Is Colorado Springs a better place to live today than it was 10 years ago? (rentals, shops)
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Well, I voted no ... but that's not how I really feel. It's just that "yes" didn't reflect how I feel about how the Springs has changed. When I moved here from the western slope in the early 1980s, the size of Colorado Springs was my perfect cup of tea.
So, there are aspects that are better, and other ways, not so much. That's why I suggested another category. The one you added would be how I would have voted.
Thanks.
I changed the voting to reflect your preferred choice.
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As someone who grew up in Broadmoor Bluffs and recently moved away I think alot of the people there are low key racists.
What? They dislike little old ladies with pink cheeks and white hair? They hate people who love to read books? They feel that the mass migration to the US of those with at least one Swiss parent is destroying American culture? Some people are under the misapprehension that every last person who is eligible for housing assistance must be an illegal alien whose skin tends towards the dark side. And, of course we all know about the dark side, now don't we? But then in away, I don't blame the good people of Broadmoor Bluffs. I prefer to hang out with my own people, myself - Americans.
I think we need to make sure we understand that there is one HOA in the area of multiple developments that is throwing a fit over this. Not everyone in this area agrees with the approach being pursued and not all of them are putting any merit behind this effort. Some even oppose it.
And I believe this highlights some of the micro-environmental ways that Cos has not changed much over many years. There has always been a percentages of people who have come here and got their slice of life that do not want to include others unlike themselves and in some cases, even those that are like them. "Welcome to CO, now go home" still exists as a mindset within the community. Plus the fact that this is a significant local news story highlights how we still think of ourselves as small town highlighting "community" issues while other more meaty and important stories are glossed over or ignored.
The larger macro-economic means of improvement obviously make Cos better now than in the past on the larger scale. The same could be said of anyplace. The population here has increased over the last 10-20 year, so we obviously still present a very desirable portfolio of life. However, as referred to in my earlier post, we are polarizing more, and not just in the larger political sense. We are seeing more and more six figure income positions as well as a jump in entry level, minimum wage call center types of jobs in the area. Huge swaths of middle income jobs are gone. This means huge swaths of middle income neighborhoods are in decline. 80910 and 80916 have a long historical perception of economic struggle. Now days that has expanded into 80911, 80915 and parts of 80909 and 80917. Meanwhile, areas that used to be underdeveloped, lower income farmland to the east and north are turning into modern, built out and master planned communities attracting people with fantastic jobs. 80133, 80908, 80921, 80922, 80923, 80924, 80951 are all booming. Since that is twice as many zips covering 3x as much area, it is still viewed as a success growth model.
Still, over all things are trending up. We still attract a lot of chain retail and eateries. As a by product, we also tend to be able to support more local efforts and are able to support them as well. The old ATSF depot has been converted into a new technology think tank type of set up. There are several coop meeting spaces. A three story loft apartment complex with attached cafe and brewery was completed not long ago on Nevada. Another on Kiowa has received a HUGE make over. A third is under construction. North Nevada from Austin Bluffs to the highway has had a makeover that got rid of the pay by hour motels, mini-junk yards, and greasy spoons.
On the flip side, the homeless population has become highly visible. Estimates put it between 1000-2000 people. Their concentration along south Shooks Run has grown up all the local water ways. They are up Monument Creek all the way to Woodmen and up Cottonwood. They have pushed up Douglas and Jimmy Camp Creeks. Division of how to deal with this rapidly increasing population are another source of conflict.
Could you make Cos your home again, sure. The price of entry is, unfortunately, steeper. The population is larger and more diverse. Healthcare options have increased. Conservation and volunteer groups have increased. Part time and entry level jobs have increased. Tolerance has increased in some places while polarization has increased in others. We are growing up into a modern city while still trying to figure out to deal with our small town legacy.
I think we need to make sure we understand that there is one HOA in the area of multiple developments that is throwing a fit over this. Not everyone in this area agrees with the approach being pursued and not all of them are putting any merit behind this effort. Some even oppose it.
And I believe this highlights some of the micro-environmental ways that Cos has not changed much over many years. There has always been a percentages of people who have come here and got their slice of life that do not want to include others unlike themselves and in some cases, even those that are like them. "Welcome to CO, now go home" still exists as a mindset within the community. Plus the fact that this is a significant local news story highlights how we still think of ourselves as small town highlighting "community" issues while other more meaty and important stories are glossed over or ignored.
The larger macro-economic means of improvement obviously make Cos better now than in the past on the larger scale. The same could be said of anyplace. The population here has increased over the last 10-20 year, so we obviously still present a very desirable portfolio of life. However, as referred to in my earlier post, we are polarizing more, and not just in the larger political sense. We are seeing more and more six figure income positions as well as a jump in entry level, minimum wage call center types of jobs in the area. Huge swaths of middle income jobs are gone. This means huge swaths of middle income neighborhoods are in decline. 80910 and 80916 have a long historical perception of economic struggle. Now days that has expanded into 80911, 80915 and parts of 80909 and 80917. Meanwhile, areas that used to be underdeveloped, lower income farmland to the east and north are turning into modern, built out and master planned communities attracting people with fantastic jobs. 80133, 80908, 80921, 80922, 80923, 80924, 80951 are all booming. Since that is twice as many zips covering 3x as much area, it is still viewed as a success growth model.
Still, over all things are trending up. We still attract a lot of chain retail and eateries. As a by product, we also tend to be able to support more local efforts and are able to support them as well. The old ATSF depot has been converted into a new technology think tank type of set up. There are several coop meeting spaces. A three story loft apartment complex with attached cafe and brewery was completed not long ago on Nevada. Another on Kiowa has received a HUGE make over. A third is under construction. North Nevada from Austin Bluffs to the highway has had a makeover that got rid of the pay by hour motels, mini-junk yards, and greasy spoons.
On the flip side, the homeless population has become highly visible. Estimates put it between 1000-2000 people. Their concentration along south Shooks Run has grown up all the local water ways. They are up Monument Creek all the way to Woodmen and up Cottonwood. They have pushed up Douglas and Jimmy Camp Creeks. Division of how to deal with this rapidly increasing population are another source of conflict.
Could you make Cos your home again, sure. The price of entry is, unfortunately, steeper. The population is larger and more diverse. Healthcare options have increased. Conservation and volunteer groups have increased. Part time and entry level jobs have increased. Tolerance has increased in some places while polarization has increased in others. We are growing up into a modern city while still trying to figure out to deal with our small town legacy.
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to TCHP again."
Well said. Nimby-ism will most likely be with us for some time to come - and that's not just in the Springs, but everywhere, sad to say. Where I now live - Cortez - there is a large Native American population, and some folks just can't stop themselves from automatically putting the word "drunk" in front of the word "Indian." As a nation, we have a long way to go.
So, they finally cleaned up N. Nevada, eh? Well, that's a positive sign, although I used to love to stop for lunch or dinner sometimes at a Mexican Restaurant that was then located near the corner of N. Nevada and Austin Bluffs. Great smothered burritos and pitchers of margaritas. Oh, to be that young and that casual as to what I ingested again!
The Springs already had a large number of homeless folks when I left. It doesn't surprise me to learn that it's gotten even worse what with the housing crunch and all. We are building a brand new homeless shelter here, and there are homeless people everywhere these days. The Springs really needs to get behind the concept of affordable housing, Broadmoor Bluffs or no.
Yeah, I imagine that if someone with my income was determined enough, that's it's still possible to find a reasonable place to live in the Pikes Peak region. I just need to make that 3- or 4 week visit back "home" and see how I feel about the place these days.
Thanks!
Last edited by Colorado Rambler; 01-21-2018 at 01:18 PM..
Senor Manuels is still there. Pink Panther, Squatting Chicken, et al are all gone and have been replaced by a really nice apartment complex, some big box stores, and regional and national chain eateries. The Four Diamonds Fields have been replaced by the Ent Center for Performing Arts and several heath care extension, urgent care hospitals. BMW and Harley dealers have also landed there along with a local jeweler who advertises constantly. Next up are improvements from Austin Bluffs down to Fillmore and downtown to Ivywild. The Gaudagnolies are heading up the south Nevada efforts. Did it need some help, for sure, but they also displaced a few dozen low income housing areas in the process.
I think you could still find an occasional decent rent in Mesa Springs, Roswell, the near west side, Bott, Hillside, and East End addition areas. I even see some pop up in ONEN from time to time with so many places having backyard cottages. There is some talk of a housing project on north Weber, but it wouldn't be far enough along for consideration if you plan on moving in the next year or two. OCC and Manitou will be really tough to land in these days.
I would be one of the "some ways" people for any number of the reasons I've already outlined. But I'm also optimistic we are heading in the right direct too further improve things as well.
I'm not surprised that "no" is up there in count. I'm a member of some other social media sites about Cos, and always surprised by the number of people lamenting the change of what Cos was and what it is now. I'm certain there are more than a few of them on here as well.
Thanks! I lived in Manitou for years. It's my fav place in the Pikes Peak Region. But going by pad mapper there's not a single rental currently on the market in Manitou. I doubt that I could ever afford to live there again unless the housing market goes bust. Were you impacted by the Waldo Canyon fire?
As you can probably imagine having lived there, Manitou is still the type of place a landlord with an apartment or small home to rent is more likely to just put up a "For Rent" sign in the window than he or she is to list something on pad mapper or whatever online site. I was wandering about the side and back streets of Manitou (not looking for a place to rent) in the past couple weeks and noticed at least two "For Rent" signs, I think one of which was for a 2 bed 1 bath place (on Lover's Lane right behind the main shops) for $1,500/mo if I recall. Something like that. I can't imagine that would show up online. Which is one thing to love about Manitou (unless you're looking online for rentals)!
As you can probably imagine having lived there, Manitou is still the type of place a landlord with an apartment or small home to rent is more likely to just put up a "For Rent" sign in the window than he or she is to list something on pad mapper or whatever online site. I was wandering about the side and back streets of Manitou (not looking for a place to rent) in the past couple weeks and noticed at least two "For Rent" signs, I think one of which was for a 2 bed 1 bath place (on Lover's Lane right behind the main shops) for $1,500/mo if I recall. Something like that. I can't imagine that would show up online. Which is one thing to love about Manitou (unless you're looking online for rentals)!
You're right about that, though that practice is not as prevalent as it was 20 years ago. It's because we don't have the large multi-unit apartment options that only rent through managers or the like. So sometimes you can luck out by cruising around and being in the right place at the right time.
As you can probably imagine having lived there, Manitou is still the type of place a landlord with an apartment or small home to rent is more likely to just put up a "For Rent" sign in the window than he or she is to list something on pad mapper or whatever online site. I was wandering about the side and back streets of Manitou (not looking for a place to rent) in the past couple weeks and noticed at least two "For Rent" signs, I think one of which was for a 2 bed 1 bath place (on Lover's Lane right behind the main shops) for $1,500/mo if I recall. Something like that. I can't imagine that would show up online. Which is one thing to love about Manitou (unless you're looking online for rentals)!
The last place I lived in Manitou was a cute little cottage on Elk Path. I happened across it because I was delivering phone books in Manitou to earn a little Christmas money and I noticed the "For Rent" sign out front. I stopped to look the place over and the front door was open. I went in and took a look see, then went back out and called the number on the sign, asking them if they really wanted to leave the place unlocked. I told them that they might as well lock it up anyhow because I was their new renter, and I was! I can't imagine that happening now a days, but you never know.
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