Quad Cities or Des Moines? (Davenport, Colo: relocate, job, housing)

[pioneer98]

I've been to Des Moines a few times in recent years. My brother lived there a few years and really liked it. I really liked the DSM Farmer's Market and the neighborhood near Drake. Personally, I like the older parts of these midwest towns. I guess I'd be content in either place, given the right circumstances.

I hear a lot about the the Quad Cities being "fragmented" is an "achilles heel". It's really not, it's just "different" from what many are used to. It can actually be a strength when we take advantage of it properly (think: the Channel Cat Water Taxi). Regardless, the Quad Cities are a lot less fragmented than outsiders might think, anyway. Downtown Davenport and Rock Island are separated simply by water, like a lot of downtown areas are (just more water than most have). Moline is a little further away but not much. I live in Davenport and regularly ride my bike to Moline for work.

If you look at the stretch of riverfront on both sides of the river between the Centennial Bridge and I-74 bridge, many of our most important amenities are concentrated there, such as:
Modern Woodmen Park
The District of Rock Island
The Quad City Botanical Center
The Rock Island Arsenal
Augustana College
The I Wireless Center
John Deere Commons
Isle of Capri Casino
The Village of East Davenport
The Figge Art Museum
Downtown Davenport, etc.

So how "fragmented" are the Quad Cities, really?

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by pioneer98

So how "fragmented" are the Quad Cities, really?

Some of the area's most successful venues such as the iWireless Center and the Quad City Airport (both located in Moline) draw many patrons from not only the "core" Quad Cities, but places like Burlington, Muscatine, Clinton, Iowa City, Dubuque, even Peoria and Cedar Rapids. Obviously, having the airport in Moline hasn't discouraged people from Davenport or Bettendorf from flying out of it.

Likewise, when the Adler Theatre has a big act playing, I don't think people from Moline or Rock Island stay away because it's located in Davenport. There is a certain level of synergy the area creates despite being roughly a dozen different cities from two different states cobbled together as one urban mass.

I guess if I had to decipher what the real "knock" against the Quad Cities by outsiders seems to be, is that it doesn't have one sprawling downtown with a big Des Moines-esque skyline. Personally, I've never been able to draw much of a correlation between "skyline" and "quality of life". If that was the case, New York City would have every other American city over a barrel. Yet, I can think of 15 places I'd rather live than NYC...and among those 15 places would be Des Moines and the Quad Cities.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

I think there is excessive pressure for young people in DM to be in some civic group or be civic-minded if they work for certain companies - I think that actually pushes potential new residents away. It's almost cult-like. The aggressive marketing campaigns border on the ridiculous sometimes as well.

You're right about the goofy ad campaigns. I was in Des Moines last weekend for the State Fair, and I was heading toward the Capitol to park when I saw these banners hanging on the lampposts. One said something like "love", one said "learn" or "laugh" or something like that. All good things. Then I came to one that said in great big purple letters "SCHMOOZE". Really, DM Do More? You want everyone to know Des Moines is a great place to schmooze?

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

You're right about the goofy ad campaigns. I was in Des Moines last weekend for the State Fair, and I was heading toward the Capitol to park when I saw these banners hanging on the lampposts. One said something like "love", one said "learn" or "laugh" or something like that. All good things. Then I came to one that said in great big purple letters "SCHMOOZE". Really, DM Do More? You want everyone to know Des Moines is a great place to schmooze?

Yeah, that one makes me scratch my head. Schmooze?

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

Really, DM Do More? You want everyone to know Des Moines is a great place to schmooze?

Des Moines has many great merits as a city, but I think there's an elitist element among some people attempting to represent the area. The whole idea of "schmoozing" isn't something middle-class people really connect with. I also think the notion of fostering such an activity is laughable for almost any city in the Midwest.

If you want to "schmooze", you're going to pick an East Coast/West Coast city and stay there.

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Des Moines has many great merits as a city, but I think there's an elitist element among some people attempting to represent the area. The whole idea of "schmoozing" isn't something middle-class people really connect with. I also think the notion of fostering such an activity is laughable for almost any city in the Midwest.

If you want to "schmooze", you're going to pick an East Coast/West Coast city and stay there.

That is definitely more than "some people", as it is coming from the city itself.

[pioneer98]

I'm glad to see this thread didn't turn into a flame war. As Iowans, whatever is good for Des Moines should be good for Davenport and vice-versa.[/SIZE]

Ever been to Wisconsin? Go anywhere in the whole state, and you will only hear them say good things about anyplace else in the state. Sure, they might say they like one place better than another, but they won't say anything negative. It's almost like the people there have been given talking points or something. Why don't we have this kind of pride in Iowa, for the WHOLE state? Are we really that different from Wisconsin? I've lived both places, and I think they are extremely similar, except for the pride thing.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by pioneer98

I'm glad to see this thread didn't turn into a flame war. As Iowans, whatever is good for Des Moines should be good for Davenport and vice-versa.[/SIZE]

Ever been to Wisconsin? Go anywhere in the whole state, and you will only hear them say good things about anyplace else in the state. Sure, they might say they like one place better than another, but they won't say anything negative. It's almost like the people there have been given talking points or something. Why don't we have this kind of pride in Iowa, for the WHOLE state? Are we really that different from Wisconsin? I've lived both places, and I think they are extremely similar, except for the pride thing.

I call BS.

Go to the Wisconsin thread. http://www.city-data.com/forum/wisconsin/

You see the same back-and-forth you find here....and the same probably goes for every state in the union.

[pioneer98]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

I call BS.

Go to the Wisconsin thread. http://www.city-data.com/forum/wisconsin/

You see the same back-and-forth you find here....and the same probably goes for every state in the union.

I lived in Wisocnsin for 5+ years. I can tell you, their attitude is different, man.

And even if the same thing goes on there, it doesn't mean its a good thing.

[RonnieJonez]

The green bay packers are a uniting force.