Is there anything to do in Cedar Rapids?

[mfrerkes]

I don't get all these CR-haters on this board. I've been there many times over the years and think the area would be a nice place to live. The situation with Westdale Mall is unfortunate, but once that gets settled legally, I would expect that area to become a prime spot for redevelopment.

Duck Creek Mall in Bettendorf faced the same scenario in 2001. The mall was mostly vacant with only one anchor left and had lost significant market share to the bigger malls in Davenport and Moline. Instead of trying to beat a dead horse, the property was completely razed to make way for new development. It was a huge success, and turned what used to be a lifeless building into a brand new, bustling shopping area.

Cedar Rapids city leaders need to accept the fact Westdale maybe dead, but the property it sits on can have new life with the right plan.

[Stevie]

mfrerkes I don't hate Cedar Rapids. I just think that it's different from Des Moines even if you exclude the size difference.

I actually like CR and I wouldn't mind living there myself. My father grew up in Marion and his parents still lived there while I was a kid so I visited many times. We would always go into CR for amenities and had fun. I think it's a nice relaxing city with plenty of amenities (for me at least) and some very nice hilly scenery in the surrounding areas. I drive out there every once in awhile and I usually have a good time.

But economically, the two cities are quite different. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to live in CR though.

[Iowarch]

OK, it seems to me that if there isn't "something" going on here that keeps a person from being board, it looks like the perfect place for these "board" people to take the bull by the horns and make something happen! I don't recall any town I have ever lived in that had everything to do for those without a clue how to entertain themselves. If it takes something to entertain you that we don't have, then I think it is up to you to figure out how to make that happen. All the rest of us will be waiting to see if we find it boring as well. Maybe then the rest of us can sit around and complain that even with one more thing to do, the place is still boring!
Make it a challenge, go out and nose around, get involved with something, for God sakes, do something! To be entertained requires you to be interactive, that means you have to do something for yourself, quit depending on the city to plop it in your hand. This isn't a video game, you have to get off your duff and invest yourself a bit, then there will be more things to do than you can imagine, worse, there won't be enough time to get them all done!

[eejm]

Originally Posted by get me outta here

I moved here 4 years ago from the west coast (job transfer) & it is by far the most unfriendly & unwelcoming place I've ever been. everyone seems to be in a grouchy mood & everyone has terrible manners. We moved for a short time to Dubuque & found it to be refreshing, people were way friendlier & more considerate. Not to mention the landscape is so much nicer. Why is everyone here so angry when they drive? Where in the world are they driving to anyway? Are they trying to escape the horrible smell(s)? I would advise strongly against relocating to this city, it's the pits!

While I don't feel quite that strongly against Cedar Rapids, I too found it very unwelcoming. I have lived in Iowa my entire life (31 years) and spent about four of them in Cedar Rapids.

The smell didn't bother me - strangely enough, the town where I lived prior to Cedar Rapids smelled just as bad. I didn't find the people angry either, but there was a strong "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality that I didn't like. There was some affluence near where I lived, and quite the class system of sorts. I realize that that exists just about everywhere, but it seemed very, very prevalent in Cedar Rapids. I also ran into a lot of people who didn't seem to be aware that there was a world outside of Cedar Rapids. It was very...strange. I've actually met more people in Des Moines (where I now live) who have heard of my hometown than in Cedar Rapids. My hometown is about 85 miles from Cedar Rapids and 150 from Des Moines.

I moved from the Cedar Rapids area in the mid-1990s, when I graduated from high school. I still have several friends in the area who like it there, and that's cool. I just know it isn't/wasn't the right place for me.