[newportbeachsmostwanted]

I just got back from my trip to Fairfield County. I loved Darien, and New Canaan. I would like to live somewhere quaint and near New Canaan(if possible). Is there anywhere even more quiet/slow-paced? I found Ridgefield, Redding, and Pound Ridge, NY but never had the chance to visit. How do they compare?

I am a single business owner. I will looking into Stamford/Bridgeport or Danbury to lease commercial warehouse space. Is anyone familiar with CT rents for about 5,000sq. feet?



-shopping?
-warnings?
-places of interest?
-parks
-biking trails?*


I encountered some folks in Stamford that didn't speak English. I would prefer to avoid these areas. Thank you.

[jdhall1]

Newportbeachsmostwanted,
I am happy to see that you loved your trip to Fairfield County. It is a very desirable place and I am sure that your business will do well here.I do not handle commerical real estate (I do residental in Danbury and my large company has a commerical division), but I looked on the mls and it's about $7-$8 a square foot for the warehouse space but I don't know if that number is remotley accurate (that's why I have my clients call the commerical office).

Redding and Ridgefield are some of the towns I serve. I am pretty sure that is what you are looking for in terms of quiantness and are more affordable than Darien and New Canaan. Ridgefield is close to New Canaan, it's about a 20 minute trip from it's historic downtown. Ridgefield does have some boutiques ,restaurants, and a couple of grocery stores but most of your 'big box', clothes, furniture shopping and so on would be in Danbury. Redding has almost no commerical devolpment, so you would have to go up to Danbury or down to Fairfield depending on what part of town you live in.

There is the Aldrich Museum (fine art) in Ridgefield, a playhouse, a few nice historic museums in Ridgefield.I am a runner but I usually drive into Ridgefield to one of their many open space areas. I absoletly love running at Bennett's Pond/Hemlock Hills/Pine Mountain, 3 connecting parks that total about 1300 acres and is part of the Ive's Trail, a 14 mile along trail connecting that large parcel in Ridgefield to Danbury's large park (Tarrywille) then into Bethel. I have seen mountain bikers on the trails and the terrain in that parcel ranges from being very flat to very hilly.

There are some things to do in Redding that are of interest. There is Putnam Park, which was used as a camp site in the Revoluntary war, the little red brick school house, huntingdon park, and the old town house at the green. As i mentioned, the best parks of biking are Huntingdon Park (on rt 58), Tarrywille (in southern Danbury), and Devil's Den (1600 acres) in southern Redding and Weston.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in any way.

[formerbronxgirl]

Hi I have lived in 3 different towns since moving to CT 12 years ago from the Bronx. Firstly I still have family in Bronx and it is by no means liek Bagdad...(maybe the South Bronx) however City island(The Bronx) and Country Club all areas in Bronx have homes woth over 1,000,000. Enough on that...I would not raise my child in Bronx at this time...but it's not a war zone.

i lived in Norwalk for a long time it has alot to offer;however, schools not rated well and taxes high. Most of the wealthy people that live there send kids to private school.
Fairfield is a great town with great schools and a close proximity to NYC. The beach is nice and the town is all about kids and family. We currently live in Shelton which is considered up and coming, but for me I cant wait to move back to FFLD we will be living in a smaller house for more money but this former city girl is not into this bedroom community. If you have small chldfren move to the Huntington Section of Shelton Boothe Hill is rated #7 in state. Shelton is known for low taxes alot of corporations here to subsidize the burden on home owners. Bad points ...not much intown need to go out of town for lots..however, it is building up and you are close to Orange and Milford which have everything. I personally would rather live on coast.
Hope that helps. onemore thing...the people in this part of CT very jugdemental, competitive and exclusive, I found the people in lower FFLD CNTY more like New Yorkers which are more open and accepting.

[sevdie]

Originally Posted by formerbronxgirl

I found the people in lower FFLD CNTY more like New Yorkers which are more open and accepting.

I like the username, formerbronxgirl! I am also from the Bronx (born and raised) and appreciate your decription of the county. Lower Fairfield County seems more like my taste. I am trying to get away from as many bigoted people as possible. I wish they'd all stay in their holes...~Anyway, can I send you some private messages and ask you in more detail about specific towns in lower fairfield county? I just want your opinion on a couple of things if you don't mind.


To the original poster,

I think you'll be happier in the midwest. There are more of your type over there. Maybe you should take a look at Colorado, Kansas, or Nebraska.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by jdhall1

Redding and Ridgefield are some of the towns I serve. I am pretty sure that is what you are looking for in terms of quiantness and are more affordable than Darien and New Canaan. Ridgefield is close to New Canaan, it's about a 20 minute trip from it's historic downtown. Ridgefield does have some boutiques ,restaurants, and a couple of grocery stores but most of your 'big box', clothes, furniture shopping and so on would be in Danbury. Redding has almost no commerical devolpment, so you would have to go up to Danbury or down to Fairfield depending on what part of town you live in.

There is the Aldrich Museum (fine art) in Ridgefield, a playhouse, a few nice historic museums in Ridgefield.I am a runner but I usually drive into Ridgefield to one of their many open space areas. I absoletly love running at Bennett's Pond/Hemlock Hills/Pine Mountain, 3 connecting parks that total about 1300 acres and is part of the Ive's Trail, a 14 mile along trail connecting that large parcel in Ridgefield to Danbury's large park (Tarrywille) then into Bethel. I have seen mountain bikers on the trails and the terrain in that parcel ranges from being very flat to very hilly.

There are some things to do in Redding that are of interest. There is Putnam Park, which was used as a camp site in the Revoluntary war, the little red brick school house, huntingdon park, and the old town house at the green. As i mentioned, the best parks of biking are Huntingdon Park (on rt 58), Tarrywille (in southern Danbury), and Devil's Den (1600 acres) in southern Redding and Weston.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in any way.

Thank you JDHall1! That is exactly what I'm looking for.. Do you have any information on Pound Ridge, NY?

Originally Posted by formerbronxgirl

Hope that helps. onemore thing...the people in this part of CT very jugdemental, competitive and exclusive, .

Californian's are pretty similar.

Originally Posted by sevdie

To the original poster,

I think you'll be happier in the midwest. There are more of your type over there.

I'm offended. I was born/raised in the northeast. I then moved to Los Angeles for college and ended up staying. I am specifically leaving SoCal: for the reason that I no longer feel like I am in America. I love New England for the ocean, vibrancy, and the people. They are well-educated, and very friendly.
I am an open and accepting person. I simply asked for an area where I don't have to "hablo espanol." Why can't I ask to speak my own language?

[sevdie]

I'm sure the "hablo espanol" people would like to ask you the very same question. Nevermind.

The United States does not have an official language, but yes, you can ask to speak your own language. That's fine. I have read your other posts and the majority of the people in the midwest share those same views very strongly. I simply made a suggestion, but don't worry, it won't happen again. I'm done with the whole thing. You say you're open and accepting. That's great. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[formerbronxgirl]

hi i agree like to speak my own language, i am not even referring to the language issues and all that
i am talking about if you are just different
for example when i met my husbands friends they are from the southignton area of ct they were against me from the start bc i was from ny i didnt soudn liek them and i didnt act like them, now i am an educated person with very good social skills (not good typing skillss go too fast) and they just decided i wasnt the right fit their friend ...well 5 years late and i lil girl they still act like i am an outsider so we dotn see them my husband isfree to socialize with them whenever he wants but my daughter and i will not be aroudn them
i can probalby list amny other examples...i find the people inlowe ffdl county to be very different thatn the middle of the state, which by the way is not all that pretty

[sevdie]

formerbronxgirl,

I got your PM, but it was empty. There was nothing in it. Could you please resend it to me? Thanks

[jdhall1]

Pound Ridge is about 20 minutes from New Canaan, but seems a lot more isolated from shopping than Ridgefield and Redding. I don't even think there is a restaurant in Pound Ridge, but I may be wrong because I rarely go down that way. The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a 4700 acre county park with miles upon miles of trails, but you do have to pay a few dollers each time you go to park. For the homes I saw, they are more expensive and the taxes are higher in Pound Ridge than in Ridgefield and Redding.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by formerbronxgirl

hi i agree like to speak my own language, i am not even referring to the language issues and all that
i am talking about if you are just different
for example when i met my husbands friends they are from the southignton area of ct they were against me from the start bc i was from ny i didnt soudn liek them and i didnt act like them, now i am an educated person with very good social skills (not good typing skillss go too fast) and they just decided i wasnt the right fit their friend ...well 5 years late and i lil girl they still act like i am an outsider so we dotn see them my husband isfree to socialize with them whenever he wants but my daughter and i will not be aroudn them
i can probalby list amny other examples...i find the people inlowe ffdl county to be very different thatn the middle of the state, which by the way is not all that pretty

There are some sections of Connecticut that try desperately to hold on to all things "New England." They resent the influx of New Yorkers into the state. They often blame New Yorkers for the high price of properties because New Yorkers are leaving Long Island and Westchester looking for "cheaper" properties. By the way, they're not complaining when they get top dollar for their properties!

Of the six (6) New England states, Connecticut has the least "New England" feel to it. Surrounded on two sides by New York, there is a close relationship between the two states: transportation networks exist to accommodate commuters (MTA - New Haven line and ferries to Long Island), New York sports teams have a loyal following in Connecticut, and New York TV affiliates are preferred to those from Connecticut. As a matter of fact, a shoreline cable system posed the question to its subscribers, "Which stations would you rather keep?", and the New York stations won!

The statement that you made regarding the central part of the state being "not all that pretty" was most likely unjustly influenced by your husband's friends' remarks. Specifically, what did you find "unpretty"?