Boston, officially the city of Boston, is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States and the 24th most populous city in the country. Northeastern, therefore, is located at the junction of Roxbury, South End, Fenway and Back Bay. The school has been criticized by some for denying its perceived roots of Roxbury, but its real roots are closer to the Boston side and the expansion into the historic boundaries of Roxbury Roxbury is more recent. And since Roxbury has been part of Boston for 145 years, I would say it's fair to call Northeastern a unique Boston institution that spans various boundaries of the neighborhood and leave it at that.
Northeastern Vice President of Communications Renata Nyul said Northeastern remained transparent about the development of Burke Street throughout the process of amendments and construction of the planning department. Students can take the Malden's Oak Grove or Malden Center stop to Ruggles Street Station, which is adjacent to Northeastern University and within walking distance of Fenway Colleges. Although average South Boston rental prices are increasing, it is still slightly less expensive than other popular communities in the Boston area, such as downtown, which is located directly north of the neighborhood. The amendment process was used strategically by Northeastern to change the original master plan later, doubling the size of Burke Street's bedroom and subverting Roxbury's interests.
Add the fact that Roxbury became part of Boston in 1868 and the land that is often called Lower Roxbury should be classified as a south end or back bay. The plaintiff, a local minority-owned development company called Columbia Plaza Associates (CPA), alleged that Northeastern obtained the plot from Roxbury Crossing through illegal land grabbing. With the MBTA system serving thousands of people every day, easy access to Boston train stops is just as important as the cost of rent, especially if you're a college student. This neighborhood is located at the intersection between Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, making it easy to commute to Northeastern University and surrounding areas.
Between Back Bay's incredible downtown location, world-class shopping and dining, and historic charm, it's clear why the neighborhood is one of the most expensive places to live in Boston. City Councilman Kim Janey, who now represents the area, filed a letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency in December against the proposed dormitory, saying: “For those who live in the shadow of the northeast, the benefits they claim to bring to the community go unnoticed. While rent in the Boston area remains the highest in the state, the pandemic has caused some areas to be less expensive, even in more modern places like downtown Boston and Back Bay, where rents tend to be higher. One of the benefits of renting in Boston is having access to one of the largest mass transit systems in the country.
Along with several stops along the Orange Line, the Boston University shuttle bus connects students from the medical campus to the main campus along the Charles River for free. Along with several MIT fraternity houses, Back Bay is home to the Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural College and the Danielsen Hall at Boston University. According to Northeastern Off-Campus Student Services, the number of Northeastern students living off-campus increased by 25.7 percent during that same period.
