House Hunting
After living in Fitchburg for two years, my husband and I have begun formulating plans for where to purchase our next home. Back in 2004, we bought our rather small starter home in Fitchburg with the assumption that we’d be heading back to the Metrowest area once we settled into our careers and made a dent in our student loans. We’ve experienced a rather dramatic change of heart since that time, and we now anticipate that our next home - which we hope to be our long-term “forever” home - will be in Fitchburg.
In recent months, we’ve had a lot of fun researching what’s available in Fitchburg in the price range that would barely buy us a starter home in the Metrowest region. We’ve been astounded by the array of new construction and large historic home options that are out there. But our favorite discovery of all pertains to the existence of a “rural” Fitchburg previously unknown to us. This past weekend alone, we visited two houses that were situated on four-acre parcels in the middle of the woods! I would highly recommend that anyone considering a move to the area take a ride on roads such as Ashburnham Hill Road, Ashby West Road, Pearl Hill Road, and Franklin Road to gain a full appreciation of all that Fitchburg has to offer.
Having grown up in Maine, my husband and I feel that privacy and a wooded setting are crucial...yet we’ve also become accustomed to easy access to Boston and proximity to things like grocery stores and restaurants. It’s incredible to think that, thanks to Fitchburg, we can have all of those characteristics someplace where we can actually pay the mortgage. We’re not certain exactly when we’ll be looking to purchase a new home, but it’s such a relief to know that now we can be truly excited about it, rather than slightly bummed out by the thought of downgrading to a tiny, deteriorating shack somewhere in Metrowest where we’ll be a slave to the mortgage payments and cursing the Mass Pike traffic.
Labels: Community
posted by Erica @ 9:26 AM
6 Comments:
Dear Erica:
I have some good advise for you and your husband, get the hell out of Fitchburg!!
Erica, I'm sorry to say this, but don't expect the grapes to get any sweeter in Fitchburg. Blog or no blog.
While I admire your efforts here on this blog, you must first realize that Fitchburg and it's image is abused not only by it's phoney politicians but also people from all walks of life. The Latino community is a crime wave in itself.
Heroin is easily avialable, the city is plauged by gun toting thugs, and prostitutes walk the pedestrian corridor of Main Street every single friggin day. Up and down the street all damn day.
They have a mayor with one tooth and a room temp I.Q. of about 62.
He's also a recovering alcoholic who has one of the worst cases of dry drunk syndrome I've ever seen in my life!!!
There is a stench of psuedo elitism wafting from city hall, the city council and city employee's in general.
Bankers, politicians and heirs gather to collect and peddle influence at places like the private Fay Club and other hoity-toity places of exclusivity
The DPW is just a gang of carpet baggers who could care less about Fitchburg. The police chief is a lame duck whose in the back pocket of the mayor... and the fire chief spends more time trying to push his entire family onto the city payroll than putting out oven fires. He's also a liar and a bitchboy.
Main Street is a joke. It's just a gritty streach of botaga's, barber shops and Muslem owned variety stores. Peppered with banks and ambulance chasing lawyers.
About 80% of the landlords are also 'absentee' owners from out of town who consistantly fail to keep their squalid building safe and clean.
So...want to enjoy life a little more? Move to Leominster.
Anonymous, I certainly respect that everyone has different opinions. However, I feel that people in Fitchburg or considering a move to Fitchburg are often inundated with negative opinions and never hear the voice of those who happen to enjoy living here.
Many of the problems you describe are present in other communities too (certainly Leominster). I see no reason why an entire community should be judged on the basis of its negative characteristics without regard for the positive, particularly given that many of the complaints you've listed are exaggerated and highly subjective. Furthermore, people too often conjure up images solely of Main Street when thinking of Fitchburg - my point is that the city has a lot more to it.
There are many outlets that exist for arguments over politics and other highly charged issues in our region. My goal is different and very simple: to express why I enjoy living in Fitchburg. My apologies to you if you're offended that I've found some restaurants and activities in the area that appeal to me, but it's not clear to me how my comments warrant a diatribe against a city that you apparently don't even live in and therefore cannot fully understand or appreciate.
here's and idea, how about this racist and oh so brave "Anonymous" leaves Fitchburg and Leominster and wherever else he/she is in this state? You are not welcome in my city.
types like that are the problem in this area as much if not more than politicians. act respectable and you will be respected. there is no point in arguing the points that this bigot made. they perpetuaute the negative feelings that people hold about North Central MA and are not constructive at all. If I judged this area based on the opinions of that genius, I would never have given it a second look.
now...this blog is a nice find and glad to see it. keep it up.
Brian, thanks for your support. Anything you'd care to share about what brought you to Fitchburg or some of the attractions you've since discovered that you would recommend I check out?
Dean, it's great to hear another vote in favor of Deloge Heights, as many others have recommended that subdivision to me as well. We drove through a few weeks ago and liked what we saw. Have you been there for long? When the time comes for us to decide on a purchase, I'll definitely keep you in mind as a resource for any questions!
Hi Erica,
I'm posting this in this location due to the fact that I didn't see a general way to send this to you. I like what you are doing for my home city by hopefully helping people recognize some of the really wonderful things here in Fitchburg...thank You!! I am also sending this because I went to Progressive Fitchburg, a link from your blog, and was left feeling quite irritated. This person obviously isn't someone interested in doing anything other than to malign and insult people, and he certainly isn't a positive addition to your cause. I was actually quite offended by him, and found it odd that you would link to him...just a thought. My wife and I created a site for Fitchburg that you may be interested in: Fitchburgsvoice.com. Thank You for your interest and involvment in our city!
Hi Everyone,
My husband and I have lived in Fitchburg since we were married in 2002 and we love it here. We both grew up in smaller local towns (Ashby & Lunenburg) and were drawn to Fitchburg's affordable home prices. We had similar experiences as you with super friendly neighbors at all 3 of the houses we've bought and sold over the past 5 years. We've benefited greatly from the housing market and have been able to keep flipping properties.
We recently built a home abutting the old Rollstone Quarry at the top of Pratt Road, off Harugari Street. It is beautiful up here! My husband and I love to walk around our cul-de-sac and greet all the neighborhood doggies. We also enjoy hiking in the acres of woods behind our house that lead up to the top of the old Quarry where it's breath-taking to view downtown Fitchburg and even Mt. Wauchsett. I would highly recommend the Fitchburg Historical Society Trolley Tours in the Summer. I went on 2 last season and they were amazing! It's so interesting to learn about the rich history here.
Two of the places we love to eat at are the Parkhill Grill and the Mill No. 3 Farmstand. The Parkhill Grill is a great breakfast and lunch place in the Parkhill Plaza behind CVS. My husband and I love to go there on weekend mornings and watch the senior couples enjoy their breakfast. It always makes us smile to see folks still so in love! The Mill No. 3 Farmstand is in West Fitchburg and has an incredible deli with homemade breads. The best part is that they have seating to eat right in their greenhouse! There's nothing like enjoying "The Boulder" sandwich with it's fresh chicken salad and crisp green apple slices while sitting in a warm greenhouse surrounded by lush green plants!
Coggshall Park is a wonderful place to bring a picnic or hike too. In the Winter, there is ice skating, in the summer there are Jazz concerts. The park can be accessed off of Electric Ave. or Mt. Elam Road.
I can't wait to read the rest of your blogs.
-Kim-
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