[JayCT]

The reason the Mass Pike looks less developed has to do with its location. It was cut through was is essentially undeveloped area with no major parallel roadways to have commercial development built. Look at the areas around Framingham and you see massive development near the hgihway because the area supports it. If the Mass Pike was located to parallel Route 9 you would see the sprawl from Boston to Worcester. Jay

[seymourct]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

-If these areas are not really having the NE feel..Can anybody explain?

Thanks.

Ok Bluecountry... how do YOU think NE should feel? Lots of commenting on this thread but I'm still not really clear what the question was? Are you talking about old colonial era buildings with cobblestone streets and brass statues of Colonial historical figures adorning all the city streets? There is a lot of that kind of stuff all over CT, maybe not clustered together in any particular spot that says "Look.. hey.. the state was part of the colonies back in the day" our stuff is more spread out.

No.. we don't have a Plymouth Rock equivalent or stories about Paul Revere's ride, or the minute man bridge, or that type of touristy NE destinations.. But we've got history... lots of it actually...

[uconn99]

History like the Charter Oak! Connecticut is full of history, more than Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hamshire and Maine put together IMO.

[bluecountry]

Originally Posted by JayCT

The reason the Mass Pike looks less developed has to do with its location. It was cut through was is essentially undeveloped area with no major parallel roadways to have commercial development built. Look at the areas around Framingham and you see massive development near the hgihway because the area supports it. If the Mass Pike was located to parallel Route 9 you would see the sprawl from Boston to Worcester. Jay

Well that begs the question.....given how much is made of Boston as a big market...why aren't there parallel roads and why is the area undeveloped?
You would think for a major market...business and local pressure would be huge to build on undeveloped land so close to a major market and highway.

Originally Posted by seymourct

Ok Bluecountry... how do YOU think NE should feel? Lots of commenting on this thread but I'm still not really clear what the question was? Are you talking about old colonial era buildings with cobblestone streets and brass statues of Colonial historical figures adorning all the city streets? There is a lot of that kind of stuff all over CT, maybe not clustered together in any particular spot that says "Look.. hey.. the state was part of the colonies back in the day" our stuff is more spread out.

No.. we don't have a Plymouth Rock equivalent or stories about Paul Revere's ride, or the minute man bridge, or that type of touristy NE destinations.. But we've got history... lots of it actually...

To me...the Hartford region looks more like NY with it's sprawl seen from the highway and extending very far as opposed to Boston which after 12 miles...is forests.

[JViello]

Bluecountry since no one else will say it, I will just get it out of the way.

Your wrong. Period. Okay? Everyone is telling you the same thing and you keep arguing back. Just accept it. Please.

We live here, we know the areas. We travel off the highways. Some of us have lived in real sprawl areas and know the difference.

The Hartford region is NOT an extention of NYC, and does not suffer from sprawl. If you go 1-2 miles in either direction of I84 farm land and country backroads and spread out homesites are the rule not the exception. Boston is a much larger city and has just as many of the things you see off I84 and more.

We are probably the furthest thing from your stereotypical metro area in the nation regarding subdivisions, shopping centers and unbridled sprawl.

[ronson]

I think we are done here

[Tin Knocker]

Dont see what the hubbub is about. CT is in NE so whatever it feels or looks like thats NE. To me NE is coastal communities, clamming, lobstering & oystering, blue fish & striped bass. I think its likely a little different to everyone & preconcieved notions are bount to leave you wanting. It is what it is, take it or leave it, me, I'm staying.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by Tin Knocker

Dont see what the hubbub is about. CT is in NE so whatever it feels or looks like thats NE. To me NE is coastal communities, clamming, lobstering & oystering, blue fish & striped bass. I think its likely a little different to everyone & preconcieved notions are bount to leave you wanting. It is what it is, take it or leave it, me, I'm staying.

Good point. To me its mountains, hiking, skiing, sugar shacks, lakes, fishing, woodstoves, white steeple churches, fall colors, pumpkins, lots of snow, summers at the lake or the beach, Yankee independence and self-sufficiency, "good walls mean good neighbors", Paul Revere, Mark Twain, Noah Webster, the Wadsworth, Vermont Maple Syrup and Cheese, "Live Free or Die", Maine Lobstahs, Cape Cod, Newport Mansions, Mystic Seaport....the list goes on and on.

[bluecountry]

I'm just saying from the highway...it looks like the Hartford suburbs have a lot more sprawl and extend further off I-84 than Boston does from the pike.

The Hartford suburbs look more built up and similar from the road with chains as you find in the New York region than the forests of Boston.

I always have been confused by this appearance.

[JiminCT]

The Hartford area is its OWN area. It has sports fans of Boston (cough) and NY, but the Hartford area doesnt have a NY or Boston influence other than that.