[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by Stylo

so, 3rd worst?

Correct. No point in trying to put lipstick on a pig.



I'd like to be clear about something: I would very much like for Hartford to succeed, to turn around and become a desirable, attractive place not just to spend a few hours and leave, but for people to call home. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened, at least not yet. When you compare Hartford with other cities in the state, like New Haven for instance, it's like night and day. I use New Haven as an example because in my opinion the way that city has evolved over the last few years is a model for Hartford to follow: instead of fostering dependency on government and neighboring suburbs, they've made an effort to clean up and improve downtown, they're doing what they can to maintain the existing, stable middle-class neighborhoods beyond downtown (something Hartford is sadly lacking), and they're trying to improve quality of life in crime-ridden areas. I just don't see this happening in our capital city. I realize every city tells a different story, but the more I visit New Haven, it really seems like they're up the upswing despite current obstacles. I think it would benefit Hartford if they took a few pages from their book.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Correct. No point in trying to put lipstick on a pig.



I'd like to be clear about something: I would very much like for Hartford to succeed, to turn around and become a desirable, attractive place not just to spend a few hours and leave, but for people to call home. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened, at least not yet. When you compare Hartford with other cities in the state, like New Haven for instance, it's like night and day. I use New Haven as an example because in my opinion the way that city has evolved over the last few years is a model for Hartford to follow: instead of fostering dependency on government and neighboring suburbs, they've made an effort to clean up and improve downtown, they're doing what they can to maintain the existing, stable middle-class neighborhoods beyond downtown (something Hartford is sadly lacking), and they're trying to improve quality of life in crime-ridden areas. I just don't see this happening in our capital city. I realize every city tells a different story, but the more I visit New Haven, it really seems like they're up the upswing despite current obstacles. I think it would benefit Hartford if they took a few pages from their book.

New Haven has the pretty big benefit of critical mass of students in its urban area. Plus a pretty healthy shuttle system of students from other regional colleges. I counted it at one point, but it's something like 150,000 students within a small radius of neighboring towns.

Plus New Haven has a benefit of more contiguous, safe walkable neighborhoods with a mix of dining, culture, shopping, etc. It's also a bigger biking town, which further connects walkable areas. Lastly, Yale represents a tremendous amount of cultural amenities that draw tourists, AND they've been aggressive about engineering gentrification with their very deep pockets.

I hope the same. Hartford has potential and unfortunately lags many other cities that have transformed in the past few decades. Like Bridgeport, it's on the right track, but it's a too-slow progression.

[SteveM85]

Rome wasn't built in a day.
The first step is getting Hartford far enough into Danny K's epic town tourny. Getting to the dance, it won't make the Final Four but making it to the Elite 8 or even Sweet 16 would be a great first step.

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by Stylo

New Haven has the pretty big benefit of critical mass of students in its urban area. Plus a pretty healthy shuttle system of students from other regional colleges. I counted it at one point, but it's something like 150,000 students within a small radius of neighboring towns.

Plus New Haven has a benefit of more contiguous, safe walkable neighborhoods with a mix of dining, culture, shopping, etc. It's also a bigger biking town, which further connects walkable areas. Lastly, Yale represents a tremendous amount of cultural amenities that draw tourists, AND they've been aggressive about engineering gentrification with their very deep pockets.

All true. NH is definitely a college town (really, the only one in the state, though Middletown has a bit of this vibe to a lesser degree). This gives them a huge advantage. But also, as you said, apart from downtown, NH has several residential areas that remain safe, middle-class enclaves (East Rock, Wooster Square, Amity). Hartford, on the other hand, has street-specific blocks that are safe, but there isn't really a neighborhood that is wholly safe. For example, Blue Hills has the highest rate of home ownership in Hartford, and most of it is a decent suburban enclave for middle-class and working-class blacks, but it encompasses a large area and certain parts (like Route 187) are rough. Other areas that used to be respectable, like the South End, have gone through huge changes in recent years, have seen major spikes in violent crime and are now soaked in the drug trade. So it's going to be a major uphill climb if the city really wants to rebound.

Originally Posted by Stylo

I hope the same. Hartford has potential and unfortunately lags many other cities that have transformed in the past few decades. Like Bridgeport, it's on the right track, but it's a too-slow progression.

Honestly, I feel that Bridgeport is in better shape than Hartford at this point. Granted, it isn't very nice aesthetically, but like NH they have stable, middle-class areas where crime is minimal (North End, Black Rock), they've experienced a drop in crime, and their close proximity to the city is only going to benefit them in the future.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Honestly, I feel that Bridgeport is in better shape than Hartford at this point. Granted, it isn't very nice aesthetically, but like NH they have stable, middle-class areas where crime is minimal (North End, Black Rock), they've experienced a drop in crime, and their close proximity to the city is only going to benefit them in the future.

That's true. I guess I always think about the stagnation of Bridgeport downtown, but Black Rock is quite vibrant and there's other bright spots within the city.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by ConnecticutSir

Hartford has been ranked as WalletHub's 48th best state capital for 2022

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-state-capitals/19030

I don’t agree with the way Wallethub ranks these. It’s obvious that they are looking at strictly the city itself. Hartford is ranked No. 46 for Economic Well-Being. This makes it seem like Hartford is a third world country which is far from the truth. The City of Hartford is the very small urban core of a large metropolitan area of 1.2 million people. This urban core contains the majority of the metropolitan areas poverty and crime. It doesn’t take into account that Hartford is also the second largest employment center in New England with more than 110,000 jobs. It also doesn’t consider that the metropolitan area is very affluent with median incomes well above the national average. This makes metropolitan Hartford a great city. Certainly better than many on this list. Jay

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I don’t agree with the way Wallethub ranks these. It’s obvious that they are looking at strictly the city itself. Hartford is ranked No. 46 for Economic Well-Being. This makes it seem like Hartford is a third world country which is far from the truth. The City of Hartford is the very small urban core of a large metropolitan area of 1.2 million people. This urban core contains the majority of the metropolitan areas poverty and crime. It doesn’t take into account that Hartford is also the second largest employment center in New England with more than 110,000 jobs. It also doesn’t consider that the metropolitan area is very affluent with median incomes well above the national average. This makes metropolitan Hartford a great city. Certainly better than many on this list. Jay

Agreed. Again just look at the list. Boston, 23? One of the best cities the country has to offer?

Albany above Hartford???

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I don’t agree with the way Wallethub ranks these. It’s obvious that they are looking at strictly the city itself. Hartford is ranked No. 46 for Economic Well-Being. This makes it seem like Hartford is a third world country which is far from the truth. The City of Hartford is the very small urban core of a large metropolitan area of 1.2 million people. This urban core contains the majority of the metropolitan areas poverty and crime. It doesn’t take into account that Hartford is also the second largest employment center in New England with more than 110,000 jobs. It also doesn’t consider that the metropolitan area is very affluent with median incomes well above the national average. This makes metropolitan Hartford a great city. Certainly better than many on this list. Jay

They’re not taking into account the metro area — they’re looking at the city itself on its own terms. In this respect, it isn’t surprising why it ranks where it does. I’m sorry, but as it currently stands, it leaves a lot to be desired.

[ConnecticutSir]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Agreed. Again just look at the list. Boston, 23? One of the best cities the country has to offer?

Albany above Hartford???

One thing I don't like about WalletHub's list is that it puts "affordability" on equal importance as "quality of life." Boston is #1 in quality of life, yet (as you pointed out) it's only 23rd overall. Who in their right mind would rather live in Oklahoma City or Cheyenne instead of Boston? Often (but not always) places cost more the better place they are to live. So in my opinion, affordability shouldn't even be factored into the equation.

In Hartford's defense it's ranked 23rd in quality of life. How on Earth is Jackson Mississippi ranked higher overall than Hartford?

[norcal2k19]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

All true. NH is definitely a college town (really, the only one in the state, though Middletown has a bit of this vibe to a lesser degree). This gives them a huge advantage. But also, as you said, apart from downtown, NH has several residential areas that remain safe, middle-class enclaves (East Rock, Wooster Square, Amity). Hartford, on the other hand, has street-specific blocks that are safe, but there isn't really a neighborhood that is wholly safe. For example, Blue Hills has the highest rate of home ownership in Hartford, and most of it is a decent suburban enclave for middle-class and working-class blacks, but it encompasses a large area and certain parts (like Route 187) are rough. Other areas that used to be respectable, like the South End, have gone through huge changes in recent years, have seen major spikes in violent crime and are now soaked in the drug trade. So it's going to be a major uphill climb if the city really wants to rebound.



Honestly, I feel that Bridgeport is in better shape than Hartford at this point. Granted, it isn't very nice aesthetically, but like NH they have stable, middle-class areas where crime is minimal (North End, Black Rock), they've experienced a drop in crime, and their close proximity to the city is only going to benefit them in the future.

East Rock is upper-middle class and generally affluent (understated money along with Prospect St. and St. Ronan) with a proportion of transient grad students and young professionals mixed in. It's one of the most highly educated nabes in Connecticut.

I'm long Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport. The State is finally investing in cities because we have a governor that understands the importance of them given his strong New York City ties.