OT: Does anyone live in Downtown Hartford?

[Robertelamin]

People can't afford t1 cities anymore. Context I paid $1300 a month and I paid the least amount of money with 3 other roommates in Boston. In Hartford I can pay 400 more and get a nice 1 br to myself.

That's one of the reasons I moved. It will be interesting 10 years from now when 4o year olds realize they have no retirement savings.

 

[polycom]

That's one of the reasons I moved. It will be interesting 10 years from now when 4o year olds realize they have no retirement savings.

Absolutely, unless you have a great job or family help I don't understand how people can afford t1 cities and save for retirement.

 

[Adios]

So are CT cities going to become (slowly) gentrified?

Yes.

It doesn't seem too slow now. But took a while to get here, yeah. Some of the poorer people resent what is happening even in Bridpeport.

I am not a fan of criminalizing the homeless, but the West End of Bridgeport has been cleaned out. Homeless people have been forced into camps on the East Side.

The Classic Car Gallery

Look at where they are headquartered now. Shootings went on in projects across the street regularly 20 years ago. One of them has been demolished and turned into a supermarket. Projects have been demolished all around Bridgeport. Even Marina Village.

 

[Adios]

Ya, I know, but when I was in my mid and late 20s 6 to 10 years ago people were going for the Tier 1 cities like NYC, Boston, San Fran, Seattle, Chicago, DC, Philly, Portland, etc. I guess people are expanding out to include Tier 2 and 3 cities.

Providence and Norwalk have been been in the midst of yuppie galore for a while.

Norwich might even have a future one day.

 

[Adios]

People really want to live in cities right now.

Never thought I'd be saying this, but Bridgeport is a heck of a lot more fun than Fairfield. And I am a Fairfield native!

We could use some road repavement here.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Absolutely, unless you have a great job or family help I don't understand how people can afford t1 cities and save for retirement.

If they are also going out to bars, they might not notice.

 

[Adios]

If Bridgeport is of interest to anyone, find the best unit you can while they are cheap. I can't see how this place won't be very well redeveloped. There's way too much history and culture here. And way too many projects going on right now. This city should be very heavily redeveloped by 2019/2020. Posting this link to give an idea of what Bridgeport is becoming. New amphitheater should also end up attracting big names. RIP Bluefish.

Jim Breuer to headline Bridgeport comedy club's opening

They are also in the process of cleaning up and slowly beginning to redevelop the East Side. East Main St area can easily be something like a mini-Greenpoint (Brooklyn).

Ganim touts major developments across city

"According to Ganim, more than $2.5 billion worth of proposed projects are either under construction or ready to break ground this year."

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

People can't afford t1 cities anymore. Context I paid $1300 a month and I paid the least amount of money with 3 other roommates in Boston. In Hartford I can pay 400 more and get a nice 1 br to myself.

Fiance just moved from Boston in September. She had an apartment in Back Bay with her roommate (2 bed, 1.5 bath, Nice Kitchen, No Living room or communal space and she paid $1475 for her half of rent. We moved into a one bedroom in West Hartford Center and paid $650 each. Our rent was less than half of her rent in Boston.

 

[polycom]

Fiance just moved from Boston in September. She had an apartment in Back Bay with her roommate (2 bed, 1.5 bath, Nice Kitchen, No Living room or communal space and she paid $1475 for her half of rent. We moved into a one bedroom in West Hartford Center and paid $650 each. Our rent was less than half of her rent in Boston.

Yeah I live in Southie I know the struggle. I’m basically going to be in the same situation when I move to downtown or the center.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Yeah I live in Southie I know the struggle. I’m basically going to be in the same situation when I move to downtown or the center.

I'd recommend the center. Especially if you're looking for good restaurants,/nightlife/etc. Whole Foods, 30+ restaurants, there's a couple sports bars people watch games at in Blue Back, a few coffee shops (Starbucks in the Center, Spot Coffee in Blue Back), New York Sports Club for a gym. West Hartford tends to be a bit of a mid 20's+ crowd at the bars whereas Hartford is definitely 20-24ish years old. It pretty much has almost everything you need and definitely isn't dead on weekends. Short commute into Hartford if you work downtown. I think you'll find it's similarly priced to Hartford as well. I spent my weekends in Boston the last 3 years, and it definitely isn't Boston, but it's enjoyable. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[polycom]

I'd recommend the center. Especially if you're looking for good restaurants,/nightlife/etc. Whole Foods, 30+ restaurants, there's a couple sports bars people watch games at in Blue Back, a few coffee shops (Starbucks in the Center, Spot Coffee in Blue Back), New York Sports Club for a gym. West Hartford tends to be a bit of a mid 20's+ crowd at the bars whereas Hartford is definitely 20-24ish years old. It pretty much has almost everything you need and definitely isn't dead on weekends. Short commute into Hartford if you work downtown. I think you'll find it's similarly priced to Hartford as well. I spent my weekends in Boston the last 3 years, and it definitely isn't Boston, but it's enjoyable. Let me know if you have any questions.

I travel 80% for work so either works for me, however, my girlfriend is a 3rd-year med student who has most of her rotations in Hartford which is why I'm leaning toward downtown v. the center

 

[uconndoit]

You know that nice apartment I moved into right after graduation? I paid $75/month

I was working really crazy hours and suddenly found myself 1 week away from the end of my shared lease in Manchester where I had been living throughout my last semester and into my first job which was in Hartford. All my roommates were moving out and I needed to find a new place but I had absolutely zero time to look.

Meanwhile a friend had just made a deal with building management to get free rent in a 1 br for taking the garbage out every morning (1 central garbage room in each of 6 floors). When he found out I needed a place he went back and worked out a deal instead to share a 2 br (and the aforementioned daily chore) with me and split the difference in rent for the 2 br ($150).

So my entry level salary was suddenly rather adequate!

 

[Robertelamin]

You know that nice apartment I moved into right after graduation? I paid $75/month

I was working really crazy hours and suddenly found myself 1 week away from the end of my shared lease in Manchester where I had been living throughout my last semester and into my first job which was in Hartford. All my roommates were moving out and I needed to find a new place but I had absolutely zero time to look.

Meanwhile a friend had just made a deal with building management to get free rent in a 1 br for taking the garbage out every morning (1 central garbage room in each of 6 floors). When he found out I needed a place he went back and worked out a deal instead to share a 2 br (and the aforementioned daily chore) with me and split the difference in rent for the 2 br ($150).

So my entry level salary was suddenly rather adequate!

Jeez those were some amazing prices.

 

[uconndoit]

Jeez those were some amazing prices.

I don't remember how much it cost for the suckers who paid full rent.

I think it was about $1200 for the 2 br but that's little more than a gut feeling.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I’m sure living in downtown Hartford is quite nice and probably the best possible value for city living. It just takes a few brave souls to break the stigma. Best chance is for people who take jobs in Hartford from out of state who don’t have a negative connotation. The bigger problem is likely attracting those people in the first place.

 

[uconndoit]

Is Bourbon St still there?

From our front full wall size window we could just barely peek into the back window of Bourbon St to check on the action before heading out.

 

[Palatine]

I’m sure living in downtown Hartford is quite nice and probably the best possible value for city living. It just takes a few brave souls to break the stigma. Best chance is for people who take jobs in Hartford from out of state who don’t have a negative connotation. The bigger problem is likely attracting those people in the first place.

The stigma is not from people who live there. They have filled close to 1,000 new units downtown in the last five years and another 50o will open in the next year. I have stayed stay downtown for business and have for the past 20 years. There are good hotels, restaurants, drinking holes and diversions. BTW, they have had no problem filling up the new units or getting the rents they ask. They go fast.

 

[Bezzz]

Is Bourbon St still there?

From our front full wall size window we could just barely peek into the back window of Bourbon St to check on the action before heading out.

Bourbon Street is long gone. Coach's too. The only thing left is the Federal for those folks who need a drink at 10:00 AM. Front Street has sucked the life out of the Union Station area.

 

[TRest]

If Bridgeport is of interest to anyone, find the best unit you can while they are cheap. I can't see how this place won't be very well redeveloped. There's way too much history and culture here. And way too many projects going on right now. This city should be very heavily redeveloped by 2019/2020. Posting this link to give an idea of what Bridgeport is becoming. New amphitheater should also end up attracting big names. RIP Bluefish.

Jim Breuer to headline Bridgeport comedy club's opening

They are also in the process of cleaning up and slowly beginning to redevelop the East Side. East Main St area can easily be something like a mini-Greenpoint (Brooklyn).

Ganim touts major developments across city

"According to Ganim, more than $2.5 billion worth of proposed projects are either under construction or ready to break ground this year."

How much of that 2.5 B is Ganim skimming?

 

[uconndoit]

Bourbon Street is long gone. Coach's too. The only thing left is the Federal for those folks who need a drink at 10:00 AM. Front Street has sucked the life out of the Union Station area.

I had some good times at those places...so I'm told.

 

[Walker11]

If Bridgeport is of interest to anyone, find the best unit you can while they are cheap. I can't see how this place won't be very well redeveloped. There's way too much history and culture here. And way too many projects going on right now. This city should be very heavily redeveloped by 2019/2020. Posting this link to give an idea of what Bridgeport is becoming. New amphitheater should also end up attracting big names. RIP Bluefish.

Jim Breuer to headline Bridgeport comedy club's opening

They are also in the process of cleaning up and slowly beginning to redevelop the East Side. East Main St area can easily be something like a mini-Greenpoint (Brooklyn).

Ganim touts major developments across city

"According to Ganim, more than $2.5 billion worth of proposed projects are either under construction or ready to break ground this year."

You have the most optimistic take on Bridgeport out of anyone in the world. I wish it were true - I can hit a golf ball from my yard into Bridgeport.

 

[minidarren]

I propose a change of thread title to "Does anyone in Downtown Hartford live?"

 

[BlueDogs]

Hartford still needs to build up its downtown residential population and attract more vibrancy through innovation spaces for artists, musicians and start-ups, street cafes. It needs to solve the I-91 highway problem which isolates the city from its best asset and reclaim the space to the river. The highway needs to go under ground and massive river front development can occur.

 

[Adios]

You have the most optimistic take on Bridgeport out of anyone in the world. I wish it were true - I can hit a golf ball from my yard into Bridgeport.

Give it time. It's been in the process. My woman even thinks Bridgeport will experience a renaissance. I live on North Ave, bordering the West End. It is not what it used to be (nowhere near) and I've been around the West End plenty. It's really being cleaned up. The city now has very low tolerance for general criminal activity. I am pretty much a life-long Fairfield resident.

The East End was REALLY bad and now I can drive around without the fear of being carjacked.

 

[Husky25]

Downtown needs a supermarket (and I don't mean a Market 21 type) to sustain the residential apartment dwelling population. I'm thinking IGA or Highland Park.

 

[polycom]

Downtown needs a supermarket (and I don't mean a Market 21 type) to sustain the residential apartment dwelling population. I'm thinking IGA or Highland Park.

Whole foods or bust.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

The stigma is not from people who live there. They have filled close to 1,000 new units downtown in the last five years and another 50o will open in the next year. I have stayed stay downtown for business and have for the past 20 years. There are good hotels, restaurants, drinking holes and diversions. BTW, they have had no problem filling up the new units or getting the rents they ask. They go fast.

That’s good to hear. Growing up in Vernon and knowing a lot of people from The neighboring towns, no one was really looking forward to growing up and moving to Hartford. I wonder if people are changing that.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Downtown needs a supermarket (and I don't mean a Market 21 type) to sustain the residential apartment dwelling population. I'm thinking IGA or Highland Park.

Trader Joe’s would be perfect in the west End or downtown.

 

[Travelman6]

People can't afford t1 cities anymore. Context I paid $1300 a month and I paid the least amount of money with 3 other roommates in Boston. In Hartford I can pay 400 more and get a nice 1 br to myself.

I agree. I was lucky to find a room, everything included, in Woodley Park, near the zoo in DC for 800$. I considered that to be a crazy good deal, and later found 900$ in the Friendship Heights area in upper NW near Military rd and CT ave, everything included. (everything included equals water, electric, gas, internet, tv, maid at WP too). Compared to my pals those were great deals as they were, as you said, paying anywhere from 1200 up to nearly 2000. In fact that first landlord was super generous, even brought food home and had cookouts for us, treated us to lunch from time to time. My other friends were for sure jealous.

I always thought Hartford had potential, hope it realizes it, but finds that balance between becoming a little more gentrified (and safe) but not so much so that those 400/month double or even triple. Because when the yuppies come with mom and dads money and no discretion on how to find good deals, yikes!

 

[Husky25]

Whole foods or bust.

Market 21, take 2, IMO.

Trader Joe’s would be perfect in the west End or downtown.

I'd buy that for a dollar. Trader Joe's would probably attract people into the City.