

Hi ya Marc,

Charlestown Navy Yard has about 6 different buildings...ranging from lower end at the Basilica (you can get a two bedroom plus parking for $315,000) to Flagship--which the same sq ft will cost you more like 650k.

-Grace

I was thinking more about personal taste than anything else. It depends on your lifestyle. The South End does have a grocery store, Foodies, and it is very good. Prices are not much higher than at Shaws. Good meat selection, fancy cheeses, but also Cheerios and other staples. Shaws at Prudential Center is within walking distance, I do it all the time.

When I think West End I think Charles River Park. The architecture is what I have a problem with - it's old and boxy, as are most of the individual units.

If you're going to work in East Cambridge and north on I-93 then I think it's an easy choice - go with East Cambridge or Charlestown near the monument. If you have the means, buy in a new building in East Cambridge. Johnnie's Foodmaster in Charlestown is convenient enough to both areas that you can make the long walk or a short car ride. When we lived at Museum Towers we ate breakfast in the Cambridgeside Galleria. Lovely.

The North End is a great neighborhood to live in. You have to go north or south for a supermarket (the one on Cambridge Street is almost too far to walk) but it feels funky and fun and historic. It is extremely crowded in the summer, though.

If you're ready to buy, then buy, but if you're up in the air about neighborhood and prices, I'd recommend renting in one of the behemoths in East Cambridge - the Archstone complex or Waterworks, or whatever it is. Get a six-month lease and wait to see what the spring market looks like.

The South End can't be beat. It has a great neighborhood feel, some diversity, and convenience to Copley Square plus to I-93 North and South & the Mass Pike. Rapes, assaults, and murders are rare. Car break-ins are about the extent of the crime. But, as I said before, it does still have the "feel" of being unsafe, at times. Others would disagree with me, and say they never feel unsafe. Perhaps it is my 20-years of perspective that colors my opinion.

your present commute certainly sucks.

I'm sure John's right about the West End lack of choices, so my vote is strictly a "feel" kind of thing as I'd like to be near Gov't Ctr/Fin District if I were making the choice. I recall there are some nice new buildings in E. Cambridge, but I also would be surprised to see the area as a whole finally rise up anytime soon, so you pays your money, you takes your chances. Either way, you'd improve your (non-financial) situation, and depending on how long you stay, hopefully have an enjoyable city-living experience.

Hi Ron and Grace,

This is great info, the poll doesn't mention other parts of Charlestown because we don't know anything about them. I've never even heard of City Square.

Can you tell me any more about it? How's the public transportation situation there? Are there any affordable managed building condos, or is it all 3-deckers?

Thanks for your advice
-Marc