[uconn99]

There is brand new college housing downtown. I do agree more is needed.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Coem

I have lived in both Providence and Hartford. There are differences between the two that explain why Providence is doing well and Hartford is not.

Well thats about as far as I need to get before dismissing this entire post.

What about Hartford is "not doing well". With over a billion dollars in development and tons of housing being built, new restaurants opening, hotels being gutted and remodeled or built, a new state of the art science center almost completed, the nationally acclaimed UCONN school of business opening, the Bushnell expansion, the recent convention center contruction etc...what part is not good?

Providence is a nice city, but it's "rebirth" was from it's proximity to Boston much like Stamford was with NYC. Hartford can make the claim that it is its own metropolitan area.

[JayCT]

Providence would love to have the corporate presence that Hartford has. We tend to forget that there are several very large employers downtown that contribute a lot to the city. Aetna, Travelers, Phoenix, XL, the Hartford, United Technologies plus the banks and many others have a lot of office workers in the city. Why do people forget this? Jay

[Coem]

JViello, you seriously believe Hartford is doing well? Have you actually been to Providence lately? Just because a city erects new buildings and a lot of people come there for business does not mean a city is healthy. Hartford continues to lose population and hardly anybody middle class seriously considers living there. Additionally, there is hardly any retail to speak of and on my last visit downtown on a Saturday night there was hardly anyone walking around.

Go to Providence, walk around the East Side, downtown, and the little Italy section. The rebirth of Providence had more to do with the foundation that was already there than being close to Boston.

I'm not saying Hartford isn't improving, but if Hartford is your idea of a healthy city, then that's pretty scary!

[Rich Lee]

***For whatever reason, there's still a perception that Hartford is lacking as many posters have commented and continue to comment on.***

As for my experience/observation: When I first moved to Connecticut in 1987, my new friends from Brookfield and New Milford were well-aware of some of Hartford's attributes. We drove to Hartford, ate lunch in the city, shopped at a few of the department stores, and casually walked around.

In 1991, I met someone who was very familiar with Hartford. We and a group of others would meet at Brown Thomson's on a regular basis and would request an outside table or window table. For some, it was a hot spot. There was always a lot of people out on the street.

We stopped going to Hartford when it seemed that we were always there "on an off day." By the way, he works in Hartford and agrees that it's changed. He described the mass exodus as workers leave the city immediately after work.

I was in Providence recently to attend the auto show. There was definitely a different vibe. I can't put my finger on it exactly. Maybe that was it: it wasn't peculiar in any way: a downtown with people, a civic center, ample parking, restaurants, and retail.

[uconn99]

Other than the mall, where is retail in Providence? Not much different than Hartford if you take the mall area away.


Also, Hartford is not losing population. Check the census.gov.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by uconn99

Other than the mall, where is retail in Providence? Not much different than Hartford if you take the mall area away.


Also, Hartford is not losing population. Check the census.gov.

Also the State of Rhode Island and the City of Providence had to pay through the nose to get the developer to build Providence Place. And that mall is having a serious impact on the suburban malls. Pretty sad when one of the anchors in what was once the nicest mall in the state is now the state motor vehicle department. Jay

[skytrekker]

Providence has done much work in its revitalization efforts- but like Hartford it still has areas that are rough. Providence's economy is not as strong as Hartford's. As Jay pointed out the city (Providence) has a much smaller corporate presence then Hartford. Also greater Hartford is a far richer area.

[blueshoes85]

this is all interesting to read since I just returned to CT after four years in Providence going to school. I think some of the last few poster were missing the point that coem was trying to make above. yes, hartford does have more business and jobs, however providence is a much better city to simply be in. I enjoyed my four years there and, as a female, always felt safe walking the streets in most parts of the city. when I came back to CT after school, the possibility of living in hartford never even crossed my mind. I would not feel safe living in hartford, and even though I live two towns away I never really feel a need to go into the city. as far as providence retail, there is actually more than the mall. check out thayer street next time you go, and there are also many art galleries popping up in their downtown area. also, perhaps hartford has gained back a little population recently, but I know that they have definately lost people overall in the last 10/20 years. this is also true of most new england cities though, including providence.

[redbaron]

Originally Posted by blueshoes85

this is all interesting to read since I just returned to CT after four years in Providence going to school. I think some of the last few poster were missing the point that coem was trying to make above. yes, hartford does have more business and jobs, however providence is a much better city to simply be in. I enjoyed my four years there and, as a female, always felt safe walking the streets in most parts of the city. when I came back to CT after school, the possibility of living in hartford never even crossed my mind. I would not feel safe living in hartford, and even though I live two towns away I never really feel a need to go into the city. as far as providence retail, there is actually more than the mall. check out thayer street next time you go, and there are also many art galleries popping up in their downtown area. also, perhaps hartford has gained back a little population recently, but I know that they have definately lost people overall in the last 10/20 years. this is also true of most new england cities though, including providence.

It's funny that people feel more safer in Providence, the crime stats are very comparable with Providence being slightly safer. However there is that perception that it is much safer. Is it because Providence is less diverse?

I do envy the Providence resurgence though, I can only hope that Hartford is in the midst of a similar one, and I do believe it is, just years behind. It does need a lot of help and support though, mostly from the suburbs. If perception can change, maybe with the science center, Front Street, new mass transit, perhaps a new arena people will have a reason to venture into Hartford, try all the new restaurants see how the city has changed. A healthy and thriving city will only benefit the towns around it.