Misc Colorado Springs, CO - Anyone Ever Been?

Dayze · 11-13-2008, 06:48 PM

Just curious if anyone has been/lived in Colorado Springs; and if so, what their impressions were of the place.

My job-hunt (going on 5 weeks now) has yielded possibly near-perfect match, but it's located in Colorado Springs; good news is, the Wife's corporate office is located in Colorado Springs as well. She is 'game' for a move if the job manifests itself etc.

The wisdom of CP'ers is always appreciated (sans Midnight Douche)

**Donger** · 11-13-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dayzeofthenew

Just curious if anyone has been/lived in Colorado Springs; and if so, what their impressions were of the place.

My job-hunt (going on 5 weeks now) has yielded possibly near-perfect match, but it's located in Colorado Springs; good news is, the Wife's corporate office is located in Colorado Springs as well. She is 'game' for a move if the job manifests itself etc.

The wisdom of CP'ers is always appreciated (sans Midnight Douche)

It's not unlike any other metro. Some really crappy parts and some very nice parts. Very defense industry-oriented. The mountain is right there. Apparently has some gang/meth problems.

I prefer Denver, but I'm biased.

Dayze · 11-13-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDonger

It's not unlike any other metro. Some really crappy parts and some very nice parts. Very defense industry-oriented. The mountain is right there. Apparently has some gang/meth problems.

I prefer Denver, but I'm biased.

Cool; I'll definitely do some digging. The job I'm interested in, is 'in' the mountain; which is bit south of Colorado Springs; and the wife's company is more on the north end.

**Donger** · 11-13-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dayzeofthenew

Cool; I'll definitely do some digging. The job I'm interested in, is 'in' the mountain; which is bit south of Colorado Springs; and the wife's company is more on the north end.

The one with the really big door in it?

prhom · 11-13-2008, 07:12 PM

I always get a strange feeling when I drive through it, can't say why exactly. It's just odd. Also the traffic is simply ridiculous. I-25 on a Saturday morning around 10 is not when you would expect to hit stop and go traffic for no reason. This happened to me several times so it seemed like it wasn't just a coincidence. All that aside though, I'd rather live in the Springs than a lot of other places. I agree with Donger though, Denver is way cooler if you can swing it.

**Rain Man** · 11-13-2008, 07:12 PM

I like the Springs, but recognize that it's politically and socially very conservative. It's got a big army base (which I understand is expanding significantly), and it's the home of Focus on the Family. If your tendencies lean to the left, you'll be in the minority, and it's not even close.

I did observational research in Colorado Springs for nearly seven years for a client, so I crawled all over that city. I'm not sure what bad neighborhoods Donger is talking about, unless he means the central part of the city. It's got older homes, I guess, but I definitely wouldn't say it's a bad neighborhood. Maybe I would classify some of the southeastern neighborhoods as a bit higher on the skank factor, when I think about it, but no big deal.

I thought the northwest and southwest parts of the city were quite nice. The northwest is probably a bit more affordable than the southwest, but I could easily live in either of those places, or in the central part.

My one annoyance with the Springs is that their development pattern tends to cluster restaurants and stores on specific streets, and I could never seem to find them when I needed them. I remember driving around looking for a restaurant for lunch - any restaurant - and taking 20 to 30 minutes to find anything. It was weird.

It's cool to be that close to the mountain(s), too. You can have a pretty middle-class home that has a superb mountain view.

Like Donger, I tend to prefer Denver, but I wouldn't have a problem moving to the Springs if I needed to.

**Rain Man** · 11-13-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prhom

I always get a strange feeling when I drive through it, can't say why exactly. It's just odd. Also the traffic is simply ridiculous. I-25 on a Saturday morning around 10 is not when you would expect to hit stop and go traffic for no reason. This happened to me several times so it seemed like it wasn't just a coincidence. All that aside though, I'd rather live in the Springs than a lot of other places. I agree with Donger though, Denver is way cooler if you can swing it.

Yeah, the highway traffic down there is horrible. I think there's a plan to widen it that's in the works, which will probably gum stuff up for a while, but man, they need it.

If you live there, though, you wouldn't spend much time on the highway and the rest of the road system is pretty good.

Hydrae · 11-13-2008, 07:16 PM

My brother has been there for about 12 years and loves it. I have never been up there in the winter but it has always struck me as a decent enough town.

**Rain Man** · 11-13-2008, 07:19 PM

I doubt that the Springs has bad winters, because it's only a little higher than Denver. You might occasionally get some weird snows with mountain being there, but Colorado Springs wouldn't be anything like the mountain towns.

Groves · 11-13-2008, 07:29 PM

I was just there 2 weeks ago. It has very few desirable old woodworking or blacksmith tools in the antique stores I looked in. Disappointing, but what you gonna do.

ohiobronco2 · 11-13-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDonger

The one with the really big door in it?

**Donger** · 11-13-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I like the Springs, but recognize that it's politically and socially very conservative. It's got a big army base (which I understand is expanding significantly), and it's the home of Focus on the Family. If your tendencies lean to the left, you'll be in the minority, and it's not even close.

I did observational research in Colorado Springs for nearly seven years for a client, so I crawled all over that city. I'm not sure what bad neighborhoods Donger is talking about, unless he means the central part of the city. It's got older homes, I guess, but I definitely wouldn't say it's a bad neighborhood. Maybe I would classify some of the southeastern neighborhoods as a bit higher on the skank factor, when I think about it, but no big deal.

I thought the northwest and southwest parts of the city were quite nice. The northwest is probably a bit more affordable than the southwest, but I could easily live in either of those places, or in the central part.

My one annoyance with the Springs is that their development pattern tends to cluster restaurants and stores on specific streets, and I could never seem to find them when I needed them. I remember driving around looking for a restaurant for lunch - any restaurant - and taking 20 to 30 minutes to find anything. It was weird.

It's cool to be that close to the mountain(s), too. You can have a pretty middle-class home that has a superb mountain view.

Like Donger, I tend to prefer Denver, but I wouldn't have a problem moving to the Springs if I needed to.

By crappy, I meant some of the industrial areas, not neighborhoods.

**Donger** · 11-13-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

My brother has been there for about 12 years and loves it. I have never been up there in the winter but it has always struck me as a decent enough town.

I would take a Front Range winter over a Midwest winter any day.

Dayze · 11-13-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDonger

It's not unlike any other metro. Some really crappy parts and some very nice parts. Very defense industry-oriented. The mountain is right there. Apparently has some gang/meth problems.

I prefer Denver, but I'm biased.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDonger

The one with the really big door in it?

based on the description and company; I suspect so.

**Donger** · 11-13-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dayzeofthenew

based on the description and company; I suspect so.

Ugh. Get used to hating I-25.

11-13-2008, 06:48 PM
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	Colorado Springs, CO - Anyone Ever Been? Just curious if anyone has been/lived in Colorado Springs; and if so, what their impressions were of the place. My job-hunt (going on 5 weeks now) has yielded possibly near-perfect match, but it's located in Colorado Springs; good news is, the Wife's corporate office is located in Colorado Springs as well. She is 'game' for a move if the job manifests itself etc. The wisdom of CP'ers is always appreciated (sans Midnight Douche)
Posts: 37,358

11-13-2008, 07:12 PM	#5
prhom Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Denver Casino cash: $8066013	I always get a strange feeling when I drive through it, can't say why exactly. It's just odd. Also the traffic is simply ridiculous. I-25 on a Saturday morning around 10 is not when you would expect to hit stop and go traffic for no reason. This happened to me several times so it seemed like it wasn't just a coincidence. All that aside though, I'd rather live in the Springs than a lot of other places. I agree with Donger though, Denver is way cooler if you can swing it.
Posts: 2,267

11-13-2008, 07:12 PM	#6
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3348491 VARSITY	I like the Springs, but recognize that it's politically and socially very conservative. It's got a big army base (which I understand is expanding significantly), and it's the home of Focus on the Family. If your tendencies lean to the left, you'll be in the minority, and it's not even close. I did observational research in Colorado Springs for nearly seven years for a client, so I crawled all over that city. I'm not sure what bad neighborhoods Donger is talking about, unless he means the central part of the city. It's got older homes, I guess, but I definitely wouldn't say it's a bad neighborhood. Maybe I would classify some of the southeastern neighborhoods as a bit higher on the skank factor, when I think about it, but no big deal. I thought the northwest and southwest parts of the city were quite nice. The northwest is probably a bit more affordable than the southwest, but I could easily live in either of those places, or in the central part. My one annoyance with the Springs is that their development pattern tends to cluster restaurants and stores on specific streets, and I could never seem to find them when I needed them. I remember driving around looking for a restaurant for lunch - any restaurant - and taking 20 to 30 minutes to find anything. It was weird. It's cool to be that close to the mountain(s), too. You can have a pretty middle-class home that has a superb mountain view. Like Donger, I tend to prefer Denver, but I wouldn't have a problem moving to the Springs if I needed to. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,262

11-13-2008, 07:16 PM	#8
Hydrae Sandbox: Leander Lasercats Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, Tx Casino cash: $2357000	My brother has been there for about 12 years and loves it. I have never been up there in the winter but it has always struck me as a decent enough town.
Posts: 14,684

11-13-2008, 07:19 PM	#9
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3348491 VARSITY	I doubt that the Springs has bad winters, because it's only a little higher than Denver. You might occasionally get some weird snows with mountain being there, but Colorado Springs wouldn't be anything like the mountain towns. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,262

11-13-2008, 07:29 PM	#10
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $2358541	I was just there 2 weeks ago. It has very few desirable old woodworking or blacksmith tools in the antique stores I looked in. Disappointing, but what you gonna do.
Posts: 2,380