Allston

Allston is an officially recognized neighborhood within the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was named after the American painter and poet Washington Allston. The estimated population of Allston is 28,621, according to the 2020 Census. The median home cost is $632,000, an incline of 5.2% in the last year. The cost of living is 48.7% higher than the national average. The population density is 14,035/mi2. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic (48.2%), followed by unspecified Christian (4.9%), Christian (2%), and Muslim (1%). The largest ancestry groups in ZIP codes 02134 and 02163 are: French, English, German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, Korean, Brazilian, and Colombian. Allston has close proximity to Route 2, the Mass Pike, Storrow Drive, and Soldiers Field Road. Public transportation includes the Red Line at Harvard Square, the Green Line at Packard Corner or Harvard Avenue on North Harvard Street, and the 66, 70, 71, and 86 on Commonwealth Avenue. In the early 21st century, Harvard University announced dramatic expansion projects that called for major building projects. In 2016, Harvard began building again, starting on the new state-of-the-art School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on Western Avenue of the Charles River. Later it will begin construction of "Gateway" on the west side of Charles River by the Charles.

Demographics

Allston is the primary city name, but also Boston are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is Allston. The estimated population of Allston is 28,621, according to the 2020 Census. The median home cost is $632,000, an incline of 5.2% in the last year. The cost of living is 48.7% higher than the national average. Young adults (age 18-34) make up 80.8% of the neighborhood's population. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic (48.2%), followed by unspecified Christian (4.9%), Baptist (2%), and Muslim (1%). According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the largest ancestry groups in ZIP Codes 02134 and 02163 are: English, German, French, Irish, Italian, Russian, and Korean. The population density is 14,035/mi2. The Median age is 27, and the largest immigrant populations are from Russia, East Asia (particularly Korea), South Asia, and South America (particularly Brazil and Colombia). The high concentration of students and "twenty-somethings" has created tension between some long-time residents and the student population which constantly cycles in and out as students matriculate and graduate from Boston's many colleges and universities. In addition to nightly dancing and live music at area bars, house parties abound on surrounding streets, particularly during the school year. This has long been a sore point among other Allston residents. The highest crime rate in the neighborhood is 10.3%. The lowest crime rate is 3.2%.

Area description

The neighborhood of Allston borders the Boston Neighborhoods of Fenway/Kenmore and Brighton, as well as the Town of Brookline. Allston is bordered on the east and north by the Charles River, and the City of Cambridge is accessible via several bridges. In its center is Allston Square at the crossroads of Western Avenue and North Harvard Street. The area north of the turnpike near the Charles river is known as Lower Allston (or North Allston). It consists of streets north of Cambridge Street and the Turnpike, all the way to theCharles River. In the early 21st century, Harvard University announced dramatic expansion plans that called for major building projects. In 2016, Harvard began building again, has completed two new buildings and is starting on the new, state-of-the-art Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on Western Avenue. Later, it will begin construction of the "Gateway" building on the northeast corner of Allstons Square. The neighborhood is very quiet, has extremely low crime, and is an easy walk to Allston Village or Harvard Square. Public transportation includes the Red Line at Harvard Square, the Green Line at Packard's Corner or Harvard Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue and the 57, 66, 70, 71, and 86 bus connections on North Harvard St and Western Avenue, and Soldiers Field Road. The community is named for the great painter and 1800 Harvard graduate, Washington Allston, "The Father of American Romanticism".

History

Allston was an eastern section of the former town of Brighton. In 1868 the station and post office in Brighton's eastern portion were given the name "Allston" after Washington Allston, the noted painter. The Town of Brighton was annexed by the City of Boston in 1874. The Allston community developed largely around large railroad and livestock operations. The Massachusetts Turnpike Extension, built largely on part of the Boston and Albany right-of-way, opened through Allston in 1964 and 1965. All livestock activity ended by the mid-20th century, although much of the rail yard remained in use until 2013 as CSX Transportation's Beacon Park Yard. A strip running from Brighton Avenue in Allston out Commonwealth Avenue toward Kenmore Square was Boston's original "Automile", lined with automobile dealerships. Only a Toyota dealer and a Vespa dealer remain, but the windowed buildings along the eastern end of Brighton Avenue reflect this history. In 1888 Boston's first trolley route began there, running a route through Coolidge Corner, Brookline, to Boylston Street, to downtown Boston. Packard's Sales Stable and Riding School gave Packard’s Corner its name, which was then perpetuated by the presence of an opulent Packard dealership. Allston has never existed as a separate political entity in its own right. It can even be said to have been named for a specific painting: Washington AllSTON's "Fields West of Boston".

Culture

Allston is home to numerous small businesses and restaurants. Brighton Avenue, between Packard's Corner and Allston Street, boasts various ethnic and national cuisines from around the world. Harvard Avenue hosts a number of furniture stores, thrift shops, and stores that offer items for resale, due to the large student body and high residential turnover. The Boston Patriots of the American Football League (now the New England Patriots) played four seasons in Allston: at Nickerson Field in 1960 through 1962; and at Harvard Stadium in 1970. Major League Baseball's Boston Braves played at Braves Field (now Boston University's Nickerson field) at Allston's eastern edge, from 1915 to 1952. The annual Allston-Brighton parade and the Allston DIY Fest feature many of the neighborhood's musical acts. Allston Christmas is the time of year when renters (many of whom are college students) move out their things so new renters can move in. The term is a misnomer, as renters often put their unwanted possessions out in the streets for those who may want the items, which include bedding, couches, tables, kitchenware, and clothing. Unsalvaged items also contribute to unusually large trash and recycling pickups scheduled around the time. Several recording studios are located in the neighborhood, such as Galaxy Park, established in 1999. The neighborhood's music scene includes a DIY community, including Brighton Music Hall (formerly Harpers Ferry), O'Brien's Pub, Paradise Rock Club, Scullers Jazz Club, and Wonder Bar.

Education

Public schools in Allston are part of the school district of Boston Public Schools. The Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is the oldest public school for the hearing impaired in the United States. A substantial part of Harvard University, including Harvard Business School and most athletic facilities, are in North Allston. Boston University lies along Commonwealth Avenue to the east, with numerous schools and facilities extending from Kenmore Square to Packard's Corner. Berklee College of Music also has a practice and rehearsal building near Commonwealth Avenue on Fordham Road which runs between Commonwealth Avenue and Brighton Avenue. The New Balance Field of Boston University symbolizes further integration of BU into the Allston community and is the first in a series of projects that have included the creation of a major new dormitory building in the area. Eventually, Harvard's Allston campus will be physically larger than their original Cambridge campus. The school was attended by Helen Keller. Alexander Graham Bell's work at the school inspired him to begin experiments in an apparatus to help deaf children hear. These experiments eventually led to the telephone. The school is located on Armington Street, and serves residents from kindergarten through eighth grade. In April 2008, a science teacher at Gardner Pilot Academy won the "Ultimate Science Classroom", a raffle prize furnished annually by the National Science Teachers Association. It is also home to the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, as well as an auxiliary site for the Harvard Medical School and other healthcare-related programs.

Transportation

The B branch of the Boston MBTA subway Green Line runs through the neighborhood along Commonwealth Avenue. The former "A Line" of the Green Line to Watertown Square ran along Brighton Avenue, and was replaced by MBTA bus route 57. The City of Boston and the MBTA plan to install a bus-only lane for the 57 between Union Square and Packard's Corner beginning in 2019 to alleviate congestion and speed up bus travel times. 34.2% of Allston residents commute by mass transit, while 24.3% commute by walking and another 6.6% commute to work by bicycle.Until 2013, the CSX Railroad operated the large Beacon Park freight yard which runs adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike. In May 2006, Harvard officials said that they would like to establish a commuter rail stop in Allston on the Framingham/Worcester line. As of 2009, there had been actions by the state legislature to restore train service in the area. In June 2012, plans were announced for a station to be called Boston Landing, located in Brighton, to serve the Allston-Brighton area. Originally intended to open in 2014, the station finally opened in 2017. In September 2014, plans for a $25 million commuter rail station called West Station were announced. The station will initially operate exclusively on the Worcester/Framingham line, but will be constructed with four platforms to accommodate future uses that may include rapid-transit service to North Station via the existing Grand Junction rail line through Cambridge and Somerville.

Events

Allston Squirt Gun Day is an unsanctioned event organized by young residents and held yearly in late August. Participants are asked to wear green and gather at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Brighton Avenue. The event is typically short-lived as it creates a panic among those unaware of what is going on. Each year the community hosts the Allston Village Street Fair on Harvard Avenue between Brighton Avenue and Cambridge Street. The fair features live performances, international food, and local businesses, along with family-friendly activities. In 2012, Aerosmith played a set in front of their former residence at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue. They were introduced by the New England Patriots players (most notably Tom Brady), owner Robert Kraft, and cheerleaders. The New England Foundation for the Arts selected a site in Allston for its Art & Community Landscapes program in 2005. The artist team of Legge Lewis Legge was chosen to design this site which is known as the Lincoln Street Green Strip. In 2009, the Squirtgun festivities continued as a sanctioned event at nearby Ringer Park. The site is now known as "Lincoln Street" and is located on the corner of Harvard and Cambridge Streets. The area is home to the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics. It is also the site of the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place on August 11, 2002. The Boston Marathon bombing took place in the early hours of the morning on the morning of September 11, 2003.

In popular culture

Allston's ZIP Code "02134" is famously identified due to a recurring musical piece on the PBS children's series ZOOM. Big D and the Kids Table, a ska band, makes multiple references to Allston within their songs. grindcore band Anal Cunt has written several contemptuous songs that reference Allston in a pejorative way. Allston contains several locations in the David Foster Wallace novel Infinite Jest and the book includes in a footnote, "PS: Allston rules!"                 Allston Square is the site of the annual Allston Music Festival, which takes place in Allston every year from September to November. The festival is held in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, which is home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Marathon is held every year on the anniversary of Allston's founding. The city is also the home of the Boston Marathon, which took place on the same day as Allston on September 11, 1971. The marathon was the first to be held in Boston since the city was incorporated in 1871. It was the second to be broadcast on the U.S. mainland, after the first one in 1875. It is the only city in the United States to have hosted the marathon. It also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988 and the Winter Paralympics in 1992. The final episode of the first season of the series was broadcast on September 25, 2008. The series was based on the series "ZOOM", which was produced by WGBH-TV, which was based in Boston.