Artists in Metro Center - Springfield, Massachuset
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6/15/2011
In 2010, I moved to Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, because of its arts & entertainment scene and also because I really liked the place's vibe. In my opinion, you can't underestimate how important that is. Some places just 'feel right' and Metro Center feels right to me. There are reasons though.
Metro Center is a fun, walkable, urban neighborhood. It has a lot of quirky, bohemian residents, and interesting empty-nesters -- people who want an urban environment and the culture that goes with it. There are a lot of music venues, new restaurants, and places to get coffee.
I'm an artist (oil painter) so Springfield's arts and cultural communities are important to me. When I moved here, people were very helpful to me in introducing me to contacts -- so I felt a part of the community quickly. It's the friendliest place I've lived, in that way.
I think that 'community vibe' has to do with the fact that a lot of these people are new to Springfield. Most people I know have moved to Springfield within the past five years. 5-10 years ago, I think some people essentially re-discovered this city -- historic, attractive architecture, lots of culture, and without the high prices. That's an unbeatable combo, I think!!
Like the earlier, recent post says, I don't recognize today's Springfield in the old posts on here about the city. It doesn't have a crime problem anymore; I know that. Metro Center is totally safe--there are a few outer neighborhoods that aren't great, but from what I understand, there hasn't been a murder in Metro Center in at least 7 years, maybe more.
Like I wrote before, Springfield has a great vibe--it's tough to describe. Driving by the city on the highway does it a HIGE DISSERVICE. From the highway, you can't see how beautiful the city's architecture is on street level. You can't see how vibrant the downtown is at all times of day and night. You get no sense of the city, and that's unfortunate because I think a lot of people would like living here.
All of the new construction -- the first U.S. high-speed rail, the Hospital of the Future, the Springfield Data Center, the new Union Station, the new commuter rail to Vermont. The constructions crews are here in full force, so I think that people are beginning to catch on to what's happening here!
Josh | Springfield, MA