"Is Everything Better in Boulder?" (Men's Health article) (Denver: rentals, credit)

[A1eutian]

After 4 years here, it's hard to find any fault with the town. The people that have a problem with Boulder are probably going to say it's too expensive and the people are stuck up and artificial. This is probably someone who can't afford to live here. Personally I cannot really afford to live here, and survive only by having no vehicle & being extremely frugal with my meager salary. (less than half of median in Boulder county)

However, anyone who really wants to live in a small city with quick access to some of the best skiing, hiking, climbing and biking in the western US CAN make ends meet. There is a clean and efficient bus system that covers the entire Denver metro area. The area is consistently rated as one of the top bike-friendly places in America. There is a system of bike lanes, paths, and routes that crisscrosses the entire city.

If you live and work in Boulder, or any of the small burbs around Denver you can commute by bus or light rail. One of the biggest complaints you may hear is all the panhandlers and a sizable contingent of transients that congregate in the downtown area, and can be seen trudging with heavy backpacks throughout the city. I think the locals are pretty generous to the homeless and there are lots of services available (although it's never enough) for those who need help. Because of this there may be a disproportionate number of homeless, but that is a problem much bigger than Boulder and is not anything someone moving here should be concerned about.

The landscape of America is very homogenized with corporate retail giants, fast food, casual dining and strip malls. I like that the city has resisted the temptation to bring in the giant box stores and food outlets. More than anything else, that has kept Boulder "different."

Weather is mild compared to the east coast, plains states and midwest. It can get down to the single digits or zero for brief periods. During the winter, we can get 2 feet of snow overnight, which is all melted in a week so it's not as bad as it sounds. It creates some beautiful scenery so I actually look forward to the occasional blizzard. In April you can enjoy a 70 degree day, and the next day there could be 2 feet of snow, which is all gone in 2 days.

Hottest days are usually from mid-July through mid August with days where temps can get into the high nineties with moderate humidity. It's much more bearable hear than any place east of the Rockies. What's not to like here? It's clean, safe, beautiful and prosperous. There are some incredible idyllic neighborhoods nestled up against the foothills.

[theoaks]

Originally Posted by A1eutian

One of the biggest complaints you may hear is all the panhandlers and a sizable contingent of transients that congregate in the downtown area, and can be seen trudging with heavy backpacks throughout the city. I think the locals are pretty generous to the homeless and there are lots of services available (although it's never enough) for those who need help. Because of this there may be a disproportionate number of homeless, but that is a problem much bigger than Boulder and is not anything someone moving here should be concerned about.

That one statement, would make me reject the city, no questions asked. That they cannot keep the homeless, most of whom are criminals and break in and steal your stuff, vandalize your car, abuse your kid, or rape your girlfriend, off their streets.

In the Southwest we have an increasing and worsening homeless problem. Some cities remove them as much as they can, such as Scottsdale, but others, such as Palm Springs, have horrible homeless and property crime problems.

[Neditate]

Originally Posted by theoaks

That one statement, would make me reject the city, no questions asked. That they cannot keep the homeless, most of whom are criminals and break in and steal your stuff, vandalize your car, abuse your kid, or rape your girlfriend, off their streets.

Wow. "Most of whom are criminals"? Really?
I have a lot to say about that but I have better things to do than waste my time responding to an ignorant post.

[Hipchik]

Originally Posted by Neditate

Wow. "Most of whom are criminals"? Really?
I have a lot to say about that but I have better things to do than waste my time responding to an ignorant post.

I agree. What a crappy thing to say. Very sad.
There have been homeless PEOPLE in Boulder since my college days in the 90s - no doubt long before that. Never had an issue with anyone. (Drunken frat boys were the ones I found "dangerous".) Many of the homeless these days are veterans.

I spent the past few days in Boulder; quite a few hours on Pearl Street and the creek path. I didn't notice an abundance of homeless people and I didn't have blinders on. I wasn't accosted, my car was not vandalized, I was not raped, stolen from or bothered by anyone.

@ "theoaks" where did you read that Boulder isn't doing anything to address the homeless? https://bouldercolorado.gov/homelessness

Perhaps if you learned something about who the homeless are, you might possibly gain a modicum of compassion. https://bouldercolorado.gov/homeless...meless-stories

[mic111]

My track record with the bums in Boulder is perfect. They accost me every time I go to Pearl St. Mall. Never miss a chance. I regrettably decided to spend a few hours strolling the shops last week after an appt. in the area just to kill some time because the weather was so pleasant. It had been years since I set foot in that place because every....single...time I get accosted. Within the few hours I was there I regretted my decision and left feeling like crap. And it wasn't because of the bum who let their dog crap on the sidewalk and strode off without picking it up while I frantically searched my pockets for a poop bag to give him. It was the bum who made a nasty comment to me.

I was planning to have lunch there but retreated back to my comfort zone and had a pleasant lunch in Lafayette.

On the plus side the tulips were lovely. But it will be years before I go back again.

The thing with Boulder that I don't like is that there are just too many people. It is like NYC that way. Everywhere you go, people, people, people. Clearly this doesn't bother everyone but for me I can't take the density.

I refuse to call them homeless because I don't believe they are homeless. I think they are bums with homes that refuse to work so go out to beg for money because they know people will give it to them. They dress up in their little begging outfits and sit on the mall all day harassing people.

[nick4242]

Originally Posted by mic111

The thing with Boulder that I don't like is that there are just too many people. It is like NYC that way. Everywhere you go, people, people, people. e.

Well arent you worldly....

[Hipchik]

Originally Posted by mic111

I refuse to call them homeless because I don't believe they are homeless. I think they are bums with homes that refuse to work so go out to beg for money because they know people will give it to them. They dress up in their little begging outfits and sit on the mall all day harassing people.

edit: can't post what I really want to say...

[MN_Ski]

I don't understand how Boulder can keep adding all of these high paying jobs while they refuse to expand the city and build more housing.

It's starting to really mess up everything for the surrounding towns.

And mountain bikers are incredibly rude in Boulder. They fly past without calling out, and then look at you all pissed as if it's your fault.

[Yakscsd]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

I don't understand how Boulder can keep adding all of these high paying jobs while they refuse to expand the city and build more housing.

It's starting to really mess up everything for the surrounding towns.

And mountain bikers are incredibly rude in Boulder. They fly past without calling out, and then look at you all pissed as if it's your fault.

Where exactly would you like them to expand? Which Greenbelt are you willing to give up for housing? Which Prairie Dog colony are you willing to kill off?

[nick4242]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

It's starting to really mess up everything for the surrounding towns.

Not really, those towns are the ones benefiting. Boulder city loses out on the tax revenue and they end up paying for infrastructure that outsiders utilize.

I am glad that Boulder is getting super expensive, because all of the people thinking they had it made on $80k a year and wanted to keep all the outsiders out are finding themselves to be irrelevant and lower-middle class, while the ambitious start to come in and take over.

They succeeded in "keeping them out". Only they kept out the middle class while the surrounding cities benefited.