What city has the better downtown, Pueblo or Colorado Springs? (Denver: home, college)

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Why can't you accept your own town for what it is--a small city that actually has a chance to manage its destiny WITHOUT a ton of growth that destroys the character of the place? To think that having a decent community means growing into another version of Colorado Springs or Denver is myopic, to say the least.

I have a LONG history in Colorado. When I was a kid, Colorado Springs was a city about the size that Pueblo is today. The Springs was a far nicer place then than it is now. Denver was a far nicer city when it was less than half its present size. No, they didn't major league baseball and some other "big-city" amenities, but they--on whole--were far more friendly, wholesome communities then than compared to now.

I've said it before, Joseppie, if you so wish to live in some biga** city someplace, for God's sake, go move to one. Pueblo is plenty big enough just the way it is.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I do not want Pueblo to be the size of the Denver metro area and I do not want Pueblo to grow like Colorado Springs has.

The fact of the matter is Pueblo will grow, so the question is how will we manage that growth. I want to learn from what other cities have done right and wrong so that we can help Pueblo grow in a way that is the most beneficial to its residents, current and future generations.

I think the plan Pueblo has for our downtown area helps us reach that goal.

[Josseppie]

Pueblo has the urban renewal development authority that has been instrumental in the success of our downtown.

"Making our community a better place to live, work, and play, by fostering the revitalization of designated areas in Pueblo"

Our primary goal is the prevention and elimination of "slum" and "blighting" influences, which serve to constrict market forces and prevent development. Established in 1959 to stimulate development in specifically designated "project areas", URAP is a governmental entity enabled by the Colorado State Statute and established by the Pueblo municipal government. Urban Renewal Authorities derive their primary source of revenue from Tax Increment Financing (TIF), which is then used to help stimulate development by utilizing a wide variety of techniques. The Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo (URAP) currently participates in a multitude of projects, either by offering direct incentives to private developers, utilizing public/private partnerships, or by directly investing in public improvements.

The link: http://www.pueblourbanrenewal.org/

[bproven]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

I have said it before and I will say it again. I do not want Pueblo to be the size of the Denver metro area and I do not want Pueblo to grow like Colorado Springs has.

The fact of the matter is Pueblo will grow, so the question is how will we manage that growth. I want to learn from what other cities have done right and wrong so that we can help Pueblo grow in a way that is the most beneficial to its residents, current and future generations.

I think the plan Pueblo has for our downtown area helps us reach that goal.

I agree with you. There are 2 cities (real cities not bedroom communities) in CO that have a chance to do things right. Pueblo and Fort Collins - I live in Fort Collins and think they are generally on the right track with the past downtown redevelopment, the plans for a new riverwalk area (Downtown River Project: City of Fort Collins ) and a new transportation corridor (Mason Corridor Mason Corridor: City of Fort Collins ) - although I wish the latter were a rail system instead of a bus based system In general I find they move toward smart growth and good overall planning. Master plan for transportation: Transportation Planning: City of Fort Collins

I guess this could be called tooting the horn for Fort Collins. I may be called Fort Collins's version of Jossephie now I'll back off now and not to post this stuff again

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by bproven

I agree with you. There are 2 cities (real cities not bedroom communities) in CO that have a chance to do things right. Pueblo and Fort Collins - I live in Fort Collins and think they are generally on the right track with the past downtown redevelopment, the plans for a new riverwalk area (Downtown River Project: City of Fort Collins ) and a new transportation corridor (Mason Corridor Mason Corridor: City of Fort Collins ) - although I wish the latter were a rail system instead of a bus based system In general I find they move toward smart growth and good overall planning. Master plan for transportation: Transportation Planning: City of Fort Collins

I guess this could be called tooting the horn for Fort Collins. I may be called Fort Collins's version of Jossephie now I'll back off now and not to post this stuff again

Don't listen to what anyone says, every town needs a few boosters.

I have a question for you that is a little of topic but since I created this thread I will allow it!

Not sure if you have heard, it was mentioned in this thread too, but FEMA wants to put the downtown's of Pueblo and Fort Collins along with CSU Fort Collins in a 100 year flood plain. That would set development efforts back years.

I know in Pueblo all we have to do is certify the levees, any ideas on what Fort Collins would have to do to avoid them being put in a 100 year flood plain?

[bproven]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Don't listen to what anyone says, every town needs a few boosters.

I have a question for you that is a little of topic but since I created this thread I will allow it!

Not sure if you have heard, it was mentioned in this thread too, but FEMA wants to put the downtown's of Pueblo and Fort Collins along with CSU Fort Collins in a 100 year flood plain. That would set development efforts back years.

I know in Pueblo all we have to do is certify the levees, any ideas on what Fort Collins would have to do to avoid them being put in a 100 year flood plain?

Not sure I'd have to check that out. However, it sure is nice of the federal gov to stick their noses in state business... Of course that is the price you pay for taking all that "free" federal money I guess

I'll check the origins of this thread, but do you have a link to this info? EDIT: I see the info on Pueblo, but no mention of FC? Nothing has popped in the local FC paper yet to my knowledge.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by bproven

Not sure I'd have to check that out. However, it sure is nice of the federal gov to stick their noses in state business... Of course that is the price you pay for taking all that "free" federal money I guess

I'll check the origins of this thread, but do you have a link to this info? EDIT: I see the info on Pueblo, but no mention of FC? Nothing has popped in the local FC paper yet to my knowledge.

This started before the bail out but after katrina hit New Orleans. Then the Bush administration gave FEMA 1 billion to find issues around the country.

This is my post from earlier, hope it helps:

I was told by someone on the city council that FEMA told Fort Collins first and even showed them the map of the new 100 year flood plain and the **** hit the fan so when they went to Pueblo they did not want to show any maps yet instead told us "we don't have them ready" even though it was clear they did.

Don't fool your self, I am Mr Rodgers, and I am saying this is going to be a HUGE mess if FEMA does not work with us. Especially since they want to include CSU Fort Collins in the 100 year flood plain! If this turns into a multi state law suite against the federal government, I hate to think what could happen.

EDIT: From what I can tell Pueblo is gearing up for a major fight and I think we have already been in contact with Fort Collins on this one.

Since I was told about Fort Collins from the city Council I don't have any links for you I just have what was in the Pueblo paper.

[Proleadership03]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

I just happen to be a much louder "cheerleader" for Pueblo then most people are!

Josseppie best cheerleader of Pueblo and my 3000 people network behind him as big supporter of him and city of pueblo!

[Proleadership03]

Colorado Spring "Bad Growth" Video!


YouTube - Prosperity Campaign Retrospective

Pueblo "Smart Growth" Video!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDmGDa0AuiY



Why Colorado Springs Companies is closing and moving to Pueblo?

Why Major US and International Companies is skipping colorado spring to pueblo?

Why your biggest downtown "USOS" deal is failing?

Why Colorado Springs in reaily bad shape from past city growth?

This Questions for the users live in and support colorado springs!

[Proleadership03]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

A hell hole.

What is the reason behind your comment about our hometown!?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Proleadership03

What is the reason behind your comment about our hometown!?

Read my other posts. I like Pueblo as the small city that it is. Making it a 350,000 population sprawled piece of crap like Colorado Springs is so quickly becoming is hardly an ideal to strive for. Simply growing population is no longer a path to prosperity. If it were, Bangla Desh would be the richest country in the world. Yet the development projects Pueblo seems to be supporting are the same visionless mentally-retarded sprawl model that is turning virtually every city in the Western and Southern US into increasingly expensive, unsustainable, and--pretty soon--probably unlivable metropolitan dinosaurs.

So, nice small city or another Front Range hell-hole--that's Pueblo's choice. Why do I have this feeling that Pueblo won't choose wisely?