198 replies to this topic

[BigCityAttitude]

Northampton is a very lively place, with lots to do. It's in the heart of the 5-college area, like Amherst. If you liked Burlington you will probably like Northampton. It's amazing.

[LeTaureau]

M. Brown, on Jan 1 2005, 09:42 PM, said:

Garris don't waist your time going to Nashua man.  Its Boston sprawl.  But do waist your time going to all the others preferably MANCHVEGAS!!!

TheAnk I don't have to worry about paying any property tax...My parents can take care of that. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nashua has a lively, interesting down town.  Good restaurants and bars.  However, stay away from the Daniel Webster Highway.  Endless Chilis, Applebees, and traffic.

[Ron Newman]

And if you like Burlington and Northampton, you will probably also like Brattleboro.

[Scott]

LeTaureau, on Jan 6 2005, 06:20 PM, said:

Nashua has a lively, interesting down town.  Good restaurants and bars.  However, stay away from the Daniel Webster Highway.  Endless Chilis, Applebees, and traffic.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's very true. Downtown has alot of good places... like Headlines!!  

[Eric]

HI All, nice discussion.  I didn't even know about this site until tonight.  I have always had a fascination with America's urban centers.  I travel ALOT for work, and just got home from Hartford, Prov, and Cape Cod.  Didn't even know how big Fall River and New Bedford were until I drove through.  Those old cities are really gems, with their architecture.  

As far as New York's surrounding cities, the poster above left out, what they are worth, Yonkers (200k pop, 5th biggest in NY), New Rochelle and Mt. Vernon (70k).  The problem NY has is that the surrounding cities do lose their character, even tho say, New Rochelle used to have some, with grand old theaters, famous film industry from the 20s/30s, thats all gone as NY swallows everything.  NE cities tend to retain their individual character.  Another city that was kinda overlooked is Danbury.  Interesting place, it is its own media market, own airport, and equidistant to Hartford and NYC.  Like Springfield from the Simpsons, and kinda lost in time.

E.

[Cotuit]

I think the metro New York cities will start regaining some character over time. White Plains for instance is becoming the new Hoboken because Hoboken is now every bit as unaffordable as Manhattan. I think we'll see more creative people priced out of the city looking to places like White Plains and New Rochelle, and even Danbury and Bridgeport as options. We have people fleeing New York as far afield as Providence, so the cities close to NYC should also benefit from an influx of people.

[Garris]

Cotuit, on Feb 11 2005, 07:49 AM, said:

I think the metro New York cities will start regaining some character over time. White Plains for instance is becoming the new Hoboken because Hoboken is now every bit as unaffordable as Manhattan. I think we'll see more creative people priced out of the city looking to places like White Plains and New Rochelle, and even Danbury and Bridgeport as options. We have people fleeing New York as far afield as Providence, so the cities close to NYC should also benefit from an influx of people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know how I missed this post, but I thought I'd chime in regarding the NY metro area cities.  I grew up in the area North of NYC (Putnam County, just North of Westchester) and I think these cities you mention are long-term projects, much more so than our New England Cities.  

While White Plains, which has always been pleasant and clean, is starting to get some character/nightlife/residental development, it has still got a ways to go.  New Rochelle and, to a lesser extent Yonkers and Peekskill, have also had some nacient rebirth.  

In my experience, however, these areas will always be limited by what I call the "Westchester mentality."  In the NY Metro, there is a stark choice between living in "the city" or "the surburbs."  With the exception of some edge cities like Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, etc., there really isn't the kind of hybrid quasi-urban living in the NY Metro that cities such as Boston (i.e. Cambridge, Brookline, etc.), Providence (the East Side, West End, Federal Hill, etc), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philly, etc. offer.  

For that reason, people not living in NYC proper tend to have a militant suburban mindset.  You often hear people who live in the NY metro, even in cities like White Plains and Stamford, often say, "If we wanted city here, I'd live in The City."  That's why the NY area suburbs and cities tend to have so little character.  Even as far away as New Haven, around which there really is nothing but bedroom communities for an hour in every direction, you'll ask people if they go into New Haven for its restaurants and theater, and people just say, "Why?  If I want good food or theater, I'll just drive into The City."  

This mindset of NYC being the only place anything of character, entertainment, or edge being desired or needed will always hold back the NY area sub-cities.  For this reason too, NIMBY-ism in the New York Metro suburbs and cities tends to be greater than anywhere else I've ever lived.  In their modern incarnations, cities such as Danbury and Peekskill are population centers that were started as cities long ago, but desperately wish to be suburbs today.  If only they didn't have their pesky density, downtowns, and issues to deal with!

For some reason, you almost never hear this in Providence, Manchester, Fall River, etc.  When was the last time you heard someone who lives in Providence or Warwick say, "For good food?  Screw Federal Hill, I'm going to Boston," or, "Good theater?  Hah.  Who do those Trinity Rep or Black Rep folks think they are?  It's Boston for me," or "What's this Waterfire thing?  Let's do a nighttime Duck Boat on Boston Harbor."  You get the point.  

New England's cities want to be cities and, not just that, they want to be first rate cities.  That mindset difference will always separate New England's and the NY metro's cities.  Development for Hoboken just makes it a more expensive bedroom community.  Development for Providence or Manchester make them better cities.

- Garris

[soapbox mode off]

[SOCOM]

I voted for Hartford because:

-I lived in the area for most of my life (hometown bias)
-I see great potential for the next 5-10 years (ie. what Providence did in the 90's)
-It may not be a desirable place yet, but its still an economic giant
-Providence was already kicking every other cities butt in the poll anyway

Right now its no contest.  I believe Providence is in the best shape in New England, and the projects just keep on coming.  I truly think that in a couple years Hartford will be a close second, and has the potential to be a great city on par w/ Prov down the road.

[Cotuit]

I think Hartford already is a close second, and Providence better watch her back. The "Power Block" proposal in Providence, and the drive for more hotel rooms is in part a response to what Hartford has going on with it's new convention centre and Hartford 21.

[SOCOM]

That's true, I never really thought about that.  I hope both cities can co exist as they build up their urban cores.  More reason to combine New England into one state!  

[Cotuit]

SOCOM, on Mar 5 2005, 06:59 PM, said:

More reason to combine New England into one state!   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd prefer it be it's own country.  

[glassandsteel]

Who hasn't had that daydream?

[bobliocatt]

I won't vote, because I've never been to New England, but I've heard a lot of good things about these cities over the years.  However, one city that's always intrigued me, is Lowell because of the National Park focusing on the mills.

[Cotuit]

thelakelander, on Mar 14 2005, 11:41 PM, said:

However, one city that's always intrigued me, is Lowell because of the National Park focusing on the mills.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lowell is pretty interesting, they actually have a short streetcar line serving the mill area. There are plans right now to expand it. Lowell is one of those New England cities that fell really hard when manufacturing moved first south, then overseas. It is really turning around though, much moreso than it's neighbour, Lawrence.

[Benhamin]

I think Lowell's streetcars are the worst idea ever. Put the money towards something useful. I like history as much as the next guy, but give me a break. Lowell is still a big craphole, my friend saw some dude get carjacked and the carjacker slammed the dude's head in the door and he fell, completely unconscious. Yes, I have actually been to Lowell, and it is NOTHING impressive. If I want to see mills, there are dozens of better places that are closer to me. In fact, I think Lawrence had more impressive mills than Lowell did.

I will say that Lowell is improving, but it won't be anything like somewhere I would like to live anytime in the near future. I am sorry, Lowell is just one of those towns that pisses me off.

[Benhamin]

On a happier note, I am surprised no one has discussed Woonsocket and how nicely it is recovering. Definitely one of my favorite medium sized cities in the region (and due south of Bellingham, MA, my old 'hood).

[Cotuit]

I keep meaning to get to Woonsocket, but it's on the other end of the state, so far!

Trying to be a real Rhode Islander, if it's 15 minutes or more, it's too far!

[ALEEJAC]

Woonsocket definitely has some charm. I drove through recently and was surprised at the number of buildings that had been put back to use. When the weather gets warmer, maybe I'll bust out the old Pentax and grab some shots of Woonsocket and Worcester.

I'm not saying Woonsocket is paradise on Earth. It's not. But, there are some great areas and scenes sprinkled throughout.

[Cotuit]

ALEEJAC, on Mar 25 2005, 04:26 PM, said:

maybe I'll bust out the old Pentax and grab some shots of Woonsocket and Worcester.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That would be great, please do!

[Benhamin]

The more pics, the better ALEEJAC. Welcome to the forum.

Off topic, how do you quote people? I have never been able to figure it out on this messageboard for some reason.