Welcome, UConn, You'll Love It In Hartford

We asked four downtown dwellers to tell students and faculty coming to UConn’s new campus what to expect. Here’s what they said.

Sorry, West Hartford, I Don’t Need You

I've lived downtown for three years. My front yard is Bushnell Park. My apartment building has a ton of great dogs. I'm within walking distance of my job, my favorite restaurants and now a phenomenal ballpark. I grew up in Philly, I've lived in Boston, but Hartford is my favorite.

My job takes me all over the state. So after a long day of traveling and trying some of the best food and drinks in Connecticut, it's nice to come home and walk to more of the best food and drinks. I can go several days without touching my car. It's great for me: I genuinely enjoy walking off a good plate of nachos, plus I hear this is good for the environment.

A walk up the street brings me to the Yard Goats' Dunkin' Donuts ballpark, where I've enjoyed too many nights of doughnut-chicken skewers and gallons of beer. Don't even talk to me about the finances of it. It's here and it's wonderful and there's nothing you can do about it except enjoy it and stop being such a stick in the mud.

I hate the myth that Hartford dies weekdays after 5 p.m. This summer I've actually started to have some trouble finding street parking after work because of people enjoying Bushnell Park on a nice day.

I've loved watching Hartford blossom over the past few years: the local businesses, the new bars and restaurants, a place to buy groceries. I always joke (I'm not joking) that if it wasn't for work, I'd never leave downtown. I tell my friends that West Hartford is too far to go. I honestly have just about everything I need in the confines of downtown.

Hartford is the most beautiful city in the world. That's a strong take, I get it. But the thing that makes it so beautiful is that it's full of people who love Hartford. Every Hartford hater I know doesn't live here.

Suzie Hunter is a multimedia journalist for The Courant.

5 Reasons Why Huskies Will Be Happy Here

UConn's opening is the latest and greatest initiative to make downtown more vibrant. Here are five reasons why I, as a downtown resident, think the new urban Huskies will love it.

Architecture and history.Since I've moved here, I've noticed that people are still enchanted by the modern skyscrapers and intricate details of our Victorian structures. You can't see this in your parent's cul-de-sac.

Walkability.It's true that Hartford is in serious need of retail shops. As a city planner, I can assure you that will come in time. Downtown has enough amenities, however, so that you can still go a couple days without leaving the neighborhood. Additionally, Hartford's iQuilt program has done a spectacular job of improving the connectivity of all of the downtown attractions. There's nothing better than taking a late night stroll down the Bushnell Park promenade.

Community.When I lived in New York, I was lost in a sea of strangers. Size allows you to get to know your neighbors. Or if you prefer, it allows enough space to avoid talking to Kevin in Apt 12B about his latest Pokemon catch. Most of the people I have met are passionate about Hartford's future. If you're new to the area, check out the Facebook group Downtown Dwellers.

If it's not here, you can get there quickly. Hartford is centrally located to basically everything. Want to head to West Hartford Center? 10 minutes. Want to hike to Heublein Tower? 10 minutes. New York and Boston are both a quick bus or train ride from Union Station. As for grocery stores, there are about 10 within a 10-minute drive.

Dogs (including huskies). Dogs are everywhere in the city and are a great way to meet friends. Almost every apartment building downtown allows pets and has pet-centric amenities. Downtown's own pet store, Naturally Dogs and Cats, has everything your furry friends need.

Nicholas A. Armata is an urban planner who serves on the board of the iQuilt initiative. 

The Food! The Culture! The Commute!

As a lifelong resident of Hartford County, I have fond childhood memories of a thriving downtown. I watched its decline throughout the '80s. In the late '90s, I began to see flickers of hope for the city. When Bruce Becker converted the former Hartford National Bank and Trust Building into luxury residential units at what is now 777 Main, I knew the time was right for me to take up residency.

Living in the heart of the city has been a great experience. First and foremost, I feel safe.

I have not owned a car since I moved to the city in 2015. I commute to my job in Suffield each day without difficulty. Being centrally located makes it easy to take advantage of mass transit options such as rail and commuter buses. CTfastrak is marvelous.

Many of us call downtown Hartford home: empty-nesters like me, undergrad and graduate students, millennials, etc. The area has a small-town feel, and we are a close-knit yet welcoming group.

The dining options are numerous, from a simple sandwich at Subway to the great fare at The Capital Grille.

Hartford also offers a lot of entertainment. Sea Tea Improv, Hartford Stage, TheaterWorks, Spotlight Theatres at Front Street, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Infinity Hall, the XL Center, the Connecticut Science Center and the Yard Goats are just a few.

Many activities are low or no cost, including Yoga in Our City, the Dragon Boat & Asian Festival, parades, the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz, salsa dancing on Pratt Street on Friday evenings, Winterfest and walking tours of the city. Admission to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is free for Hartford residents.

Academia is well-represented in our city, with Capital Community College, the University of St. Joseph's School of Pharmacy, the UConn School of Business, and now the new UConn Hartford campus has come. Trinity College will soon open a campus here.

I am very proud to call downtown Hartford my home.

Cecily Wells is a legal assistant and human resources generalist at a private company.

The Suburbs Have Nothing On Us

Opting to live downtown was a no-brainer for me. For a city of its size, Hartford packs an impressive punch of urbanism, history, architecture, culture, diversity and more. To be frank, the suburbs that surround Hartford just cannot compete.

Living downtown allows me to enjoy the freedoms of not owning a car. Work is a 15-minute walk, a 10-minute bike ride or a 5-minute bus ride away. Countless local gems are easily accessed. The CTtransit buses and the CTfastrak busway are a breeze to navigate with a 10-trip ticket, a smartphone and the GPS tracking app called Transit. Amtrak connects us to New Haven, New York and beyond. New bike lanes and bike racks continue to pop up citywide.

With Bushnell Park as my backyard and the riverfront parks system as my front yard, I have plenty of parks and quality open space. The recent influx of downtown residents has spurred the opening of several new shops and cafes, making the neighborhood increasingly convenient and livable.

As Connecticut tries to figure out how to attract millennials, Hartford is serving as a great example by providing an attractive urban alternative to suburban living that millennials (and passionate, productive folks of all ages and backgrounds) are being drawn to. It is no secret that Hartford's economic woes tend to dominate perceptions about the city, but that makes it all the more critical to appreciate, amplify and work to expand the countless positive assets that Hartford has. Acknowledging our hardships and celebrating our successes can happen at the same time.

The positive momentum, excitement and sense of community in the downtown neighborhood are undeniable, and witnessing it firsthand continues to be a delight that has exceeded all expectations.

Nick Addamo, an urban planner for a local consulting firm, moved to Hartford from New York City in 2016.