Where exactly is Boston's West End Neighborhood? A Guide.
Tell someone you live in the West End of Boston, and you might get a confused reaction. After all, some people don’t even know where the neighborhood is. But the West End, a small pocket that borders both Beacon Hill and the North End, is actually a fascinating (and incredibly controversial) neighborhood that tells the story of some of Boston’s greatest institutions—and its most blatant failures.
Until the late 1950s, the West End was a residential neighborhood populated by many Italian and Jewish immigrants. But Boston was economically depressed, and officials conceived of an idea that would change the West End forever. They hoped that by wiping out the areas designated as “slums,” and replacing them with higher-end housing, new residents would drive up the city’s economy. This demolition was known as urban renewal. Of course, to outsiders, the densely-populated area may have seemed like a slum, but to the legions of working-class families who lived there, it was simply known as home. Residents received eviction notices by 1958, and despite plenty of protest, bulldozers showed up and the neighborhood was leveled into what resembled a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with just a few buildings spared. Tragically, many residents were left with nowhere to go. Some were promised new, inexpensive housing, or told they could ultimately return to the neighborhood once it was completed. Unfortunately, those promises went unfulfilled, and herein lies the tragedy of Boston’s West End.
What was once a largely residential neighborhood has transformed into one that feels quite commercial today, with some of Boston’s most well-known landmarks, such as the TD Garden and Mass General Hospital, owning significant acreage. Residents say the neighborhood feels a bit transient, but there are certainly some people who have lived there long-term. (One resident told us she considers the homeless people along Causeway Street to be more permanent fixtures than those who live in actual homes.) For those who don’t live in high rises, the realities of life in 2019 are omnipresent, like frequent overdoses on the street. Construction is never-ending, and finding a parking space is borderline impossible. With MGH nearby, the blaring ambulance sirens are constant, as is the presence of rowdy sports fans heading to the Garden and the stretch of bars along Causeway Street. But the central location and accessibility of downtown Boston keeps many residents re-signing their leases, and the flurry of exciting new restaurants is a fun addition. The stunning new Star Market in The Hub on Causeway is also greatly appreciated by residents.