What is Duluth's appeal? (safe, moving, things to do)

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by Waves5

I love their tunnels!

haha, I do too. The tunnels have won design awards in fact. It's incredible how good of a job they did. Designing a freeway that enhances a city is hard to do. At a lot of places on the boardwalk you'd have no idea that a 4 lane freeway is just feet from you. Or walking on Superior St by Fitgers, you barely notice it from the sidewalk when it's still, just a few feet away.

[roneb]

True, ya gotta love the Norse themed tunnels! And aluminumpork and newcastle are quite right about the weather out here in the Pac NW. It may be beautiful scenery, but you don't know the meaning of dark gray winters until you've lived here. That's one of the reasons I love the cold and snow so much. It brightens things up!

[roneb]

I should clarify my last post. We DON'T get cold and snow here in Portland. It's the one thing I find the most depressing and miss the most.

[johnbobsquarepants]

I think Duluth is a great city to visit... but after living here for 6 years though, I'm ready to leave.

• Duluth has TWO distinct areas, East and West. Seems like most people on here just talk about the East Dultuh (Lakeside, Kenwood, etc..). West Duluth is significantly poorer, with lots of drugs and crime. Not to say there arn't some good people/houses/blocks just I get the feeling that most people on here post DULUTH ROCKS posts are not living on 3rd and 21st West. Sadly, MOST of Duluth's (and .Northern Minnesota's) population is very poor around.
• The winters are brutal. Brutal. Like -30 Windchill brutal. Its insane sometimes.
• I do not see the city going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe that is a positive for some.. my dentist moved here from Northern California because he "Wanted to move somewhere that wasn't going to change - ever.". The only area growing is Hermantown.
• The only thing keeping fresh blood around here are the hospitals and the colleges.
• Lots of rednecks.

Duluth's positives:

• It is definitaly not like most cities.
• Lots of bikers/runners/outdoorsy types
• Sumers are good, though very humid.
• The lake walk it great for a run.
• The China Cafe on London Rd.
• Liberal (positive for me at least)

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by johnbobsquarepants

Duluth has TWO distinct areas, East and West. Seems like most people on here just talk about the East Dultuh (Lakeside, Kenwood, etc..).

You are very right, Duluth does have two distinct areas. One is (for the most part) lower income with crime rates being higher West Duluth areas, but I don't think we're denying this. Whenever we've answered questions about what areas to live in and what our opinions of them are we almost always mention that West Duluth is known for more crime and that lower income families commonly locate there. We also usually mention Central Hillside and how we don't recommend living there due to drug and crime issues.

I get the feeling that most people on here post DULUTH ROCKS posts are not living on 3rd and 21st West

I would also assume that people in other forums saying Chicago rocks or New York rocks are also living in the "good" areas. Who wants to highlight the bad areas of their city? Living in any of the East side neighborhoods is great (and even over the hill). The bad areas of Duluth are nothing compared to the bad areas of larger cities.

I don't really see this as a being any different from any other city (big or small). Every city has desirable, middle to upper class neighborhoods and every city has it's Central Hillside and it's West Duluth. I'm certainly not the first to admit that Duluth has it's problems.

I do not see the city going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe that is a positive for some.. my dentist moved here from Northern California because he "Wanted to move somewhere that wasn't going to change - ever.". The only area growing is Hermantown.

I guess that depends on your definition of growth. In terms of population, we are either at a standstill or losing at this point. But from a physical standpoint, things have been changing dramatically downtown in the past few years with even more projects on the drawing board. SMDC's beautiful new building looks amazing downtown and the amount of new housing developments popping up within city limits is incredible.

For your first pro, you're definitely right though. Duluth isn't like other cities, which is exactly why I love it.

[tazzman]

Originally Posted by johnbobsquarepants

• Lots of rednecks.

• Liberal (positive for me at least)

How does that work?

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by tazzman

How does that work?

Unfortunately, it does. Kind of. As was mentioned elsewhere on these forums awhile ago, the actual city of Duluth is kind of a protective bubble from the outer areas. The city is very liberal, but country living is no more than a few miles away at any point where you're more likely to encounter more "red necks". Of course, that's a broad sweeping generalization and there are plenty of the opposite out in the country as well.

[nateduluthnative]

The skyline! While there are no super tall buildings in Duluth, there are enough mid- rise buildings to make it interesting. Duluth and Rochester look bigger than they really are. The new Sheraton and hopefully that "Vonjaro" tower will be built, I would like to see a few high quality mid rise office buildings built downtown, while converting some old ones to residential/hotel.

[newcastle]

Originally Posted by nateduluthnative

The skyline! While there are no super tall buildings in Duluth, there are enough mid- rise buildings to make it interesting. Duluth and Rochester look bigger than they really are. The new Sheraton and hopefully that "Vonjaro" tower will be built, I would like to see a few high quality mid rise office buildings built downtown, while converting some old ones to residential/hotel.

I agree, too bad Unitedhealth built way over on Rice Lake Road. A nice 8-10 story tower downtown would be perfect. They have nearly, if not already, outgrown thier new building.

I can't stanbd 1st Ave by the Kozy bar. It is an armpit. It has a great location and it would be nice to see it razed and new housing go in their. It would be a perfect spot for a new student housing location or young professional housing.

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by newcastle

I can't stanbd 1st Ave by the Kozy bar. It is an armpit. It has a great location and it would be nice to see it razed and new housing go in their. It would be a perfect spot for a new student housing location or young professional housing.

Just an armpit? I'd say it's more of an a**pit. That has to be about one of the worst parts of town.