East Pueblo?????

[highplainsrus]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Except they are doing re-development on E 4th just like Denver did on E Colfax. I hear what you are saying but from driving on both roads the similarities are the same. Both east of downtown and both in rough areas that the city is trying to redevelop.

so, two and a half years later, Joss, how is the east side redevelopment progressing?
for the time being, i'm spending most of my time on the west side, but studying up on east side (real estate data, crime data, etc.).

[Let's Go Here]

Originally Posted by highplainsrus

so, two and a half years later, Joss, how is the east side redevelopment progressing?
for the time being, i'm spending most of my time on the west side, but studying up on east side (real estate data, crime data, etc.).

The east side re-development project hasn't done much other than restoring a few multi-family housing buildings IMO.

Overall, the quality of the east side has really gone downhill over the last 10-15 years, and it isn't getting much better. I grew up on the east side (my parents still live in the same house) and it's a shame to see how bad things have gotten. 75-80% of the yards on the east side are not maintained and crime is an issue. Heck, the block I grew up on (near St. Leander's Church) used to be BEAUTIFUL, but now, of the 19-20 houses on the block, only 5 or 6 of them have respectable yards.

I visit family in Pueblo every few months and it makes me really sad to see the condition of this neighborhood. Sad thing is, this problem is starting to creep into areas in Belmont as well. I love the east side and wish there was something I could do to restore the memories of 15-20 years ago.

[Josseppie]

I have to second that. I was hopeful the redevelopment of the east side would have done more then it has. Still a area I would avoid.

[iknowftbll]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

I have to second that. I was hopeful the redevelopment of the east side would have done more then it has. Still a area I would avoid.

The economy is still in the tank. It is not surprising to me that plans have stalled. Hopefully it can start trending back around. There is a lot of good vision being put on hold all over the country.

[McGowdog]

You can easily buy a house over there for under 50k. Folks from a large metro area would think it laughable to call it a rough neighborhood. For the most part, it's pretty run down. I wouldn't live there. But there are some decent homes here and there. Security is a priority there.

[highplainsrus]

I kind of suspect the core of the problems will turn out to be absentee slumlords, weak property code enforcement, and bank loan policies. I don't think poverty alone accounts for a "run-down" perception. I've known plenty of poor people who still managed to keep up their homes (as long as they can find work). Of course, lawns, landscaping, and remodeling can cost a lot of money. Crime will be a more complex issue. Now I'm going through the lower east side block by block and lot by lot with google satellite and street views, trying to correlate appearance with property ownership on the tax database. I'm wondering which social and economic agencies are trying to do the same thing? I hope that gentrification will not take over.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by iknowftbll

The economy is still in the tank. It is not surprising to me that plans have stalled. Hopefully it can start trending back around. There is a lot of good vision being put on hold all over the country.

I think every city is going to have one side of town that is on the rough side and as was noted by Mcgowdog its not as rough you find in the larger cities. For Pueblo that happens to be the lower east side and I do not see that changing even though they have many cute houses there.

Another factor is right now most of Pueblo's attention and money is going to revitalize downtown after the economic collapse of the 1980's left it with a high occupancy rate. They have made some great strides with the Riverwalk and convention center and now the state grant but I think we are looking at 10 more years before its where the city wants it to be.