There was a time when Springfield, Vermont, had the world on a string. Two hundred years ago, the 110-foot drop of the Black River Falls turned the town into a powerhouse of the industrial revolution.
insight.mascomabank.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Reinventing Springfield, Vermont
There was a time when Springfield, Vermont, had the world on a string. Two hundred years ago, the 110-foot drop of the Black River Falls turned the town into a powerhouse of the industrial revolution.
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I think the best model for Springfield would be a modern version of the "bedroom community," AKA the suburbs. Modern communications technology would allow people to "commute" via the internet, as opposed to driving to the city for work. The "Precision Valley" is gone. "Silicon Valley" is the future.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid, you are right 8/21/2018 1:06 PM. Just a bedroom community, nothing more!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd say, "nothing more." The town I envision would be quite a lot more. More stores, entertainment, parks, public events, more everything! Possibly more than this town has ever been!
DeleteWhy would anyone with a professional career move here? No social life. No live entertainment venue. Dozens of dilapidated properties. No upscale entry level homes. Absurd rents catering to a legion of welfare scammers. About the highest property taxes in the state and worst schools. The kind of people you'd want to attract here have the world as their oyster. Springfield is a dead town and offers them NOTHING. Not surprising, no where in Vermont made the list. Should be asking yourself why.
Deletehttps://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/us-news-world-report-the-10-best-places-to-live-in-the-us-in-2018.html
Well, I guess we'll have to fix those things, won't we! Don't worry, 3:23, we don't expect you to do anything. Kind of funny how the same magazine named Vermont as the ninth best state in America to live. Can't have it both ways, but I'm sure you'll try!
Delete@3:08 Key to any community's prosperity is attracting successful entrepreneurs and young professionals. Springfield loses on both counts. Vermont is second only to Washington in total tax burden for wealthy.
Deletehttps://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/08/the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-states-for-the-rich.html
I pay $2,258 a year in taxes on my NEW, $350K home in southern Utah. A home that appreciated almost 10% last year!!! Have benefit of great schools and access to five, national parks. That same home in Springfield is $6,734 a year. For what? Again, why would anyone with a choice move to Springfield? Get out while you can. If you're bright and ambitious your future is not there. Let the socialists have their utopia.
I'm retired. Years ago, I watched as conservative Brevard Co. FL boomed, and then went bust. The second highest foreclosure rate in America. Taxes started out low, then went skyward, as new roads, schools, increased police and fire protection, etc. were needed. The people screamed for tax relief, and got it. They laid off half the teachers, and one-third of the police and fire dept. to do it. Then the wildfires came, and there weren't enough police and firemen to deal with it. Residents watched helplessly as their homes burned. High home prices combined with low taxes were the kiss of death for many homeowners. Southern Utah may look good today, but it may not last! Better get good insurance, you'll probably need it!
DeleteThe summer (2018) "Vermont Life magazine to cease printing after 72 years" I guess the internet is the way to go. Ever try to read a good magazine like Vermont Life on a smartphone?
ReplyDeleteSome of the people that condemn this area, might want to try elsewhere for a while. I have lived here for 30 years now, and it's much better than where I came from. The grass is not always greener, maybe some effort into making things better and stop and smell the roses from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI too have lived in a number of communities throughout the country. Such being, Flint, Newark, Euclid, Oakland/Emeryville, and Detroit. All shared the same plight as Springfield, a disproportion of low income housing creating a majority demographic of unemployable drop outs, welfare mothers, addicts, and disability scammers. Once that critical mass has been established, there is no turning back. Nothing, absolutely nothing will uproot that element to reverse the plight they've inflicted. By the way, I'm enjoying my new digs Southern Utah!
DeleteAnother non-resident troll. Springfield just got better, Utah just got worse!
DeleteI grew up in an area that was much better than this. From that perspective, I look at Springfield and see what it CAN be, with a little work. What I "see" looks good, now we all must make it happen. This is one area where everyone can contribute something, whether it's simply mowing the yard, fixing the porch, or a little paint. I give zero credit to the trolls on this blog, especially since many of them don't even live here. They contribute nothing, and never will.
DeleteI've lived here most of my life and sadly 11:36 makes a valid point. With Springfield having the highest percentage of low income housing in Windsor County, a prison, State Offices, and a number of non profit assistance organizations, it's become one of probably a few towns that people experiencing poverty are pushed toward from other towns and other states. The demographic is way out of balance, and new people arrive daily seeking assistance. The ridiculously high property tax rate is forcing people from their homes, and discouraging working people from moving here. The kinds of businesses that could succeed in this environment won't come because we're too close to NH. Unique Businesses that might not be impacted by the close proximity to NH won't come because there isn't the population to support them. Creating parks and beautifying downtown are great, but unless the root problems are addressed the park will be just another place to find dirty needles.
Delete3:08, there is some truth to what you say, no doubt. Eliminating the bottom end housing would go a long way toward elevating this town. Better building codes would help, as well. I do take exception with the claim of "ridiculously high" tax rates, however. Every place I've lived, including the nicer ones, had higher taxes. Low home prices and low taxes may be the one thing this town has going for it. Where I grew up, you can EASILY pay 300k for a starter home, and 10k to 15k per year in taxes on it. No circuit breaker, either. The crime rate is nearly TWICE that of Springfield, and it's not a city. Springfield looks worse than it actually is. Keep clearing out the slum rentals and fixing up downtown. Create tech-friendly professional space, and then promote it. Nature abhors a vacuum; "undervalued" real estate will draw people from expensive, high tax parts of the country, provided there's something here!
DeleteI think most of these posts show the start of a shift from the "shop town" mentality, where most depended on the shop owners to decide what Springfield was going to be like. Ten years ago, not only did nobody think of creating a riverfront park, nobody had an idea of how to fund it, and now-- a change!
ReplyDeleteWe are starting to see more people think, "Why not?" and assemble the resources. There's a house on Mineral Street that five years ago looked like Springfield felt-- and it's quite different today because of one person. All of us could look inside ourselves to see what we can do that we never dreamed of before, and we could change Springfield as much as that house has been changed.
And that's starting to show up, I think.
hey why dont you tell every one how the town ended up paying you to take the house. how you found out that the water main had damaged the foundation and it was to the tune of 20000. now tell us all how this isnt trump. you cant. good day mr gregory
Delete4:51, what on earth are you talking about????
DeleteNot sure I would agree about Utah schools. From the educated people I know who have moved to or lived in Utah, the schools are really not up to par, and the middle-class out there that value their children't education send their kids to private schools. So keep drinking that kool aid.
ReplyDeleteschool digger ranked Utah #16 nationally: https://www.schooldigger.com/stateuserrankings.aspx
DeleteUS News ranks Utah at #3, and Vermont at #8. Both high, and not much of a difference between them.
DeleteHow about we starting increasing taxes on a property that isn't kept up to a certain code. Want lower tax on your property....put in the effort to keep it nice. Want a dump....you can pay extra taxes to have your Typar paper house and 7 junk cars and piles of trash that "beautify" the neighborhood
ReplyDelete^ Your thinking is rational and this is what I will be promoting on my run for Selectboard. Property will be taxed proportionate to its demand on services. If you own a low income apartment with subsidized renters, that property is a highly profitable commercial enterprise. (Why so many exist.) It shall be appraised and taxed accordingly. If you own an unoccupied, dilapidated structure such as Christoper Mason's Park Street eyesore, it will be deemed a fire hazard and liability to the community. A premium tax will apply.
DeleteBoth these tools will discourage slumlords who profit greatly at the expense of honest, responsible home owners. I know of no other scheme to halt the motivation for creating blight and attracting undesirables.
Additionally a review of all tax exempt properties will be thoroughly and publicly examined. There are a number of private individuals that are being subsidized by their neighbors that have no legitimate need.
Amen, 10:28. I've been saying it for years, the slumlords and speculators are the ones ruining this town, and getting rich doing it. Intentionally letting their properties rot to drive down property values, then scooping up the surrounding properties cheap. It's an ever-downward spiral that must be stopped!
Delete10:28 may I ask who you are? I would love to see what your saying put into motion. I posted the original comment and have lived her my entire life. Continue to watch the gown diminish due to slumlords and people that dont care about their property values or others property values around them. This town could turn it around if we start pushing back against these people and/or building owners
DeleteThere are two or three wealthy families around here that are responsible for most of the blight in this town. They create and maintain it to drive down property values, in order to buy more properties, cheap. They won't stop until they own the entire town, and can rule with impunity. I suspect the recent property devaluations are a part of this scheme. It is the only reason that makes sense. Property values were rising, slowly but steadily. Forcing low to midrange property values down, and raising taxes on higher end properties devalues ALL properties, not just those at the bottom. Look at all the homes for sale today. Most of them are over 100k. They'll not get their asking price, which means they'll "devalue" naturally. IT'S A SCAM, and we will ALL pay for it!
Delete