East Cambridge

Only a few years ago, East Cambridge shut down when the candy and candle producing factories blew the five o'clock whistle. In less than a decade, the neighborhood has transformed from Sleepy Hollow into a vibrant neighborhood replete with sleek condominiums, post-industrial designed office buildings, and trendy bars that attract revelers from deep within Boston proper. Myriad research labs funded by MIT and a rapidly growing number of tech companies that glean the brain power of MIT graduates has created a robust real estate market. The neighborhood also still enjoys the revenue generated by tourists that visit Revolutionary War historic sites, such as Bunker Hill that sits on the northern edge of East Cambridge. The neighborhood now represents the consummate locale for enjoying eclectic cuisine and an arts scene second to none around greater Boston.

A majority of roads within East Cambridge run in a grid that aligns with Cambridge Street. In the northern half of the neighborhood, you find primarily single and dual family homes for workers that ply their skills to advanced technology and in depth medical research. Moving to the southern half of East Cambridge, the grid comprises mainly offices and laboratories for dozens of Internet companies and biotechnology startups. Most of the biotechnology startups, such as Genzyme and BiogenIdec, have formed close collaborations with MIT researchers. Above average incomes and the prospect of long term employment makes East Cambridge one of the ideal neighborhoods to live in greater Boston.

East Cambridge has experienced some gentrification over the past 20 years. The conversion of old factories into lavish condominiums coincides with the development of more than a dozen new residential towers. North Point represents the largest scale commercial development project in all of Cambridge. Lechmere Station's relocation allowed the Massachusetts Department of Education to extend the green line deep into East Cambridge. Interstate 93 provide convenient access for residents that commute to downtown Boston.