[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Come on now! Bridgeport has its rough areas, but New York does too and they are much larger and scarier. Jay

Yeah, you're right! I suppose the major difference with NYC is that most neighborhoods within the past 5 years in NYC--rough or slightly--are undergoing some form of gentrification and infill and continue to improve. Bridgeport's bad areas have sat stagnant and dilapidated for decades. I guess it *appears* rougher, but in all likelihood, it's not really as bad as NYC. It's just that Bridgeport needs some gentrification and development in certain neighborhoods bad.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by reason180

I've done it many, many times. Bridgeport to the NYC border is 40 miles, as long as there aren't any traffic problems on 95 you will hit the Bronx in 35 minutes(less if you drive like my Father). If you know your way around the Bronx you can slip into Manhattan very easily by using one of the smaller bridges.

Well, if you are talking about "to the Bronx" that's a different story. The NYC city limits line does appear right near the I-95 and Hutchinson Parkway exit, way up there. That's not what I was really referring to. I was referring to Manhattan Central, like midtown. There's no way you could drive to midtown in 35 minutes from Bridgeport--even with no traffic. I've driven from Stamford to the west side highway in Manhattan with no traffic a few times and that took about 35 minutes pushing it. Add at the minimum 15 minutes and coming from Bridgeport you might be able to hit Manhattan in 50 minutes. With absolutely zero traffic, though.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

With absolutely zero traffic, though.

Like that EVER happens. I have been caught in stopped traffic on the highways in New York at 1:00 in the morning. Jay

[JViello]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Like that EVER happens. I have been caught in stopped traffic on the highways in New York at 1:00 in the morning. Jay

LOL Me too.

[tnez1976]

I grew up in Bpt have seen it at it's worst in the 90's, been away for a while, but always came to visit fam at least once a year. I have seen it changing for the better, yes it has a bad rep still, and that it will probably always have, but have faith in it.

I honestly feel it is getting better and living in all different places in the US, when something is going to happen to you, it's going to happen no matter where you are at. I live in FL right now and in one of the safest and most expensive places here some of the worst crimes have happened.

I'm not saying that it is safe to walk around without fear in Bpt., but it is a city that is going to come up and change and be the city it used to be. I didn't grow up in the best parts of Bpt., but knowing your neighbors and getting along with the people around you does make a difference. You would be surprised who will look out for you.

You can run from it now, but you'll be back to visit someday. Mark these words. Bridgeport will become the city it once was, but better.

t

[Dennis Brown]

From the BX to Bridgeport is 40 minutes on the I-95 no traffic doing 65-70 mph. Bridgeport is definitely a 'hood' city but its calmed down from the late 80's/early 90's just like NYC but minus the fix-up so it will come off more 'bombed out' than some of the hoods in NYC but the actual danger factor is about the same. To sum it up its Newark with about half the crime. Another difference is there's nothing happening in Bridgeport so it has this dead, depressing type of effect over the young people compared to the live activity in NY where people tend to be more about their business.

[reason180]

Many people I know in Bridgeport head to NYC for entertainment since it is so close, maybe once/twice a month. Look, the bars/clubs in NYC close much, much later than they do in CT. The Jamaicans from Bport go to the reggae clubs in the Bronx on Gun Hill road and the Latinos go to the salsa clubs on Westchester Avenue. Even farther out in New Haven people will do that sometimes.

Bridgeport has a long way to go but there are some positive signs. A European commodities trading firm with offices in Norwalk is moving their operations to downtown Bridgeport due to increasing rent costs in Norwalk. Trust me, more of these financial service firms are going to be looking at Bport as rents increase in Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk.

Forstone Capital just bought the office buildings at Lafayette Circle. Forstone has connections with many hedge funds in Greenwich, I'm betting that some of those companies are going to move some of their operations to Bport.

The mayor of Stamford called Shelton "baby Stamford" the other day since a number of companies have left Stamford for cheaper rent in Shelton.... All those companies moving east from Stamford are one day going to fill into downtown bport.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Like that EVER happens. I have been caught in stopped traffic on the highways in New York at 1:00 in the morning. Jay

Actually it happens more often than many think. I frequent Manhattan and very rarely do I hit traffic except at toll booths and on the Van Wyck. That said, I don't drive during rush hour rather more often on weekends and in late evening. My guess is that the 1am traffic must've been at the tolls near one of the bridges, or on your way to the airport.

NYC traffic has nothing on LA, Atlanta, the Jersey Turnpike and even 95 between Norwalk and Greenwich, to a degree.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by reason180

The mayor of Stamford called Shelton "baby Stamford" the other day since a number of companies have left Stamford for cheaper rent in Shelton.... All those companies moving east from Stamford are one day going to fill into downtown bport.

Funny you say this - a coworker recently said in 10 years, Shelton is the next Stamford. Shelton is just less diverse.

[Dennis Brown]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Actually it happens more often than many think. I frequent Manhattan and very rarely do I hit traffic except at toll booths and on the Van Wyck. That said, I don't drive during rush hour rather more often on weekends and in late evening. My guess is that the 1am traffic must've been at the tolls near one of the bridges, or on your way to the airport.

NYC traffic has nothing on LA, Atlanta, the Jersey Turnpike and even 95 between Norwalk and Greenwich, to a degree.

Get caught on that Cross Bronx Expressway going to Jersey or the BQE and you might change your view a little