What are the finer points of PARK CITY UTAH? and the lesser as well. (Heber: house, buy)

[US-Traveller]

Originally Posted by dcisive

Well US TRaveler....not sure WHICH Chicago suburbs you are comparing Salt Lake to. If you said Evanston I'd say fair enough. But quite frankly from Willmette on North Gangs are pretty much NOT even tolerated. If one of them came to schools up there looking like they do in most of the urban Salt Lake schools (I'm talking Willmette to Lake Bluff and West from there) they would be sent home to their parents. Here we give them a badge of honor. So don't tell me. By the way, I spent the first 13 years of my life on the South Side of Chicago, then moving to the North Shore. What a welcome shock. At least I didn't have to look over my shoulder worrying about who was going to nail me next, nor hop over fences quickly to avoid conflicts. The good thing in that improved environment is those thugs stand out like a sore thumb, and there is NO doubt what their intentions are. Makes it a LOT easier to single them out. The levels of tolerance of such behavior most certainly has gotten considerably more lenient. It's too bad in some respect we can't go back in attitudes about 40-50 years and straighten up these punks. They are virtually useless in our society that's for sure........

No actually Evanston doesn't have the gang problem it did a few years ago. They've successfully pushed most of the back south into Rogers Park again. East Oak Park and Lincolnwood were the two I was thinking about, some now venture into River Forest $$$$ from Maywood. Cicero, Harvey, Dixon, Maywood, Berwyn, Country Club Hills, Salt Lake has nothing like those. I am from the North Shore, currently in Glencoe so I know exactly what areas your talking about.

[dcisive]

WOW talk about a small world. Moved from Highland Park back in 1982. Went out to the SF BAy area for 10 years then back here in 93. Actually I will say this much. As prevalent as I feel the gang (more like wanna be's) influence is out here in Northern Utah in general, it has gotten a bit better than it was back in 1985-1995. So as you say, on balance it could be worse. Just wish it was less tolerated in general. The LDS sure put up with a LOT if I do say so. More like ostriches heads in the sand....they are famous for that.

[markg91359]

In my opinion, Park City is too expensive and too over-built. The traffic has gotten pretty bad as well. The pro's? There is good skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, you're near the Jordanelle Reservoir if you want to boat or do watersports, your relatively close to the High Uintas for camping, and its a pretty place to live.

[Tim Tim Tim]

dcisive. I wasnt trying to say there is NO gang problem, just dont blow it out of proportion for people looking to move here. While there could always be a little more done. It doesnt even come close to comparing to MANY other cities. I would without a doubt list utah as one of the safer cities to live in the country (safer big cities anyways). The "ghettos" here arent really that ghetto, more just run down areas of town

as for park city. I would love to be above the inversion there.. I think it seems a little over priced personally

[weasy]

We moved to Park City from Australia 4 months ago so are just beginning to get a feel for the place. You will love all the outdoor activities available, don't know about rock climbing as it's winter and I don't do that but I've met climbers here. Biking facilities are good, lots of bike lanes but many people bike the trails, lots of them. Lots of nordic skiing, free groomed trails aswell as 'centers'. Alpine skiing is plentiful.

It definitely has a small town feel. Old town Park City got really busy during the Sundance Film festival but if you live in the surrounding areas as we do then you would hardly notice.

You may struggle to find a property for under $400,000 but it can be done if you look in Highland estates, Summit Park, Pinebrook etc. We were really pleased with our realtor if you need a name, we got our property for $90,000 less than the asking price so don't always be put off by the price. You may have to put up with being near the freeway for that sort of price, as we do. Schools are good if not a little bit tooo competitive for my liking but we moved from laid back Oz - LOL

There are a lot of wealthier people in Park City but there are a lot like us too. Kids have friends already but I don't find the adults so welcoming BUT summer is apparantly very different and more sociable.

We are a family of four - send me a message if you want to know any more or want a friendly face if you move here.

Originally Posted by I'm_someone_elses_tool

My little family of four might move to Park City. We are backcountry savy skiers, rock climbers and bikers. What say all of you about this town for someone who loves the mountains? Where would you send me to look at real etate on a budget? below $400,000. What roads are good to bike on? We want to look at family friendly communites are close by?What are some good trails for walking, biking and maybe nordic skiing.

Does this city have the "small town feel"? or is it too filled with tourists? We lived in Kalispell MT AND LOVED the small town feel.

[kaytidid]

Weasy-
Glad to hear that you are liking Park City life! How was your move from Australia?

[weasy]

Hi Kayti,

It's been a bit rough really. I miss Australia heaps and can be a bit down on Utah/USA/Park City so - it did me loads of good to write that reply and realize that Park City is a pretty cool place . I definitely think we chose the right place for us within Utah though given the chance I'd move back to Oz in a flash. I have spent my time immersing myself in winter sports which I never thought I'd do but I'm looking forward to Spring now as the summers are supposed to be amazing up here.

How's things with you?

Originally Posted by kaytidid

Weasy-
Glad to hear that you are liking Park City life! How was your move from Australia?

[kaytidid]

Going well here, but winter isn't my happiest time of the year, so I just bide my time until the sun starts shining more and the weather starts getting warmer. Utah is an adjustment for most anyone moving here, let alone from a different country. Just give it some time. No one can be expected to fall in love with a place and not miss home just like that.

In the summer, people come out of hibernation. Summer and Winter in Utah is like night and day.

Stay positive and you will feel not so out of sorts soon!

[mktavish]

Id say check out some of the small towns in the general vicinity of park city ,for example ... Heber , Midway ,Coalville.... just a thought .... unless being close to Salt lake was a factor.
Then you might think about looking at houses up Emigration canyon.

[dogmatixx]

I live in the Park City area.
Pros:
Access to recreation and kinship with other people who are as into the outdoors as you are
Small town atmosphere, with a cosmopolitan citizenry that's "from everywhere"
Living here, I barely notice the touristy aspects, unless I visit Main St or it's during Sundance
The tourist trade funds public improvements and brings fun events and performers to town
Well-funded public schools (for Utah)
The summer weather is heavenly and the air is clean year round
No other ski town in the US is so close to a major airport and substantial commercial center.
Unlike most other parts of Utah, the Mormon/Non-Mormon cultural divide is very minor here.
Low crime.
It's politically diverse, trending slightly liberal, so you're unlikely to feel like an outnumbered outsider no matter what your views are.
It's Utah, so the most amazing national parks, deserts and mountains are within a day's drive.
Many people in Salt Lake think that people in Park City are snobs. I'm sure that many of the people who own the many trophy homes here are, but most of the people who live here are very down to earth, even though many of them are quite wealthy. The people in my old middle class neighborhood in SLC were way snobbier than the people in Park City.
If you like public transit, the buses here are free.
People who live in their homes full time pay only half the property tax compared to people who own second homes here. That means that the rich people who own the deer valley slopeside mansions subsidize the local services for the people who live here permanently. That's a great deal for us!
Great restaurants.

Cons:
Real Estate prices are high for Utah (but reasonable compared to most big metro areas and other ski towns). Slim pickings for condos under $200K and houses under $400K. But if you have a million dollars, you can get a lot more house here than in the DC suburbs or the Bay Area.
It's still a small town, so if your child has special educational needs or you need to buy something out of the ordinary, or your need specialized medical care, it's off to Salt Lake (though it's only a 30 min drive, and a pleasant one at that)
You'd better like snow. The winters are pretty sunny and not super-cold, but there's plenty of snow, for up to five months of the year.
It's still Utah, so if quirky liquor laws and conservative, religiously-charged state politics scare you, you'll have to deal with that.
There's a big divide between the haves and the have-nots, since most residents are relatively well-to-do, but the town depends on an underclass to support the tourist economy, and the high school, in particular is the epicenter of that socioeconomic conflict (it's a smallish town)
If you don't bring your own job with you, you'll probably have to commute to Salt Lake for work (I do)
Many of the great restaurants are expensive, though there are opportunities for locals to get discounts.