Iowa City (Solon: live in, club, parking)

[bronxie]

The people are friendly, but the architecture is ugly, some sections (with off-campus student housing) are very seedy, there's homelessness, the health food store is filled with arrogant, holier-than-thou types, there are no decent restaurants.

I mistakenly thought Iowa City would be more "Mom and Pop" than it is.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by Milliano

...there are plenty of areas of Iowa City that I find quite ugly... described in words such as dirty, gritty, concrete, polluted (so many cars, parking lots) and industrial.

By this I assume you mean the whole city of Coralville?

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by bronxie

the health food store is filled with arrogant, holier-than-thou types, .
.

Haha... I think that's everywhere though.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by bronxie

The people are friendly, but the architecture is ugly, some sections (with off-campus student housing) are very seedy, there's homelessness, the health food store is filled with arrogant, holier-than-thou types, there are no decent restaurants.

I mistakenly thought Iowa City would be more "Mom and Pop" than it is.

architecture is great now, becoming very modern. Seedy areas are in one area and you have to try to get to that area, theres no stumbling upon it. The Co-op is full of great people and there are a plethora or great restaurants. You must have mistakenly been in Cedar Rapids, that place is a ****hole for the most part.

[Milliano]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

By this I assume you mean the whole city of Coralville?

Haha, no, but I understand what you mean. Mainly I am thinking of southern Iowa City, the area just south of Burlington St and especially south of the RR tracks. Maybe I partially get an unfair impression because I haven't lived here long, and the tornado emptied out some of the lots south of Burlington. The majority of the land south of Burlington and west of Gilbert consists of parking lots. One block, IIRC, is completely empty - no parking, no nothing. Just dirt.

I haven't noticed any arrogance at the Co-Op... just helpful, friendly staff.

Originally Posted by LPerkins33

You must have mistakenly been in Cedar Rapids, that place is a ****hole for the most part.

What is it about that city? When I go there, there is something very basic, that I cannot put my finger on, that I find really off-putting. Just the whole vibe of it. Maybe it's the smell. I was amazed at how bad that city smells in some areas.

[Chicago60614]

^ yeah, the stretch of highways 1 and 6 through southern Iowa City are definitely not attractive. That part of town always bothered me, and the southern stretches of Riverside and Gilbert. I mean they funtion fine, and aren't hell-holes, but not pretty. They could at least reconstruct the highway to make it a more urban road than a horribly unfriendly bypass type of road.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

^ yeah, the stretch of highways 1 and 6 through southern Iowa City are definitely not attractive. That part of town always bothered me, and the southern stretches of Riverside and Gilbert. I mean they funtion fine, and aren't hell-holes, but not pretty. They could at least reconstruct the highway to make it a more urban road than a horribly unfriendly bypass type of road.

yep exactly the area I was talking about. More specifically the south side of Broadway street. There are some nice places off of Sycamore though.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by Milliano

What is it about that city? When I go there, there is something very basic, that I cannot put my finger on, that I find really off-putting. Just the whole vibe of it. Maybe it's the smell. I was amazed at how bad that city smells in some areas.

"City of 5 Smells"

I used to be a parts driver for a dealership here in IC and was in CR 2-3 times a day and not only are the people terrible drivers but the city itself is so poorly laid out. You have a street that gets cut off 12 times and each section of that street is not accessible by the previous section so you have to go around. It was a miserable experience to say the least.

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by TheChooch

Can some of you tell me about this city? What's the architecture like? Are there are lot of trees and parks or is there a lot of concrete? Is there a central downtown where people eat at outdooor cafes and browse bookshops? Is it family friendly? Clean? I know nothing about this city other than it's a college town, has good schools and is progressive. Much thanks.

Iowa City is the only place in the entire state I would reccommend. It is family friendly - Iowa City has an AMAZING public school system. There are several neighborhoods to choose from - from those with history (100+ old homes) and those that are still popping up. Coralville has truly become something as well, although my heart is partial to Iowa City between the two. Downtown there is an auto free zone where you can take the kids, with a ped mall, playground, fountain, restaurants, library, mall, live music and arts festivals, and walking distance from parts of the campus. If you are moving to Iowa City, go for it. Don't reconsider and move somewhere nearby - like Cedar Rapids because it's SLIGHTLY more affordable. You would regret it once you arrived.

Good luck!

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

Haha... I think that's everywhere though.

Oh come on! The Co-op? It's filled with a lost slice of the sixties...the holier than thou types are thirty miles north.