Is Colorado Springs the right place??? (Denver, Pueblo: rent, crime, house)

[TheHumanFund]

My wife and I live in Chicago at the moment, and are expecting our second child in October. We have three total as she has an 11 year old son from a previous marriage. We are looking to relocate to Colorado, and I'm just not 100% where we should go. Ideally a place where I could do alot of fishing (the 11 yr old is a fishing nut), and somewhere safe to raise my other two baby's. As Chicago is definitely not the place for family life. I would also prefer a place that I could do lots of outdoor activities besides fishing. Being from Illinois I've always wanted to see something other than flatlands. I guess my question is: Is Colorado Springs the place I should go, or does anyone know of a place that closer fits my description???

BTW kinda sick of city life, but the springs should still be a huge dropoff from Chicago's city living. Thx to all who respond!!!

[Mike from back east]

It is about as good as you'll get without getting up into the mountains or living near a large reservoir.

s/Mike

[DOUBLE H]

Well, if you decide on the Springs you'll sure see the mountains up close, that's for sure.

I grew up in Colorado Springs. Loved it-still love it! I'll let the other posters comment on the area and I'll come back to it later.

Now! Fishing- unfortunately you have to travel a ways west in the mountains but here is a few. Manitou reservoir is maybe 10 miles north of Woodland Park, which is maybe 25 miles west of the Springs on hwy.24. You won't catch any 10 lb. German browns, but it's an OK place to fish. It's stocked regularly, and what a great view of Pikes Peak you have to the south-Woohoo! In that immediate area you have Rampart reservoir as well, as well as Green Mtn reservoir and Lake George. When I was in the scouts I spent 3 summers at Camp Alexander-at that time one of the best boy scout retreats in the U.S., which is real close to Lake George.



Go a little further west and you have a few good ones all grouped together; Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero reservoirs. Antero, which had to be drained several years ago, has been just revived and is doing ok from what my pals in the Springs tell me. When Spinney opened up in the early 80's that place was hauling out some BIG fish! And 11 Mile? Well, I love the place if only for um, well, some memorable camping trips.

What I'd do is spend a week and make several one day trips around the area and decide if this is the place for you.
My favorite part of the Springs is west of Nevada Ave. from Penrose hospital to Colorado college. Some real cool old homes there, so is the college! Good luck!

[TheHumanFund]

Hey, Mike from back east
Got a question specifically for you!!

Being from Chicago I've seen alot of crime and shootings even in the so-called "good neighborhoods". What areas of the springs would you consider to be some of the "good neighborhoods"??

Thx Double H!!

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by TheHumanFund

Hey, Mike from back east
Got a question specifically for you!!

Being from Chicago I've seen alot of crime and shootings even in the so-called "good neighborhoods". What areas of the springs would you consider to be some of the "good neighborhoods"??

Thx Double H!!

All of them, except for an area of the SE side of the city, near Citadel Mall, South Academy Blvd, Murray Blvd, etc. There is some dicey stuff there, but nothing like the big cities. The rest of the city is fine.

Biggest issue for you is job, schools, price range or rent target.

s/Mike

[SergeGainsbourg]

south nevada is also pretty gross (prostitutes, drug deals, etc.). Stratten meadows (we call it stratten ghettos) is pretty bad too. My buddy who lives there is scared out of his wits, he absolutely can't stand it. He claims there was a dead girl in a car trunk in an alley behind his house for three weeks before the cops found out it was there.
Also the old neighborhoods directly east of downtown are pretty lousy. My buddy who grew up there says its the "white tr*sh ghetto" (hopefully i offended no one with that term! sorry if i did) and no place for kids.

But I'm guessing you'll laugh out loud when you see our "ghettos". Most the folks who come from back East can't believe what we call "the hoode".

I am also going to caution you: Colorado Springs is no Chicago. Not even close. Are you sure Denver isn't more of what you're looking for?

[TheHumanFund]

No denver for me!! Sick of the City life!! To be honest I'm actually looking for something much smaller than even COS like Canon City (my wife is from a small town of about 16,000) I've worked as a plumber in Chicago for the last 12 years so I figure to have a better chance of getting a job in a bigger place like the Springs.

[SergeGainsbourg]

Canon city is a nice little town. Actually they have some really beautiful views of the mountains from there and the royal gorge is beautiful (I used to work at the Gorge actually). Fremont county is not my cup of tea but you may enjoy it there. Fremont county is the absolute opposite of city life haha so that should be a plus for you.

PS As far as Fremont County goes I'd reccomend Canon City. Nearby Florence and Penrose are a little rundown.

[TheHumanFund]

Also, how is Pueblo?? I've heard plenty of good and bad about that place!! Actually I could use some insight on any town/city in Colorado that anyone is willing to give!!


P.S. Denver and it's suburbs are out!! I need a little peace and quiet!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!

[Mike from back east]

Pueblo is an old steel town, trying to re-invent itself, with a few recent glimmers of hope. Lower cost. Older housing stock. Small historical downtown. Has a river and a reservoir. On I-25. Warmer than COLO SPGS, often in the 90's in summer. You can see the mountains from there, better views in many other towns. Generally a quiet town. Info on Pueblo is in the main Colorado forum.