[rvp20]

Hi guys

I started work in Norwalk a month back and currently staying in Stamford.
I want to move to a more affordable/less expensive place as the rent I'm currently paying is too steep.


I recently saw in apartment in downtown bridgeport about 2 mins walk from the train station. The apartment is very nice and in the middle of Downtown at Main Street. Since I take the train to work, I felt this was very appealing.
However I have seen lot of people being skeptical about living in and around Bridgeport.

Can someone please shed some light on this and help me as I'm very new to this place?

[BPt111]

Downtown is fine don't expect it be vibrant like New Haven and Stamford there few good restaurants nearby but most of them overpriced. There no supermarket downtown so you have to drive to main street for food shopping or pricerite expect the shopping experience to be kinda ghetto. There is no stores to shop nearby so Trumbull Mall is 12 min drive on Main Street or Milford Mall 10 mins with highway. Half of downtown is rundown you might see some panhandlers by mcdonalds. Dunkin Donuts and Subway is by train station, half block section of fairfield ave downtown has the restaurants. after dawn Downtown is ghost-town it get little sketchy...I recommmed Black Rock because all bars, restaurants it most virbant part of the city and fairfield metro station is close by, close to fairfield shopping on the post road.

[Stylo]

Eh, I would skip personally.

Look into apartments near Fairfield Metro train station (Black Rock), Stratford train station, or Milford train station.

Will be similarly inexpensive and a much nicer place to live.

[JayCT]

IT really depends on what the OP wants. Downtown Bridgeport has come a long way and has the potential for more improvements as more and more former commercial buildings are converted to residential. I was surprised when I found out an old friend had moved there recently. He commutes to New York and no longer wanted a large single family home. He says it is not bad and enjoys the restaurants and entertainment options there. I do agree Black Rock may be a better option but note that the OP should stay west of Ellsworth Street if they do look there. Jay

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by JayCT

IT really depends on what the OP wants. Downtown Bridgeport has come a long way and has the potential for more improvements as more and more former commercial buildings are converted to residential. I was surprised when I found out an old friend had moved there recently. He commutes to New York and no longer wanted a large single family home. He says it is not bad and enjoys the restaurants and entertainment options there. I do agree Black Rock may be a better option but note that the OP should stay west of Ellsworth Street if they do look there. Jay

bad thing is train service is not good as Stamford...


Stamford has direct trains to NYC and New Haven

every 11-26 mins Stamford is last stop on train from NYC and in between is New Haven

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Eh, I would skip personally.

Look into apartments near Fairfield Metro train station (Black Rock), Stratford train station, or Milford train station.

Will be similarly inexpensive and a much nicer place to live.

Another NO vote on DT Bridgeport.

Originally Posted by rvp20

I recently saw in apartment in downtown bridgeport about 2 mins walk from the train station. The apartment is very nice and in the middle of Downtown at Main Street. Since I take the train to work, I felt this was very appealing.

The walk home to your apartment in the winter time(dark) won't be too "appealing".

[TPH2]

My knowledge of Bridgeport is much more limited than the above posters, but I have stayed downtown a number of times while on work trips. So, for what it's worth, I'll also throw in a NO vote.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by TPH2

My knowledge of Bridgeport is much more limited than the above posters, but I have stayed downtown a number of times while on work trips. So, for what it's worth, I'll also throw in a NO vote.

Do you try downtown restaurants Barnum Publick House, Ralph n Rich’s Restaurant, Amici Miei, Bistro B

[BPt111]

But the majestic former bank buildings that surround McLevy Green are receiving new life in the form of major conversions underway along Bank and Main Streets. The first floor of the former Mechanics & Farmers Savings Bank building at 930 Main St. will be the new home of Fletcher Thompson, the engineering and design firm working on Meriden’s Maloney High School renovation. The upper story of the former bank will house 32 mixed-income apartments. The project by Darien-based Forstone Properties, spans almost a city block.


The vault of the former People’s Bank was converted into a bar area, and the upper floors will include about 36 apartments. Both conversion projects were funded through private financing and Department of Housing loans. Nearby, the Sterling Market Lofts project at John and Broad streets, consists of 61 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments available only to artists.
McLevy Green now draws a crowd every Thursday night at its weekly concert series featuring international performers.


“It’s much more intimate now,” said Barbara Kelly, a managing partner at Urban Spaces LLC on Lafayette Boulevard. “It allows for social networking. There is a lot of activity.”
According to CHFA, the McLevy Green project consists of four contiguous buildings that overlook the green on Main and State streets, creating a mixed-use, mixed-income residential development. Of the 32 apartment units in each building, 19 will be leased to households earning up to 120 percent of the average median income, three will be leased to households earning up to 100 percent, and three will be leased to households earning up to 80 percent.
Kelly said she’s not concerned the new multi-income project will create a glut of residential units since the prices are several hundred dollars per month lower than in Stamford. Kelly, who leases 64 mixed-income units at 333 State St. since 2012, said she has no problem filling the market-rate units.


“There is a demand,” she said. “It’s cutting two-thirds off the cost of living in Stamford if not more. This is going to become a destination for young, professional college graduates. They’re not going to raise a family here.”
Of the 64 units, six are designated “work force” units for families and individuals whose income doesn’t exceed 80 percent of Fairfield County’s median household income of $82,614 and who work in the city—a restriction set up by CHFA.
The monthly rents range from $1,100 to $1,650 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom. Workforce rents range from $950 to $1,125

Check this out next to train station but I would be careful mix income can be bad.

[BPt111]

People Banks area is most desent part of downtown near train station other half of downtown is rundown

It be covernt into mix-income apartments about 32 units not even 1 block from the train station.





3 months ago.