Has Northampton gone downhill? (Springfield, Brookline: housing, rent, high school)

[Green_Bean]

Just looking for thoughts on Northampton. It seems it isn't what it used to be. Housing and rents are expensive and lots of beggars in the streets. What do others think? Do you remember a different Northampton of a few decades ago? How does it compare?

Thanks,

Green Bean

[ontheroad]

Actually, I was shocked when I drove into Northampton in May, my first visit in several years. Shops were closed and boarded; other shops seemed to be acting as street vendors, and while I didn't see more people begging on the street, it seemed as if quite a few people walking around town either didn't live there or had come from a neighbouring circus.

So, yes, I'd say Northampton has changed.

I talked to several old friends, and a few shop keepers, all of whom, seemed to acknowledge the negative changes, but none of whom are resigned to its long-term effects on the town. They have hope for a rebound!

Interesting that with this seemingly downward spiral--housing prices remain high, and in fact appear about 50-100% higher than when I lived in the area (1995).

[skytrekker]

Sorry to hear this

I was in Northampton last 4 years ago- and things seemed ok. I wonder what happened?

[JiminCT]

See Manhattan and San Fran.

Gentrification and national chains...

Having seen this town through the eyes of a high schooler in the 80s up until now...Northampton is turning into a high priced suburb of Springfield mixed in with a LOT of urban trust-funders. It still has some gems to it...but the Del Raye is a classic example of what has happend to "Noho" (lol..).

[GreenMachine]

I never liked the Del Raye restaurant. What is a snotty restaurant doing in a town like Northampton? When I go online to look at rent prices, I'm shocked. i can't imagine paying $1,000 or more a month for an apartment in Noho. Where is the next Northampton? Where do we go if not Northampton?

greenie (formerly the green bean who started the thread)

[JiminCT]

There are a couple of them like the Del Raye around. Fortunately, The Iron Horse, Spaghetti Joes, Belas, and a couple of flea-bag bars survived. Starting to feel more like Westport and Brookline more than Northampton. Easthampton is actually looking more interesting these days.

As I said, there are a lot of ex-urbanite trust funders hanging out here. Go to the Woodstar and Haymarket and you'll see them all day playing on their laptops writing/thinking about their next novel.

Do the drive on Route 9 over to Amherst and you'll see progress (even Applebees) taking over.

Where to go?
Ithaca NY
Providence RI
Burlington VT
Portland ME

[cosmonewman]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Interesting that with this seemingly downward spiral--housing prices remain high, and in fact appear about 50-100% higher than when I lived in the area (1995).

Where haven't housing prices jumped 50, 100 or even 200% since 1995? Nowhere that I have seen. Prices are high because demand is high.

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Sorry to hear this

I was in Northampton last 4 years ago- and things seemed ok. I wonder what happened?

Nothing happened. Just perception.

[JiminCT]

I suggest looking at downtown. The sanitization of Northampton....

[sciencegeek]

I grew up there too. I think it just got too tourist for its own good. When the hardware store closed, and Branwin closed and so on, it just stopped being a functional downtown. You can't have an entire economy based on overpriced kitchenwares.

The trustafarians are indeed annoying as all hell, but they aren't new. They have been there for decades. As long as Smith students decide to stay in the area after they graduate, there will be trustafarians in Northampton.

As someone from Northampton, I prefer it to be called 'hamp. NoHo is just too obnoxious.

[JiminCT]

Noho is a clever marketing idea from some NY trustafarian to make it a hipster heaven. Didnt you know that? lol!