The city of Dorchester was incorporated in 1630, a small rural town annexed to Boston in 1870. Railroad and street car expansion increased population dramatically to 150,000 in early 1920. It is named after Dorset County in England, from where the Puritans first emerged. The "working class suburb" was predominately Irish, becoming more diverse over the years as African, East and Southeast Asian Americans moved in to buy condos, homes, and rent apartments. By and large it is Boston's "most populated neighborhood" with the most diverse population spread out over a number of older and redeveloped neighborhoods, including a larger variety of condominiums, duplexes, and conversions in a more reasonable price range, a half a million or less. Present day Dorchester is a community of older homes and monuments that have been preserved for posterity's sake. Dorchester's architecture is a testament to its development. Much of its architecture remains the same, even after the introduction of industrialization. Either preserved, converted to condos, museums, or protected by their national landmark status. The Blake and Pierce homes are pre-revolutionary homes are still standing. Offering a wide variety of styles: Greek, Italianate, Colonial, French Second Empire, Egyptian, Gothic, Victorian and more. Buildings that were once farmhouses, mansions, row houses and apartment buildings have been converted to multi-family condo dwellings and one or two condominium units. Dorchester is split into many different types of neighborhoods and areas but northern is known more for its commercial/industrial area while the south is categorized as residential. There are many exceptions for the spaces between and condo offerings to satisfy every need. Condominiums in Dorchester are less pricey than in more well healed areas, though they offer very similar amenities. Victorians have been converted to three level town homes or one and two bedroom units with more than one bathroom. Apartments, single Colonials and Victorian bungalows have been given interior remodeling without changing their fronts and the neighborhood. Conveniently located on the waterfront, boardwalk or within walking distance of Quincy, East, or Freeport Streets, what is known as the commercial district. A small amount of new construction is scattered around running the range from one two and even four bedroom condos. Updated windows, large walk in closets, fire places, formal living rooms, refinished wood floors, walls, and dining rooms are amenities they all share. Larger units or newly renovated condos seem to focus on a similar standard of amenities. Town homes or units with more than one room and bath can have granite counters and fixtures, cathedral ceilings, oak or cherry paneled kitchens, stainless steel fixtures and appliances, finished floors, private roof decks with fantastic views of the city, balconies, historic intricate details not to be created, private front porches. Everyone may expect the fire place but it is not always offered with a dining room, pool , tennis courts, decks, attached garage, gym, and entertainment space but it is available in Dorchester too, state of the art condominium living has arrived for all residents to enjoy. Regardless of where you are looking for a condo in Dorchester opportunities abound to experience older neighborhoods and newer communities in an ever changing melting pot of people, cultures and ethnicities that have been existing and drawing from each other for decades if not centuries. There are too many neighborhoods to mention: Savin Hill, Four Corners, Geneva, Franklin Field, Popes Hill and Ashmont are but a few. Whether you are looking for a condo near the University of Massachusetts, a newer duplex, a condominium in a restored mansion, apartment, row house, bungalow or unique place to live while enjoying all the cultural opportunities that are available, Dorchester has of inventory to select from. |
