Holyoke bound (Chicopee, Amherst, Northampton: apartment complexes, to rent, crimes)

[sweetie-pie]

My work is moving me to Holyoke, based on what I've read on this site I don't want to particularly live there. Any location suggestions for a young single woman. I don't mind driving up to an hour away if its up and down I-91.

thanks

[gwendolynmylove]

Hi, I live in that area. The towns you would pobably look into are Ludlow (on the mass pike, easy commute), Northampton, Sunderland, South Deerfield (all on 91), South Hadley (bordering town of Holyoke), and Amherst- (a bit farther but not undoable at all- 20 mins?). There is also Granby and Belchertown but there is not a lot to rent there and Belchertown would be a half hour drive which would be the farthest to drive from. If you need to live on less finances than also try Palmer which is also on the pike- some shabbier areas but not like Holyoke. There are some nice areas in Holyoke but I am not familiar with the renting situation area there and there are some very not nice areas there as well. Northampton and Amherst are trendy with shops, food, and college students but the rents will also be higher. Try to avoid apartment complexes although they are so bad, but you will definitely end up with a different crowd. They have a rep for drinking parties (not the cool kind), drugs, roaches and also families who just can't afford to move anywhere better.

[jyoung666]

there are some nice places over there, holyoke is actually nice, i dont know what people are talking about, but if you dont like it springfield isnt that bad of a drive try there, but my advise is take a look around holyoke im sure you will like it.

[blueeyedshawty]

my dad lives in Holyoke and I see y u don't wanna go there. Its pretty dangerous n filled with ghettos. try Northampton, trust me cuz I'm from Forest Park aka the ghetto

[mig2x]

I was there in West MA for six days last week since Ill be starting my internship in Baystate. I wasnt impress with Holyoke. The only area that I liked about Holyoke was Ingleside and in fact thats where Im going to be living in an apt complex call Devonshire Place Apartments, its in a nice area and very close to I-91, the mall, gas stations, restaurants etc etc.

Armhest is a little too far especially in the winter months with icy road conditions etc etc. Northampton is pretty nice but its a college party area. I also went to springfield and cannot give you an opinion based on what I saw since I only saw main street and the area around the hospital (baystate).

If you can get an apartment at Devonshire it would be awesome since it would be less than 5 minutes from your work.

[westernmass101]

Holyoke really isn't that bad. I understand that your a single women who is concerned about her safety and the fact that being involved in crimes (robbery, drugs, rape, etc...) worries you. The part that everyone says is bad is downtown Holyoke, you are looking more at the Holyoke close to I-91. That part of Holyoke is actually very nice.

I would suggest living near HCC. Here's the streets that woudl be good for you: Homestead Avenue, Cherry Street, Jarvis Avenue, Summit Avenue and any side streets around there.

You will also find Community Field is a nice park. However, if you are more of an outdoors person you are lucky to live right near there. Anniversary Park is right behind Community Field, it's actually an abandon park when I-91 was built. You still can access it by walking. The nice part of the park is that you can see the old stone bridges that were paths and than the more you climb you will find the cell tower, but don't be fooled right hidden behind it is Scotts Tower one of the most weirdest looking towers. It's abandon, though people walk up it. I do know from experience that theres a step missing but its relatively safe. The views are amazing by the way. I know some neighborhood kids try to take care of the place.

Overall, The place is really a nice and safe place to be. Just keep in mind Holyoke is a city filled with a lot of good people and mostly everyone who lives there wants to change the city for the good.

Honestly, I live in Chicopee and I want to move to Holyoke cause it's one of the most spectacular places to live in.