[Stylo]

Originally Posted by anon860

Bridgeport has some fine sections.

In general the CW on this site is very anti-urban. Perhaps it is because suburbanites are trying to justify their plummeting real estate values as the entire nation re-urbanizes, and while poverty skyrockets in suburban areas while actually falling in many cities, including those in CT.

Uh, city and suburb real estate values are equally crappy right now. I see NO sign of "skyrocketing poverty" in CT suburbs. Most CT suburbs are very well off, and the vast majority of poverty is in the urban areas. Places like Hartford and New Haven, with their increasing poor and violence since the early 2000's is totally contrary to what you're saying. Cities like Boston, Stamford and NYC have gentrified greatly, but that's a different story in most of our cities. Our suburbs are getting richer and our cities poorer. We have the worst gap in the nation between rich and poor. Property values in Hartford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Bridgeport and New Haven are considerably lower than surrounding suburbs.

I wouldn't consider myself and most posters on here as "anti-urban". I'm a huge fan of walkable downtown areas. I hate malls, shopping centers, etc.

But Bridgeport is not a great city. I'm certain anti-mediocore-to-poor-urban. Sure, it has some OK sections, if by OK you mean safe and relatively attractive - but most of the city is an absolute dump. There's trash everywhere, boarded up buildings, awful rutted roads, gross industrial sites and pure blown-out ghetto neighborhoods. Even some historic homes which must have been beautiful in the past are dumps, with the exception of some select streets near Fairfield. The north end suburbs, a nice street or 2 downtown and the arena do not make it a good city. I don't care how CT'ers try to justify it, I think some locals have rose colored glasses when looking at Bridgeport.

Again, I'm not at all anti-urban. I love NYC, Boston, New Haven, West Hartford, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles (parts), etc. Bridgeport has very few redeeming qualities and I would never choose to live there.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by anon860

Bridgeport has some fine sections.

In general the CW on this site is very anti-urban. Perhaps it is because suburbanites are trying to justify their plummeting real estate values as the entire nation re-urbanizes, and while poverty skyrockets in suburban areas while actually falling in many cities, including those in CT.

Certainly there is a move back to cities but show me some real statistics supporting what you claim. I just do not see it.

Stylo - Bridgeport is not as bad as it seems. It has a lot of really nice areas. It is just that you see the crappy parts from I-95 and Route 8/25. Jay

[Kristin85]

If the OP was asking about these towns because he/she is wondering where to buy, stay away from both. Hamden has a mill rate of 34.77 and Bridgeport has a mill rate of 39.64. The taxes are out of control in both locations. As for renting, the Black Rock section of Bridgeport is nice and I've had a few friends relocate from other areas of Bridgeport to that side of town. It is right near the water, there are a few restaurants/bars where locals and college kids hang out, and there's a tiny art scene. Very little crime and rent is less than similar college kid filled areas of Fairfield. I don't know anything about Hamden personally.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Stylo - Bridgeport is not as bad as it seems. It has a lot of really nice areas. It is just that you see the crappy parts from I-95 and Route 8/25. Jay

I've been all over town, from the crappiest ghettos in East Bridgeport to the St. Mary's By the Sea area, to Downtown, Black Rock, Brooklawn and North End. There are definitely some decent neighborhoods, but I just don't like the city as a whole and it's not a place I would ever recommend someone to live in. Especially when you are buying given the insane taxes.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I've been all over town, from the crappiest ghettos in East Bridgeport to the St. Mary's By the Sea area, to Downtown, Black Rock, Brooklawn and North End. There are definitely some decent neighborhoods, but I just don't like the city as a whole and it's not a place I would ever recommend someone to live in. Especially when you are buying given the insane taxes.

Exactly.

I am not anti-urban. I love a walkable layout -- that's one of the things I love most about Stratford! But I'm simply not going to pay that level of taxes for a school system that is the worst in the state and a crime rate significantly higher than most places in the area.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I've been all over town, from the crappiest ghettos in East Bridgeport to the St. Mary's By the Sea area, to Downtown, Black Rock, Brooklawn and North End. There are definitely some decent neighborhoods, but I just don't like the city as a whole and it's not a place I would ever recommend someone to live in. Especially when you are buying given the insane taxes.

I totally agree. Bridgeport has so much potential and some amazing architecture but bottom line...it's hood. I wouldn't recommend anyone live there unless it's a short term rental and they have no kids.

It's a shame because it could be a really nice city.

[anon860]

JayCT, comparing 2000 to the most recent Census estimates for Towns (the 2005-2009 Census ACS), poverty rates changed as follows. I looked these up on the Census website.

Wallingford +83%
Meriden +45%
Branford +30%
Naugatuck Valley (total of 6 towns) +20%
East Haven and West Haven: +19%
CT Statewide Average: +14%
Bridgeport +7%
Hartford +3%
New Haven: 0% (no change)
East Rock, Westville, East Shore neighborhoods in New Haven: -14%

[Lintu]

Yeah, but that doesn't tell you the starting point. It's easier to see a large percentage shift off a small base than a larger one.

[anon860]

Lintu, good point, though you could argue that a large percentage is important too in terms of the impact it has in areas where there are no services.

Here's how that translates:

CT added 36,000 poor people.

Wallingford, Meriden, Branford, Naugatuck Valley, East Haven, West Haven added 6,500 poor people.

Bridgeport added 1,700. Hartford added 900.

New Haven added 50. Within New Haven, East Rock, Westville and East Shore lost 400.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Lintu

Yeah, but that doesn't tell you the starting point. It's easier to see a large percentage shift off a small base than a larger one.

Exactly. New Haven is the second most impoverished city in the state, so naturally, it would have a lower number.