I’m not sure what the benchmark for success is. And gentrification isn’t necessarily a good thing. But I think we could start to see a more vibrant and walkable downtown with interconnection to upper State Street and Forest Park in the coming few years.

I think revitalization and gentrification are almost inevitable in Springfield. I work in several different fields of real estate, and I travel a lot within New England. I observe how other cities have evolved. Springfield has every part of the foundation of a top tier city.

I think what’s kept Springfield back is lack of progressive leaders for decades. The casino did a little bit to spur some activity downtown, but then COVID hit.

COVID and work from home, along with the astronomic cost of living in other larger cities in New England, has slowly boosted the economy in Springfield. People who make Boston or New York salaries but who are now remote are moving here for a fraction of the price of those cities. On top of that, people are being priced out of anything east of Worcester and south of Hartford, both residentially and commercially. There are so many pockets of Springfield and surrounding areas like Chicopee, Ludlow, Holyoke, and Enfield that have the “bones” for gentrification. You’re already seeing it to an extent in certain areas of Holyoke, Manchester, and Hartford. Even Easthampton, which has almost become Northampton extension, was a quiet working class mill town 15 years ago.

All indications are that it’s ripe for continued growth. It is the “city of homes,” after all.

And, if the East West rail ever materializes, it’ll completely change the area.

Springfield is part of the so called Knowledge Corridor. There are 4 colleges within Springfield alone, and over a dozen in the greater Springfield area.