Up-and-Coming Massachusetts Towns and Cities (Boston, Worcester: apartments, insurance, crime rate)

[rcon303]

has anyone any thoughts about lowell,lawrence,worcester?i have been checking out lynn and haverhill online too.i am looking to move closer to boston,any recommendations?lynn looks great online so near to the beach but is it really that bad?
i am in the berkshires near n adams and pittsfield- theres some good energy here
with a sort of grungy/rough atmosphere too so i do not mind little bit of roughness around the edges.

[thenewNewEnglander]

Originally Posted by Eric H.

Perhaps this is a difficult subject given the tough economy, but what Massachusetts towns and cities do you see progressing with significant proper growth?

Proper growth could mean smart economic development, social and educational improvements, community beautification, etc.

Given that many people on this board are looking to move to Massachusetts communitities "headed in the right direction," perhaps this thread could be of benefit from "locals" like us who have a feel (based on facts and opinions) on the direction our communities are headed.

Hi Eric.

Thanks for such a fantastic and important post.

Personally I think this is the future of all of at least Eastern Mass, and most of New England.

I think the time for growth has returned to the Bay State. Personally I see big change everywhere I go- and I travel all over MA, RI, and NH for work.
I see great commercial development, wonderfully revived down town areas, and lots of denser development- some great new apartment complexes and the like. And my goodness I've seen some of the most charming houses around here of anywhere I've ever been. Seems like EVERYWHERE you go someone is remodeling, adding on, or demolishing and replacing a house...

To me we have a back door under the radar type of growth, not so measurable with the typical "new construction permits" type of way... And our population despite popular opinion has in fact been growing since 2005 and just wait for the 2010 "head count" census... The world may finally get an accurate picture of how many people are indeed in Massachusetts.

That being said... I'm a Pro-growther... I wish we'd gain 1-2 million new Bay Staters. I think the answer for us is Texas style... bigger is better. Let's show America what "Big" in the Northeast can be like..

MORE TAXPAYERS, NOT MORE TAXES
MORE JOBS= HIGHER WAGES
CLEAN UP AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC, TEAR DOWN THE REST
BUILD NEW THINGS THAT LOOK OLD
PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE
GROW.

That's my belief!

[thenewNewEnglander]

I know this one will ruffle some feathers but I'm gonna say it anyway.


But more importantly I think there are some interesting things happening in New Bedford- That Union St area seems to shaping up quite nicely... its early, but cool none the less. I think Lakeville, Easton, Mansfield, Franklin, and other towns in SE Mass have done a great job with revitalization. The Bridgewater area is starting to put in some new Commercial plazas for the first time in who knows how long... maybe some property tax relief will be on the way, or least the budget axe will get a bit of a break... Sharon Commons looks like it will be an interesting project...

Tell your zoning and planning boards to "JUST SAY YES" End the culture of obstruction we have....
Tell them to be helpful and friendly.... and to find a way dammit!

I know people hate traffic but...

TRAFFIC = DOLLARS $$$

It means people are working OR SPENDING!

Why is "your traffic" ok? But not other peoples?

Traffic is a good sign... dont get me wrong, we NEED MASS TRANSIT AND ROAD WIDENING/REPAIR

And for those who say "When I moved here it was the woods and I want it to stay that way"
NEWSFLASH!!! You shoulda bought the woods... you dont OWN the woods. DONT INFRINGE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHT TO UTILIZE THEIR PROPERTY!!! I mean c'mon... now that you have your house no one else should build one huh?

And for God's sake... enough of the crackpot wackjob environmental "science."

I live on a lake where about 5% of houses use fertilizer. Yet residents get blamed for runoff being the cause of a ridiculous weed problem. Yet the state has ZERO restrictions on the boats entering the body of water from God knows where carrying all kinds of flora on props... and for that matter the emissions being left in the water by all form of watercraft...

I mean is it really that parking lot 2 miles away? Is it really the lawn which I NEVER fertilize that abuts the water?

NO.
It is more likely the unrestricted access of boats to the lake, by people who dont even live near the lake. Which the state sanctions in the form of taxes, fess, and insurance.

ITS CRACKPOT WACKJOB ENVIRONMENTAL SO CALLED SCIENCE that is based on a bunch of assumptions, extrapolations, and outdated statistical data.

Dont get me wrong I believe in maintaining and caring for a healthy environment, but let's be reasonable here... let's look at all the facts and data

Maybe the spotted turtle was just passing through my land.... and doesnt in fact live on it. Or maybe some disgruntled "I bought my house because of the woods" neighbor put the damn thing there...

Personally I want to see the lives of Bay Staters improve, and their personal wealth too.
I want families to be able to live together in large houses... Let people add on, let them build in-law apartments, let them rezone to multiple residencies per lot.

WE NEED TO GET RID OR OUR ARCHAIC ZONING REQUIREMENTS
REDUCE LOT SIZE AND FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS
AND "WET LAND" IS ONE OF THE WORST LIES OUT THERE
ITS A WAY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BUILDABLE LAND AND ARTIFICIALLY INFLATE VALUES AS WELL AS PREVENT SIMPLE CHANGE

[lrfox]

^wait. So the guy from Easton, who MAY have alterior motives, who said he thinks he saw a salamander near the proposed fall river/new Bedford commuter rail line route SHOULDN'T be able to delay a rail link to Boston for over 250,000 people?!

Haha I completely agree. Our zoning laws have actually hurt businesses (as it takes forever to get anything built here) and have added to sprawl around Boston. Yes, sprawl around Boston. No it's not as dense as LA's sprawl, but it almost takes up the same amount of area due to minimum sized lot requirements, set back laws, etc. The irony is that because everyone wants their yard and trees, we are running out of new space for that stuff. Our zoning laws are archaic.

[Beachcomber4]

THis is a tough question to answer given the current economic climate. I think some areas that were on track, will suffer.


Chronicle just did a big story on Brockton and it's revitalization. That's a city in flux. Lots of money has been pumped in to rebuild infrastructure, improve schools etc. but problems still exist.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of Southfield in the Weymouth/Abington/Rockland area at the old South Weymouth Naval Air Station. Rockland is in a prime location and should benefit from this project but town leaders always seem to shoot themselves in the foot.

[Wisterialane]

My small family moved to the Berkshires last July from waaaay out of state.
I couldn't be more displeased with this area... it is BEAUTIFUL no doub't but the schools here are not great, there is no growth (seems like more loss) however I realize the economy is bad everywhere.
we have not experiance ANY other part of MA yet. where are the jobs?, schools? affordable and decent rentals? does every house/apt have these super long stairs to climb? what about good medical care? I myself would like to be able to go to school, make new friends that want to be friends, live in a community that takes the word "community" seriously, has people that are not so in to soley themselves....
Do I sound un-happy? yes!, the Northern Berkshires was a mistake and I want outta here!

[thenewNewEnglander]

Originally Posted by lrfox

^wait. So the guy from Easton, who MAY have alterior motives, who said he thinks he saw a salamander near the proposed fall river/new Bedford commuter rail line route SHOULDN'T be able to delay a rail link to Boston for over 250,000 people?!

Haha I completely agree. Our zoning laws have actually hurt businesses (as it takes forever to get anything built here) and have added to sprawl around Boston. Yes, sprawl around Boston. No it's not as dense as LA's sprawl, but it almost takes up the same amount of area due to minimum sized lot requirements, set back laws, etc. The irony is that because everyone wants their yard and trees, we are running out of new space for that stuff. Our zoning laws are archaic.

Thanks lrfox... especially for that earlier Taunton plug!

OUR ZONING LAWS ARE ARCHAIC!!!! THEY SERVE A FEW AND HARM THE REST!

[brightdoglover]

The jobs, etc., are in the Boston metro area, and certainly eastern Mass. So are the expenses of housing, but that's where the deal is. As for community, I think any older town (not city) would be good.
The poster who mentioned Lynn, Worcester, etc., well, they've been "up and coming" for a long time, and haven't exactly arrived. In my opinion, too many poor people, junkies, and people in need of social services, and not enough jobs and stable households.
Maybe Worcester, but I don't think it's ever gonna really "come up." I doubt there are any diamonds in the rough left around here.
One humble opinion after 34 years in the area.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

I have to disagree, though, about Falmouth and Mashpee. Falmouth is entirely too congested, even in the off season. I only go once a month to do some shopping at WalMart, Shaws, etc. and then get outta dodge!

The reason Falmouth is so congested is people from Bourne have to drive there to do ANY shopping. Gray Gables and Larry's are great in a pinch but for any bulk shopping, you have to leave town.

[MrNics]

Since you already live off Rt 2, have you considered the Fitchburg area: Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Shirley, Ayer)? Real estate is reasonable, there's public trans to Boston and plenty to do in regards to outdoor activities, culture and entertainment. You mentioned Haverhill which offers about the same setup as Fitchburg too and is about 20 mins from the beach. I would stay away from Lynn and Worcester. The bad areas certainly outweigh the good there. But Worcester does have some terrific restaurants and access to great shopping. It's also only about 25 min drive from Fitchburg. Lynn does have the beach if you can stand the seaweed problem that has plagued that area the last 20 years. It really is unbearable at low tides. We've lived all over the state following my work and can give you a fair amount of insight if need be.