How Do Clevelanders With An Inferiority Complex to Get Over It? (Washington: to live in, restaurants)

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by october2007

True....and maybe Clevelanders are better off in a non-boomtown. But I do miss certain things. But the museums and libraries are much better here than in Seattle. There aren't homeless people camped out everywhere, don't see discarded needles in parks...

Just curious, why do you say that Clevelanders might be better off in a non-boomtown? What are the pros and cons of living in a boomtown since you come from a couple of them?

[october2007]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

Just curious, why do you say that Clevelanders might be better off in a non-boomtown? What are the pros and cons of living in a boomtown since you come from a couple of them?

Well what comes to mind for me is that they become too crowded and there is more competition for resources (housing) which can become too expensive. Gentrification is appealing but if done too rapidly and widely it can displace people and make things harder for those who aren't top earners.

It's fun or it was fun to live in a happening city and have lots of things available. I saw so many cafes, shops, creative businesses in Seattle and it was fun to talk to tourists who visited or know that so many people loved the place (made me feel lucky to be there I guess).

I saw much more change and growth in Seattle. Boston still has more or less the same character and feel it had when I was there years ago but Seattle has become something else entirely in a relatively short period of time and IMO lost its essence and the things that made it unique and appealing. So...it can really be a double edged sword - a booming city attracts a lot of people and business but can lead to loss of some things - affordability, reasonable traffic, slower pace, less crowded etc.

[gouldnm]

I think we would all like to see Cleveland grow, but not at the rapid pace that boom towns grow. The bulk of my family lives in Chicago, and honestly, I miss the Chicago of my childhood (before it became a boom town). I really don't like the glitz at all. One reason I like Cleveland is that it reminds me of the Chicago of my youth before it became snob city!

[Minervah]

As has been continually stated, too rapid growth is not good over all for the health of a city. Too many people get left behind. Let Cleveland do whatever it takes at its own pace. There's a lot to be improved, certainly, but let's don't make the mistake as so many other cities have as the saying goes by "throwing out the baby with the bath water." Planning improvements to a city should include a place for everyone to be able to live so that no one has to relocate in order to be able to afford to live.

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by Minervah

As has been continually stated, too rapid growth is not good over all for the health of a city. Too many people get left behind. Let Cleveland do whatever it takes at its own pace. There's a lot to be improved, certainly, but let's don't make the mistake as so many other cities have as the saying goes by "throwing out the baby with the bath water." Planning improvements to a city should include a place for everyone to be able to live so that no one has to relocate in order to be able to afford to live.

How fast was too fast for Portland's growth? Do you think many of these cities cashed in on the Gold Rush for short-term results and will that lead to long-term consequences?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

How fast was too fast for Portland's growth? Do you think many of these cities cashed in on the Gold Rush for short-term results and will that lead to long-term consequences?

Sorry, not interested in delving into all this. GOOGLE is your friend.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by gouldnm

I think we would all like to see Cleveland grow, but not at the rapid pace that boom towns grow. The bulk of my family lives in Chicago, and honestly, I miss the Chicago of my childhood (before it became a boom town). I really don't like the glitz at all. One reason I like Cleveland is that it reminds me of the Chicago of my youth before it became snob city!

How ironic. One reason I liked Chicago is that in some aspects it reminded me of the Cleveland of my youth (the densely-populated Cleveland that still boasted more than 800,000 people)... still had department stores downtown on State Street... throngs of pedestrians downtown... neighborhood Sears stores, etc.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Minervah

As has been continually stated, too rapid growth is not good over all for the health of a city. Too many people get left behind. Let Cleveland do whatever it takes at its own pace. There's a lot to be improved, certainly, but let's don't make the mistake as so many other cities have as the saying goes by "throwing out the baby with the bath water." Planning improvements to a city should include a place for everyone to be able to live so that no one has to relocate in order to be able to afford to live.

To me that's not specifically a Chicago problem, or a Portland problem, or an [insert city name here] problem... it's an American problem. I've tried to think of an American city that has made a spectacular comeback while bucking that trend, but so far I've come up empty handed. I'm not at all confident that Cleveland can pull it off.

[gouldnm]

Originally Posted by andrew61

How ironic. One reason I liked Chicago is that in some aspects it reminded me of the Cleveland of my youth (the densely-populated Cleveland that still boasted more than 800,000 people)... still had department stores downtown on State Street... throngs of pedestrians downtown... neighborhood Sears stores, etc.

Don't know how recently you've been to Chicago but one thing I've noticed in the last 15-20 years is the proliferation of chains. It's lost a lot of its local flavor. To me Cleveland still has a lot more local flavor. But, yes, the downtown could use a facelift.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by andrew61

To me that's not specifically a Chicago problem, or a Portland problem, or an [insert city name here] problem... it's an American problem. I've tried to think of an American city that has made a spectacular comeback while bucking that trend, but so far I've come up empty handed. I'm not at all confident that Cleveland can pull it off.

But I don’t think it’s to the extent of Portland and Seattle which have experienced such lightening fast growth. Other cities might have become more expensive places in which to live but salaries and housing have at least somewhat kept up.

I’ve watched Portland making mistake after mistake when it comes to its growth especially in the area of housing. Go to their forum in CD and read what people have to say about a new proposal for an MLB stadium. It’s a good example. Read the thread about the upcoming mayoral election.

That entire forum is moribund other than a few sparks like those that come up every now and then. It reflects how people are so complacent about that city, they’ve given up. People here still care enough to discuss what goes on where they live. I’m watching Cleveland doing better so far. That’s all I can judge by.