Springfield MA, whats wrong with it? (Boston, Cambridge: houses, rental, hotel)

[foozman]

I lived in Wilbraham for 3 years and I have a strong bond with Western Massachusetts and its plight...I am from South of Boston, which is insulated for the most part from the plague that infects Springfield. It is a gorgeous city with pretty homes and a very plenty of space. There is an element of crime and and corruption there that reminds me of Brazil or some other south american quasi democratic country...It is an extremely Un American place. I lived in West Springfield, which is a smaller community but influenced greatly by what lies across the river. I am not a PC person. Springfield is not a place to move based on what you see for surroundings and anyone with children should beware of the socio-economic condition of this Massachusetts city. You get what you pay for.

[in_newengland]

Springfield used to be a very nice place with lovely old homes, green parks, and a beautiful downtown. The main problem with Springfield, as with all of WMass, is that the Powers the Be live in Boston and they keep the money in the Boston area.

You can pay your taxes in WMass but they will not get you anywhere; instead the money goes to corrupt people near Boston building roads and tunnels that cave in.

You should have heard the old people talk about the beautiful towns that were drowned to build Quabbin Resevoir back in the '30s. All so that BAWSTON could have more drinking water. So the Boston area grows and thrives and gets more crowded while WMass just tries to survive. THAT'S what's wrong with Springfield.

[JiminCT]

Springfield is very similar to Syracuse....in many many ways.

[LookinatMass]

Hi Everyone,
I live in Philadelphia which is truly an awful city compared to Springfield. Housing here is high as this is now the hot place to live. It is a very dirty city! I have lived here for 4 years and taught in the public schools for close to 9. I am a bilingual Special Ed teacher (Spanish/English). Although that sounds like a gold mine I have not gotten a job offer in all this time. The School District of Philadelphia refuses to hire me back because I am juvenile diabetic. Yes, that is discrimination. I have a lawsuit pending. To make a long story short I have been living on pverty level wages for a long time. I can't afford my mortgage anymore. My credit is ruined due to late mortgage payments. If I sell my house here I would have $80,000 cash, enough to buy a fixer upper or foreclosed home in the Springfield area.
While I have seen the bad posts and videos on this city is there anyone who can tell me the good? I was planning to try and land a teaching job in Hartford. I am a bit scared to be moving 4.5 hours away but there aren't too many options for me. Yes, there is the south, North Carolina etc. but the pay for teachers there isn't as great.
Could anyone give some positive advice? I know Springfield is an industrial city and it has cheap housing but if you go on realtor.com and type in houses for $80,000 in Philadelphia nothing too great comes up. A lot of really bad dives. I would like to try to get to know some people in Springfield. Are there any people in their 20's 30's who have gone through the same thing as me? This looks like a city with really nice old homes and a lot of potential. Are there certain real estate firms to avoid? I plan to drive up there next Thursday evening and stay for the weekend.

[Vagus]

Originally Posted by LookinatMass

Hi Everyone,
Could anyone give some positive advice? I know Springfield is an industrial city and it has cheap housing but if you go on realtor.com and type in houses for $80,000 in Philadelphia nothing too great comes up. A lot of really bad dives. I would like to try to get to know some people in Springfield. Are there any people in their 20's 30's who have gone through the same thing as me? This looks like a city with really nice old homes and a lot of potential. Are there certain real estate firms to avoid? I plan to drive up there next Thursday evening and stay for the weekend.

I guess it would be better to say that it's a "post-industrial" city. I doubt there's much true "industry" there nowadays.

There seem to be a couple of decent areas, mostly bordering or surrounded by many marginal-to-bad ones.

If you are single or married without kids and don't mind a bit of "urban grittiness" I guess it would be an OK relatively cheap (as far as housing goes) place to live. With kids the whole equation changes as the schools mostly have a pretty bad reputation. As a teacher you can probably better judge this for yourself though.

Question though: if you are thinking of looking for work in Hartford, why not just move to the Hartford area?

[LookinatMass]

I have been hit hard with not finding full time work with benefits. Late mortgage payments forever ruin me from getting another mortgage. I need to buy a house with cash leftover from the sale of my home here. Getting a mortgage nowadays is next to impossible without perfect credit and solid work experience for the last 5 years. Let me just say that it can happen to anyone. Bad credit was not something I planned on but when you go from making $55,000 a year to $18,000 working 2 jobs it is difficult. If I had good credit I could find a ton of nice homes all over the country. Hartford is a lot more costly thant Springfield and I have heard much worse things about it. It is not totally out of the question. It is almost impossible to find a decent or high paying teaching job anywhere in the country with affordable living. Most places that have a shortage of teachers are those with a high cost of living, NYC Los Angeles, Hawaii. I myself live in one of those old factory worker parts of the city. While I don't like it much, it has gotten popular because all these yuppies moved in 5 years ago and started building lofts and condos. It was much worse than Springfield 7-8 years ago. Springfield does have potential. It is a shame that so many people have written it off.

[Boomerang]

Isn't Agawam a whole lot better? Just thinking of some of the nicer areas around the roads leading to the Big E --- ?

[onikyros]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Isn't Agawam a whole lot better? Just thinking of some of the nicer areas around the roads leading to the Big E --- ?

I live right by the Big E actually. It is a nicer area.
Springfield has a big reputation for violence, and the not so great public schools. In West Springfield, it is safer. It's just over the river. The schooling is much more decient (finishing up high school right now here), and you can take a late night walk if you felt like it; which I personally wouldn't dare in Springfield.
Agawam is a bit more wealthy town, then West Springfield. They seem to get pricier the closer you go towards the Conn border.

[michael49]

Originally Posted by Irishfan13

My husband and I are considering a move to the Springfield area. I am considering a promotion at Westover ARB (Chicopee) and have much to really think about to require him and I to move. I've been on sites such as this one as well as realtor.com. Many individuals reference why it's so "cheap" to live in Western Mass. If we move, we are moving from a town in California that seems to be an under achiever in everything.

We would like to know what towns to only consider within the commuting area. I realize that with diversity comes the good, the bad and the UGLY. Also, from what I understand and have read - Springfield doesn't have much industry - what types of industry supports the local area? Is commuting to Hartford feasible?

Hoping to make the best decision - and your advice will assist me with that.

I hope I don't offend anyone with this. Chicopee is a hole, stay away from it. Nice areas to live include Northampton, Amherst, South Hadley (the northern end), Deerfield. Stay away from Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield.

[foozman]

Springfield for someone in your position would be perfect in my estimation. Having lived there I know..I would try to be in 16 acres if I could. You want to stay away from Hill McKnight or anywhere near downtown..East Forest park is up against Longmeadow and some retirees are moving there from towns like Wilbraham etc..As long as your not going to put your kids in the schools you will be fine. I love Springfield as far as the city goes.. It is the gangsta culture that is absolutely a nightmare..Not enough angry people willing to take a stand and get the scum out.. they would just rather leave..Be careful though, that city looks nice when the sun is shining and its a fall day, you can take a wrong turn and be in a pit of cultural hell within seconds. It is soooooooo SAD.. Welcome to the new America!