somerville - pro's and con's

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

Dear Somervillians,

I am looking at real estate in the Somerville area specifically, and I was wondering if anyone could give me a list of 3-5 pro's and con's about S'ville.

Also, are there any sections I should specifically avoid due to "safety issues" (i.e., gangs, crackhouses, landlords who enjoy setting fires to collect insurance $, etc.)

Thanks in advance!

Comments

Re: careful now

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

*nods* My girlfriend lived in an apt. blg right in that area, and her apt was broken into - apparently the first breakin in that complex in years and years. She lost all her jewelry, but thankfully nothing else. That and the building mgt's response - taking 4 DAYS TO CHANGE THE LOCKS were big reasons to move - that and having a 2BR for only marginally more than a 1BR.

Let's not kid ourselves, crime happens, and feeling safe is no excuse for behaving obliviously. Even when I was a university student, there was friction between the townies and the students - ranging from epithets and eggs thrown at students, and on the other hand, appalling lack of consideration by said students in throwing loud disruptive parties in what were essentially residential areas.

(btw, quite a lot of West Medford is on the Red Line - if you count the buses.)