7 Responses for "Stamford Identity Problem Revisited"

1. Zobot February 13th, 2008 at 11:36 pm 1

   In your series of equations, it would be Stamford=Business. Stamford is the business center of Fairfield County. That is an important role for the city to play in our regional economy.

   I don’t think any of your equations are identities, they are just the distinguishing feature/stereotype of each town. There are a lot of Westport residents who would be deeply offended that you think Ms. Martha is their identity!

   Maybe the business identity isn’t as sexy (ha!) as a Martha Stewart identity, but I hardly think either completely describe their associated towns/cities.

   I think you are right that there is a disconnect between the residential prices and the commercial prices. The commercial prices could start to climb as long as UBS, RBS, and GE continue to invest and grow in the community (you know, those big boring companies). The massive Antares development in Stamford’s South End could also drastically change the scene here. Time will tell.

   Residential housing is inflated both by the big business that is here and the fact that we’re a quick 45 minute express train to Manhattan.

   Speaking of Manhattan, a lot of the complaints you have about Stamford are true of our big cousin to the south. It is a fact of living in the city. The diversity of the population brings you a diversity of retail, commercial, and service industries. Some people love it, some don’t.

   Stamford is a smaller city, so it has less diversity and less to offer, but there are a lot of similarities.

   As a friend of mine who lives and works in Manhattan says, when choosing to live in the city, you are choosing to live close to services and your work. But you are giving up space, privacy, and homogeneity.

   For some people, they’ll endure a longer commute to work and fewer nearby services because they prefer a quieter, more residential, experience.

   Both options are equally valid, it just depends on your personal preference…

   It sounds to me like you’re the kind of person who might want to work and visit the city, but doesn’t necessarily want to live there. There’s nothing wrong with that.

2. East Sider February 13th, 2008 at 11:45 pm 2

   You must be new to Stamford if you see the diversity of Stamford as a “problem”. Who the hell wants some blah “high class city”. What’s fantastic about Stamford is that the richest houses on Shippan Point are downwind of the dump. The most beautiful new park in the city, Kosciuszko Park, is down in the post-industrial barrenness of the South End. You’ve got farmland and beaches as well as highrises and malls. Mom and pop stores and family restaurants still in business.

   You want some soulless corporate mecca? Some cookie-cutter blah place where everyone is the same? Pathetic. In Stamford, blue collar and white collar are neighbors. UBS millionaires hang out at the Hibernian Hall with day laborers.

   You sound like someone who’d prefer the fake Hollywood set of Tigin to a real Irish pub!

3. Stamford Talk February 14th, 2008 at 6:21 am 3

   How long have you been in Stamford?
   I was frustrated with Stamford at first because it was so hard to find where I fit in.
   Maybe you just need more time and to get more involved in some of Stamford’s various cultural and community activities.

4. Stamford Talk February 14th, 2008 at 6:50 am 4

   Zobot, just saw your above response- I started my comment above last night but didn’t finish until this am.
   Your comments are always so intelligent, balanced and well-written.

   Mr. S, I don’t like your words upper class… but what does the upper class want that Stamford doesn’t have? The only thing I can think of is a big, walkable downtown place like Greenwich’s Avenue. It sounds like you want a place that’s more homogeneous, but that’s why Darien exists! ☺

   I’m wondering what expectations you had. A better nightlife? I agree that it’s hard to find a welcoming social niche. I had trouble meeting people and that made me not like Stamford. Now that I have great people to do things with, I think Stamford is a great place to be. I like Greenwich, but Stamford is much more fun to run around in.

   I hear you and Mr. Z talking about businesses, but when it comes down to it, a place is about people. Sometimes, I’ll be honest, I enjoy a carefree, ‘everyone went to college like me and has a comfortable amount of money’ environment, but we’re shortchanging ourselves and others if we only hang around with those who share our cultural assumptions.

   But then again, like Mr. Z (I’m enjoying calling you that rather than Zobot) says, that’s not for everyone. I’m a fanatical ‘enjoy other cultures even if it’s awkward’ type of person, but I don’t expect all others to be like that. It’s possible that Stamford is not your style, but don’t give up too early- if you own a place here, or expect to be here for awhile, embrace Stamford and try to find what you want.

   Mr. Stamford, thank you for starting this interesting discussion and for being honest about what you don’t like about Stamford.

5. Mr. Stamford February 15th, 2008 at 7:07 pm 5

   Eastsider says “What’s fantastic about Stamford is that the richest houses on Shippan Point are downwind of the dump.”

   How is this fantastic? If you had to live near commercial property, wouldn’t you rather it be some business that does not attract trash and blight? Something that would contribute nicely to the community?

6. Jonathan February 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pm 6

   What’s the Hibernian Hall? Is that the little white building on Greyrock?

7. East Sider March 12th, 2008 at 1:34 am 7

   Mr. Stamford — haven’t been back in a while, but glad to see you finally recruited an un-negative (or dare I say positive) new poster?

   I can’t say that I share his feelings on the shiny new monstrosity they’re building downtown, but it’s good to see that your blog is not all Stamford-hating rants.

   So — re the fantastic-ness of the mansions on Shippan Point being downwind of the dump…it’s precisely the intersection of gritty commercial property with rich residential property that I think is fantastic. Stamford has few gated communities. What you see as no identity I see as a rich identity, not exclusive and divisive, but rather integrated and welcoming and diverse.

   There’s nothing wrong with having a dump. And having sections of town that are populated by people who scare you for no reason except that they look scary to you. Hang out down in the Cove or Shippan or East Side sometime. You might just begin to appreciate that there’s a lot more (and better!) to Stamford cuisine and entertainment than the trendy new places on Bedford.

   And Jonathan, if you ever happen to drop back, yes, the Hibernian Hall is the white building on Greyrock. Drop by on St. Patrick’s Day weekend!