Changes in Duluth (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington: housing, jobs, health)

[roneb]

I thought I'd start this thread to pick up more info about the Heritage Sports Center and the proposed high school changes in Duluth. I've been back to Duluth twice now and have really fallen in love with the place. It was (and still is) my hope to open an indoor soccer center in town. The soccer clubs love the idea; but I was not able to find the financial backing to get the project started - I'm a teacher, so not independently wealthy! (or should it be )

How far along is the Heritage Center? The website does not seem to have been updated in quite some time. I have also heard that there are plans to reduce the number of high schools to two, possibly building new facilities. What has been the community reaction to that? At this point I will probably opt to let my oldest finish high-school here in Portland, OR before I make a move, but I still want to keep up to date on what is going on back in Duluth.

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by roneb

I have also heard that there are plans to reduce the number of high schools to two, possibly building new facilities. What has been the community reaction to that? At this point I will probably opt to let my oldest finish high-school here in Portland, OR before I make a move, but I still want to keep up to date on what is going on back in Duluth.

Here's the decision
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/art...on=collections

Wanna do a lot of reading?
Duluth News Tribune |

What people think about it:

Duluth News Tribune |

[Delaneyland]

Originally Posted by roneb

I thought I'd start this thread to pick up more info about the Heritage Sports Center and the proposed high school changes in Duluth. I've been back to Duluth twice now and have really fallen in love with the place. It was (and still is) my hope to open an indoor soccer center in town. The soccer clubs love the idea; but I was not able to find the financial backing to get the project started - I'm a teacher, so not independently wealthy! (or should it be )

How far along is the Heritage Center? The website does not seem to have been updated in quite some time. I have also heard that there are plans to reduce the number of high schools to two, possibly building new facilities. What has been the community reaction to that? At this point I will probably opt to let my oldest finish high-school here in Portland, OR before I make a move, but I still want to keep up to date on what is going on back in Duluth.

They just began the demolition work of the center's site the week before last.

Sure, they grand plan is to screw the taxpayers 270 million dollars to build a new school, close (at least one, they'll be more) to save money. What? Huh? Yup. As the population continues to decline both in residents and children attending ISD 709, the district is spending like drunken sailors. (sorry sailors for the insulting analogy)

Crime and scumbags continue to gather here from large cities for the wonderful health care, free housing, criminal opportunity, and increased profit on drug sales...not to mention the large numbers of seniors available for exploitation!

Don't forget to read up on the multi million dollar unfunded retiree health program the city is sinking with...you can look forward to double digit property tax increases for years to come!

[Auntie Bob]

I really hope the Heritage Sports Center works out well. Personally, I think Duluth shot themselves in the foot when they refused to partner with the SA for the recreation center they wanted to build for Duluth.

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by roneb

I thought I'd start this thread to pick up more info about the Heritage Sports Center .

If you are still reading this, I heard last night that they plan to have the center done enough to have a sheet of ice down by January....the rest of the work done by summer.

[roneb]

I had figured the main rink would get done. I'm particularly interested in finding out about progress on the multi-use side of the facility, as that would be a potential source of competition for an indoor soccer facility.

I am also interested in finding out more about the Zeppa Foundation. I've heard they have been a supporter of the Heritage Center and might be a potential supporter of an indoor soccer center if I go the non-profit route. (I am more interested in bringing indoor soccer to Duluth than making big bucks)

I'd also love some direct feedback from Delaneyland. I'm assuming you are a long time Duluth resident, yet some of your posts on the town have been pretty negative. I'm sure there are some things that are getting worse.
But tourism, healthcare, and education seem to be growing parts of the economy that could bode well for the future. And in a comparison of crime, traffic, etc., Duluth's problems don't compare to Portland, OR - and Portland is actually pretty decent! Do you really feel Duluth has gotten that bad? Or are you maybe not appreciating what you've got?

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by roneb

I had figured the main rink would get done. I'm particularly interested in finding out about progress on the multi-use side of the facility, as that would be a potential source of competition for an indoor soccer facility.

I am also interested in finding out more about the Zeppa Foundation. I've heard they have been a supporter of the Heritage Center and might be a potential supporter of an indoor soccer center if I go the non-profit route. (I am more interested in bringing indoor soccer to Duluth than making big bucks)
?

I think Duluth is changing but, not really getting better or worse. The differences between the haves and have nots might be showing up more now though.
The poorer areas of town.. Central Hillside and West End are getting more run down. More absentee landlords seems to be the big thing now.
On the other hand, people have discovered that areas that were considered poor neighborhoods most of my life, actually have the best lake views so, there's a lot of new construction going up in places that were getting pretty raggedy. The upper part of the West End is a good example of that.

Duluth does seem to be drawing a more undesirable element from places like Chicago and other very urban areas but, I don't know that it's at a disaster point yet. I am still hopeful they can get a handle on it. I do think, all in all, Duluth is still a very worthwhile city to consider moving to.

For those of us that grew up there and knew what the city was, I'm sure it seems a lot worse now. To someone coming here from somewhere else, they'd more than likely think it was still lovely.

If you decide to move up this way, you can always do business in Duluth and live in one of the small bedroom communities.

I'm not sure the Zeppa Foundation is a good match for what you are looking to do. Perhaps but, it seems like maybe their energies are focused in other areas.

The Zeppa Foundation was formed in 2005 to support four primary goals: (a) advancement of progressive principles in environmental protection and human affairs; (b) support the utilization of sustainable approaches to alleviate or end hunger and poverty globally; (c) support performing and fine arts organizations on a local and regional basis (northern Minnesota); and (d) support the creation of educational opportunities in the arts and social sciences.

There's another article on what they are doing here.

[SIZE=2]BusinessNorth Exclusives[/SIZE]

You might want to contact the Chamber of Commerce and see if they could recommend some funding sources that fall in line with what you are wanting to do and also, check and see if someone already has a project like yours in the works.

[Delaneyland]

Originally Posted by roneb

I am also interested in finding out more about the Zeppa Foundation. I've heard they have been a supporter of the Heritage Center and might be a potential supporter of an indoor soccer center if I go the non-profit route. (I am more interested in bringing indoor soccer to Duluth than making big bucks)

I'd also love some direct feedback from Delaneyland. I'm assuming you are a long time Duluth resident, yet some of your posts on the town have been pretty negative. I'm sure there are some things that are getting worse.
But tourism, healthcare, and education seem to be growing parts of the economy that could bode well for the future. And in a comparison of crime, traffic, etc., Duluth's problems don't compare to Portland, OR - and Portland is actually pretty decent! Do you really feel Duluth has gotten that bad? Or are you maybe not appreciating what you've got?

Let me know what you want to know. I grew up here and have seen it turn into a pit. If you're a tourist, things look great, if you're a drug dealer, they look great too cause you can get twice for your dope here what you can in the metro. You cannot compare Duluth's crime to Portland, but if you truly are interested, I'd suggest you compare them to Bloomington, MN. Bloomington is just about the same size, is a suburb of Mpls. St. Paul, and has about HALF the crime Duluth does.I don't know where you get the idea of tourism, health care, and education growing, Duluth's population has steadily and increasingly decreased since the 1970's. There is certainly potential here but the local government is hell bent on spending money for social programs, non-profits, and deviants and I have no idea when or if it will ever change. Pack your bags, move here, try to make a living, then maybe you'll understand what I've been trying to say in these posts that you see as negative. What the heck, why not sacrifice for forty some years like I and so many others have done?

[Duluth07]

I'd have to agree with much of what the others have said. This is definitely a family-churchy-everyone gets married at 19 city. If you are single here, you're not going to meet anyone. And that is one of the biggest problems here - most single, educated, skilled professionals spend one year here and this is what they see in terms of dating options: people with 8 kids, religious fanatics, people with 100 cats, people on welfare, people on drugs, people on disability for alcoholism at 35, people who don't have a job and don't want one, etc. Those are pretty much your options here. Every person I know who wasn't from here and is single turned around and left after a year. They said the money and quality of living wasn't worth the tradeoff. I agree. If you have kids and a partner then you'll love it here. If you're single and childless you might as well be a leper.

I'm personally glad that the Salvation Army didn't get their hands on that Kroc Center. The last thing we need is more religious interference in this city. These religious groups here have tremendous control over anything that happens (former mayor Gary Doty's agenda is a great example) and I don't trust their agenda. The minute any religious group here gets on board with social service agencies (housing, homeless, counseling) they want to kick everyone else out of the way and run the whole thing themselves. So no, I don't want the Salvation Army running anything that will be a big part of the city.

Jobs? There's people with degrees from UMD flipping burgers at McDonald's. A college degree today is the new version of a high school diploma - it grants you the power to wear a cardboard hat at a fast food restaurant or be the night hostess at Denny's. It's very tough to be in a city where you are competing for $8 an hour jobs with people who have masters' degrees.

My family is here and need my help - otherwise I would be out of here as soon as possible. I realize that some things are universal - but Duluth is unique. We are at the end of the line - there is nothing past here. There is no reason to come here unless you know someone here or are specifically headed to Duluth. This isn't a city you would pass through while driving cross country. And that's always been our biggest problem. We are on the way to nothing, and it takes too long to get here from anyplace that has anything. We have an influx of people with no money, no skills, no education and no work ethic who are expecting blue collar workers to support their stay at home lifestyle through taxes. We are not like Minneapolis where they have both an influx of urban problems and ultra-rich people to balance it out. I will be very interested to see what Duluth is like in 2017.

Hear me out. There are some WONDERFUL people here and I have met some of the nicest folks who would do anything to help me and my family out. I will always remember that when I think about Duluth. It's just not enough for me at this point in my life.

[roneb]

I guess I'm suprised by the level of negative comments about Duluth I see on these threads. I just haven't seen it on my visits there. The people I've met were extremely nice and helpful; and everyone I talked to (save only one high school student) seemed to enjoy being there. Tourism has steadily increased for years, and while it doesn't offer top-notch jobs, is does bring money into the local economy. As healthcare and education are both growing industries and Duluth is the major center in the area for both, I assumed there would be middle-class jobs available. Wasn't either St. Mary's or St. Luke's expanding their facilities downtown? Compared to the many places I've been, Duluth is a beautiful town. I was told that the community has worked to deliberately avoid the cookie cutter subdivisions so prevalent in many areas and that is something else I admire. Anyone out there have something good to say about your town?