Duluth: Pros and Cons (house, buying, construction)

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

But is it enough. Man cannot survive from tourism alone. A diverse economy will do wonders for a place. A specialty industry(Milwaukee and its beer and motorcycles, Atlanta and its Coca-Cola, etc.) is good. It gives a place notoriety and character. But really, some more prominent industries should be added along with it.

I agree, but something needs to be done with the city in order to bring that industry there.

The Twin Cities contain like what, 3/4 of the states population (?) and it generates a vast majority of the states revenue. Duluth cannot compete with that the way the city is currently. I can understand that residents may not want business to move into the area, but if you want an economic boom, then that is what is going to have to happen. And the only way to bring business to Duluth is to create a city that will attract it. Of course this can be done sustainable, economically and in other ways that could generally make peoples lives better (if you want it). Duluth is going to slip further into economic despair if nothing else happens.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

I agree, but something needs to be done with the city in order to bring that industry there.

The Twin Cities contain like what, 3/4 of the states population (?) and it generates a vast majority of the states revenue. Duluth cannot compete with that the way the city is currently. I can understand that residents may not want business to move into the area, but if you want an economic boom, then that is what is going to have to happen. And the only way to bring business to Duluth is to create a city that will attract it. Of course this can be done sustainable, economically and in other ways that could generally make peoples lives better (if you want it). Duluth is going to slip further into economic despair if nothing else happens.

Duluth needs the innovative people to come in: the Bill Gates', the Michael Dells, the William Harleys', the creative and ingenuitive people. Those types. I am not saying there aren't those types in Duluth already because I suspect there are those types there. The fact is, Duluth doesn't seem attractive in the eyes of some of those people, so they leave and the ones from elsewhere don't even think about Duluth. The maker of John Deere tractors was an innovator and stayed in the Iowa-Illinois area. If John Deere built a factory in Duluth, that would create alot of jobs. Minnesota is a big farming state and I think it could work. Arctic Cat makes snowmobiles and it is a Minnesota company located in Thief River Falls, which is close to the same latitude as Duluth and further from any industrial center than Duluth. Polaris is in Medina(in Hennepin County). Also a snowmobile company. It could build a plant in Duluth. Snowmobile manufacturers could work for Duluth because Duluth is far north enough for snow to stay on the ground into April and the fact is there are people who would buy them. There are other things good for Duluth, but Polaris and Arctic Cat are just a few. What Duluth needs are the people who are creative to come. Incentives should be offered for them to come.

[farmsister]

Originally Posted by roneb

I live in Portland, OR, but would love to make a move to Duluth. I've been back there twice for extended visits and I would say the pros and cons given by tvdxer and aluminumpork seem pretty accurate from an outsider's perspective as well.

Personally, I wouldn't miss the big box chains, I'd rather see a lot of small businesses with individual flavor. More neighborhood coffee shops, ethnic restaurants, etc. More diversity would help in that area. Actually, Duluth is pretty diverse. You've got your Norwegians, your Swedes, your Finns...

I don't think Duluth is too isolated at all. The 2+ hrs. to the TC's is about perfect. Lived in Alaska as a kid - THAT'S isolated!

I have noticed a lot of disgruntled posts by long term Duluth residents. Crime is a favorite complaint, but the crime index in Duluth is roughly half of Portland's. Duluth really sits in an idealic setting and virtually everyone I've met there has been very nice.

Hey, we too are from the Portland, OR area and thinking of making a move. Some of our best friends ever we met when they moved out here and hated it... and they are SO nice! It is also so beautiful there... and I don't think a couple of hours to TC's is isolated. That is a comfortable distance... a day trip. Hope to see you there!

[roneb]

Originally Posted by farmsister

Hey, we too are from the Portland, OR area and thinking of making a move. Some of our best friends ever we met when they moved out here and hated it... and they are SO nice! It is also so beautiful there... and I don't think a couple of hours to TC's is isolated. That is a comfortable distance... a day trip. Hope to see you there!

Maybe this should be the start of a new thread (Portland vs Duluth?), but I'm curious about your reasons, farmsister, for thinking of a move to MN? For me Portland has become too big. Traffic, hectic, can't get ahead for my family on a teacher's salary, things seem to have become very consumeristic and profit driven, etc. Maybe I'm looking for a utopia, but I've absolutely loved Duluth when I've been back there.

[pirate_lafitte]

Duluth is no utopia, but a little investment could work for Duluth.

[chakita123]

Born and raised in Duluth here and have lived here for nearly 22 years and I think Duluth would be a much better place to live if we had a better economy, more job opportunities, and jobs that actually paid decent.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Arctic Cat makes snowmobiles and it is a Minnesota company located in Thief River Falls, which is close to the same latitude as Duluth and further from any industrial center than Duluth.

Didn't Arctic Cat move to the TC in 2006/2007?

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

Didn't Arctic Cat move to the TC in 2006/2007?

All I read is that it's in Thief River Falls. I could be dead wrong.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by chakita123

Born and raised in Duluth here and have lived here for nearly 22 years and I think Duluth would be a much better place to live if we had a better economy, more job opportunities, and jobs that actually paid decent.

That would hep Duluth. My question is can Duluth keep the creative ones around? Can it keep the innovators around? Can it attract businesses. That will be the test. Jobs will come if all of that is fullfilled.

[disneyrecords]

Arctic Cat is moving their corporate management to Plymouth spring 2008, a little later than originally predicted. Manufacturing will stay in TRF. Arctic Cat hopes by having their corporate leadership and sales staff in the twin cities area will make them more accessible to clients, customers, dealers, vendors, etc.

I have an uncredited source that the engineering department is being moved out of Thief River Falls too.
As someone who is looking into moving to TRF, I'm saddened to see this amount of brainpower leave a small town.

Back to Duluth, Duluth over the years has had many boosters in its community. From Fitger's beer (did I spell that right?) to tons (literally) of taconite ventures. Things go in circles, eventually something will start booming and suprise us all.