Why Choose Colorado Springs? (Fountain, Fort Carson: military, apartments, rent)

[autism166]

Colorado people care about gifted children but if your child is special needs and not up to standard.....forget it. Special education in Colorado is horrid. They will make up false child abuse accusations about you just to get rid of your child or that you will get upset and just homeschool. Due process in Colorado is very hard to do.
Colorado I believe is 47th in how they take care of there special needs population. Colorado public schools rather take care of gifted students on part B funds because the people of Colorado believe that kids with severe handicaps are a waste of tax payers money.
If your child is average or gifted then Colorado is not a bad place to live.

[staczal]

Is the last post correct about special needs? I have 3 boys that are needing that. my oldest is the worse,and the twins just have learning disabilities. my hopes for moving here are less now!

[sskkc]

This thread just reaffirms my desire to move to the Springs over and over again!

New Mexico's public schools are HORRIBLE, but they pay very special attention to those with special needs. 20% of the children in my son's school here qualify as special needs and receive free extra tutoring. My gifted son however is competing with 700 other students for one of 10 spots in the gifted program in his school (The school has 10 spots, not 10 spots per grade level. His school has grades K through 5, he's in 1st). Last year, as a non-reader, he just couldn't compete against the older kids. He's accepted for next year, but as the next child in line will be thrilled to learn, we'll be in CO. (I won't be informing the school of this until the move actually happens though, just in case)

It seems like once again, a post someone intended as a negative just puts a smile on my face. 3 more months!!

[silverClimber2go]

Originally Posted by djbushman

Mike, I can't tell you how much your information reaffirms my desire to relocate to Colorado Springs. I have wanted to move there for over 15 years. I was accepted to Un of CS and had an apt lined up and then I met my husband - that was seven years ago.

Born and raised in MN, I still cannot tolerate the bitter cold winters. We are in our second week of below zero highs. And having multiple sclerosis does not help.

The challenge is convincing my husband to take the plunge. I guess you could say the thought of "change" and being that far away from his family is the problem.

I posted on this thread back in May or June of last year and am amazed to see it's still growing. I visited Colorado Springs in June and was fortunate to meet Mike while I was out there. His posts about the area have helped us decide to take another visit again this year, to investigate further the area we might want to relocate to. As rock climbers we are able to make it a double-duty trip and take advantage of the plethora of climbing in the area as well.

We decided long ago the Minnesota winters were too hard for us, but having family and financial issues to consider have been putting off a move for a few more years. We have decided to take advantage of that time to travel to the different areas of Colorado to find exactly the right fit. And Utah is also on our list of possibilities. In my job I have been fortunate to talk to people all across both states and have heard many wonderful things.

My son and I fell in love with Colorado Springs, thanks to Mike and his wife. Now I just need my fiance to fall in love with it as well. When heading to Colorado in May with him, we plan to visit the Springs as well as Boulder and Denver. We have friends in several areas, so that makes it another reason to head on over and see what May looks like for Colorado-ites.

We have recently had higher than normal temps here and I've heard Colorado was hit pretty hard this winter with some snow and cold temps, but I've also heard that's not the norm. I've had enough of bitter cold, short summers and snowdrifts you have to unbury your car from.

DJBushman, I hope you find the time and energy to visit Colorado as well and fall in love with it like we did. I know you'll appreciate the summers and the drier climate. It would be much easier for someone with MS to tolerate than the Minnesota weather is. Good luck!

[leavinFL]

mike thanks for the thread. this is a possibility for us (as is your least fav place VA ) i'll be checking back soon

[ccrunner]

Mike-I have received a lot of great info from this post, as well as the rest of the forum, but wanted your input on my specific scenario, since I haven't seen much about opening a business in the area. Thanks!!

We are ooking at moving to the Colorado Springs area to open a personal training studio within the area. Would love any information you can provide both on the business side as well as personal side. We are looking from the Tri-Lakes area down to the Briargate area. We are a young couple, looking to spend between 300-350,000 for a home, newer-construction preferred, in a family-oriented/young professional area. We are also looking at Birmingham, AL and Austin, TX. We are both from Florida (GATOR GRADS), and lived here all of our lives, but are into skiiing, and love outdoor and recreational activities. I personally am concerned about the winter and driving in the snow. As far as opening a business, we are looking at opening in an established market but still growing. Are people in Colorado Springs already so fitness and outdoor oriented, that they wouldn't be interested in a personal training studio, which would offer private and group training classes, as well as fitness boot camps and such? How are organized sports for kids in the area? Are they big into team sports (Pop-Warner, Little League,etc) or more individual sports (gymnastics, skiing, etc)? While we are young and currently have no children, where we open a business is where we plan to start and raise a family, so family issues, such as sports, schools, etc are very important. Any input you can provide, would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

[Mike from back east]

Thank you for the kind words.

The whole state is fitness oriented, most fit state in the nation. Seems we have gyms or equipment stores all over. Not sure that means its a good place to start a business or that there's too much competition already.

We've been members of Holliday Spa (Now Bally Fitness) since 1972 and our annual dues are just $12 a year. We've had several PT's at Bally in the past year and a half and all of them have private clients as well as their clients at Bally's location. Makes me think that a biz would work out okay.

If you are going to do this out of your home, with a steady flow of people visiting during the day or early evening, be sure there are no HOA covenants to preclude running a business from a home in that community.

The Briargate area is pretty well built up with higher-end homes, folks with the money and time for a trainer. A good deal more development is coming too...Wolf Ranch and Cordera especially. I get massages at a very nice place in Briargate/Pine Creek and they keep 6-8 staff busy all the time, so it makes me think people have the money and inclination to also patronize a PT.

There is a large development near Monument called Flying Horse that will have a lot of upscale types....and a huge fitness club. Monument is more rural than Briargate and not sure about the need for PT's up that way.

Hopefully, you can rent a while before buying....in case it doesn't work out, but with the area continuing to grow and the decent wealth of the area, you just may do okay.

s/Mike from back east

MOD NOTE: For further discussion on the concept of opening a fitness center, go to the specific new thread:
Looking to Move/Open a Business in CS Area

[froggin4colorado]

You know...I think I will stop "selling/advertising" COS- it truly is a beautiful place to live with great weather. IF I keep this up, our city will be too big and I will only have myself to blame!!!
P.S. Our city is too funny. We were supposed to have this huge blizzard last night and today and I have maybe a couple inches on the ground. Here's the funny part- schools are delayed or closed for the most part, along with military bases. I swear, we see a snowflake and we act like chickens with heads cut off and start delaying and shutting down. Essentially, the city shuts down, except for retail- because instead of staying home, everyone goes shopping. Seriously! I think it is a hoot!!! I am an educator and my district just shut down along with a few others. Can you imagine taking the COS population and transplanting us up north/midwest/Alaska? Heaven help us...
Lynette

[ChrissyR]

Hi. I posted this to the wrong area earlier. My husband will be applying for a job at Ft. Carson. I checked and if I'm right Colorado Springs is only about 6 miles from Ft. Carson. We are a mixed race family. My husband and I are caucasian and our two adopted sons ages 12 and almost 17 are black and bi-racial. Will we feel "at home" in Colorado Springs? Any feedback would be great. Thanks!

PS: We now live in Tucson, AZ where the African American population is only about 4%.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by ChrissyR

Hi. .... My husband will be applying for a job at Ft. Carson....We are a mixed race family. ... Will we feel "at home" in Colorado Springs?

You will indeed feel at home here, not a problem. After the heat of Phoenix, you're gonna love Colorado.
s/mike