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Fenway/Kenmore The center of the Fenway/Kenmore area (usually referred to as simply "the Fenway" or "the Fens") is the Back Bay Fens parkland. The Fenway is bordered by the Charles River and the Back Bay on the north, the South End, Roxbury and Mission Hill on the south and Brookline and Allston/Brighton to the west. The Fenway is unique in that its densely developed area includes both apartment buildings and institutions. The Fenway is home to the educational institutions of Boston University, Emmanuel, Massachusetts College of Art, Northeastern University, Simmons and Wheelock. Cultural and entertainment institutions in the area include Fenway Park (home to the Red Sox, Boston's baseball team), the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Symphony Hall. The Christian Science Center Complex is also located along Massachusetts Avenue in the Fens and Boston's Medical Complex is on the neighborhood's southern border. Kenmore Square is the major shopping area in the Fens, catering to a predominantly student clientele. The Fenway's proximity to area universities makes it a popular housing choice for many students. The housing stock in the Fenway is predominantly large multi-unit apartment buildings built over 50 years ago. Most of these buildings have more than ten units. Studio and one bedroom units are most commonly available on the rental market though some two bedrooms are available. Larger than two bedroom units are difficult to find. The Fens has a high degree of "absentee landlords" with some of the housing stock in a somewhat deteriorated condition. The quality of the housing stock in the area is, however, improving due to condominium conversions. The majority of the units include heat and hot water in the rent. The Fenway has good access to public transit via both buses and the green line. Kenmore Square is the transportation node of the area, providing access to the green line (at the Kenmore Square T stop) and numerous buses. The Fenway Park stop on the Riverside green line serves the eastern portion of the Fens while the green line at the Symphony and Hynes Convention Center/ICA subway stops serves the West Fens. MIT is approximately a half hour walk from most of the Fenway with bicycling very easy as well. Taking the #1 Dudley bus down Massachusetts Avenue is the easiest form of public transit to campus. The CambridgeMedical Area Shuttle is also an option for Fenway residents. The shuttle stops at 77 Massachusetts Avenue in front of MIT and throughout the Fens. No cash fares are accepted. Tickets, schedule and passes are available at the MIT Cashiers Office in Room 10-180. Parking can be a problem due to the predominance of institutions in the area. As in most of Boston, a residential sticker is required to park on the street. Off-street parking is limited and often costly Be sure to check the parking situation in your building if you plan to live in the Fenway. As with the other downtown neighborhoods, you may want to leave your car at home. The high percentage of students living in the Fens, and the high degree of transience in such a population, makes security a problem in the area. A few community organizations have been formed to address this problem and they are beginning to see an improvement. The west side of the Fenway tends to be safer than the east side. Massachusetts Avenue near Symphony Hall has a relatively high number of street robberies. Under no circumstances should you walk through the Fens Park at night as it is a very high crime area. By heeding the safety and security tips discussed later in the guide, you can make the Fenway a much safer place in which to live. Rents in the Fenway area tend to be less than other inner city locations. If you are willing to walk a little farther to MIT and take proper security and safety precautions, living in the Fenway can provide you with a less expensive alternative to the other areas of the downtown housing market. The Fenway is also desirable because of the large number of cultural and entertainment facilities nearby. The Back Bay Fens park provides an attractive green space for the area and includes the Museum of Fine Arts Rose Garden and the Fenway Urban Gardens.
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