[BPt111]

What you think of this ? Is Stamford unofficial largest city and it will predict to match New Haven in two years ? Stamford is more of NYC culture than CT/NE culture should we still consider Stamford part of New England or give it to Westchester county ? State your thoughts

STAMFORD — Three years ago, Kristen Drozdal and Kevin Scelsa moved from Manhattan to Stamford. "I haven't been back since I moved," Drozdal, 25, said just last week.
Maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration — they have gone into the city to see a few Broadway shows — but Drozdal, a Connecticut native, is satisfied with Stamford's entertainment options.
Drozdal and Scelsa are part of a wave of new residents who have come to Stamford since 2010. The city, the state's third largest, has gained more than 5,600 people through July 2014, as the state as a whole grew by just 22,000, according to new U.S. Census data.

It's not just that Stamford is responsible for a far larger share of the state's growth than any other city.Stamford also has a much larger share of adults between the ages of 20 and 35 than the rest of Connecticut, and a smaller share of those 45 to 64. Across Connecticut, about 19 percent of the population is 20 to 34. In Stamford, it's 25 percent.
Although Stamford is not growing nearly as fast as Jersey City and Hoboken — gentrifying cities in New Jersey across the Hudson River from Manhattan — Stamford officials predict it will add population at twice the pace over the next five years as it did from 2010 to 2014.
In downtown, 460 apartments came online in the past three years, with 700 more nearly finished.

Nearly half of the tenants in Harbor Point moved from other states, with 15 percent from New York alone, the developer said last week. About 30 percent moved from elsewhere in Stamford, he said. Drozdal and Scelsa have done that. They lived in one Harbor Point building the first year it opened, and when its Postmark building opened, and offered one month free, they switched to a bigger apartment for less money.

While it's certainly an overstatement, as one new luxury apartment building claimed, that "downtown Stamford offers almost everything NYC has," it does have as many restaurants as West Hartford Center, along with an abundance of luxury apartment buildings in walking distance to those restaurants, a mall, and three movie theaters.
Plenty of people walk from the train or from nearby apartments to work. According to Metro-North, about 9,300 commuters leave Stamford going toward New York City in the morning, and about 5,700 arrive in Stamford, with about 60 percent coming from points east.

Stamford's building boom shows no signs of slowing. The city's economic development director, Thomas Madden, said Harbor Point is about to add a 375-unit apartment building, and has six more building plans approved with 1,200 units. Madden predicted they all would be built within three years.

Qutoes from Hartford Courant

"They had intended to buy in Westchester County, but found the property taxes too high."

"Madden said the city projects that its population will grow by an additional 10,000 people by 2020."

"While it's certainly an overstatement, as one new luxury apartment building claimed, that "downtown Stamford offers almost everything NYC has," it does have as many restaurants as West Hartford Center, along with an abundance of luxury apartment buildings in walking distance to those restaurants, a mall, and three movie theaters."

"Hartford isn't really that great of a place for young people," she said.

Fast-Growing Stamford Draws Young Adults To Luxury Apartment Boom - Hartford Courant

[Stylo]

Unofficial largest city?

[richrf]

The large inventory of apartments and proximity to NYC is what drove us the rent in Stamford. Whether or not it will be a temporary stopping off point or a more permanent home remains to be seen, but we were certainly happy to find a great apartment in a very nice and walkable city.

[JayCT]

Stamford still has a way to go before becoming Connecticuts largest city. It also has a long way to go to be the state's largest employment center. Personally I am not impressed by the apartments being built in Stamford. They really are not that attractive. Remind me of the apartments in Co-Op City. Still it is good to see all the construction. Jay

[Mr_250]

The thing that struck me was the girl quoted in the article stating that Hartford is not a place where young college grads wasn't to be. That is not good for Hartford esp coming from someone who graduated uconn.

[AntonioR]

There's nothing in the article that isn't already known, namely that Stamford's boom has more to do with its quality as a great place to live and less with NYC. People often overstate NYC's influence on the city's growth. To be fair, its more of a City-Data tendency and usually by members that live further into the state or in rival cities such as New Haven.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by AntonioR

There's nothing in the article that isn't already known, namely that Stamford's boom has more to do with its quality as a great place to live and less with NYC. People often overstate NYC's influence on the city's growth. To be fair, its more of a City-Data tendency and usually by members that live further into the state or in rival cities such as New Haven.

It's the local economy and proximity to NYC, no doubt. The NYC effect is undeniable and it's not just in Stamford. Keep in mind that a lot of the businesses in Stamford wouldn't be there if it wasn't close to NYC. That strong economy and commutability is exactly why it's got a good income base, low crime, and prosperity. You can't have one without the other.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

The thing that struck me was the girl quoted in the article stating that Hartford is not a place where young college grads wasn't to be. That is not good for Hartford esp coming from someone who graduated uconn.

It's not a place where she want's to be.

IMO part of the attraction to NYC is due to all the face time it gets in Movies and Television. If "sex in the city" was filmed in Hartford or New Haven. We'd have threads here from young women asking where's the best neighborhood to live in ? or where's the best bar to hang out in to meet my "Mr. Big"?

[BPt111]

Stamford has better metro north train service to Grand Central every 10-15 mins there a train

[howdydoody342]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

The thing that struck me was the girl quoted in the article stating that Hartford is not a place where young college grads wasn't to be. That is not good for Hartford esp coming from someone who graduated uconn.

this isnt really a secret. I graduated from uconn 8 years ago and dont know anyone that has stayed in the hartford area upon graduating more than a few years. Hartford has the perception of being dead and wasnt really a place one would go at Uconn other then to basketball events. None of my friends had desire to work there. I guess its nice if ur in the insurance business but most of my friends either went back to their home towns or to Boston, NYC or other cities throughout the U.S.

The 2 people who say that stamford has everything they need probably are in the settling down mode. Stamford seems to be a great place for couples who want to start families to move out of the city can come to.