What is Sioux City's Morningside Neighborhood Like Now? (Hills, Franklin: home, transferring to)

[NowInWI]

My parents both grew up in Morningside, graduating from East High (in the late 40's). My dad went to Morningside College before transferring to Iowa State. I never lived in Sioux City (grew up in Omaha), but have sooo many wonderful memories. My maternal grandparents lived in Morningside, and I remember long walks to the pool (Peter's Park), walking to Roe Dairy for ice cream cones, etc. You could walk anywhere in Morningside, and that's one thing I loved about it so much. What's it like now?

[MastermindDSM]

The traditonal Morningside you remember has probably changed quite a bit. Peters Park only has a handful of businesses now. Most development is near the Southern Hills Mall, and what is left at Peters Park isnt much. East Middle (formerly East High) was demolished about 5-6 years ago and is literally a hole in the ground. The Coast-to-Coast hardware store is now a second hand shop I believe. Ben Franklin is gone. It would be nice if they would redevelop the "old" Morningside with a mix of retail, commercial and residential space, but I dont see that happening anytime soon.

[NowInWI]

Originally Posted by MastermindDSM

The traditonal Morningside you remember has probably changed quite a bit. Peters Park only has a handful of businesses now. Most development is near the Southern Hills Mall, and what is left at Peters Park isnt much. East Middle (formerly East High) was demolished about 5-6 years ago and is literally a hole in the ground. The Coast-to-Coast hardware store is now a second hand shop I believe. Ben Franklin is gone. It would be nice if they would redevelop the "old" Morningside with a mix of retail, commercial and residential space, but I dont see that happening anytime soon.

I figured it had changed probably quite a bit, but hoped it hadn't. I am hoping to make a trip back within the next year or so, just to visit grandparent's graves, etc. I've been to the Southern Hills Mall (that was a long time ago as well), and to be honest, I kind of wished at that time that it hadn't been built. I know things can't stay the same. Are the neighborhoods holding up pretty well (grandparents lived on South Hennepin)? One other thing I loved about Morningside was the street names.

[MastermindDSM]

I think the neighborhoods are still ok. There is a new shopping center near Southern hills called Lakeport Commons that is the new shopping mecca in the city.

[mofford]

I'm pretty sure it's still a very nice place, after they built Southern Hills Mall around 1980 it gave the area a more suburban upscale feel to it. It has a healthy rate of growth and lots of sprawl. I drove thru there a couple years ago and the difference between the east side and downtown area are very great indeed. You would never know this "other side" of SC without getting off I-29 to have a look, bring some money with you.

[Chris19]

I have been through Morningside several times and is not too bad of an area. It is one of the better areas of Sioux City from my understanding. There are some areas in the western part of Sioux City and near downtown that are on the dirty side.

[NowInWI]

I know there are bad areas in Sioux City - Prospect Hill has been poor for decades. I don't imagine it's gotten any better. Thanks for your responses - Sioux City will always have a place in my heart, no matter how run down it might get.

[mofford]

Sometime just for fun when you come up to Sioux City from the south, get off the first exit for South SC Nebraska and make a right on Hy 20 that goes thru South SC. Take a nice look around town, go across the bridge back into Sioux City, then drive thru downtown SC and it won't seem bad at all.

[myrc60]

My Ben Franklin is gone? I lived in Morningside from 1965 to 1971 and there's some things I'm wondering about. I remember there was a shoe repair shop in the same block as Ben Franklin; dad used to go in there a lot. I'm sure it is long gone by now. What about the Rexall around the corner? Dad used to work at Bellas Hess; does anybody remember that store? I know it is not there anymore but what did the land become and when? Is SC as laid-back now as it was when I lived there? Or was it just an age? I used to take off for what I believe is East Morningside over by Whittier Elementary when I was 10 and that was nearly a mile away from home; would you let your kids do that today?

[NowInWI]

Originally Posted by myrc60

My Ben Franklin is gone? I lived in Morningside from 1965 to 1971 and there's some things I'm wondering about. I remember there was a shoe repair shop in the same block as Ben Franklin; dad used to go in there a lot. I'm sure it is long gone by now. What about the Rexall around the corner? Dad used to work at Bellas Hess; does anybody remember that store? I know it is not there anymore but what did the land become and when? Is SC as laid-back now as it was when I lived there? Or was it just an age? I used to take off for what I believe is East Morningside over by Whittier Elementary when I was 10 and that was nearly a mile away from home; would you let your kids do that today?

I haven't been on the Iowa site for a week or so, and thought I'd check it out today (just got home from work). I didn't live in Sioux City, but had a best friend and grandparents there. She and I used to go to Bellas Hess, and I can't remember where it was located - I don't believe we walked there, but it's possible, as we walked all over the place. It was the only Bellas Hess I've ever heard of - was it a chain or just an individual store?
I loved going to Ben Franklin with a little bit of change when I was young, back then it was enough to buy something. I need to get back to Sioux City just to see how it's changed. I know a lot of people don't have much good to say about it, but I'll always love it.