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PBS Newshour has been running a series about recycling and plastics ... what a mess. And yeah, China doesn't want our trash anymore. Rather disheartening to watch; bad everywhere but hard to see in places like Easter Island: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/recycling
They showed footage of plastic straws being pulled out of a sea turtle's nostrils. The plastics that were introduce 70 years ago ... that stuff is still with us and it's not going anywhere.
In Manitou Springs we have to recycle, and we have to use Best Ways (apartment buildings are exempt) ... but after watching this series, it seems somewhat futile.
Recycled materials have to have buyers that use them to make the process work. CO has more recyclers than we have companies that use recycled material. That means all the excess has to be shipped somewhere else. That costs money. Recycle items that have precious metals tend to be at the top of the list of things the recyclers are willing to pay for. Everything else is a burden.
Homeless rates are up everywhere across the nation. As a city in the top 50 in size in the nation, Cos is not exempt from that phenomenon. If the homeless rate was simply due to weed, they should all be beating a path to CA now, yet they aren't and their numbers are increasing. There is something else at work here.
Recycled materials have to have buyers that use them to make the process work. CO has more recyclers than we have companies that use recycled material. That means all the excess has to be shipped somewhere else. That costs money. Recycle items that have precious metals tend to be at the top of the list of things the recyclers are willing to pay for. Everything else is a burden.
Homeless rates are up everywhere across the nation. As a city in the top 50 in size in the nation, Cos is not exempt from that phenomenon. If the homeless rate was simply due to weed, they should all be beating a path to CA now, yet they aren't and their numbers are increasing. There is something else at work here.
I wonder what demand-driving industries exist in Des Moines, IA and Olympia, WA that make recycling such a popular choice, that the cities would make it mandatory...
Good point though about the weed. I still think it's a factor, the cause in some stories. But we also have the military, which produces some number of soldiers who come out addicted to opioids, a certain number with serious mental health issues, and so on. I know that there's a significant portion of the homeless who are veterans. When it comes to human stories, I know one cannot expect there to be a simple, single answer. The life stories are as varied as there are people to live them, in terms of what brought that human being to that impasse. Or underpass. As the case may be.
I don't know, I've never lived there. Des Moines is a 4 hr drive to Chicago and 8 hours to Detroit. Population density east of the 100th meridian is considerably different than the mountain west. For all I know it was built in to the tax base and waste disposal contracts. We have heard from several transplants on here that once they got here they were surprised about the lack of mandated disposal service and then again at the low prices related to disposal once they investigated it. I'd surmise similar conditions in the PNW and west coast as they are even closer to shipping points for Asian consumers of recyclables.
It does seem that a high percentage of homeless guys are vets. IMO, it points out the loss of middle income employment opportunities that persons without college or trade education can pursue that is decimating the middle class in this country.
Alas, the reasons I love this forum: great responses with lots of great info, and opinions
First, in regards to drastic change, I think it depends on what you consider drastic. That being said, I've been here since 91' and, yes the city has changed immensely; most of the change is just a natural progression of time.
Has it changed recently (since 2014)? My opinion, yes! The demographic landscape is changing as we continue to see growth in our population and local economy. As far as the weather, it's wonderful! We get to enjoy every season here, and of course, some unpredictable weather now and then.
There are some that don't like the growth (transplants), but they are not the majority, considering our population is largely made up of people that aren't from here, and a new generation of millennials flocking here at a very fast rate. Here's a great article, that talks about the vibrancy of our city and the pull it has on our youth! It also mentions the political and religious climate, and certain misconceptions about the Springs. https://coloradopolitics.com/millenn...s-study-finds/
Cost of living is still manageable compared to other areas, but home prices have increased immensely since 2014, and I believe they will continue to rise, maybe not as fast, though.
Average home price in Colorado Springs Sept 2018:
Ave. Sales Price - Sept 2018 --- $343,947 ---- Up by 11% over last year in September 2017 and down by 3.7% from August 18'
Median Sales Price - Sept 2018 -- $305,750 up by 11.2% from last year in September 2017 and down by 2.9% in August 18'
There's a small steadying of the market right now, most likely due to interest rates increasing/also, taking into account the winter season, as the slowest season, prices do tend to drop a few thousand dollars in the winter months and pick back up in the Spring, which is actually the best season to sell.
All-in-all you can still get a pretty nice house for the median sales price in Colorado Springs. Older homes do tend to cost more, mostly do to the area they are located and the significance of their improvements. However, there are many areas you can find what you're looking for.
I completely agree with many who have recommended getting out for another visit and purveying the city, it's beautiful! And, we welcome you Renting is an option to determine how much you want to spend and where you want to live, but I would try and make your renting situation as short lived as possible, or understand that your home options may differ, or change, in a year based on pricing increases and interest rate increases (more interest rate increased to come in the new year).
Bible belt? Well, there is definitely a religious presence, but, I wouldn't say that it outweighs other views, or presence. I think you're right by saying it's a middle road kind of place... I really don't feel that there is extremity either way.
Colorado Springs is the most beautiful city in the U.S! (yes, I'm biased), but come on over!
Last edited by Colorado Springs Gal; 10-12-2018 at 10:41 AM..
Reason: spelling
Funny thing is when you research most conservative, most evangelical, most religious, or anything of the sort, COS typically doesn't even rate in the top 20, never mind anywhere near the top. Most of those are still held by cities in the middle to far south.
I'm looking at most likely moving here within the next month or so, I am a network engineer and just received a job offer. I currently live in the DFW area of TX and before that I lived in Southern California and the Detroit area of MI so I have seen every weather pattern imaginable, except for a hurricane.
A bit about me:
I'm married with two dogs but no kids
I have a job secured already
I currently rent but would like to buy in the near future, I've been sorta priced out because my area exploded with population growth and so did the housing prices
I am very outdoorsy and love the hiking, being in nature, all that stuff...I practically lived outside in CA
I have been to Colorado Springs before on work trips for a previous employer for about a week each time, maybe 4-5 times, but not since 2014. My husband came with me on some of the trips and he loved it there too, so he's on board. My dogs don't get opinions :P
So my questions are:
-has it drastically changed since 2014? This area sure has and it's part of why I want to move, along with the insane, inferno temperatures
-do people hate transplants like I've read elsewhere? I promise I'm a nice person who doesn't want to change everything, I just miss being able to go hiking more than 3 months out of the year
-cost of living wise...I know it's gotten more expensive though not quite Denver levels, since kids aren't part of the picture, and I actually prefer smaller older houses (although here that means foundation work is needed) I'm kinda hopeful I might be able to afford to buy a house or even a condo, but that might be wishful thinking. I'm debating between renting for a year or so and then buying or getting a vacation rental for a few months while I look for a house to buy. Is it like socal levels of "you can get a shack in the ghetto for $400K" yet? I don't want to get sucked into the rental trap like I did here and then get priced out. I am ok with an older, smaller house, as long as it's safe enough for me to walk the dogs alone at night.
-I've also heard anything from it's super bible belty right wing, to partly full of hippies, to it's just a basic middle of the road town..I'm a middle of the road person, so as long as people are basically friendly and no one is extreme I should be okay I think.
I have done a lot of research right down to "can I access the same types of restaurants and grocery stores I do here" and "what kind of medical specialists are there" and "what kinds of veterinary specialists are there" combined with my past experiences working there but I'm a little concerned I'm holding onto an image from years ago and I'll show up and be totally shocked, lol. Any advice is appreciated.
been here in 2014, im noticing a change in traffic and increase of rude drivers and people. thats always to come with more population in any state
No offense but I dont like Texans and Californians because they are incredibly rude drivers and just full of themselves. dont get me wrong, few awesome people I have met from those states, but most people will think the same. I have a cop friend who thinks the same way because 90% of his arrests are people who still have a Cali/Texas ID and supposedly they are the ones mostly littering in the state parks.
cost of living is getting higher - esp if youre trying to get into a house. But thats with any city that runs out of space and is getting congested, its going to boom. Im guessing it will keep going up as long as people keep moving here. expect about 300k for a average house with a small yard in a decent neighborhood now.
crime wise, it has increased. My mom always mentioned you can tell how safe a place is by how many women jog alone...when I fist came here, there were tons. now, barely none. I guess thats how I measure how "safe" it feels. my cars broken into 3 times, house one attempted. A lot of weird people knock on my house trying to "sell" stuff. but im guessing they are just scoping. and I live in a good area.
I guess there is a reason they have been calling it Calirado now
the awesome though...trails everywhere. ATV, motorcycle, dirtbike, hike, MTB, phtography. but trails are becoming congested though. I dont even like ATVing on a sat anymore because there are so many retarded people who fly on the trails. Almost got into a wreck twice bc of that
been here in 2014, im noticing a change in traffic and increase of rude drivers and people. thats always to come with more population in any state
No offense but I dont like Texans and Californians because they are incredibly rude drivers and just full of themselves. dont get me wrong, few awesome people I have met from those states, but most people will think the same. I have a cop friend who thinks the same way because 90% of his arrests are people who still have a Cali/Texas ID and supposedly they are the ones mostly littering in the state parks.
cost of living is getting higher - esp if youre trying to get into a house. But thats with any city that runs out of space and is getting congested, its going to boom. Im guessing it will keep going up as long as people keep moving here. expect about 300k for a average house with a small yard in a decent neighborhood now.
crime wise, it has increased. My mom always mentioned you can tell how safe a place is by how many women jog alone...when I fist came here, there were tons. now, barely none. I guess thats how I measure how "safe" it feels. my cars broken into 3 times, house one attempted. A lot of weird people knock on my house trying to "sell" stuff. but im guessing they are just scoping. and I live in a good area.
I guess there is a reason they have been calling it Calirado now
the awesome though...trails everywhere. ATV, motorcycle, dirtbike, hike, MTB, phtography. but trails are becoming congested though. I dont even like ATVing on a sat anymore because there are so many retarded people who fly on the trails. Almost got into a wreck twice bc of that
So I've seen a ton of houses that look fine in the $225-$250K range, am I missing something? Are they all secretly crapshacks in the ghetto?
I'm not from either TX or CA but if people make snap judgments about me or decide not to like me because I lived there, that's fine...as long as people aren't openly hostile, I honestly don't care how they treat me. I had read that some people were hostile and threatening to some transplants which seemed excessive and I questioned their stories, but who knows. Most people here are pretty wrapped up in themselves and that's how it was in CA too, I figure I may as well be able to exist outside for more than a few months out of the year and have some nice hiking trails even if nothing else is different.
Alas, the reasons I love this forum: great responses with lots of great info, and opinions
First, in regards to drastic change, I think it depends on what you consider drastic. That being said, I've been here since 91' and, yes the city has changed immensely; most of the change is just a natural progression of time.
Has it changed recently (since 2014)? My opinion, yes! The demographic landscape is changing as we continue to see growth in our population and local economy. As far as the weather, it's wonderful! We get to enjoy every season here, and of course, some unpredictable weather now and then.
There are some that don't like the growth (transplants), but they are not the majority, considering our population is largely made up of people that aren't from here, and a new generation of millennials flocking here at a very fast rate. Here's a great article, that talks about the vibrancy of our city and the pull it has on our youth! It also mentions the political and religious climate, and certain misconceptions about the Springs. https://coloradopolitics.com/millenn...s-study-finds/
Cost of living is still manageable compared to other areas, but home prices have increased immensely since 2014, and I believe they will continue to rise, maybe not as fast, though.
Average home price in Colorado Springs Sept 2018:
Ave. Sales Price - Sept 2018 --- $343,947 ---- Up by 11% over last year in September 2017 and down by 3.7% from August 18'
Median Sales Price - Sept 2018 -- $305,750 up by 11.2% from last year in September 2017 and down by 2.9% in August 18'
There's a small steadying of the market right now, most likely due to interest rates increasing/also, taking into account the winter season, as the slowest season, prices do tend to drop a few thousand dollars in the winter months and pick back up in the Spring, which is actually the best season to sell.
All-in-all you can still get a pretty nice house for the median sales price in Colorado Springs. Older homes do tend to cost more, mostly do to the area they are located and the significance of their improvements. However, there are many areas you can find what you're looking for.
I completely agree with many who have recommended getting out for another visit and purveying the city, it's beautiful! And, we welcome you Renting is an option to determine how much you want to spend and where you want to live, but I would try and make your renting situation as short lived as possible, or understand that your home options may differ, or change, in a year based on pricing increases and interest rate increases (more interest rate increased to come in the new year).
Bible belt? Well, there is definitely a religious presence, but, I wouldn't say that it outweighs other views, or presence. I think you're right by saying it's a middle road kind of place... I really don't feel that there is extremity either way.
Colorado Springs is the most beautiful city in the U.S! (yes, I'm biased), but come on over!
Aw thanks, haha, this is like the opposite of the "people from TX and CA suck and I don't like them" post I responded to. I honestly don't care if people are like super welcoming I just don't want hostility or slashed tires because I'm from another state.
I've seen a lot of houses in the $225-$250K range that look fine online but it kinda sounds like this area is like socal where if it's cheap it's probably either super ghetto or needs to get bulldozed...
Colo Spgs has had so many military and tech companies come through the city, it is much more accepting to new people than similar cities in northern CO. Most of the hatred you will face will come on internet forums and Facebook, but rarely in person.
There certainly are houses in the $225-250 range. PPAR.com show 279 of these in the Colo Spgs area, to include condos, townhomes, and the county. There seems to be a high concentration of them in the south-east part of town, which is not necessarily a vile place to live, but it does require research and caution on selecting these areas. In this part of town, you can have several streets of very well cared for a nice houses and a couple blocks over run into derelict, cardboard quality, 3bd 1 bth crap holes.
You mentioned older homes in your first post. What age bracket makes up the cut off in an older home? COS is typically like a bullseye with the oldest homes in the center and getting newer in age as it radiates out. The west side, is a much more mixed bag. If we know what age range you are after, we can better help you zero in on neighborhoods to look at.
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