Is North Adams a nice place to live?

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Nice article in the NYTimes this week about how old mill towns are being restored. All I can say it's about time as these marvelous old mill buildings would make great loft homes for retirees like us who want a place without any yard work and a coffee shop on the ground floor.

Are there any such loft living places in North Adams .... or other restored mill towns?

There are lofts in Lowell, which is a former mill city. Worcester also has some. I don't know about coffee shops on the ground floor, though.

Here's an example for Lowell: https://www.livejacksonstreet.com/?u...ebsite%20click

And one for Worcester: https://www.livecanallofts.com/

There's a few in Springfield, I think and of course Boston. Actually, any of the former factory buildings across the state are candidates for conversions. I'm sure there are lots of places.

[massnative71]

There are these in Clinton (mill town similar in size to North Adams):


https://bradysullivan.com/massachuse...ancaster-mills

[Space_League]

North Adams has a mix of rural and urban poverty, e.g. https://goo.gl/maps/vCJEdHhfXsVgASqs5

That being said, it could still be a good place to live. I have spent some time out there, and it stuck me as one of the least nice options in a very nice part of the state to live. There are some good things about it too. There is a genuine artistic presence in the city, and it enjoys close proximity to Williams College. I think it is head and shoulders above Pittsfield, for example.

[FCMA]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

There are lofts in Lowell, which is a former mill city. Worcester also has some. I don't know about coffee shops on the ground floor, though.

Here's an example for Lowell: https://www.livejacksonstreet.com/?u...ebsite%20click

And one for Worcester: https://www.livecanallofts.com/

There's a few in Springfield, I think and of course Boston. Actually, any of the former factory buildings across the state are candidates for conversions. I'm sure there are lots of places.

Easthampton and Holyoke each also have several converted buildings like this. I view these kinds of projects positively. They bring new life in to a number of old towns that are slowly becoming decent places to live again, now that remote work is commonplace and metropolitan C.O.L. is absolutely disgusting and prohibitive for many. Nice options to retreat from the rat race and pursue a creative business or vocation somewhere unique and impactful.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by FCMA

Easthampton and Holyoke each also have several converted buildings like this. I view these kinds of projects positively. They bring new life in to a number of old towns that are slowly becoming decent places to live again, now that remote work is commonplace and metropolitan C.O.L. is absolutely disgusting and prohibitive for many. Nice options to retreat from the rat race and pursue a creative business or vocation somewhere unique and impactful.

I hope Holyoke gets better, but let's not get ahead of ourselves now.

[FCMA]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I hope Holyoke gets better, but let's not get ahead of ourselves now.

Not saying it’s a nice place again yet, just slightly “improved.”