I actually have something nice to say about Des Moines! (Coralville: condos, closing)

[metro223]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Yeah I was there for a year and a half. Dude that place sucks... It's rated as one of the worst crime cities with a population under 200,000.

There was this night club there called the Electric Cowboy. It was a mix between rednecks with cowboy hats (sorry if I offend someone) and gangbangers.

That's too bad it's like that ... Wichita MSA is the same size as Des Moines - is it any better with the crime?

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

Yeah I was there for a year and a half. Dude that place sucks... It's rated as one of the worst crime cities with a population under 200,000.

There was this night club there called the Electric Cowboy. It was a mix between rednecks with cowboy hats (sorry if I offend someone) and gangbangers.

I hate to say it, but I've been to "Top Town" as well and it was an extremely dreary and depressing place. I did have a good time at the bar I was at in the Oakland neighborhood though. Everything I saw of that city looked very run down.

Out of the five worst cities I've ever been to, four of them are in Iraq. One of them is in Kansas.

[Deselminator]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

Out of the five worst cities I've ever been to, four of them are in Iraq. One of them is in Kansas.

Wow, you guys just keep 'em coming today...I don't think I'm going to get anything done today besides laughing!

[Luke9686]

I don't know much about Wichita. It's in Kansas, and is even more far removed than Topeka.

We lived in the so called "good" area of Topeka. There were several break ins in our neighborhood. My wife and I never felt all that safe there. One of my friends had their house robbed a few blocks from our house.

[Chicago60614]

Where are you all getting your crime stats??

The latest official stats I found stated that the violent crime rate in the Des Moines area was 40% lower than the national average.

I also found 2005 stats which stated the violent crime rate was around 330 per 100,000; while the national average was 470 per 100,000.

burglary and car theft are between 10 and 25% below the national average, but theft, larceny and arson were above the national average.

[Deselminator]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Where are you all getting your crime stats??

The latest official stats I found stated that the violent crime rate in the Des Moines area was 40% lower than the national average.

I also found 2005 stats which stated the violent crime rate was around 330 per 100,000; while the national average was 470 per 100,000.

burglary and car theft are between 10 and 25% below the national average, but theft, larceny and arson were above the national average.

I got the 2006 crime states from this very website actually. I believe I stated that in my original post that I referenced if I'm not mistaken. It is in a different thread, however.

[123syl]

We like it because like me these people have grown up in Des Moines or surrounding area or have lived here for many years. Seriously, Des Moines is improving, but some people just don't seem to realise. And lets remember that your from CORALVILLE.

[Stevie]

I really hope that Des Moines proper starts growing again. Some people seem to think Des Moines isn't doing that well because the city proper has lost population. But downtown is definitely improving. And the suburbs are out of control.

One place I find real interesting is the new Great Ape Trust facility being built on the east end of Des Moines. I think it's still under construction though. It's a large ape research facility. I'm excited for when it gets finished.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Stevie

I

One place I find real interesting is the new Great Ape Trust facility being built on the east end of Des Moines. I think it's still under construction though. It's a large ape research facility. I'm excited for when it gets finished.

No, it's finished but their attitude is that it's a research center and not a zoo, so they're a little reclusive which I can understand. I think they occasionally let educational groups, press, donors, etc in.

I've been on their mailing list for a while and I saw something where they were allowing members of the Great Ape Trust Society (or something like that) take tours on certain dates. I got the lowest form of membership ($35) which entitles me to "admission" for two on July 11 and a magnet. I'm looking forward to this and if they allow photos, I'll post some here.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

No, it's finished but their attitude is that it's a research center and not a zoo

Yeah, I can understand that. It's just cool to know that such a facility has been built here in Iowa. I think it's the biggest ape research facility in North America, or at least one of the biggest.

There was a special about this facility on the Discovery channel but I missed it. Did you see it?