Hey, there! Log in / Register
Boston refugees wind up in Buffalo
By adamg on Wed, 10/19/2005 - 10:14am
BuffaloPundit used to live in Brighton. Housing prices drove him to Buffalo. But now he wouldn't dream of leaving:
... [W]hat's really amazing to me is that I feel more at home here than I ever did in Boston. I just wasn't "of" Boston. It's a great town, I loved the convenience and amenities of living there, and I miss our friends in Boston, but I never felt like I really belonged there. I feel like I belong here. ...
Based on the comments to his post, he's not the only ex-Bostonian in Buffalo.
Topics:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Thanks for the link
I've met more ex-Bostonians out here than you'd care to imagine. Just about every single one of them has a kid, or is planning to have a kid, and just couldn't justify the expense of living in Boston.
WNY is no panacea and has its own problems, but housing costs and other costs of living are a fraction of what they were in Boston.
I've traded Trader Joe's and Stop 'n Shop/Star Market for Wegmans - the best supermarket in the world. I traded the Globe for the News. I traded Howie Carr for Sandy Beach. I traded miles of walkable neighborhoods for blocks of walkable neighborhoods. I traded a great public transportation system for free-moving traffic (30 minute commute from anywhere to downtown Buffalo). I traded a vibrant arts community for a vibrant arts community. I traded a vibrant theater district for a vibrant theater district. I traded weekend jaunts to the Cape or Vermont for weekend jaunts to Toronto, Niagara on the Lake, or Niagara Falls.
But ultimately, I traded up from a 750 SF one-bedroom apartment and for $40,000 more I got a 2900 SF home in the best school district in the region.
I like Boston, but I love Western New York.
You're welcome
I actually heard about your blog from a co-worker who moved from West Roxbury to the Buffalo area a few months ago - and who is quite happy with the change.
me too
For $50,000 more, I traded up from a 1400 SF cape in West Roxbury to a 3600 SF, 11 room home on 3 acres in the best school district in the region. Let's Go, Buffalo!
See?
Hello again, everyone. Looks like I'm part of a trend. Come visit us and find out how nice it really is here. You may never leave. Hope everyone in Boston is doing well. Stay dry!
slim
As we former Buffalonians
As we former Buffalonians still stranded in Boston like to say, "If you're making fun of Buffalo, you've never been there." I miss it terribly and hope to be back hopefully sometime next year.
Buffalo in Boston
Actually, there seems to be a fair exchange taking place. The Mayor's former chief of staff, David Passafaro grew up in the Buffalo area as did Mass Association of CDCs exec Maureen Flynn, just for starters. I bet a lot of other Boston bloggers know native Buffaloneans here.
Buffalonians in Boston
Howard L: I think I might have met more Buffalonians in Boston than I knew back home. Part of it has to do, I think, with the (public) educational system there and how we may have been awarded a number of school/job opportunities here. I for one would have never come to Boston if it weren't for the fact that I felt the need to see a bit more of the world and that a Big School here offered to not only accept my Regents Scholarship money, but actually give me a nearly free ride.
Scattered
With our high taxes, lack of industry, incompetent government and thinning population, there are more Buffalonians in Boston, NYC, California, Las Vegas and just about anywhere else than there are in Buffalo. I'm fortunate enough to be able to telecommute for my Boston-based company from anywhere... and I gladly chose to return to WNY.