I might be moving to Colorado Springs...

[Moloch]

maybe not but I was wondering what all of you think of this area? I've heard that it is dominated by fundamentalists (and the 2004 election results seem to confirm this)I'm gay but I can get along with pretty much anyone.. If the fundies don't bother me, I won't bother them.. although I'd rather live in a place with Democrats.

Is Colorado Springs really a regressive place?

[earthside]

1. Don't Do It

Live in Denver and commute to the Springs.

I know people who drive back and forth ... it's an hour or less depending on where you start and end-up.

[blondie58]

2. great place to visit, wouldn't want to live there

my stepdaughter lived there for a couple of years and she had made the comment that "it was really behind the times". She meant news wise, etc. Previously, she had lived in the Denver metro area. I know that it is really overrun by religious wacko's- heck, it has even seeped into the Air Force Academy.

[myhusbandjack]

15. I second that

Better place in CO.

[intheflow]

3. To live in the most progressive nearby areas,

you'll want to live in Old Colorado City or Manitou Springs. Both are artsy communities, Manitou much more so. I met a DUer who works and I think lives in Old Colorado City; if you want her name, pm me and I'll send it to you.

The Springs really is pretty conservative, but there are some progressive groups trying to keep it sane. I mostly know the liberal religious community: there are two Unitarian churches, at least one United Church of Christ congregation, and a Metropolitan Community Church that's really active in actions against the evil Focus on the Family which is based there.

Outside the liberal religious communities, there's the Pikes Peak Peace and Justice Commission, which is active in the anti-war movement, as well as works for economic and environmental justice. They could hook you into the progressive community there.

The Springs is really, really beautiful, though. They have some wonderful parks, lots of free open space, not just Garden of the Gods (which is stunning but tends to be overrun with tourists every weekend).

So you can survive in the Springs, you'll just have to work a little harder to find like-minded people. But they do exist and would greatly welcome another one of their own to the area. And if it gets too crazy, you can always escape an hour north to Denver.

Good luck! :hi:

Edited to add I didn't read your post and see you were gay. In that case, check out Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center. They have business and social networking opportunities.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Colorado Springs born and raised here

And, even though I've been away to college and grad school for the past 4+ years, it's still my home and I come back in the summers. I can tell you that everything you've heard is true, and as a gay person you'll probably feel kind of out of place. I can understand your insecurity because I'm a little out of place here myself since in addition to being a liberal I'm also Jewish. However, fundies have a sort of affection for Jews, so that hasn't really been a problem per se, other than that since so many people center their social lives around church, they always seem to be doing one thing while I'm doing something else. Since I hang out mostly with my old friends when I'm home, I can't comment on the underground liberal scene around here. However, I can tell you that those of us who exist here would sure love to have one more to dilute the ultra-conservative atmosphere.

[Hawkeye-X]

13. What shul do you go to in CS?

I'm just wondering - East Denver Orthodox is nearby.

[CanonRay]

5. For a Democrat, it's the pits.

Bad traffic, too. Everything revolves around the military and focus on the family.

[Hand]

6. It's a shithole.

Apart from the fundies and freepers, it's just (IMHO) an unpleasant, overdeveloped, class-ridden town that's had all the energy sucked out of it. Sure, the mountains are nearby and beautiful, but there are a million places in Colorado that can say that.

Besides, my in-laws live there. :rofl:

[paulk]

7. Manitou Springs is nice -

it has a large and active gay community, too.

Otherwise, CO Springs is generally a horrible place. I couldn't live there.

[lakercub]

8. I've lived here since I was 2

(now 34) and I have watched amazing things happen here. Most of them bad. The city was still small until it absolutely exploded in the late 90's. The traffic engineers are at least 15 years behind (I'm not even slightly exaggerating). We are just about done with a massive interstate construction program that will get I25 to the point where it should have been in 1995. There is still no loop type of interstate that goes out East which has become a must. The growth of the Springs eastward to the towns of Falcon and Peyton has been dramatic, but the traffic is mind-numbing out there.

Also, all this growth has been in the form of cookie-cutter houses, charmless neighborhoods, cheap construction, and whatever else the developers want to do. The developers are so deep in bed with the local politicos that they get whatever their hearts desire. And these suburbs are extremely conservative (huge amounts of military). I avoid the eastern side of town as much as I can. Further, water shortages are becoming a real concern, especially after a 7 year drought we just had. But the building keeps on going with no thought as to where the water may come from.

Religious groups have also moved in in gigantic numbers. Everyone knows Focus on the Family (my mother-in-law and sister-in-law work there to my unending shame), but we also have Young Life, the International Bible Society, the Navigators, etc. They have made the political scene almost intolerable. In the 90's Colorado Springs was at the forefront of the incredibly bigoted Amendment 2 anti-gay crap. Since then, whenever any mention of domestic partner benefits comes up...the fundies rage out out and squash it with dramatic ease. And God forbid you be against the war. Last year on St. Patrick's Day, a local group of anti-war folks marched in a parade wearing peace shirts. This resulted in some being tasered and others being dragged along pavement by the gestapo...er, police. The worst part of this is that most of the marchers were elderly. The woman dragged across the pavement needed a cane to walk if I remember right and ended up with a gigantic bruise from the incredibly harsh treatment.

We also have had massive budget problems. Thanks to now state representative Doug Bruce, our schools are struggling, road construction is way behind, DMV offices can't stay open, and infrastructure is pathetic. Doug has done more than any one individual to harm this city and state. We have water manes bursting, sewage leaking into creaks (which becomes Pueblo's problem), traffic light congestion that a monkey could fix, and various other maladies that are all the result of a population that runs for cover when ever the word taxes even comes up. Some recent votes have shown that we may finally be overcoming this, however.

It is not all bad. Manitou Springs is a fun place to shop and eat and is a pretty liberal area...the same with Old Colorado City. Much of the west side is eclectic and interesting. It has issues, like many run-down dilapidated houses or apartments (some owned by Bruce the slumlord) and it is not uncommon for immaculately kept houses to neighbor a pigsty. But the west side at least has some diversity to it. It is a little higher in terms of crime rate, but the real crime rate problems are mostly in southern Colorado Springs bordering Fort Carson (and Fountain Road to the north).

The parks have improved as well. The TOPS folks have done a nice job purchasing land and designating open space areas for hiking, biking, and other activities, while protecting them from over-development. Bike lanes are becoming more common on roads too, although not as common as they should be.

The downtown area was really revitalized in the 90's and seemed to be on its way to becoming a great place to be. But recent box store intrusions have killed many of the old fun businesses that were down there (Chinook Bookshop and Hathaway's anyone?). There are still good restaurants and places to shop downtown, but since Lionel Rivera became mayor a few years back downtown has been horribly neglected in favor of box store handouts for the suburbs. In fact, I had always hoped they would make Tejon Street where most of the shops are a walking mall similar to Pearl Street in Boulder. Instead they just announced they would convert it back to a two-lane road adding more traffic and making it less pedestrian friendly.

I live by UCCS and had been excited by some of the goings on there. UCCS is the only school in the University of Colorado system that can really expand, and there has been a lot of talk about renovating some areas around it to make it more attractive to potential students. Again, I had Boulder in mind. My hope was for cool, locally owned restaurants and bookstores and the like. But the first businesses announced as part of this renovation are Lowe's, Costco, Kohl's. I almost cried when I heard it. I don't mind some chains, but we can please get some local flavor? And must everything be strip malls? Do we really need another Applebee's or Chilis?

That was longer than I thought it would be, but I hope it gives you a sense of what to expect.

[intheflow]

10. Chinook's is gone

but at least you still have Poor Richard’s. :)

I like your idea about closing off Tejon, that would have been great. I can't beleive they just voted to make it two-way again. It's crazy enough as a one-way street! :eyes:

[lakercub]

11. Richard Skorman has given a lot of life to that block

with his wine-tasting bar, Little Richard's Toy Story, the bookstore, and the restaurant. I was in there getting Xmas presents over the Holiday and he was in manning the registers. I like that whole block...my gaming days are long gone, but I still like to go into the Compleat(not misspelled) Gamer. The next block south has Jose Muldoon's and La Creperie, which I like, and a couple of nice shops.

My proposal is a walking mall from Boulder Street to Colorado Avenue. That would be 5 blocks. All those little clothes stores and restaurants would benefit. It could even extend to Vermijo to take in McKenzie's Chop House and the Pioneer Museum. But I would love to be able to buy a book at Poor Richard's, go down and let my kids play in Uncle Wilbur's Fountain, and then go get lunch at Il Vicino or the Olive Branch, all without worrying about traffic.

[Froward69]

9. DON"T you will be sorry

castle rock or pueblo would do far better for you. pueblo has been a Democratic stronghold since before Denver has been.

[RobertDevereaux]

12. Great writers conference every spring....

I'm in Fort Collins but go pretty much every year.

Pikes Peak Writers Conference.

http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/images/conference08/08_conference_brochure.pdf

[distantearlywarning]

14. Don't do it!

I spent the worst 3 years of my life there. It's Stepford-Land, full of fundies, and generally horrible.

[friendshouseconcerts]

16. COS

I was motivated to join this forum by the number of negative
texts I saw posted about COS.. After having lived in many
places, I believe that ANY place that you live is what you
make it. 

We moved here from NY and the move required adjustments.  On
the positive side, you have to stand up for your beliefs not
just sit back and pour another glass of wine.   We started a
house concert series here and through that we've found an
eager community of independents & democrats AND people
willing to listen.   The Obama campaign is very busy here...
there are more converts every day.  

You could live in Denver, but why?  Traffic there is much
worse and it takes you an hour at least to get up into the
foot hills, whereas you can live in the foothills here in the
Springs.   If you enjoy trails, we live on the west side of
town and it's less than 2 miles to the trail head for running
or mountain biking.   The USOC and many different governing
bodies of sports are here bringing more diverse people.The
military is huge here, but again - we've met some incredibly
intelligent, fascinating folks because of that.  

Visit the Springs before you write it off - look to move to
the west side or Manitou Springs....

Life is what you make of it....

[MissMarple]

18. I'll second that. n/t

[I-SPIT-ON-COMMUNISTS]

17. Denver

Move to Denver. You'll be happier in the long run.

YMMV

[Rocknrule]

19. The springs itself is pretty right-wing

but the Colorado College community is a nostalgic place for me personally. In truth, the only bad thing about Colorado is the fact that it leads the nation in school/church massacres.

[comanchero]

20. Move to Pueblo instead of the Spgs.

I visit both place regularly because of family. Pueblo is a better more diverse community. They are a bit more liberal, certainly more Democrat. I just think State. Rep Buffy Mcfayden ought to run for Guv. I love to hear her speak. Last heard her at Ludlow this last summer.

[Touchdown]

21. So? What did you decide?

Your post was almost a year ago. Where did you move to?:shrug:

Funny thing about TV. I watched Stargate all the time. It was supposed to take place in Co Springs. Being that the SG project is supposedly in Cheyenne Mountain. Whenever they go outside the cave, it's always pristine, green, beautiful. The characters live in charming old houses, and a log cabin with a pond in back, surrounded by quiet forests. Evergreens and lush green ferns and other foliage are all over this Colorado Springs, where they usually catch an alien and shoot him with a zat gun. Far cry from the dry, busy, strip malled, desert town it really is. The show is filmed in Vancouver BC. and looks like it, but they do use Co license plates. Also strange is that most of the storylines of this show are VERY critical of religious fanaticism. :rofl:

[methinks2]

22. i moved from casselberry to

colorado springs to a mountain town. I'm thinking of moving back to colorado springs. They have jobs! movies, malls. the cost of living is much lower. Manitou springs is more progressive. move closer to that section of town.

[demigoddess]

23. lived in CS in the eighties and I had a real hard time with their snooty attitude

they use the military people like serfs and like to bleed them dry. Some of the civilians I met had a real bad attitude toward the military and that goes way back to the fifties. Couldn't say much about the schools, they do not do right by the special ed kids and nearly drove one of my sons to depression and suicide by their stupid attitude. Mostly just egotism run amok. They think they are better than anyone and think no one has the right to move there. Found much the same in Northern Virginia. But there were pockets of niceness.