Questions about moving to specific part of Jamaica Plain

April 4, 2010 10:45 AM

We've been thinking about moving to Jamaica Plain for a while but have been looking mostly around Centre St / Sumner Hill / Pondside. Now we've found a pretty great place available, but it's on the "wrong" side of the tracks, due east from Green St station, right by Franklin Park. So, how is it around there? How is Franklin Park? We're somewhat worried about crime/safety. Also somewhat worried about being relatively far from the nicer shops/etc on Centre. Would love to read any advice on this specific area, or JP / Franklin Park in general.
posted by anonymous to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

I'm guessing, based on your description, that this is in the Glen Road vicinity? I've never personally lived in this area, but many of my friends have, without incident. I've also visited them many times with no problem, walking to the T late at night, etc.

I think they did mostly wish they lived a bit closer to the action of Centre St. It's not a long walk, but it can be a bit dark and deserted on Green St late at night. Again, none of them have ever had a problem, but it might end up being a deterrent to walking to or from Centre St late at night.

On the other hand, you'd have Doyle's right there! Which is pretty awesome.

Oh and Franklin Park is fine during the day, and a pretty cool old Frederick Law Olmstead park. Don't hang out there at night, but that's just a good rule of thumb for city parks.
posted by lunasol at 12:33 PM on April 4, 2010

- you'll be right near Canto 6, home of delicious baked goods, coffee, sandwiches to die for
- quite a few other bodegas and low-key food places
- Bella Luna/Milkyway/Ula Cafe are just up the road a bit
- they're in the Brewery complex, home of Mike's Fitness
- also near Doyle's and Midway cafe
- dogwood cafe isn't too far either

There are some really nice streets in that direction, and probably some that are a bit dodgier. Hard to tell just from a general area -- but really, I think you'll be fine. I'm looking for the crime stat website - there's one that maps it out.

There definitely is more stuff on Centre and it's a bit of a pain to have a 20 minute walk at night, but I don't think you'll be unsafe.
posted by barnone at 1:37 PM on April 4, 2010

Franklin Park is very nice and perfectly safe during the day. The area is pretty heavily trafficked during most times. I'd be weary if you keep hours that will put you on the street in the early morning, but otherwise it's not bad. It's not Brookline, but it's reasonably safe. I have a friend who moved to the area nearly a year ago-- she's a single lesbian and decided to buy a condo unit because the prices were so good for the nearby amenities. She really likes it.

I do think it's important to have insurance (home or renters) because I've heard that break-ins can be a problem. Not probable, but a possibility so you should be prepared for that. I might even pass on a unit that looks like it would be an easy target (abutting an empty lot, distressed property or gully or something). But there are a lot of good values for both buyers and renters in the area if you can deal with a bit of grit.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:03 PM on April 4, 2010

Mayor Curley is right about the insurance -- when we were looking in that area last year, it seemed like most of the crime were larcenies from vehicles (smash and grab type affairs), and a few B&E/larcenies from condos. I might even pass on a ground-floor unit on the less-populated streets.

Also, you can get those wireless alarms that connect to an actual monitoring system - it won't totally prevent B&Es but it helps a bit, brings down your renter's insurance, and will get someone there so your entire condo isn't cleaned out.

Drive around during the day, afternoon, 5-6pmish, evening, morning. You'll see patterns on your street and can even ask a few neighbors what they think. I think it's totally fine and you get some great properties there for a fairly good price. Good luck!

PS: eat the beet sandwich at Canto 6. yummers.
posted by barnone at 3:22 PM on April 4, 2010

Yeah, Canto 6 is so good and tempting that it's almost a reason to Avoid the neighborhood! My best friend lives on Walnut across from Franklin Park, and I've dogsat many times. As people have said, the Park is great during the day, it really isn't that long of a walk or bike to Centre St, and Green Street is a nice Orange Line station.

That said, schlepping up that hill from the T or from Centre to the Park can seem like a Much longer walk in the rain or cold or blazing heat. And around Festival time the streets can be congested/closed. But are willing to walk or bike in decent weather, and if you have a car as an option in bad weather, you can drive and usually find parking behind Blanchard's or something on Centre.

As a single woman I usually feel pretty safe despite the frequent sirens, but I'm also used to urban living. To my mind the area has a really beautiful combination of green space and urban. I would live there if I had a car.
posted by ldthomps at 6:04 PM on April 4, 2010

Its been a few years (2002 - 2005), but I used to live a block away from Franklin park -- technically I lived in Roxburyx. I don't know... I loved the neighbourhood, never felt unsafe, and really really liked the park. I also frequently walked in the park at night, also no worries. Two of my roomates were women, and had no problem living there. The worst that happened was having my sideview mirror smashed off -- presumably by accident but also presumably by a more than just a little irresponsible driver and one time, a gorilla escaped from the zoo and walked down our street. He was aprehended while sitting at a bus stop down the block. They had to close off our street for a few hours, because a few tranq darts went astray.
posted by bumpkin at 8:41 PM on April 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I used to live in that area, and agree with all of the above. It's quite nice and I never felt unsafe, but in the end the "right" side of the tracks was too tempting and I moved closer to the Centre / South area. While I was near Franklin Park, my car had a rough time - broken into and then stolen (but recovered) within a single year. Despite lots of tempting free street parking, I'd spend the time to find something with an off-street spot.

Good luck and welcome to the neighborhood!
posted by violinflu at 5:39 AM on April 5, 2010