Is Western Mass that bad? (Boston, Springfield: renter, house insurance, condo)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Hampden has conservative areas in reaction to what they see in Holyoke Hartford Springfield and Chicopee. They don't like what they see-understandably-and they chalk it up to being blue.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Given Northhampton's RE prices, it's a terrible value prop compared to east-central MA and recent investments suggest smart capital is aware of this.

It's straight supply vs demand. People want to live in places with a high walkability score and will pay a premium for it. In Western Mass, beyond Northampton, I can't think of anywhere else near the Connecticut River at all like that.

[tovarisch]

Well, there's Great Barrington.

[tovarisch]

As for pools, there is also one at the Smith College athletic facility.

[FCMA]

Originally Posted by tovarisch

Well, there's Great Barrington.

Also Easthampton, and parts of Greenfield and Pittsfield are very walkable. The latter two have acute employment access problems but decent downtowns.

[mdovell]

Much of downtown spring is walkable. I'd also point out that there's better food access in down town Springfield vs Northampton. AC produce comes to mind. Theres the delis of the south end, Delaneys is opening soon, rumors of a health good store etc. You have plenty of restaurants in Northampton but no supermarkets. CVS doesn't count. There are gyms in the downtown with the YMCA moving and LA fitness has a pool with great views of the waterfront.

On Pittsfield Wayfair is moving in. I'm not saying it is earth shattering but it appears that the bottom was reached and it's now going up.

Walkability does sell, without question. I have access to real ethnic restaurants (Afgan, Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, German, Indian, Korean, sushi etc) symphony, parks, convention center, casino, drug stores, supermarkets, delis, bike trails, library, museums, movie theater, rail station, bus station, escape room, tailor, florist, courts with plenty of lawyers, coffee shops, gyms, brewery, UMass campus, radio stations, TV stations, newspapers etc.

Rational Urbanism | Tag Archives: Food Deserts

[bizcuit]

I went from NYC, which is a true ethnic food Mecca, to New Hampshire, which is not known for a great restaurant experience and now to Pioneer Valley/Northampton, which is not NYC, but does have some great food, including good ethnic options. To me, it's a bit of a best-of-both-worlds scenario. I get some of what I loved about NYC and some of what I loved about NH (countryside, more space, good community, more laidback, horse possibilities nearby, etc.)

I agree about the employment options, though. I moved here for a job and have a livable salary. It is my intention to retire from this job eventually (hopefully not for years!). So far I am thinking that my current location might be a place where I will want to stay, once I do. I would not move here without a job, but then again, I don't have the stomach to move anywhere without a job waiting.

[mdovell]

The economy is pretty hot to the point where I don't think people move without having a job. Granted it might take time between positions depending on a industry but you usually have to show at least an offer and acceptance to count for a landlord.

The other thing is with more growth of course can bring more traffic which is why it is important to support more in transit. Rail and bus certainly go a long way. Baystate has their own bus shuttle, MGM kinda has the Loop although it isn't just for them.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

It's straight supply vs demand. People want to live in places with a high walkability score and will pay a premium for it. In Western Mass, beyond Northampton, I can't think of anywhere else near the Connecticut River at all like that.

My point is the demand is coming from people not necessarily reliant on a strong local economy, so people moving to the area should take this into consideration. I'm not debating the valid demand, I'm debating the idea someone reliant on a W2 income uprooting to move there without having a tenure track lined up at U-Mass.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

My point is the demand is coming from people not necessarily reliant on a strong local economy, so people moving to the area should take this into consideration. I'm not debating the valid demand, I'm debating the idea someone reliant on a W2 income uprooting to move there without having a tenure track lined up at U-Mass.

Well I did years ago and they paid 25% more then what I was making. The position I have now pays the same in Boston, Worcester and Hartford. Some jobs don't pay more for cost of living. When I was in the private sector it was based on competition. If there wasn't any you aren't getting anything. Mass locations pay the same as Florida. The highest pad were Manhattan, SF and for awhile New Orleans.

Even outside of academia there's city, state and federal jobs. Finance, medical, manufacturing etc. I know people that train here for medical and legal because the cost of living is lower. The bar exam and residency is the same.

There's some jobs that naturally aren't here. Nuclear power comes to mind. Yankee and Yankee Rowe are gone.

As we continue to move away from the physical to virtual the idea of location being a factor fades. Once you get the next generation of a DaVinci machines force feedback will eliminate the need for doctors to live in high cost areas