[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

91 through Hartford looks nice. The skline, buildings and Dunk look great.
On the contrary, Springfield looks like a third world hellscape from 91.

I don't think Springfield looks bad, just nondescript/unimpressive other than MGM/Hall of Fame.

I pass it every weekend on the way to VT in the winter. That's about my relationship with the city lately.

[Johnho771]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Gotta agree with Jay. Everything going on in Hartford from the new apartments, and Dunkin Park, redoing Nelton Court (and all of its projects in the past) are more significant than anything in Springfield. Hartford is a better city. It’s cozier in a way. It Springfield is more comfortable…if that makes sense

Whatever happened to the Hard Rock Hotel?

Yeah whatever happened to the Hard Rock Hotel? Seemed like it really would have complimented that area of the city and would have served to make downtown more of a destination.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Johnho771

Yeah whatever happened to the Hard Rock Hotel? Seemed like it really would have complimented that area of the city and would have served to make downtown more of a destination.

They lost the bid to MGM.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I don't think Springfield looks bad, just nondescript/unimpressive other than MGM/Hall of Fame.

Next time you head up look to the right.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Johnho771

Yeah whatever happened to the Hard Rock Hotel? Seemed like it really would have complimented that area of the city and would have served to make downtown more of a destination.

Are you talking about the plan to build a Hard Rock Hotel in Hartford?

That hotel was proposed by the previous developer of NoDo, the area around Dunkin Park (now called North Crossing). That developer, Centerplan, was removed after problems arose with the baseball park. The hotel apparently died with that change. Too bad it would have been a nice addition to the city.

Fortunately this new developer is moving along with new buildings there, only it appears to be all apartments with some retail. A hotel with restaurants and entertainment would have been more interesting and exciting. Jay

[MMS02760]

Springfield has its issues. However unlike Hartford, it has not bled residents at the same precipitous rate. Springfield's population was 163,905 in 1970 and is listed at 155,929 in 2020. Hartford on the hand had 158,017 residents in 1970 but as of 2020 has just 121,054. Hartford has lost 23% of its population in the last 50 odd years while Springfield has lost less than 5%.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

Springfield has its issues. However unlike Hartford, it has not bled residents at the same precipitous rate. Springfield's population was 163,905 in 1970 and is listed at 155,929 in 2020. Hartford on the hand had 158,017 residents in 1970 but as of 2020 has just 121,054. Hartford has lost 23% of its population in the last 50 odd years while Springfield has lost less than 5%.

Hartford had nicer places to move to nearby than Springfield did. Chicopee? I mean come on now

[MikefromCT]

An article in The Hartford Courant recently discussed that Hartford has proposed taking the current Salvation Army building at 333 Homestead Avenue and convert into a combination of rentals and dining kiosks similar to Parkville Market. I would share the link, but the site requires a subscription to read it. Anyway, it would be interesting to see how this could potentially resuscitate that particular section of the North End. As part of the Upper Albany area, it could possibly help continue the clean-up efforts that have already occurred on the westernmost part of Route 44. Personally, I'd like to see a supermarket come to the neighborhood instead since there's a lack of fresh produce to residents there, but still, it would be putting that space to good use. Anything that can generate tax revenue and create jobs is a win for the city.

[RogerAnthony]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

I'd like to see a supermarket come to the neighborhood

There's already a Bravo Supermarket a quarter of a mile away from the Salvation Army building.

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by RogerAnthony

There's already a Bravo Supermarket a quarter of a mile away from the Salvation Army building.

I forgot about Bravo, LOL. Still, elsewhere in the North End there's a shortage of supermarkets.