How UConn really feels about the XL Center

[SubbaBub]

That's not a big deal for downtown when you think about. Pretty much everyone has to drive to a grocery store.

True urban living means not using the car on a daily basis. Mainly because parking is limited. If the basic services are not within reasonable walking distance an urban residential setting can not thrive.

 

[Waquoit]

True urban living means not using the car on a daily basis. Mainly because parking is limited. If the basic services are not within reasonable walking distance an urban residential setting can not thrive.

No kidding. But what has that have to do with living in downtown Hartford? Don't all of the residential units come with a parking space or 2?

 

[SubbaBub]

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.

The reason Hartford struggles is because it is not a prototype urban center. To succeed it must become one. That means people living and working there. Without grocery and other basic services in the immediate area the hassle of living there will always outweigh the incentive.

Think of it this way, would you be more annoyed by having to drive in for an event or drive out for daily errands.

 

[SubbaBub]

No kidding. But what has that have to do with living in downtown Hartford? Don't all of the residential units come with a parking space or 2?

Most urban area rely on street or private parking. You want density of people nor car storage. Since cars are still necessary, selling Apts now would be impossible without parking.

It's a good example of how public infrastructure affects the private market. If Hartford had a decent transit system and a viable small business community, more residential units could be built instead of parking spaces.

Hartford actually has too many spaces. The expectation of close parking is ingrained in most of the population if CT. It's a tough hurdle to overcome.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I remember going down to the Coliseum in the late 1980s’ to catch Aerosmith and walking over from there to Pepe’s (did not tell my folks) and it was not that nice nor that safe. Took a drive through the city (straight down Whitney) last year (on my way to Pepe’s again) and was impressed. Downtown and the areas around Yale have improved a lot and Yale has clearly realized that its own success depends on new Haven, at least downtown, being vibrant. Having a dirt rail connection to NYC, also help and the work along old Route 34 (Alexion?) looks promising.

Hartford has potential too, provided they keep it real. Due to globalization, it will never be the insurance capital again and it is doubtful that the NHL is coming back. But, the city has a well-educated workforce, has good and quick highway access to both New York and Boston, and is a low cheaper housing wise that both cities. Getting UConn downtown will also help to make the city more attractive. Too bad it is not financially feasible to bury both I-84 and I-91 to connect the city back to the North End and Asylum Hill and the River. Improved train service would also help as the Millennial generation seems to have less interest in cards.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Most urban area rely on street or private parking. You want density of people nor car storage. Since cars are still necessary, selling Apts now would be impossible without parking.

It's a good example of how public infrastructure affects the private market. If Hartford had a decent transit system and a viable small business community, more residential units could be built instead of parking spaces.

Hartford actually has too many spaces. The expectation of close parking is ingrained in most of the population if CT. It's a tough hurdle to overcome.

One of CT’s problems is that it is too small of a state to support multiple major cities. Resources are too spread out and there is not enough density to enable a proper downtown. If one was to go back in time, CT should just have 1 major city instead of a half dozen midsize cities (Hartford, Bridgeport, new Haven Waterbury, Stamford). New Haven would have made the most sense as its centrally located, along the coast (very important for pre-train/car ears), and far enough away to not be a suburb of NYC; but, close enough to have a relatively easy connection. That would have maximized growth and focused urban resources. Figure New Haven would have at a minimum absorbed West Haven, East Haven, and at least the south end of Hamden. Combined plus growth that went to other cities would push New Haven to 300/400K or about ½ the size of Boston and a metro area (all of New Haven county, the other half of Fairfield County, and Middlesex counties) would be around the 1.5 million range. A metro that size would be much more attractive, have its own identity, and provide a viable city experience if managed correctly.

 

[Waquoit]

Most urban area rely on street or private parking. You want density of people nor car storage. Since cars are still necessary, selling Apts now would be impossible without parking.
It's a good example of how public infrastructure affects the private market. If Hartford had a decent transit system and a viable small business community, more residential units could be built instead of parking spaces.
Hartford actually has too many spaces. The expectation of close parking is ingrained in most of the population if CT. It's a tough hurdle to overcome.

Aren't you basically agreeing with me?

 

[David 76]

I remember going down to the Coliseum in the late 1980s’ to catch Aerosmith and walking over from there to Pepe’s (did not tell my folks) and it was not that nice nor that safe. Took a drive through the city (straight down Whitney) last year (on my way to Pepe’s again) and was impressed. Downtown and the areas around Yale have improved a lot and Yale has clearly realized that its own success depends on new Haven, at least downtown, being vibrant.

Conehead, part of what you noticed was real improvement part of it was a bad neighborhood compared to one of the nicest areas of the City. But they have made progress. Great restaurants, half-way decent nightlife, young people choosing to live there
Is New Haven the only one of the traditional four major cities not to have their mayor arrested recently? That just might be relevant.

 

[Gampeltiles]

XL serves alcohol.

And they keep all concession money.

 

[Gampeltiles]

And this is where the AAC is going to play its Conference Tournament next season. All those people from Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma taking over the social nightlife in the world's most entertaining and vibrant city. And then, converging on the XL Center. A tourists' dream!

Am I the only one that thinks that this is an impending disaster? How many people from the southeast and southwest are actually going to fly to Hartford? How many people are going to a game in which UCONN is not involved? It will be a humiliation for all involved and they better rethink this ASAP.

 

[elduderino]

And this is where the AAC is going to play its Conference Tournament next season. All those people from Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma taking over the social nightlife in the world's most entertaining and vibrant city. And then, converging on the XL Center. A tourists' dream!

Am I the only one that thinks that this is an impending disaster? How many people from the southeast and southwest are actually going to fly to Hartford? How many people are going to a game in which UCONN is not involved? It will be a humiliation for all involved and they better rethink this ASAP.

Dont hang urself for the rafters just yet. Sure, Hartford's got some very thoroughly discussed short comings. But its nowhere near the sh-thole that is most of Memphis and that tourney went off fine.

 

[Drew]

Dont hang urself for the rafters just yet. Sure, Hartford's got some very thoroughly discussed short comings. But its nowhere near the sh-thole that is most of Memphis and that tourney went off fine.

I'm sorry but Hartford and Memphis are not comparable cities in terms of overall attractiveness. Not even in the least bit.

 

[Gampeltiles]

I'm sorry but Hartford and Memphis are not comparable cities in terms of overall attractiveness. Not even in the least bit.

Not to mention the facility. It makes UCONN look like trash.

 

[Hoophound]

And this is where the AAC is going to play its Conference Tournament next season. All those people from Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma taking over the social nightlife in the world's most entertaining and vibrant city. And then, converging on the XL Center. A tourists' dream! Am I the only one that thinks that this is an impending disaster? How many people from the southeast and southwest are actually going to fly to Hartford? How many people are going to a game in which UCONN is not involved? It will be a humiliation for all involved and they better rethink this ASAP.

Hartford did a great job with the lady's tourney and NCAA tourney. The XL will be renovated on some level by then and downtown will be hopping. Again, Hartford isn't that bad, it has bars and restaurants all around the XL Center and West Hartford is only 10 minutes away. Hartford's biggest problem is that it is geographically small so WHC and Glastonbury aren't part of it. If they were, people wouldn't be so ignorant of how decent greater Hartford is. Many of these sprawling southern cities that are "big" are nothing more than Hartford and it's busy suburbs combined into one city. I love going to events like this in Hartford, I bring a buddy or two or my wife and we eat good food, drink beer and have a great time. Hartford is perfectly good for that purpose and every time I bring outsiders there they have a blast. The key is, the tourney is not on some random Tuesday night in Hartford. It is a major event and just like any game night, Hartford will be at its best, especially on the weekend.

 

[David 76]

They can tour the insurance industry and look at the building that we hope will someday be a museum honoring our gun manufacturing history

 

[elduderino]

I'm sorry but Hartford and Memphis are not comparable cities in terms of overall attractiveness. Not even in the least bit.

Not to mention the facility. It makes UCONN look like trash.

Admittedly Memphis' size and arena are pretty big advantages. And the cities really arent very comparable in most respects. I only spent 2 days in Memphis but its tied with St Louis for me as worst US cities Ive been. Personally I think the tourney should either be in Dallas, Philly, or Florida most years.

 

[elduderino]

Pretty much the only thing I enjoyed about Memphis was the BBQ.