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Old 07-15-2013, 10:01 AM
 
1,911 posts, read 3,754,124 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funksoulbro View Post
West Des Moines has all the warmth and nuance of Schaumburg, Illinois. I've been to both places, and its a valid comparison.
I would agree, with a few differences.

The main one being, there is no amazement in Chicagoland surrounding Schaumburg. It's not like this amazing place where only the ultra-wealthy can live and congregate in, the way West Des Moines tends to be viewed, at least on some level.

Even the very rich suburbs in Chicago don't have the same effect. Too big a city for anyone to focus on how awesome one particular suburb is.

There is also a lot more in Schaumburg, you have those stores that DM metro claims they should have. Ikea, H&M, Macy's...all found in Schaumburg.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:30 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RonnieJonez View Post
I would agree, with a few differences.

The main one being, there is no amazement in Chicagoland surrounding Schaumburg. It's not like this amazing place where only the ultra-wealthy can live and congregate in, the way West Des Moines tends to be viewed, at least on some level.
I think this point all relates to the composition of Des Moines' growth, which is fueled by transplants from really small towns in rural Iowa. If you grew up in Webster City or Chariton, a place like West Des Moines seems like a big deal. Like you stated, the Chicago metro is so large that even Schaumburg barely elicits a nod within the region.

My comparison between West Des Moines and Schaumburg was purely on aesthetics. Both places have that air of bleak and soulless suburban conformity. Office parks. Strip malls. Large roadways packed with SUVs and stoplights.
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Old 07-15-2013, 05:37 PM
 
1,911 posts, read 3,754,124 times
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That's true, but it still has that "larger metro" vibe going for it (while being a suburb), which you cannot find in the urban core in a mid-size city. And no one cares if you're into local politics or not (mid-size cities will never advance from that mentality). They do look similar, but just being part of a larger metro can make a place very different at the same time.
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