Downtown gentrified 100%. Ninth Square is another example. Parts of East Rock weren’t nice like they are now. Like Goatville. Parts of Westville too. City Point used to be bad, now it’s quite nice. The area around Science Park was very bad, now it’s improving.

I have been around JC for decades. Most of the city is pretty nice but the West Side areas are still not amazing. The waterfront and downtown were looking up as early as the late 90’s. It was really bad in the early 90’s but has been steadily improving for 20+ years.

New Haven has had a shorter run of improvement. Crime peaked around 2010. Since then the city has been improving, lots of investment, new apartments, and as I said before, the crime index in 2009 from City Data based on FBI stats was 769, and 2019 it’s 431. That’s not just looking safer, that IS safer.

New Haven downtown is drastically better than the 90’s. Those are much bigger cities. There’s still a lot of crime issues in NYC, and neighborhoods that haven’t improved that much. JC the same, I have family that still lives there. Outside downtown and the waterfront, it still has issues. Not as bad, but that can be said of New Haven too. New Haven’s crime index is half of what it was a decade ago.

Many of those New Haven neighborhoods you mention were OK but not nearly as desirable as now.

What other cities? It has absolutely gentrified but what city “fully” gentrifies? I think you have unrealistic expectations of the effect.

We have solid Cuban food at Soul De Cuba. Co-signed by a friend with Cuban family in Miami.

How long have you been in the area? Even East Rock and Wooster Square are much nicer than they used to be. I remember East Rock when most houses needed paint, renovations. It was shoddier looking for sure. It’s much more desirable now.

I wouldn’t say that. The main YNH hospital area is fine. That area of downtown is great and there’s several new apartment buildings nearby in the “City Crossing” complex. As you move AWAY from the hospital in the Hill direction, it gets worse.

I’m not opposed to that. I like Nolo a lot which is creative with toppings, and other places like that. I just didn’t think the crust/ingredients were great. I got a more traditional pizza there and just didn’t love it.

Next Door is awesome.

I feel like I’m the exception where I’m not really a fan of 163. Went twice and it didn’t do anything for me.

Tacos Los Gordos makes their own corn tortillas and they’re 👌

Flour tortillas aren’t authentic Mexican so it’s going to be tough to find.

I did find a few spots out west that did them at Mexican restaurants.

A government worker getting free parking is inequality? OK, Che.

So if you were that person, and you were granted special parking privileges, you’d take one for the team? Uh huh. 🙄

Naturally leavened!

I miss Oscar’s.

Sayulita for Mexican

Like Bethel, Milford, Branford, North Haven, Oxford, Southington, etc.

I wouldn’t say they’re lesser known. There’s excellent schools outside central CT (Hartford County) and FFC. Example, New Haven County has Woodbridge/Orange/Bethany, Madison, Guilford, Southbury.

As an aside, even the “next rung down” schools are pretty good. They don’t need sparkling test scores to be a place to get a great education.

Completely ignoring whole counties of the state with excellent schools?

Grey Matter has a variety. Book Trader is cool too. Neverending Books. For a used book field trip, go to Book Barn in Niantic.

Stephanie Ellison in Milford. She does whole area and is great.

I did from Milford. Agree any more than 3 days a week is really rough. Especially now that hybrid and remote work is so much more prevalent.

Nice, quiet, isolated. Worst thing is the occasional train noise, if that bothers you.

An overdose every day? Cool story bro.