Colorado Springs - The Negatives . (Denver, Air Force Academy: attorney, community college, taxis)

[vlcreations]

Originally Posted by Ripleyrose

I have lived here since 1974. I hate to see the sprawl of houses marching out in every direction. They are cookie cutter subdivisions. And the houses advancing further and further up the mountains. The clogging traffic going up and down the pass.

I think it is a negative that we are known as the 'Mecca of the West.' So many people get the impression that you MUST be an Evangelical Christian or you won't be welcomed or fit in. Not so.

My cousins from back east think we have winter 12 months out of the year and they see that as a huge negative. They don't understand the sun comes out and melts it away.

I thought about leaving and then realized that with all the flaws and growing pains this is still my happy place.

Every negative is offset by a positive.

I love the west side and Cheyenne Canon area. So I live there.
We have winter but with enough sunshine and warm days to keep me sane.
There is so much beauty here and plenty of opportunities to be a tourist in your own home town.

We are a work in progress. Our negatives are so small to me. Everyone is different, but me...I thrive here.

Here Here! The Westside has charm unlike the urban sprawl to the North and East. Like I said, it depends on what you are-a snob or down to earth regarding what you consider to be good or bad parts of town.

[vlcreations]

Colorado Springs is an old city. The closer you get to Downtown the older the homes are. I find this part of town to be quite charrming and love to just go there and walk around and window shop. Every city has it's drawbacks. I'm sick of people saying how rundown this section or that section is. I'd take the charm of those so-called rundown sections anyday over the urban sprawl to the North and East that some here have been raving about.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by vlcreations

...homes where people worry about their yards is the motto in these ares.

That's right. People worry about their yards. Those are the kind of people I want to live near.

People who don't worry about their yards and park cars on them or let the weeds grow or leave their trashcans out for three days or have blue tarps on their roof or car are referred to as pigs.

[terri1955]

Is colorado more expensive than minnesota? Miinnesota is really bad for high taxes. I am thinking of moving to a western state any opinions? Bring em on!!!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by terri1955

Is colorado more expensive than minnesota? Miinnesota is really bad for high taxes. I am thinking of moving to a western state any opinions? Bring em on!!!

Are you just asking about taxes? What about housing? Heating/cooling expenses? Own car vs. public transportation differences?

What line of work are you in?
Are you looking to rent or buy? What's your budget or price range?

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by vlcreations

Depends on what you are. If you're a snob than the eastside and northside are perfect for you. Typical overpriced homes where people worry about their yards is the motto in these ares. I live on the East Side(in Villa Loma) and am sick of the snobs that think they are something special just because they live in this so-called "prestige" neighborhood. From reading the post here is seems that it's pretty much snobs that post here too. Now if you're a down to earth person who doesn't mind living in a neighborhood or house with charm or character than try the older so-called rundowns sections that aren't in Snobville Colorado Springs. That means anywhere not on the East side or up towards Briargate and beyond where the deer and the snobalopes roam in Peregrine and Woodman Valley.

Would you rather have a yard full of dead grass, and weeds? Overflowing trashcans with trash riddled all over your yard, maybe a mid 80's station wagon with no engine, and leaking a river of transmission fluid down the gutter? Maybe an old refrigerator in front of your garage, and boat with no trailer in your driveway?

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by jadybug

There was a mention of crime. What areas should a new transplant stay away from? Realtors (I was once one so I know) aren't allowed to tell you that information. And sometimes the police in the area can be even less helpful.

Can you find a safe neighborhood for between $90,000-160,000? If so, which one?

There are some decent older houses in the 80917 area on and around E Inspiration, DR. There are some nice houses built in the late 1970's priced 170~190K. I have a friend over in that area, and it's not a bad place at all. I almost bought a house over there, if I had I would be $$$$$$$ ahead.

[ryanek9freak]

I lived on the west side for many years, and have no issue with the neighborhoods. I especially like the Pleasant Valley neighborhood off 30th st, and OCC is really cool too.

But......and this is a big but..... I wanted a NEW house. And I work at Chapel hills auto mall, so I moved into a house near Briargate.

[mod cut/no personal attacks!!!!]I came from a pretty poor upbringing, and now I have something really nice that I can be proud of. That doesn't mean I look down on people who have to live in smaller, older houses because of income restraints. I understand that. My first house was 2 bedrooms and about 800 sq.ft.

THat being said, you can't tell me that there aren't some neighborhoods in the west and southeast sides that don't look like utter garbage. Older houses can be charming, IF you take care of them, which most of the people who own them just don't. I drive around the east side of downtown, and on the southeast side, and see houses that need paint desperatley (which isn't a hard thing to do) and the yards are nothing but dirt, and their kids are rolling around in it.

Why is it such a bad thing to have pride in the way your house looks.

I tried desperatley to keep my house and yard in good shape, yet my neighbors would just let the grass die, and then use their front yards as a driveway. It made me sick. I even tried to offer to take care of their yard for them, and they just shrugged it off, cause guess what? They were renting and didn't give a damn.

You call that "charm"? whatever.......

[ryanek9freak]

Oh, let this be the final time anyone says this.

If you are not 100% in love with this city, GET OUT! I'm sure someone else will take you and your unfounded complaints. Heck, i'll even drive you to the airport.

[El Mac]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Oh, let this be the final time anyone says this.

If you are not 100% in love with this city, GET OUT! I'm sure someone else will take you and your unfounded complaints. Heck, i'll even drive you to the airport.

...and if you need backup, I'm more than happy to help out!