Holyoke Mass (Boston: low income, renting, mortgages)

[stevem319]

After reading several posts telling people to avoid moving to Holyoke. I feel inclined to give you some info.

Holyoke being an urban area, does have some areas that are problematic.
However, there are some great finds on some great streets and in some great neighborhoods.

Typical of Governmental politics there is complete misdirection on invigorating and revitalizing the Holyoke Area.

Canal Walk: A pedestrian and Bicycle promenade, I know at least 1 developer that has purchased property for commercial use, as part of the easement allows for outside dining.

The Victory Theatre: efforts to renovate this old movie theater

CrushonHolyoke.org: A local group of residents and business owners formed to generate plans for the revitalization of Holyoke.

Cleanupholyoke.org: A local group that goes out weekly to pick up trash in the downtown area.

OpenSquare.com: a Mixed use urban community

As far as housing, Home prices are low. electric is cheap, but you do need to do alot of foot work, finding your hidden gem in this city.

My home is in the Elmwood section, a very very quiet st. and good neighbors. I paid $180k 4 yrs ago for a 3 family which I occupy and thoroughly screen my tenants. However my ROI are very good since rents have increased due to the fact that people are renting since the banks tightened their mortgages.

So just because people bash Holyoke. Don't knock it until you come and check it out.

[westernmass101]

I completely agree with you on Holyoke. It has a lot of potential and in the mean time offers a lot to do.

It's all on how society thinks of things. From a sociology perspective, people immediately assume wherever there is people living in a low income area the area is troubled. Not entirely true I have found those people to actually be very helpful and encourage community involvement. People also assume on the idea just because Holyoke (downtown, which makes up the majority of Holyoke) is abandon and filed with blight they immediatly assume the worst in all situations.

I would like to ask people, this. If you think of Holyoke as being a bad place, than you must have negative comments on Boston and other great places. What city do you know of that has breath taking views, close to many highly accredited colleges/ universities, and more potential than any othe place I know of?

People need to stop thinkign bad about a city that wished they could do so much yet doesn't have the capabilities of other municipalities to do them.