How UConn really feels about the XL Center | Page 3 | The Boneyard

How UConn really feels about the XL Center

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Husky25 said:
That's my point. You aren't driving out to Brighton. The closest market to downtown is across the Founders Bridge in East Hartford or on the Wethersfield line. For the 285 apartments going into the old BoA Building, I find that unacceptable.
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It's an easy 3 mile drive once or twice a week. What's the big deal?
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
The big deal is that part of the draw of living in an ostensibly urban environment is not having to drive 3 miles once or twice a week to buy groceries.
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Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.
 
It's a little off topic but when the BoA Building -285, the Sonesta- 199 and Front St. Apartments-120 are finished sometime next year, there will be another 600 apartments downtown. I think it's very close to making the numbers work for a grocery store.
 
Waquoit said:
Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.
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It's silly to pretend it is, but why is it silly to think it should be?
 
Waquoit said:
Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.
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Then we're back to the starting point. Why would someone want to live there when they have to drive several miles to take care of their basic necessities? Why not just live where the grocery stores and other services are? Solely for the privilege of being able to walk to some mediocre wine bar?
 
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Husky25 said:
It's silly to pretend it is, but why is it silly to think it should be?
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Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?

BigErnMcCracken said:
Then we're back to the starting point. Why would someone want to live there when they have to drive several miles to take care of their basic necessities? Why not just live where the grocery stores and other services are? Solely for the privilege of being able to walk to some mediocre wine bar?
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Since it seems downtown condos and apartments are filling up as soon as they are completed with more on the way, perhaps you could ask one of the growing number of people that live downtown your questions.
 
Waquoit said:
Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?



Since it seems downtown condos and apartments are filling up as soon as they are completed with more on the way, perhaps you could ask one of the growing number of people that live downtown your questions.
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I assume you are talking about Market 21. From my understanding that was a high end boutique-y type market, not a Shoprite-type grocery store like I referred to yesterday.
 
I am a recent graduate who works in downtown Hartford (CityPlace) and I can tell you that I wouldn't even consider living in downtown Hartford. Rent in the livable parts of the city (near downtown) is just as expensive as living in West Hartford or Glastonbury without the appeal of a walk-able city center with restaurants/shops/Dunkin Donuts that are open on the weekend, when I'm not working. No grocery store/shops/attractions on the weekends=no interest. All of my co-workers (including me) live in the surrounding suburbs because most amenities and attractions exist outside the city.

Now I am excited about the downtown ballpark being built because I hope that it will do something to revitalize the city, because it really needs it. Another step that should be taken should be the construction of apartments for recent college graduates (preferably from Connecticut state schools) that are subsidized by corporations within the city to try and attract younger people with expendable income to infuse some capital in the area. In order to attract businesses to the area there needs to be some sort of consumer demand, but the city needs to get creative with ways to attract people to the city center. A new baseball field and renovated XL center will help, but we need a way to attract and keep people within the city.
 
Waquoit said:
Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?
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Trader Joe's. Very common urban supermarket replacement, especially outside of New England atm.
 
Why are you arguing about grocery stores?

I become sad looking at New Haven now compared to what it was in my youth. It was THE place to shop, see a movie, just the place to be, a real magnet for the burbs. It ain't that now.
But when I look at New Haven compared to Hartford, it is just so much more active. Yale helps but real people still live in N.H. People walk the streets after 6:00. Hartford seems like a corporate skeleton. I wish it luck but they seem to barely plan.
 
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David 76 said:
Why are you arguing about grocery stores? I become sad looking at New Haven now compared to what it was in my youth. It was THE place to shop, see a movie, just the place to be, a real magnet for the burbs. It ain't that now. But when I look at New Haven compared to Hartford, it is just so much more active. Yale helps but real people still live in N.H. People walk the streets after 6:00. Hartford seems like a corporate skeleton. I wish it luck but they seem to barely plan.
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It is very simple, to have a vibrant city you need young people living and playing there. Without a large university presence in Hartford, that is going to be difficult to achieve. The best thing that can happen is for UConn Hartford to grow into a viable "destination" university. Add programs, add buildings and create student housing over time and Hartford will get a pulse. The students, combined with occupants of all the new apartments and condos will finally start to turn the tide. I'm not sure it can be done without UConn growing and/or partnering with UHart and Trinity to create student activity and presence downtown. I can't think of a cool medium sized city that doesn't have a university or more driving it.



Edit: Someone mentioned the other day that UConn Hartford wouldn't provide street traffic on the weekends. My point was that it needs to. Make UConn at Hartford a place that kids actually want to go. I'm not sure how they can accomplish that but my guess is that offering something unique and trendy would help. Maybe a technology center that focuses on things like creating apps or a business school major in entrepreneurship or a music school annex that offers training in electronic music, hip hop, pop and promotion.
 
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I know and agree. But sometimes when someone thinks otherwise it is not worth continuing the back and forth. Not pointing at you, I've done it too and there is no better way to kill a thread.
Just too many arguments on the BY most of them aren't even about the main point of the topic. I think we are better off ignoring someone who misses the point.
 
I get your point about the grocery store. But is it worth arguing? Too many thread killing arguments on BY. Most of us (including me), would do better to ignore than engage.
 
Hartford is not New Haven and probably never will be, unless UConn moves downtown lock, stock and barrel. If Yale was in Old Saybrook instead of New Haven then people would be having this conversation about that city.

That said, Hartford is getting better. Whereas there used to be tumbleweeds on Main St. or Trumbull St. after 5pm on a weekday, now you can see the occasional pedestrian among the tumbleweeds. Some restaurants (Salute, TK, Sorella's, Dish) are downright packed on weeknights. Others have mentioned affordable housing opening up and that'll help. So will all the new places along Front Street, none of which would be there if it weren't for all the new stuff on the riverfront. You don't revitalize a city overnight but I think things are moving in the right direction.

20-something years ago I was in Charlotte for a weekend convention. Charlotte on a Sunday in 1992 was as apocalyptically silent as Hartford. Charlotte changed. Hartford can, too.
 
Well gentlemen, consider yourselves lucky, because I have an important friend in the grocery industry. And I got him to weigh in on this very issue. 1) Rent is too high. 2) There aren't enough people. 3) Crime is too high. 2 of those 3 things would have to change to make Hartford attractive to a grocery store.

You're welcome.
 
CallMeBruce said:
Well gentlemen, consider yourselves lucky, because I have an important friend in the grocery industry. And I got him to weigh in on this very issue. 1) Rent is too high. 2) There aren't enough people. 3) Crime is too high. 2 of those 3 things would have to change to make Hartford attractive to a grocery store.

You're welcome.
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I'm not sure rent would be anything at all. A large chain could get huge concessions to open there if they do it while it is still risky.
 
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David 76 said:
Why are you arguing about grocery stores?

I become sad looking at New Haven now compared to what it was in my youth. It was THE place to shop, see a movie, just the place to be, a real magnet for the burbs. It ain't that now.
But when I look at New Haven compared to Hartford, it is just so much more active. Yale helps but real people still live in N.H. People walk the streets after 6:00. Hartford seems like a corporate skeleton. I wish it luck but they seem to barely plan.
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You of course realize the irony that since you threw in your 2 cents, UConn is moving to Hartford. Which would seem unlikely had my peen not just doubled in size to 27" followed directly by my girlfriend breaking down the front door begging to impale herself on it.

Just between you and me, none of these things did or will ever happen.

A little good-natured ball breaking for you.
 
8893 said:
I would rather watch from home than sit in either an XL box or anything above the bottom of the 200s. The good news is that I can usually score a decent single in the 100s there, and I don't mind the drive (or the fact that I can stop at Eli Cannon's en route).

There are no bad seats in Gampel imo. But yeah, as yet another Madison resident and alum, I'll agree that the games for which I'm willing head to Gampel on a weeknight are few and far between these days. We still get there at least once a season for a family trip to an afternoon men's or women's game on a weekend, and I usually make a couple more trips myself.
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I love Eli's and go there frequently, but you don't think that's a bit far for a couple pregame brews?
 
PcketknfNiels said:
I love Eli's and go there frequently, but you don't think that's a bit far for a couple pregame brews?
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If I'm coming from Madison it is on the way, i.e., en route.
 
Palatine said:
If UConn stops connecting with the non-alumni fans, it's screwed. UConn has to be the state team to continue to generate the support it needs. If Alabama understands the importance of playing football off campus even when they have on campus facility, UConn should understand the importance of Hartford.

Just look a the reaction in Bridgeport this year. Does anyone really think that playing Eastern Washington at Gampel would have been a better decision.
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Alabama hasn't played football games in Birmingham for quite some time
 
elduderino said:
You of course realize the irony that since you threw in your 2 cents, UConn is moving to Hartford. Which would seem unlikely had my peen not just doubled in size to 27" followed directly by my girlfriend breaking down the front door begging to impale herself on it.

Just between you and me, none of these things did or will ever happen.

A little good-natured ball breaking for you.
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You mean you are back to a measly 13.5 inches?
Hartford can get better if they get better if they have the political will.
 
ffg53 said:
Hartford is not New Haven and probably never will be, unless UConn moves downtown lock, stock and barrel. If Yale was in Old Saybrook instead of New Haven then people would be having this conversation about that ci.
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Gotta disagree. Yale would hurt the architecture of New Haven and remove a lot of young people, great attributes to the city.
But New Haven is, and always was, a blue collar town where a lot of people live and work. Hartford became a much more white collar town with a higher percentage of commuters. Visit New Haven when most of the Yalies are gone and you will still see a more vibrant place than downtown Hartford.

I wish Hartford, and all our cities, well. Tough to have lost all the shopping and entertainment to free suburban parking. But Hartford isn't just unlucky or lacking Yale, it is even more poorly run than our other cities.
 
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David 76 said:
Gotta disagree. Yale would hurt the architecture of New Haven and remove a lot of young people, great attributes to the city.
But New Haven is, and always was, a blue collar town where a lot of people live and work. Hartford became a much more white collar town with a higher percentage of commuters. Visit New Haven when most of the Yalies are gone and you will still see a more vibrant place than downtown Hartford.

I wish Hartford, and all our cities, well. Tough to have lost all the shopping and entertainment to free suburban parking. But Hartford isn't just unlucky or lacking Yale, it is even more poorly run than our other cities.
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I agree with your basic premise, but if there's no Yale, there's 2 missing art galleries, a missing science center, 2 missing the-atres, a hospital, and the selection of restaurants would likely be limited to the usual Italian, American and Chinese. Without Yale I think New Haven is more likely a smaller Bridgeport, minus the good Portuguese restaurants.

Certainly Hartford has been poorly run, but I think that has changed. I also wouldn't consider DiStefano's last 10 years anything beyond mediocre. And when the Yale students are gone, most of the faculty still lives there, as do many of Yale's thousands of other employees.
 
Waquoit said:
New Haven without Yale is Torrington.
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Well the way we usually say it is Bridgeport instead of Torrington, but in either event it's still the functional equivalent of "If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle."

In other words, Yale ain't going anywhere, and New Haven will always benefit from it.
 
8893 said:
If I'm coming from Madison it is on the way, i.e., en route.
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That's not what I'm saying, my point is that Elis to XL is a decent drive after you've already had a few strong brews
 
PcketknfNiels said:
That's not what I'm saying, my point is that Elis to XL is a decent drive after you've already had a few strong brews
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Two session ales and a plate of wings over the course of an hour or two is fine, and imo far preferable to any Hartford pre-game option.
 
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