Colorado Springs - The Negatives . (Denver, Grand Junction: crime, houses, living)

[simonjtt]

My family and I have been thinking of relocating to Colorado for many years and although we like Denver we are intrested in Colorado Springs. The tourist pictures look great, it seems like a great place and of course the Realtor's will always say great things! I am a great believer in a collective opinion of things, so I want to throw the question out there what are the negatives?

[COflower]

Negatives (as well as positives) are subjective. Are there specific things that you really don't want in a new city?

I mean, I tend to think more about the positives of the three places in CO that I have lived rather than any negatives. I think it's what you make of it.

I think the biggest negative that C Springs has is the crappy public transportation. Outside of that, nothing sticks out at me as a reason to leave. I am planning at some point to move to Cañon City or back to Grand Junction because I desire a change.

[EscapeCalifornia]

How'd the pay in CS? They look significantly lower than SoCal or even Denver. What's the quality of jobs there if you're not an aerospace engineer?

[vfrpilot]

so I want to throw the question out there what are the negatives?

-The winter weather is.....well winter weather. We moved from San Diego where winter weather was a lot like summer weather. I actually don't mind the cold and snow, as long as the wind isn't thrown in. The snow can be amazing here- actually sparkles when the sun comes out.
-Ice makes driving hazardous, especially on a motorcycle. Don't ask how I know, just take my word for it.
-Can't keep car clean for long, even in the summer due to afternoon t-storms. And watch out for hail. A lot of CO cars have the same complextion as golf balls.
-Need more GOOD mexican resturants
-Developments that remind me of CA/AZ or Monopoly houses. Row upon row upon row. I don't know how people find their house. They all look the same. Don't let a realtor try to show you a house in one of these until you drive around and see the older established 'hoods. Try to see areas with larger, hilly lots with trees.
-Bears. Just the thought that they might be in my yard makes me a bit nervous when out walking my dog at night. Figure my flashlight will scare 'em away
-No In & Out Hamburger joint(SoCal thing)
Disclaimer> I still love it here. There is no place that is without negatives, and one man's negatives might be another's positive.

[simonjtt]

Thankyou for your comments . I guess what I am looking for are the problems that everyday locals tend to face ( apart from the obvious )
We don't have to fight with the "positives" of a place therefore we are left with the "negatives" with which to help us make decisions .ie " which problems do we wish to deal with ? "

[simonjtt]

Originally Posted by vfrpilot

-The winter weather is.....well winter weather. We moved from San Diego where winter weather was a lot like summer weather. I actually don't mind the cold and snow, as long as the wind isn't thrown in. The snow can be amazing here- actually sparkles when the sun comes out.
-Ice makes driving hazardous, especially on a motorcycle. Don't ask how I know, just take my word for it.
-Can't keep car clean for long, even in the summer due to afternoon t-storms. And watch out for hail. A lot of CO cars have the same complextion as golf balls.
-Need more GOOD mexican resturants
-Developments that remind me of CA/AZ or Monopoly houses. Row upon row upon row. I don't know how people find their house. They all look the same. Don't let a realtor try to show you a house in one of these until you drive around and see the older established 'hoods. Try to see areas with larger, hilly lots with trees.
-Bears. Just the thought that they might be in my yard makes me a bit nervous when out walking my dog at night. Figure my flashlight will scare 'em away
-No In & Out Hamburger joint(SoCal thing)
Disclaimer> I still love it here. There is no place that is without negatives, and one man's negatives might be another's positive.

I like your weather report ...thankyou , Only a pilot who's wondering if he can fly in Visual Flight Rules would think of the weather first !! Ha Ha .
Do you fly ?

[vfrpilot]

Do you fly ?

Yes, but not for a living. But I fly because of my occupation, technical support. Today I am flying to confirm the operation of a fuel injection system. Brutal, but someone's gotta do it.

[tfox]

Economy is sluggish, and pay is relatively low compared to Denver, though possibly not bad depending on where you're coming from. The jury is still out as to whether this is a temporary setback or if Colorado Springs is headed for decades of economic malaise. If you have a security clearance with experience in the defense/federal sector I think you can do fairly well, but the commercial high-tech sector down there has taken a beating of late.

[jazzlover]

I will start out with a positive: Colorado Springs does have one of the prettiest settings of any major Colorado city and its variable (and sometimes violent) weather I actually like very much. Unfortunately, the major negative in Colorado Springs is that it has grown way too fast in the sprawling modern manner that is destroying its beauty and character. Traffic is awful for a city of its size. Crime is bad in some areas. The city has dried up thousands upon thousands of acres of farmlands, ranchlands, and wetlands all over central Colorado to supply its needs for water (mostly to irrigate suburban, non-native lawns). The Springs is (and has been for years) over-reliant on the military for its economic base, and it appears that reliance is probably going to grow, rather than shrink. That's kind of hilarious, when one sees the Springs' arch-conservative politicians decry big government at the same time their community gets most of its economic succor from the public trough. In short, a great LOCALE, but an absolutely mediocre community, at best.

[Black Velvet]

high curbs, uneven cracked sidewalks, lack of significant cultural events and nightlife