The Boynton is next to the college and a large majority of its business is families and middle aged people. Most restaurants on Park Ave and adjacent will tell you that the colleges provide very little business to the restaurants. Pizza places and fast food will tell ya differently but its cuz theyre cheap and deliver. With the stricter liquor laws, underage drinking isn't happening in the bars anymore. Leitrims is the last "college bar" in the city and they're struggling. They just aren't a sustainable demographic in the industry.

Damn. I thought everyone was exaggerating until I pulled up rental listings. I grew up in Worcester and moved south to NC. I pay $2300 all-in on a mortgage for a 3k sq ft 4/2.5 house in a very nice part of Charlotte. I just can't imagine moving back.

If you enjoy vietnamese food, I would be very surprised if you didn't end up making it your new go-to dish. Do report back if you remember 😂

Tell that to the Boynton

Landlord here. I rent to family/friends at much below market rate because I'd rather have tenants there that I can trust than try to maximize profits. Haven't raised rents since I bought the property a few years ago.

As much as the housing market has gone insane the last few years, the increase in Worcester property taxes is a significant driver in landlords upping rent. My property taxes increased 33% over the course of 3 years. City officials love to brag about lowing the per thousand tax rate, but at the same time they've jacked up their assessments which has significantly increased homeowners property taxes.

I mean, since I’ve moved away for a long time, I can see looking back how angry things are and not be hurt. I know you want to me make me feel bad about myself but im not trying to hurt you. And I know this will be read in an angry tone, but I’m not angry. Im just curious why there’s such a drive to make me believe a term doesn’t exist? I really have a curiosity as to what causes the need to “win” so much at home. There’s really nothing to gain by denying the existence of a term. What makes you angry about 3-decker being something everyone I knew said? I have heard both terms but it makes you upset for some reason? I really want to understand this mentality.

Freeplay in Worcester is 10 dollars to get in. All the cabinets are free.

Don’t remember the name, but a retro arcade opened on corner of Chandler/June

I miss Playoff Arcade, they were in the early days, 8 tokens per dollar, double most arcades at the time

I'm a landlord in the city. About half of my new tenants are from Boston area

Perhaps this: https://www.epa.gov/risk/region-1-risk-assessment-contacts

I left Fitchburg last December where I paid 1300/month for a 2 bedroom that had an extra room and the landlord listed it for 1800 when I moved out. In Fitchburg. It wasn't that great a neighborhood.

It is . Go in Craigslist and just look

Oh I can’t wait to get this 🤤

I'd agree but even down the road there was a difference.

Most people in college aren't spending enough to sustain a business.

A lot of these people coming from Boston don’t have to commute.. they’re working from home 95% of the time and commuting into Boston maybe once a month for an in person meeting or event. I don’t see this problem going away, unfortunately.

The $80 mentioned previously was just for taxes. I don't know the particulars of that building, or even most buildings in Worcester, but I know other members of my family have buildings that the landlord pays for heating costs (one is electric heat and the other is natural gas). Repairs have gotten more expensive from a material and labor standpoint too.

Yeah. It’s yours now

Happened to me in 2021. My rent was going from $800 to $1250. I scrambled and found a shithole for $1050. Just had to move out of there because of issues with ants, mice, and a douchey property manager. I just checked Zillow out of curiosity, they slapped down those ugly gray laminate floors and now that unit is going for $1350. It’s fucked

ETA: These were all 1 bed 1 bath units. Only water/sewage was included in the rent. Laundry was in the building, but required quarters (that was fun during the coin shortage). Parking was a free-for-all on the street. I'm appalled reading these comments that $1350 may now be a low/reasonable price for a 1b1b in the area!!!

$450 in two years sounds about right. Our fearless leaders have pumped so much money into the economy in the last 3 years that it's disgusting. Many cities and towns are STILL trying to figure out what to do with all the COVID money they got and didn't really need. Now the Guv is paying off student loans. Minimum wage is now $15.00 and they are pushing to raise it again to over $20....THEN these same fearless leaders sit around and wonder why inflation is so high! They caused it with these policies and their solution is more of the same policies! LOL. Prepare for $3000/month rents because it's coming soon.

Watch out for the toxic tank!!

Freeplay may take it!

There's an arcade in Worcester? The only one I know is Pixels and Pints, and they're closed permanently.

Last year, my apartment went from $875 to $1500 when a new landlord took over and evicted everyone that was paying the lower rent and couldn't go up to the new rent. Needless to say, got evicted... now I am paying a mortgage for a house for nearly the same cost.