Belmont, Massachusetts

Belmont Center is the civic and historic heart of Belmont, Massachusetts. Located around the intersection of Concord Avenue, Pleasant Street, and Leonard Street, the area developed as a transportation hub in the nineteenth century and continues to function today as one of the town’s three primary commercial districts. This area undoubtedly has the best draw for shoppers and patrons visiting restaurants. 

The neighborhood reflects Belmont’s transformation from a rural crossroads into a connected suburban community. Many of the buildings in Belmont Center date from the late nineteenth through mid-twentieth centuries and represent a range of architectural styles tied to the town’s growth.

Early Settlement and the Town Crossroads

The land that forms Belmont Center today was first settled in 1636 by Roger Wellington. For much of the town’s early history, the area remained largely agricultural. Activity began to concentrate in the early nineteenth century at the intersection of the Concord Turnpike (now Concord Avenue) and Colonial Watertown Road (now Pleasant Street). This crossroads gradually became the focal point for civic and commercial activity in Belmont.

The Railroad and the Birth of Belmont Center

A major turning point in Belmont Center’s development came in 1843 with the arrival of the Fitchburg Railroad. The rail line connected Belmont directly with Boston and encouraged the creation of a small commercial district around the station.

The original railroad station stood near the present Municipal Light Department building. After the first station was destroyed by fire, a structure known as Wellington Station—originally built as a private school—was moved to the site and served as the rail station from 1851 to 1879.

The current Belmont Railroad Station at 1 Common Street was constructed in 1908 after the railroad tracks were elevated and a stone-arched bridge was built. Both the station and the bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Belmont Center as the Civic Core

Belmont Center became the town’s civic center during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as several important municipal and institutional buildings were constructed nearby.

Belmont Town Hall (1881)

The present Belmont Town Hall was built in 1881 and designed by Boston architect Henry W. Hartwell in the Queen Anne style. In addition to municipal offices, the building originally housed fire equipment and later included jail cells.

The Homer Building (1897)

South of Town Hall stands the former Belmont High School building, completed in 1897 and designed by architect Eleazer Homer. The building served as the town’s high school for about twenty years and is now known as the Homer Building, functioning as a Town Hall annex.

Belmont Public Library (1902)

The town’s first purpose-built library opened in 1902 just north of Town Hall. Designed by architect William Ralph Emerson in the Classical Revival style, the building was funded by Henry O. Underwood. Today it is used by the Belmont School Department.

Municipal Buildings of the 20th Century

Additional civic structures reinforced Belmont Center’s role as the town’s administrative hub.

These include:

• The Belmont Police Station, built in 1930 in the Georgian Revival style.

Fun Fact: An image of the Belmont Police Station is shown in the TV sitcom, Brooklyn 99

• The Municipal Light Department, constructed in stages beginning in the 1920s, with its main office completed in 1934 as part of a federal Public Works Administration project.

Hollywood In Belmont: Belmont has hosted actors like Chris Evans and John Travolta when he filmed a scene for the movie: ‘A Civil Action’.

Religious and Community Institutions

One of the earliest institutions in Belmont Center was the First Church in Belmont.

The congregation formed in 1856 and played an important role in Belmont’s incorporation as a town in 1859. Its current church building at 404 Concord Avenue was constructed in 1890 and designed by the architectural firm Hartwell and Richardson.

Commercial Development on Leonard Street

While Concord Avenue became the civic corridor, Leonard Street developed as Belmont Center’s primary commercial street.

Leonard Street was laid out in 1890 and gradually filled with shops, offices, and service businesses throughout the twentieth century.

Early Commercial Buildings

One of the earliest surviving storefronts is the wood-frame building at 46–48 Leonard Street, constructed around 1890. Many other buildings evolved from earlier structures, including barns converted into retail and office spaces.

Belmont’s First Central Fire Station

The town’s first central fire station was built on Leonard Street in 1899. Designed by architect Herbert D. Hale, the brick building featured a distinctive hose-drying tower and bold architectural detailing.

Although it no longer serves as a fire station, the building remains a prominent historic structure and is protected by a preservation easement. Currently, the restaurant il Casale occupies the space. I highly recommend a visit. 

In 2006 Belmont moved its Fire Station Headquarters to a newly constructed location at 299 Trapelo Road from the Belmont Center location. However, a modern and up-to-date fire house was built at 99 Leonard Street, so that the department still has a presence in Belmont Center. 

The Masonic Block

The first major commercial block in Belmont Center was the Masonic Block, built in 1899 and designed by Eleazer Homer. The half-timbered Tudor-style building housed shops, a bank, the post office, and a telephone exchange. Although the structure was demolished in 1968, it marked the beginning of Belmont’s more formal commercial district. A similar looking building can be found right in Cushing Square if you are curious about how it once looked. 

Growth of a Suburban Shopping District

Commercial expansion continued in the early and mid-twentieth century. On the east side of Leonard Street, a series of Colonial Revival retail buildings were constructed beginning in the 1930s by local developer Albert Locatelli, who was my predecessor as the best REALTOR in town who also developed property. Locatelli Properties on Leonard Street still exists to this day. He was also responsible for several movie theatres in the area including the Capitol Theatre  next door  in Arlington.

These brick storefront blocks were designed by architect John Edmund Kelley and were intended to combine urban retail functions with the scale of a suburban town center.

The Filene’s Era

One of the most prominent commercial tenants in Belmont Center was Filene’s Department Store, which opened at 75 Leonard Street in 1941.

The store was notable for an innovative delivery system in which merchandise was transported by helicopter from the company’s warehouse in Cambridge. The building later became a Macy’s location before closing in 2013, marking the end of one of the last traditional Main Street department stores in the region. While I never saw helicopter deliveries, I remember how upset the community was when the store officially closed. It was the end of an era. 

Belmont Center Today

Today Belmont Center remains a central gathering place for the community. The district includes municipal buildings, historic churches, small shops, restaurants, and commuter rail access to Boston.

The area’s architecture reflects more than a century of development, illustrating how Belmont evolved from a rural crossroads into a suburban town center connected to the Boston metropolitan area. 

Every year the Belmont Center Business Association hosts Town Day. Leonard Street is shut down to through traffic for a celebration that includes food and fun. 

Overview

Belmont Hill is one of the most distinctive residential areas in Belmont, located northwest of Belmont Center. The neighborhood stretches roughly from Concord Avenue to the south toward Route 2 in the north, and from Clifton Street and Clairemont Road west to Marsh Street.

Over time, Belmont Hill developed into one of the town’s most prominent residential areas. The neighborhood is known for large single-family homes set on generous parcels of land, many surrounded by mature trees, stone walls, and landscaped grounds. Because the area was built gradually over more than a century, Belmont Hill includes a wide range of architectural styles.

Early Landscape and Farming History

Before residential development began, Belmont Hill was primarily farmland. In the nineteenth century the area was known as Wellington Hill and consisted of farms, orchards, pastures, and open fields.

One of the earliest significant properties was Highland Stock Farm, established by Winthrop Ward Chenery around 1850 at the corner of Concord Avenue and Somerset Street. Chenery later built a half-mile race track for thoroughbred horses on land north of Concord Avenue. Although most of the farm buildings have disappeared, the house at 741 Concord Avenue is believed to be the only surviving structure from Highland Stock Farm, though it has been altered over time.

Other agricultural operations also occupied the hill. J. Varnum Fletcher, one of Belmont’s early selectmen and a wholesale meat merchant in Boston, owned farmland in the area during the late nineteenth century. Two houses that once served Fletcher’s farm still remain today. These include a Federal-style house at 95 Clifton Street and a mansard-roofed dwelling at 1 Fletcher Road. Both are among the oldest surviving homes on Belmont Hill.

Holiday Farm and the Atkins Family

Another important estate on Belmont Hill was Holiday Farm, established in the 1860s by paper manufacturer Henry Clarke. Clarke built an Italian Villa-style mansion surrounded by terraced gardens and greenhouses on what is now the site of 567 Concord Avenue.

Although the original mansion was later demolished, two farm buildings remain from the property. The building at 96 Somerset Street once housed farm workers, while the structure at 97 Somerset Street served as the farm’s milkhouse.

Holiday Farm was later purchased by Edwin F. Atkins, a wealthy sugar broker, in 1891. Members of the Atkins family would go on to shape much of the development on Belmont Hill during the early twentieth century.

Notable Early Mansions

Several prominent houses connected to the Atkins family remain landmarks in the neighborhood.

In 1918 Edwin F. Atkins Jr. built a large brick Georgian Revival mansion at 567 Concord Avenue on the site of the former Holiday Farm house. The residence was designed by architect Henry Richardson Shepley, grandson of the famed Boston architect H.H. Richardson.

Nearby, Atkins’ daughter Helen and her husband William H. Claflin Jr. constructed their own brick Colonial residence at 531 Concord Avenue in 1925. The house was designed by architect R. Clipston Sturgis. Behind the house, Claflin built a single-story structure to display his collection of archaeological and ethnographic objects gathered from around the world. After his death, much of this collection was donated to Harvard University’s Peabody Museum.

Another notable estate is the house at 10 Juniper Road, built in 1913 for Ruth Hornblower when she married Robert W. Atkins. The residence was designed by the Boston architectural firm Chapman & Frazer, while the grounds were designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm. The property remained in private ownership until 1970, when it was donated to the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Today the site forms the Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes approximately ninety acres of conservation land. I have found memories of visiting Habitat. In elementary or middle school, classes would take trips to the visitor center and learn about indigenous wildlife. In High School, our community service requirement led me to help remove invasive plants from the forest floor. Belmont High School students were required to perform 40 hours of community  service prior to graduation, and were eligible for the Presidential Community Service Award. While unfortunately the Presidential Award Program was tabled, the town still sponsors and promotes community service through their own platform. 

Planned Residential Development

In 1913 several prominent Belmont residents formed the Belmont Hill Company to guide development on the hill. The group included Henry O. Underwood, J. Henry Fletcher, and Robert W. Atkins. Their goal was to manage growth while preserving the natural character of the area.

The Belmont Hill Company promoted large residential lots and careful site planning. Landscape architect Loring Underwood helped shape the development plan to preserve natural terrain, maintain setbacks, and retain scenic views. These early planning efforts predated Belmont’s zoning regulations, which were not adopted until 1925.

The first major subdivision created by the company occupied the crest of Belmont Hill between Prospect Street, Clifton Street, Rockmont Road, and Clairemont Road. Between 1920 and 1932 approximately thirty-five homes were constructed in this area by a variety of architects and builders.

Architectural Variety

Because Belmont Hill developed over a long period of time, the neighborhood includes many different architectural styles.

Early houses on the hill include Federal and Second Empire examples dating from the nineteenth century. Later construction introduced Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, English Revival, and Ranch-style homes.

One notable example is the Theodore Miller House at 105 Juniper Road, built in 1936 and designed by architect Eleanor Raymond. The house combines elements of Colonial Revival architecture with modern design influences associated with the International Style.

Belmont Hill Village

Belmont Hill Village represents another phase of planned development. Built between 1935 and 1939, the neighborhood includes homes along Ross Road, Village Hill Road, and Dorset Road.

Although the house lots are smaller than those in earlier Belmont Hill subdivisions, many of the residences were architect-designed. Several houses were designed by architect Royal Barry Wills, known for his Colonial and Cape Cod-inspired designs.

One unusual house in the neighborhood is located at 59 Village Hill Road. The home was part of a group of model houses built by Jordan Marsh Company in 1935 in several suburban communities. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held simultaneously across the different locations.

Later Neighborhood Growth

Development on Belmont Hill continued through the mid-twentieth century. Additional residential areas created during this period include:

• Rutledge Road (1937–1941), largely Colonial Revival homes
• Country Club Estates (from the late 1930s onward)
• Amherst and Wellesley Roads (1936–1962)
• Woodbine (from the late 1930s)
• Hillcrest (1955–1978)

These projects added new homes while maintaining the neighborhood’s overall character of spacious residential streets.

Schools on Belmont Hill

Belmont Hill is also home to two private schools.

Belmont Day School was established in 1927 and later purchased the A. Donham Owen House at 55 Day School Lane in 1933. The original stone residence has been expanded significantly over time to accommodate the school. I have had the opportunity to visit the school several times, including attending a STEM fair which displayed student’s science projects. To see what 6th-8th grade students could accomplish was amazing. Some students were able to grasp complicated concepts, and some were able to code their own robots. I was both impressed and excited for friends and family members that have the opportunity to send their children there. 

Belmont Hill School, a private boys’ school serving grades seven through twelve, was founded in 1923. The campus occupies approximately thirty-two acres of land originally acquired from Robert Atkins and the Belmont Hill Company. Growing up in Belmont, our peers that attended the school were always extremely well-rounded. I remember how excited I was in my first week of college out of state when I saw another student wearing a Belmont Hill athletics shirt. We became good friends fairly quickly. 

Belmont Hill Today

Today Belmont Hill remains one of Belmont’s most prominent residential neighborhoods. Its combination of early farms, estate homes, planned subdivisions, and conservation land illustrates the gradual transformation of the area from rural farmland into a carefully planned suburban landscape.

The neighborhood’s varied architecture and spacious setting reflect more than a century of development while preserving many of the natural features that originally defined the hill.

Belmont Park is a small but architecturally distinctive residential neighborhood located just southeast of Belmont Center. The area sits south of Concord Avenue and includes Myrtle and Oak Streets along with portions of Goden, School, and Orchard Streets. While the name “Belmont Park” doesn’t come up as often in everyday real estate conversations as places like Belmont Hill or Cushing Square, the neighborhood stands out for something else entirely: how cohesive and well preserved its architecture remains.

The neighborhood was laid out in 1894 by developer William W. Lowe and his partner Wilbert Bartlett. They purchased about sixteen and a half acres from local farmer Thomas Richardson and subdivided the land into seventy-eight house lots, all within walking distance of the Belmont Center railroad station. At the time, the commuter rail had already made Belmont attractive to Boston professionals looking for quieter suburban homes while still maintaining an easy trip into the city.

Unlike many areas that developed gradually over decades, Belmont Park was built quickly. Most of the homes were constructed between 1894 and 1899, which explains why the neighborhood feels so consistent architecturally today. The houses tend to sit on smaller lots—generally under a quarter acre—and the streets are lined with homes that share similar proportions, materials, and design features.

Architecturally, Belmont Park is dominated by late nineteenth-century styles that were popular at the time suburban neighborhoods were first expanding outside Boston. Queen Anne houses are especially common, often featuring asymmetrical facades, decorative trim, and prominent porches. Shingle Style homes and early Colonial Revival houses also appear throughout the neighborhood. Because the development happened within such a narrow time frame, the result is a streetscape that feels unusually cohesive compared with many other parts of town.

Several local builders were responsible for much of the construction. The Bartlett Brothers were particularly active and may have built as many as fifty homes in the neighborhood. Other builders included T. S. Brown, the Melanson Brothers, and Murdock Monroe. The homes were marketed at the time as “moderately priced suburban residences,” many of which were purchased by Boston commuters drawn to the convenience of the nearby railroad depot.

One house predates the Belmont Park subdivision itself. The home at 104 School Street was built in 1883 by Thomas Richardson before the land was subdivided. The house is a good example of the Stick Style, with decorative wood trim applied over clapboard siding.

Lowe and Bartlett themselves built homes side by side at 96 and 90 School Street. These houses reflect the hallmarks of Queen Anne design, with varied rooflines, decorative details, and irregular massing. The house at 90 School Street still retains its original stable, complete with a steeply pitched roof and small cupola.

A small but interesting addition to the neighborhood came later with the development of Colonial Terrace in 1915. Three lots on Orchard Street were combined and then subdivided into five smaller parcels arranged around a circular street. Local architect Victor Wigglesworth designed five nearly identical Dutch Colonial houses for the site. Colonial Terrace still retains much of its original layout, including the circular drive, arbor benches, and a small stone well structure at the center of the cul-de-sac.

Today Belmont Park remains one of Belmont’s most cohesive historic residential areas. While buyers rarely search specifically for “Belmont Park” when looking for a home, the neighborhood often stands out once people see it in person. Its tightly grouped homes, consistent architectural styles, and tree-lined streets offer a glimpse into the type of suburban development that first brought Boston commuters to Belmont more than a century ago.

The Burbank neighborhood is South-East  of Belmont Center close to the Cambridge line and is one of the more recognizable residential areas in town, particularly for anyone familiar with Belmont’s schools. The neighborhood generally centers around Burbank Elementary School and includes surrounding streets such as School Street, Orchard Street, Goden Street, and nearby residential blocks that span toward Grove Street and Concord Ave.

Much of Burbank developed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as Belmont transitioned from a rural farming town into a streetcar and commuter rail suburb of Boston. The proximity to Belmont Center and the railroad station made the area especially attractive for commuters, and the neighborhood gradually filled in with single-family homes as Belmont’s population expanded.

Architecturally, Burbank reflects this transitional period in Belmont’s growth. Many of the homes date from the late 1800s through the early 1900s and represent a mix of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and early twentieth-century suburban house styles. Unlike neighborhoods that were built as tightly planned subdivisions, Burbank developed more gradually, which gives the area a wider mix of house sizes, styles, and lot layouts.

The neighborhood takes its name from the Burbank School, one of Belmont’s elementary schools and an important community anchor. Schools have historically played a significant role in shaping Belmont’s residential patterns, and areas surrounding them often became desirable locations for families as the town grew. I attended Burbank with my brother in the early 1990s, and have fond memories visiting friends that I went to school with in the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Today, Burbank remains a classic Belmont residential neighborhood—close to Belmont Center, walkable to schools and parks, and made up largely of single-family homes built during the period when Belmont was first establishing itself as a suburban community. 

Clark Hill is a residential neighborhood located just south of Belmont Center, roughly bounded by Common Street to the east, Waverley Street to the south, Thomas Street to the west, and Clark Street to the north. The neighborhood sits on elevated ground, and that topography plays a big role in how the area was developed and how it feels today. Many of the homes are positioned along gently rising streets, with mature landscaping and stone walls that give the neighborhood a distinctive hillside character.

While some development on Clark Hill began in the mid nineteenth century, much of the neighborhood as we know it today took shape after 1909. That year, the Belmont Associates began subdividing portions of the hill into residential lots, laying out streets such as Blake Street, Clover Street, and Kilburn Road. The goal was to create a neighborhood of well-designed single-family homes that took advantage of the hilltop setting.

Because the area was planned and built during the early twentieth century, many of the homes share architectural characteristics common to that period. English Revival and Craftsman-style houses appear throughout the neighborhood, often featuring steep rooflines, decorative half-timbering, and prominent porches. Many homes were designed by architects rather than built purely as speculative housing, which contributes to the overall sense of individuality and quality in the streetscape.

Lot sizes on Clark Hill tend to be somewhat larger than in some of Belmont’s earlier subdivisions, and the natural landscape was incorporated into the development. Stone retaining walls, mature trees, and varied elevations help define the character of the neighborhood and give it a slightly more secluded feel despite its proximity to Belmont Center.

Today Clark Hill remains a quiet residential area that reflects the early twentieth-century period when Belmont was expanding as a commuter suburb of Boston. Its hillside setting, architecturally distinctive homes, and proximity to Belmont Center continue to make it one of the more recognizable residential pockets of town, even though the neighborhood name itself may not appear as frequently in everyday real estate searches as some of Belmont’s larger districts.

The Chenery neighborhood overlaps with the Payson neighborhood and Presidential District (a moniker for a neighborhood with streets named after our Presidents on the North side of Washington Street). I know the area very well because I grew up in and currently live on the same street adjacent to the school.

The Chenery neighborhood is located south of Belmont Center, closer to the Watertown line, and takes its name from Chenery Middle School, one of the town’s central public school campuses and named after an estate owner early in Belmont’s history. The area includes residential streets surrounding the school 

Much of the neighborhood developed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as Belmont transitioned from a rural farming community into a commuter suburb of Boston. Its location between the railroad station at Belmont Center and the streetcar routes along Trapelo Road made the area especially convenient for Boston commuters, and residential construction gradually filled in the surrounding streets.

Architecturally, the Chenery area reflects this early suburban growth. Many homes date from the late 1800s through the early 1900s and include a mix of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and early twentieth-century house styles. Because the neighborhood developed incrementally rather than through a single large subdivision, there is a noticeable variety in house size, lot layout, and architectural details.

On the south side of my street, an old farm wall made of large stone traverses almost the entire length of the street. When my parents purchased the house, pear trees and crabapple trees were present on the property as the land once belonged to an orchard. In childhood, I recall my Brother unearthing old porcelain pieces from broken plates and coins. Somewhere on my parent’s lot still remains a time castle from the 1990’s. 

The presence of Chenery Middle School gives the neighborhood a strong civic anchor. Schools have historically influenced residential development patterns in Belmont, and areas surrounding them often became established family neighborhoods as the town expanded. The middle school has also continued to expand. Consolidation has brought more students there as of the last couple of years. The venue also hosts numerous town events and leases to a school on Sunday afternoons. The site has begun construction on a brand new park, replacing the original one built with the school building in 1996-1997. The year it was completed, I entered the school as a 5th grader, and was the first class to complete four years at the new school. 

Today the Chenery area remains a classic Belmont residential pocket—close to Belmont Center, walkable to schools and parks, and defined largely by early twentieth-century single-family homes. While the neighborhood name itself is not always used in real estate listings, its central location and proximity to both Belmont Center and Waverley Square make it a well-known and well-established part of the town’s residential landscape.

I can’t speak for all neighborhoods like I can Chenery, and I feel like I have the best neighbors anyone could ask for. By walking around with my dogs I feel like I’m stopped at every third house catching up with the residents. I attend social events with the people around me, and enjoy the support the neighborhood provides. I’m biased, but the important thing to note is that in a general sense, Belmont has not lost what has made it such a great community. In a post-covid world, I do not feel isolated on my own block.

The Grove Street neighborhood is located along the Eastern border  of Belmont, on the Cambridge line with quick access to Watertown at the end of Grove Street, on the other side of Belmont Street. Because of its location near several town borders, Grove Street has long served as an important local corridor linking Belmont with neighboring communities, and is popular with commuters heading into Cambridge and the city of Boston. 

Historically, the Grove Street area developed gradually as Belmont transitioned from a rural landscape of farms and open land into a residential suburb of Boston, much like Belmont’s other neighborhoods. During the nineteenth century, much of the surrounding land consisted of agricultural fields and small farms. As transportation improved and Belmont became more connected to Boston through rail and streetcar lines, residential construction slowly began to fill in the area.

Unlike some Belmont neighborhoods that were created through a single planned subdivision, Grove Street evolved more organically over time. As a result, the housing stock reflects several different periods of Belmont’s development. Many homes date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and include a mix of Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and early suburban house styles. In some areas, later twentieth-century homes were added as remaining parcels of land were developed. There is also a healthy number of two and three family homes located in the area. 

Because the neighborhood grew incrementally, the streetscape tends to feel varied. Houses differ in size, architectural details, and lot configuration, creating a mix that reflects the broader evolution of Belmont’s residential development. Mature trees and established yards contribute to the neighborhood’s long-standing residential character.

Today the Grove Street area remains a primarily residential part of Belmont with convenient access to multiple commercial centers via Belmont Street and Concord Ave, as well as Route 2 over the Cambridge line, which serves residents access to I-95. This connectivity continues to make the neighborhood attractive to residents seeking a Belmont location that offers both a quiet residential setting and easy access to surrounding communities.

I have many fond memories of the neighborhood because Grove Street Park, recipient of some recent updates, was a major sports hub and destination. I played soccer games there and lost consecutive little league championship games. I’m still bitter about it.

Harvard Lawn is a small residential neighborhood located just east of Belmont Center and north of Concord Avenue, close to the Cambridge line. Though the name is not always used in everyday conversation, the area represents one of Belmont’s early planned residential subdivisions developed during the late nineteenth century as the town began to grow as a commuter suburb of Boston.

The neighborhood developed at a time when Belmont was transitioning from farmland and scattered estates into a more organized suburban community. The arrival of the Fitchburg Railroad in 1843 had already made Belmont accessible to Boston commuters, and by the late 1800s developers began subdividing land near Belmont Center into residential house lots. Harvard Lawn was one of those early subdivisions, offering homes within easy walking distance of the railroad station and the emerging civic center.

Because much of the neighborhood was built during a relatively narrow period of time, the architecture reflects the popular residential styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Queen Anne and Colonial Revival houses are common throughout the area, often featuring decorative woodwork, porches, and traditional clapboard siding. The homes tend to sit on smaller lots than those found on Belmont Hill, but the streets remain lined with mature trees and established landscaping that contribute to the neighborhood’s historic character.

Like many Belmont neighborhoods developed during this period, Harvard Lawn was designed to appeal to professionals commuting into Boston. The proximity to Belmont Center made it especially convenient for residents to access the railroad, local shops, and civic institutions that were forming around Concord Avenue and Leonard Street.

Today Harvard Lawn remains a quiet residential pocket near Belmont Center. Its location provides easy access to local shops, restaurants, schools, and public transportation while preserving much of the architectural character established during Belmont’s early suburban growth. While the neighborhood name itself is not commonly used in real estate searches, the homes within the area continue to reflect Belmont’s late nineteenth-century development as a commuter-oriented suburb of Boston.

Payson Park is tucked into the southern side of Belmont near the Watertown line, anchored by Trapelo Road and just a short distance from Cushing Square. It sits across the street from Oakley Country Club at the border and stretches to Payson Rd. It is located between the North/South traversing roads of Common Street and School Street. As with other Belmont it’s not a name you’ll hear come up all the time in search conversations, but it’s one that tends to resonate once buyers start exploring this part of town. 

This section of Belmont took shape between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during a period when the town was steadily transitioning into a commuter-friendly suburb. Its location along established roadways made it a logical place for residential growth, and over time, individual parcels were developed into the neighborhood you see today.

What stands out here is the range of housing styles. Because development happened over an extended period rather than all at once, the architecture isn’t uniform. You’ll find a blend of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and other early suburban styles, often with distinct details that reflect the era they were built in. That variety gives the neighborhood a more organic feel compared to areas that were built in a single phase. Some of my favorite homes are tucked away in the neighborhood. There are some stately brick tudor colonials that look fantastic. 

The setting is primarily residential, with tree-lined streets and a consistent sense of scale throughout. Homes are set on modest but well-proportioned lots, and the overall layout reflects a time when neighborhoods were designed to be walkable and connected, without feeling overly dense.

A school once sat at the location of Payson Park, the focal point of the neighborhood which burned down in 1974. There’s an old legend in Belmont that every time the town needs a new school, a convenient fire starts the demolition process. These rumors are unsubstantiated of course, but four Belmont schools have had fires in its history, as logged by Wicked Local

Payson Park may not carry the same name recognition as some of Belmont’s more well-known sections, but it represents a classic example of the town’s early residential growth—steady, varied, and shaped by how people actually lived and moved through the area.

What I really like about the Payson Park Neighborhood is its proximity to Cushing Square. While secondary to Belmont Center, it remains one of the Town’s focal points and commercial areas. With the 73 Bus line to Harvard Square, I rode the bus many times, especially for Super Bowl parades in the early 2000s. The close proximity to restaurants, shops, and public transportation make the location highly desirable. There definitely remains a strong suburban feel, as major roadways surround the location, but do not travel directly through it with the exception of Payson Road. The reservoir is a great place to walk, the Benton Library has historically always been there for me, and walks to the square happen frequently to this day. 

I’ll always have a soft spot for Payson as its where I grew up. Technically I live in the Chenery Neighborhood, but Payson Rd, and much of my childhood are only a few houses away.

Snake Hill is one of the most distinct and, frankly, overlooked pockets in Belmont. Probably because there are only 6 houses located there. Tucked just north of Pleasant Street and a short distance from Belmont Center, it’s a small hillside enclave that feels completely different from the rest of the town—and that’s by design.

Developed in the early 1940s by architect Carl Koch, Snake Hill represents one of the earliest examples of modern residential design in the country. At a time when most of Belmont was defined by Colonial and traditional architecture, this area took a different approach entirely. The homes were designed with simplicity, function, and their natural surroundings in mind—clean lines, open layouts, and a strong connection to the landscape.

There are only a handful of homes here, all situated along Snake Hill Road, and the limited scale is part of what makes the neighborhood so unique. It’s not a place with turnover or volume—it’s more of a curated residential setting that has remained largely intact since it was first developed. I have never had the pleasure of showing one of the 6 homes.

From an architectural standpoint, Snake Hill stands apart. Even if you can’t see it while driving by. These homes don’t follow the patterns you see elsewhere in Belmont. Instead of symmetry and ornamentation, the focus is on form, light, and how the structures sit within the hillside. It’s a completely different lens on what residential development looked like during that period.

Location-wise, you still get the convenience of being close to Belmont Center and major commuting routes, but the setting feels more private and removed. That contrast is part of the appeal.

Snake Hill isn’t a neighborhood that comes up often in typical home searches, but for buyers who value architecture and design—or just want something that doesn’t feel like everything else—it’s one of the more interesting areas in town.

Not to be confused with Walnut Street, which is located West of this neighborhood, Walnut Hill is actually my favorite neighborhood in town. It may be yours too and you just don’t realize it. Walnut Hill is home to Hillcrest Rd. There’s a chance you have been down that street close to Halloween. The street is known for its stately homes, and skeletons posing in different exhibits. The tradition started during the COVID-19 Pandemic and has continued over the years. Most if not all of the residents take part, and this street is the sole reason I haven’t had a trick-or-treater on my block since this started. Cars line up to drive down the road in peak hours, and over the last six years it just may be the most traversed street in town excluding commuter traffic. 

Back to the neighborhood. Walnut Hill sits near the geographic center of Belmont, in between some of the town’s more recognizable neighborhoods, but it tends to fly a bit under the radar by name. It’s roughly bordered by Common Street to the West, Hillcrest Rd to the North, Goden Street to the East, and Fairmont Street to the South. It’s not smaller than Snake Hill, but certainly one of the smallest named neighborhoods in town.

The area began taking shape in the early 1900s, mostly between 1910 when the neighborhood was laid out, through 1920.  There’s a good mix of housing stock here, featuring craftsman style homes with stucco siding, English revival, prairie style, Dutch colonials, and more. 

One of the defining characteristics of Walnut Hill is how it’s laid out. The streets are residential and relatively quiet, with homes set on well-sized lots and a noticeable emphasis on landscaping. It doesn’t have the density of some of the more compact neighborhoods closer to commercial centers. 

From a location standpoint, Walnut Hill benefits from being centrally positioned. Belmont Center, Cushing Square, and Waverley Square are all accessible, along with the main routes that connect Belmont to Cambridge, Watertown, and Boston. That balance of accessibility and residential feel is a big part of the draw.

Waverley Square anchors the southwest corner of Belmont and functions as one of the town’s three primary commercial centers. Located along Trapelo Road near the Waltham and Watertown lines, it’s an area that blends everyday convenience with a long history tied to Belmont’s growth as a commuter suburb. My wife and I purchased our first condominium together on Thayer Rd, so the Square always has a special place in my heart. 

Like Belmont Center, Waverley’s development is closely tied to transportation. The arrival of the Fitchburg Railroad in the mid-1800s helped transform what had been a more rural area into an active node of movement and commerce. Over time, the square evolved into a streetcar suburb, with surrounding residential streets filling in as access to Boston became more reliable and routine.

The layout here is a little less formal than other parts of town, which gives Waverley Square its character. Roads converge at slightly irregular angles, and the commercial buildings reflect that—smaller-scale storefronts, mixed-use properties, and structures that were built over time rather than as part of a single plan. Architecturally, you’ll see a mix of early 20th-century styles, often practical in design but consistent with the era.

The surrounding neighborhoods mirror that same evolution. Homes range from mid-19th century properties to early and mid-20th century construction, creating a varied housing stock that appeals to a wide range of buyers. It’s not uniform, and that’s part of the appeal.

From a lifestyle standpoint, Waverley Square is one of the more functional areas in Belmont. You have direct access to the commuter rail, a bus route into Harvard Square, and a cluster of local shops, restaurants, and services that make day-to-day living straightforward. It’s a location that tends to prioritize convenience without losing the feel of a residential neighborhood just a few streets away. That’s why I loved living there. We would frequently walk to Beaver Brook reservation, handle our banking at Watertown Savings, and enjoy lazy Saturday mornings after picking up Dunkin Donuts. It was at Dunkin that I first met Rachid Smairi. Rachid was one of the most pleasant people you can come across. The way he interacted with customers was always special and he formed relationships with his regulars. It’s no surprise he now owns and runs Bellmont Caffe in Belmont Center. I highly recommend a visit. 

Waverley Square may not carry the same traditional “center” identity as Belmont Center, but in practice, it plays just as important a role. It’s a hub of activity, shaped by how people move through the area, and continues to be a key part of Belmont’s overall landscape for both residents and people traveling through the area.

Historical districts and named neighborhoods sometimes overlap. That seems to be the case with Wellington. With the Pleasant Street historic district located to the North, and Common Street to the South West, I’m calling Wellington the area centered around the Wellington School. My boundaries are Concord Ave to the North, Goden St to the East, Common Street to the West, and Fairmont Street to the South. These aren’t the official boundaries of the area by any means, but my best approximation based on the location of the surrounding neighborhoods which overlap, including Belmont Park. The area is at the base of a large hill, that peaks near the Payson Neighborhood. 

Wellington has a lot going on, especially in warmer weather. The Concord Rd. The boundary has historic Wellington Station, the first station in Belmont on the Fitchburg line. It’s an iconic building for the town, and the yellow building has an octagon shape. It sits directly in front of the railroad bridge which I would call the “entrance” to Belmont Center. To the West is the Underwood Pool. Located next to the new Belmont Public Library (2026),, and across from the new Skip Viglirolo Rink (2025). The area does not lack things to do, just the parking to do it. Limited parking lot space keeps Concord Ave busy for most of the day.

Contemporary Belmont is not known broadly for its contributions toward global warming and releasing greenhouse gasses, and I am so sorry that I have to disappoint you. Through a large portion of its history the town of homes was known for being a town of market gardens. Belmont was extremely successful as a farm community. The Winn Brook School, the anchor for the area was also roughly where rows of greenhouses were built for produce to grow year round. Those greenhouses were heated by coal, and smokestacks were visible throughout the area. Crops that were produced here include celery, carrots, onions, beets, apples, pears, watercress, lettuce, dandelion, squash, and tomatoes. For more information on the history, Jane Sherwin has a great write-up in the Belmont Citizen Forum’s newsletter. 

I was being facetious about Belmont’s contribution to global warming, but I wanted to highlight how very different the whole town was, especially the Winn Brook neighborhood today.  I would describe Winn Brook as the quintessential Boston suburban neighborhood. Businesses line Brighton Street on the Cambridge line to the East, Pleasant Street separates the area from Belmont Hill to the North, the West is marked by Belmont High School and Belmont Center, and the South is bordered by Concord Ave. Tucked away on side streets are beautiful A-Frame and Garrison Colonials, Capes, and ranches. Our Team member Bobby grew up on Statler Road and still lives in the neighborhood with his Family. 

If you are from out of town and not so familiar with the neighborhood, you may be aware of Joey’s Park. Associated with Winn Brook Elementary, the once arsenic-laden wooden park of my childhood had a makeover that kept its character and allure. The Park was named after a local legend, Joey O’Donnell, a Belmont resident born with cystic fibrosis. Joey was known for leadership, and his infectious personality. The park was funded and built by his friends in honor of who he was in 1986. Joey’s Park remains a destination in town for littles with wiggles. 

Prominent Belmont businesses are also in the area. Freiner Plumbing, owned by former classmate Clark Freiner is headquartered on Brighton Street and found on our Recommended Contractors & Vendors List. Fresh Pond Animal Hospital, the veterinarian my family has taken three generations of dogs to, is located on Flanders Rd. Also in the world of pets is the Crate Escape, located across Brighton Street along with Ace Hardware Hillside Gardens, where I fill my propane tanks for the grill. 

Winn Brook offers a lot of convenience, and not just because it has one of Belmont’s three Dunkin locations. Pleasant Street, which is route 60,  located to the North provides direct access to Route 2, Belmont Center, and Arlington. You can also find access to Medford, Winchester, and Somerville. Taking Brighton Street South will provide access to the Cambridge line to the East, and further South is Watertown if you continue down Grove Street. Living on the East side of Belmont has incredible access to public transportation at Alewife Station in Cambridge as well as Soldiers Field Rd and Storrow Drive to the city of Boston.