[Fir Na Tine 343]

It was real warm just cloudy. Didnt have very good lighting for pictures.

[Front_Range_Guy]

All of the following photos were taken February 23, 2009 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. I started in the far southwest corner of south downtown and made my way northward and eastward. I generally tried to stay north and east of I-25, south of Cimarron, and west of Wahsatch for this first batch. To the best of my knowledge, the buildings featured were either built, or made over after the year 2000. There are a couple of exceptions, which will be noted with an *. If I'm mistaken about the age of a building, business, or makeover, feel free to correct me. Finally, I didn't put a whole lot of time into trying to make these pictures look spectacular. They don't... the framing is average, and the sky conditions sucked.

I will post photos in the order that I took them.

This old industrial building was donated to the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission. Until recently, it was gray, rundown, and drab. They gave it a paint job and stuck a cross on the roof. I don't spend much time in this neighborhood. It's very... gritty. It seems like kind of a run down area, but also very interesting. I may be back for another photo thread down the road.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009002.jpg

Progress delayed. This area just east of the power plant used to be filled with metal warehouses that were painted blue. They were torn down to make room for an urban renewal projected dubbed "City Gate", but with the economic downturn, I don't expect we'll see much new development anytime soon.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009004.jpg

*The Warehouse Restaurant and Art Gallery. I'm not sure if it pre-dates 2000. My memory is foggy on this one.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009006.jpg

I decided to include the new Cimarron Street bridge.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009008.jpg

There is something vaguely resembling a skyline off to the northeast.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009009.jpg

This restaurant has seen plenty of tragedy in recent years. The previous owner was murdered inside. The current owners poured their life savings into the restaurant, only to have it destroyed when a car cashed into it.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009013.jpg

These two store fronts just south of Cimarron on Tejon were recently given a major makeover.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009014.jpg

Trino's is a brand new restaurant. Peering in the window, I don't think it's even open yet.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009015.jpg

*My memory gets a little foggy here. Part of me thinks all of these businesses on South Tejon opened right around 2000 or later, but I could be mistaken.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009016.jpg

SoDo (South Downtown) Nightclub. One of a handful of clubs downtown known to attract trouble.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009017.jpg

Shugas is a must go to if you are ever in town. Great menu, great atmosphere, great ginger tea, I can't say enough good things..
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009019.jpg

The exterior on this office building is clearly new, probably a Chuck Murphy job. Chuck Murphy is sort of a philanthropic local developer who buys up rundown properties downtown and gives them new life.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009020.jpg

The Poet Lofts down the street.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009021.jpg

This bland building is brand spanking new. It's some sort of a medical recovery clinic called The Colorado Springs Independence Center.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009022.jpg

*I'm not totally sure when this building was made over, but I feel like it was recent. It almost feels like a suburban strip mall, minus the huge parking lot.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009024.jpg

This gem of a building is getting a makeover as we speak thanks to funding from the state historical society.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009025.jpg

A closer look at men working. The building is currently being used as a child care center.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009026.jpg

*I've just always wanted to take a picture of this building.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009028.jpg

*The Police Operations Center was built in the '80s. We were talking about police headquarters buildings earlier, and I took this picture because the photo I linked too before wasn't great.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009029.jpg

I know for a fact this was a Chuck Murphy makeover.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009031.jpg

*The historic Lowell School is the centerpeice around which the Lowell neighborhood was built. I'm not sure, but renovation may have been completed in the late '90s. It is now an office building.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009033.jpg

We've arrived in Lowell.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009034.jpg

There were quite a few people inside, actually.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009035.jpg

Apartments for seniors.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009037.jpg

Another senior citizens building. This one was just finished.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009039.jpg

Some housing in the neighborhood.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009038.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009040.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009042.jpg

I was impressed with the number of houses in the neighborhood that actually had businesses up and running on the ground floor.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009044.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009045.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/Feb23of2009046.jpg

That's it for today. I'm sure I missed some things, and I probably should have gone down around the park and ride, Dorchester Park, and the southern extents of Tejon and Nevada... but I didn't really feel like getting stabbed.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

Well done. Gives a good look at the Lowell nieghborhood. Wasnt long ago when that was a very run down, crime and fire ridden nieghborhood. I think overall they have done a nice job with that area. Great job on a quick look into the southern edge of downtown.

[Front_Range_Guy]

That last picture you took did come out cool Fir Na Tine!

No doubt we will be doubling efforts, but that's okay. The more people participating in this thread, the better!

Also, I was thinking it would nice if CS-Urbanist could get us some pictures of Spring Creek. We really haven't seen too much of that neighborhood here.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

Spring Creek would be nice to have on here. Shugas is a nice little local spot and South Tejon is becoming pretty active not just at night anymore. It has been very busy at night for a while but the daytime crowd has been growing quickly as the local reasturants emerge.

[Eeyore]

FRG Nice! I think this "downtown Challenge" will go along way of changing peoples perspective of Colorado Springs and was a great idea.

As much as it pains me to say this the Springs has the second best sky line in the state, for now!

I have been to the WareHouse many times, great restaurant.

Nice bridge, makes me exited about the 4th street bridge in Pueblo....

That small restaurant looks like a small dq?!?!?!

Do you know what kind of food Trino's will have? I am always down for a new restaurant.....

The gray one story office building looks like it should be a high rise from the front, nice pic....

Nice housing shots, all of them, that is what Pueblo needs more of...

The south west buildings look like it should be in Pueblo instead, interesting decor.

I like the historic buildings, both the school and the child care center, its nice to see them saved....

The police complex looks better with your shots but still looks like a 60's style, small windoes, with a modern look, I still don't like it.


I now wait for Fort Colins......................

[Front_Range_Guy]

I was thinking about it. I know the Year's Ahead Salon is post 2000, because I went there a couple of times in 2007, and the owner told me he had just moved the business from further north on Tejon because he was tired of having to clean up vomit off the sidewalk every morning because of the bar crowd.

[Front_Range_Guy]

That small restaurant looks like a small dq?!?!?!


It was a little local diner called "Mr. B's." It's had a couple of names since the murder. It's actually one of a handful of those little diners left in the country. There is another one over by the courthouse called "King's Chef Diner", it's purple and shaped like a castle.

Do you know what kind of food Trino's will have? I am always down for a new restaurant.....

Italian, I think,.

The south west buildings look like it should be in Pueblo instead, interesting decor.

That style is becoming more common here. I'm not a big fan. Too fake.

I like the historic buildings, both the school and the child care center, its nice to see them saved....


We managed to save a couple of keepers.

The police complex looks better with your shots but still looks like a 60's style, small windoes, with a modern look, I still don't like it.


Agreed.

I now wait for Fort Colins......................

Me too.

You probably won't get another photo thread out of me this week, but my interview with the city planner is tomorrow, so that's something to look forward to.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

one other picture I forgot to post. Just a view looking at the entrance of Plaza of the rockies
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/BuildingDowntown012-1-1.jpg

[Front_Range_Guy]

:previous:

I really love the original Alamo building that McKenzie's is in.

I'm really glad they included that atrium in the design of the south tower. It really does a nice job of framing up surrounding buildings.

[Eeyore]

Nice pic... I really do like your wells fargo building as well....

[CS-Urbanist]

Also, I was thinking it would nice if CS-Urbanist could get us some pictures of Spring Creek. We really haven't seen too much of that neighborhood here.

Liked the pictures guys and I'll try to go out and take some photos of Spring Creek in the upcoming days... One thing though, how do I post them? What image hosting site is most compatible and easy to use?

[Front_Range_Guy]

I use photobucket, and I think eeyore does too. I don't have any trouble with it, but that doesn't mean there aren't better options out there...

[Eeyore]

I use photobucket, and I think eeyore does too. I don't have any trouble with it, but that doesn't mean there aren't better options out there...

I use photo bucket as FRG states, i am sure better ones are there but I barely know how to use photo bucket.

Food for thought, it seems like maybe we should push the date back to the mid 90's for new construction. I know we said 2000 but that's still about 10 years and its hard to know if something was built in the mid to late 90's then right on 2000. Any thoughts?

For example I know the Wells Fargo Building was built in 1991 but that made a huge difference in the sky line of the Springs and not to have that would be a crime in my opinion and miss the spirit of our challenge.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I say we should aim for 2000, but be flexible. It's not the end of the world if it was built in '98 or '99...

From my perspective, just about everyone knows about Wells Fargo... I tend to want to focus on the lesser known, more recent upgrades to downtown.

[Eeyore]

That sounds like a good compromise to me....

That means I need to do some work and look for the little changes... You like to make things hard for me lol

:doh:

[Front_Range_Guy]

That sounds like a good compromise to me....

That means I need to do some work and look for the little changes... You like to make things hard for me lol

:doh:


Yes. I think it's good to focus on the big and the small... small changes can become big if they become a trend. Renovating a whole bunch of small buildings in a neighborhood can have a huge impact.

[Eeyore]

Agreed I will start with the big then work my way down to the small...


I already know what my focus will be tomorrow and it is new... I have not taken a picture of it before because the building is well un inspiring but the company has had a MAJOR impact on Pueblo....


:dancing:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Is it the professional animal torturing association hq?

[Eeyore]

Is it the professional animal torturing association hq?

LOL that's funny but no I will focus on that building later but tomorrow is a building I have never taken a picture of before.

To give a hint it was actually built in the 1950's during the post WW2 boom time when Pueblo grew 40% in 10 years. In fact the current 4th street bridge was built in 1957 and the article title was "everything seems possible" I find that ironic because Pueblo then had the steel industry collapse and now that we have a new bridge being built "everything seems possible" I hope this statement is true with this bridge and our future pans out like they thought it would back in 1957.

Back to the building, it was remodeled just a couple of years ago for the new tenet and tomorrow you will get to see it...

:smiley3:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Not a clue. Look foward to it, though.

[acw007]

I now wait for Fort Colins......................
I'll be taking my first set of pictures tomorrow and nice pictures FRG!

[Front_Range_Guy]

Thanks.

Any planning related questions you guys think I should ask tomorrow? I plan to focus on form based code and the imagine downtown plan, but I'll ask him anything.

Sorry Eeyore, no questions about Pueblo :op

[Eeyore]

I have a possible question but this might be to far out there but I will toss it out there. How about the power plant and if there is any long term plans to move it so downtown can go more towards the mountains.

Also ask about the height limit on high rises, if that is something they would like to see strongly enforced, or not. If not then how high is too high?

Another one could be about the convention center and if he would still like to see one in downtown, or is that issue dead, but if so how big? The Broadmore is about 185,000 square feet would he like to see the downtown one bigger?

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'll definitely ask about height limits... I think the proposed form based code eliminates height limits for downtown, so I'll find that out for sure. The issue of a convention center may or may not come up in the imagine downtown discussion.

[Eeyore]

How about this: Does he think that new developments out east like the Bannen Lewis development hurt or help the future of downtown Colorado Springs and why.

Well I am off to bed, good luck tomorrow and i look foward to your report!

[Fir Na Tine 343]

I may have already missed you taking questions, but here is one anyways. It is more of a discussion then a single question. If you can get into thier thoughts on the people who will always fight large and tall developments in downtown. Do they consider that this city provides all types of living (new, old, dense, and suburban type nieghborhoods) and that the people downtown that are craving a more urbanistic feel and thriving walkable neighborhoods shoud get just that. When people in Briargate oppose a highrise in downtown, do the planners take that lightly? Like I say this is a discussion about this topic and I know you know what route I am trying to go down. Anyways I hope you get this before you take off.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Got it.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm back. The conversation went well. It may be a day or two before I get something written up.

Weather today is spectacular. Hopefully Fir Na Tine gets a chance to get out with his camera. I plan to spend the afternoon out enjoying it.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0671.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0667.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0669.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0670.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0673.jpg

This is the building I was taking about last night, keep in mind I know this building is uninspiring that is why until today I have not taken a picture of it. Also, I know it still mainly looks like it did when it was built, in the 1950's, but it has had major remodeling, mainly inside, to accommodate their new tenets.

Brief history of the building:

It was built in Pueblo during the 1950's, the post WW 2 era and a time when Pueblo saw tremendous growth, and Sears was it's biggest tenet. There is a bowling alley in the basement and other shopping. I did not take a picture of them, I guess I could have, but they are not the focus today. It was the first "mall" in Pueblo and one of the first in the state.

Just a few years ago Sears moved to the Pueblo Mall and PEDCO was able to attract Express Scripts to Pueblo.They employ 750 people and is a health care company that deals with questions regarding peoples health insurance.

Then Colorado Technical University decided to open a campus in Pueblo and chose this location. When I was on the Leadership Pueblo class this was one of our stops and the President of CTU spoke to us. He was very insightful and he told us the reason he decided to open a Pueblo campus was he see's Pueblo now as Colorado Springs was in the 1980's with tremendous growth coming to our city!

The other building use to be the main post office until they moved to the north side. Then a medical company opened up there and a night club, this happened just a few years ago too.

Downtown Pueblo

Now I want to take this opportunity to talk about downtown Pueblo. Pueblo's downtown is divided up into different areas as it is so big geographically. You have the business district known as up town as it is on the north side. Then you have the area where this building is at called Midtown as it is in the middle of downtown, in fact this shopping and business area is called Midtown Center. Then you have the lower part of downtown by the Riverwalk and the Union Ave area called lower downtown. Then finally you have the grove that is by the historic Ice house because at one time it was a orchard.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

I got distracted by the weather but I did grab a couple pictures. This is on the northeastern edge of downtown on North Corona St. This area was really becoming pretty rundown. Then in the last few years this commercial building went in along with the mini TND type nieghborhood behind it. This was vacant lots and fields and some abandoned buildings. This development really helped this area. The homes are almost completly sold out. The commercial store fronts are full and provide the nieghborhood with a nice little coffee shop and a bistro/deli. You never see this area empty and has brought a lot more positive activity to the streets in this transitioning nieghborhood.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0258.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0257.jpg

[Eeyore]

Nice pictures but it looks more like suburbia then downtown...

[wong21fr]

^But the former shopping center with plenty of off-street parking in Pueblo isn't?

[Eeyore]

^But the former shopping center with plenty of off-street parking in Pueblo isn't?

Yes and in fact part of it is still a shoping area and the bowling alley remain as well. It backs up to the train yard.

[wong21fr]

Is this center off of Midtown Circle Drive? I guess that is a DT location but the shots that Fir Na Tine 343
(http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/member.php?u=38973) posted look more urban than that old store does.

Look like some prime redevelopment area for a large-scale urban development, though.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

^But the former shopping center with plenty of off-street parking in Pueblo isn't?


I was gonna say!?

[Eeyore]

Well Midtown is just as you cross the Arkansas river into downtown off 4th street. On the west side you have the rail yard and on the other side is where the new state and federal court will go and the Pueblo Chieftain building. In fact many downtown streets kind of stop at Midtown.

How I took his area, and granted its just from the picture so I do not know how it sits in relation to downtown Colorado Springs, is like the neighborhood north of Mineral Palace park and north of Parkview Medical center. People there consider them selves part of downtown and say I live by downtown when asked but its more residential with houses and yards. That is also a up and coming area with the older homes, most built around the turn of the last century, being remodeled and a small historic shopping area that is nice. If I was to consider that area as part of the "challenge" area then downtown would extend another 10 to 15 blocks north.

Also, keep in mind that we have already decided that I am not a true urbanist, so large paking lots do not bother me and I love a big parking garage!....

Also, I already stated that the building is uninspiring but given the fact the area employs about 1,000 people it has a big impact on downtown Pueblo and Pueblo in general....

[Fir Na Tine 343]

This wasnt as much for the downtown developments challenge. I didnt make it as clear up top. This is one block past the boundries we stated earlier in the forumn. I took these only because I was there today and it has been a postive new development for the area. It is in a residential area. a few blocks to the west however and your right in the middle of commercial and CC buildings that are in the boundries. That is how it sits in relation to the business district

[Eeyore]

This wasnt as much for the downtown developments challenge. I didnt make it as clear up top. This is one block past the boundries we stated earlier in the forumn. I took these only because I was there today and it has been a postive new development for the area. It is in a residential area. a few blocks to the west however and your right in the middle of commercial and CC buildings that are in the boundries. That is how it sits in relation to the business district

Oh ok.... Makes sense then... They are great pictures and it is nice to see new development by downtown....

[CS-Urbanist]

^But the former shopping center with plenty of off-street parking in Pueblo isn't?

Love the Dog Tooth pictures in the Springs... The strip mall in Pueblo is very uninspiring and vacant (at least it looked like it...

[Eeyore]

Love the Dog Tooth pictures in the Springs... The strip mall in Pueblo is very uninspiring and vacant (at least it looked like it...

Did you read my description? I noted the building was uninspiring and it is more then a strip mall now but a major employer for Pueblo is there and a college and the area employs about 1,000 people and hundreds of students attend the college making it an important part of downtown.

Altough that being said it is a historic building from the 1950's..... I would be a little sad if it was torn down, I can think of many more buildings that I would like to see go first in downtown....

[CS-Urbanist]

Did you read my description? I noted the building was uninspiring but it is more then a strip mall now but a major employer for Pueblo is there and a college and the area employs about 1,000 people and hundreds of students attend the college making it an important part of downtown.

Altough that being said it is a historic building from the 1950's..... I would be a little sad if it was torn down, I can think of many more buildings that I would like to see go first in downtown....

No I didn't, but that wouldn't have changed my mind... In fact, what a harsh environment to go to school in... Just because it was built in the 50's doesn't make it worth saving. Now if you said 1900, 1910, 1920 or even anytime pre-WWII than you may have a case. BTW, the Wells Fargo building in Colorado Springs is a piece of junk. Nothing to look up to...

[Eeyore]

No I didn't, but that wouldn't have changed my mind... In fact, what a harsh environment to go to school in... Just because it was built in the 50's doesn't make it worth saving. Now if you said 1900, 1910, 1920 or even anytime pre-WWII than you may have a case. BTW, the Wells Fargo building in Colorado Springs is a piece of junk. Nothing to look up to...

Except it is not a strip mall but a major business that employes 750 people.

Also, it looks like you and I have a diferent style that we like and thats ok, I am not a true urbanist I want a nice downtown with as many high rises as possible.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I very nearly bought a little (and I mean little) house about a block and a half north of Dog Tooth on Corona. The coffee shop and proximity to downtown were major selling points, but ultimately, we couldn't work the financing out and I ended up down here in Security. Dog Tooth has somewhat of a cult following, from what I hear.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

These dont have anything to do with the downtown challenge ( I didnt have a productive day for that) but I figured since I took these I would share some of the better ones.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0268-1.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0273.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0274-1.jpg

[Eeyore]

Very nice!!!!! If the Wells Fargo Building and 1st bank (old holly surger building) were in Pueblo I would be taking a picture of them almost every day! Not to mention the Antlers hotel, great Sunday buffet there btw......

I really like the Plaza of the rockies, as I have stated before, but it looks like it kind of just stops, would of been even better if they would of built it 10 stories higher.....

[Eeyore]

Tomorow for the "Downtown Challange" I am going to focus on a historic building that has been renavated a few times, the last time to house a new company that moved to Pueblo a few years ago that has a big impact on our economy!

[Front_Range_Guy]

I've been logging tape for an hour and a half and am not finished. The conversation was so wide ranging, I may end up with a couple of different articles on different subjects related to downtown.

[Eeyore]

I've been logging tape for an hour and a half and am not finished. The conversation was so wide ranging, I may end up with a couple of different articles on different subjects related to downtown.

WOW! That's good though you can never have to much information....

[Front_Range_Guy]

Can't argue with that logic.

He didn't give me an exact timetable, but did say that the proposal should go to the planning commission for approval in the next couple of months, and that we should all show up in support of it for the public comment section... he anticipates there will be people there to speak out against it because it completely eliminates height restrictions downtown.

[Eeyore]

Can't argue with that logic.

He didn't give me an exact timetable, but did say that the proposal should go to the planning commission for approval in the next couple of months, and that we should all show up in support of it for the public comment section... he anticipates there will be people there to speak out against it because it completely eliminates height restrictions downtown.

WOW! If that passes that would change the face of Colorado Springs forever and be good for Pueblo as I think it would only cause more interest in both cities for high rises.......

[Front_Range_Guy]

Potentially. I'll leave you with this quote from him.

"As soon as I say unlimited building height, i try to correct myself and say market limited building height"

I agree. It's important to keep in mind what the market will and will not support over the next decade or two. The 50-story building so many people fear, is highly unlikely.

[Eeyore]

Potentially. I'll leave you with this quote from him.

"As soon as I say unlimited building height, i try to correct myself and say market limited building height"

That's interesting and in my opinion show the difference between the two cities in that one line.

In the Springs you have to say "market limited building height" in Pueblo when I called our zoning and asked to clarify what B-4 meant he said "unlimited building height".

[Eeyore]

FRG you said:

"I agree. It's important to keep in mind what the market will and will not support over the next decade or two. The 50-story building so many people fear, is highly unlikely."

I guess I agree with you unless we attract the kind of energy companies to our region that would need high rises much like what happened in Denver with the oil boom....

[wong21fr]

^Work on the first getting a few 20-25 story buildings. Your downtown needs a whole lot more demand before you can start to realisticly talk about a higher building.

BTW, the big three in Denver were built for the following: a bank (Wells Fargo Building), a telecommunications (Qwest Building), and energy (Republic Plaza). The oil boom drove up speculative demand but it wasn't energy companies that filled the buildings.

I'm interested to see what the next round of pictures brings.

[Eeyore]

^Work on the first getting a few 20-25 story buildings. Your downtown needs a whole lot more demand before you can start to realisticly talk about a higher building.

BTW, the big three in Denver were built for the following: a bank (Wells Fargo Building), a telecommunications (Qwest Building), and energy (Republic Plaza). The oil boom drove up speculative demand but it wasn't energy companies that filled the buildings.

I'm interested to see what the next round of pictures brings.

You right of course I know I am dreaming when it come to 30 plus story sky scrapers in Pueblo, to be honest and realistic I would be happy with some 10 to 15 stories.....

As far as Denver that is interesting, I had always heard it was because of the oil boom.....

I am still waiting on Fort Collins.......

:)

[Front_Range_Guy]

Here's a warm and fuzzy article from today's Gazette.

Dream City 2020 hopes to help the city realize its potential

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February 24, 2009 - 7:06 PM
BILL REED
THE GAZETTE
The Pikes Peak region is like a slacker dude with unlimited potential who is finally ready to get his act together, judging by the comments of community leaders.

Two complementary projects - Dream City: Vision 2020 and Operation 6035 - are spending money and time to put residents on the couch and ask the big questions. Who are we? What will we become?

Both projects plan to provide some answers to the region's existential crisis by June.

"We haven't quite figured out what we're going to be when we grow up," said Sallie Clark, vice chair of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. "It's kind of like being in college and not knowing what career path you're taking. It's that strange adolescent time when you don't know what you want to do."

City Councilwoman Jan Martin was singing the same tune, with different words.

"If our community can catch a vision, there's nothing we can't accomplish, but we haven't had a vision in the recent past," Martin said. "We haven't been striving to go anywhere."

Dream City: Vision 2020 is a grassroots effort that launched last summer, led mainly by arts and culture groups such as the Pikes Peak Library District, Leadership Pikes Peak, the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region and The Gazette. Dream City is now in its community engagement phase, gathering more than 1,000 people into small groups to talk about what this community needs to preserve and what it needs to create.

"We're going to bridge groups, and book clubs and churches," said Paula George, a volunteer facilitator who has led six groups so far.

She said the most common thing people want to create is a light rail system.

When it comes to Colorado Springs assets that should be preserved, folks rave about the natural beauty of the mountains and trails, she said, and then they go silent, not sure what else defines this place.

Operation 6035 is a six-month study launched in January by the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corp., with a much narrower and deeper focus: Which industries should we pursue to create jobs in this region? Then, how do we market this community to attract those industries?

While consultants AngelouEconomics, based in Austin, Texas, will seek community input, this project is less about residents' dreams and more about a precise plan for job growth.

Community leaders report they're being called personally and interviewed for Operation 6035, rather than the bottom-up, book-club type focus groups of Dream City. Leaders of both projects acknowledge this difference, and said that's part of what makes them complementary - the top-down and bottom-up approaches should meet in the middle.

The two projects will also coordinate the rollout of their results in June, with Dream City planning a "summit" open to all comers.

So, what is it about this point in the city's history that has inspired two simultaneous projects to envision a new path?

The last economic study was launched after the savings and loan debacle, as the local housing market swooned, said Mike Kazmierski, president of the EDC. The parallels to today are obvious.

"When the pain of doing something is less than the pain of doing nothing is when communities want to change," said Jon Abercrombie of Everyday Democracy, a consultant who is helping Dream City organizers.

Abercrombie said tremendous growth or hard times can inspire the "visioning" process, as growth forces a community to decide what it wants to become and hard times force people to admit the status quo isn't working.

It appears that Colorado Springs has had one followed by the other, years of sprawling growth followed by an abrupt contraction, with developers leaving behind half-finished houses. And that's left community leaders, as well as participants at the Dream City brainstorming sessions, expressing the theme that this region has grown but still lacks a strong sense of identity.

Will hiring consultants and collecting dreams solve that? The natural question for any project of this ilk is, What is the payoff? Can they get the slacker off the couch and put him on a purposeful path?

Kazmierski said skeptics should look at history. The similar study 20 years ago is credited with the Springs' successful move to attract high-tech and nonprofit sector jobs.

The Pikes Peak Center, the revitalization of Tejon Street, and wooing military installations are other examples of conscious planning efforts.

"Visioning in and of itself doesn't guarantee change in a community, but change in a community seldom happens without visioning," Abercrombie said.

While success is not guaranteed, planners can make it more likely with the steps they take right now.

"A lot of those kinds of projects resulted in a nice-looking plan and a vision that never went anywhere, but there are other examples that really guide the city's direction for the next 10 years," said Matt Leighninger, executive director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium in Washington D.C., and author of "The Next Form of Democracy: How Expert Rule is Giving Way to Shared Governance - and Why Politics Will Never Be the Same."

Leighninger said most successful projects involve a lot of people in the visioning - "500 is a good critical mass" - and organizers thought ahead about who would implement the programs.

"Citizens are really good at describing the place they want, but they're not as good at telling you how to get there," said Otis White, a columnist for Governing magazine who is researching a book on how communities make dramatic changes.

He emphasized the importance of elected leaders and public employees in turning dreams into workable plans, transforming what into how.

"You've got to have the right mayor, the right city council, the right planning department," he said. "Very often the leadership emerges before the vision and they're the ones pushing to get a clear vision."

Martin and Clark argued that the city and county have the leaders in place to affect change, even if they've been forced to spend most of their time lately slashing budgets.

Clark took the role that White assigned to leaders and placed it back at the feet of residents.

"I think it's important to know what people think, but it's also important to know what those solutions might be. Tell us not only what you want but how you get there," she said. "There's a point when you have to say this would be really nice, but it all comes down to money."

Clark urges caution in the midst of economic trouble and failed tax hikes for services, but Martin said she believes the process is already ending the inertia that has marked this community.

"I absolutely have high hopes," Martin said. "I believe it's the first step in our community really beginning to move forward."

Call Reed at 636-0226

• • •

Dream City: Vision 2020 update

Get involved

Go to dreamcity2020.com, e-mail Becci Ruder of Leadership Pikes Peak at becci@leadershippikespeak.org, or call her at 632-2618, ext. 24. Gather a group and facilitators will come to your location for a brainstorming session. Also, anyone is welcome at these two sessions: 6-8 p.m. March 11 at the Rockrimmon Branch of the Pikes Peak Library District, 832 Village Center Drive, or 6-8 p.m. March 12 at the Penrose Library adult meeting room.


What's happened already

Dream City was launched in the summer with an inspiration phase that focused on art and literature, and an education phase to look at the visions that have guided the city in the past. The phases overlap, but the dominant phase now is the community engagement phase.


What's happening now

Dream City - with help from Everyday Democracy - is gathering groups of residents to think about what should be preserved in this city, what should be created, and what would make this an ideal community in 2020. Organizers plan to gather ideas from more than 1,000 people, with facilitation meetings continuing for several weeks more.


How will these ideas used?

Thousands of ideas will be studied and poured into software to evaluate the most common themes. Dream City organizers will create an over-arching vision, as well as more specific visions in 10 areas: economy, social wellbeing, natural environment, health, education, arts and culture and recreation, transportation, public safety, community engagement and the built environment.


What happens next?

In April and May, circles of stakeholders will be formed around each issue to refine the vision, start setting priorities, and start thinking about how they can champion their issue to turn dreams into action.


The payoff

A community-wide summit will be held in July to present a vision for the community and champions for specific issues. Community members will be asked to help set priorities and get involved.


Evaluation

Dream City organizers hope to evaluate progress and re-focus each year until 2020. An annual study of Quality of Life Indicators for the Pikes Peak region provides measurable results.


Find out more about Operation 6035 at operation6035.com

[Eeyore]

This has to be the quote of the week:

"The Pikes Peak region is like a slacker dude with unlimited potential who is finally ready to get his act together, judging by the comments of community leaders."

And it applies to both Pueblo and Colorado Springs.....

[BigBird9]

"Seranto - A 1,100-acre mixed use development straddling I-25 on the north side of Pueblo. Development plans call for a new interchange on I-25, which would become the terminus of Pueblo Blvd, extending Pueblo Blvd. to a full loop by-pass of I-25. The commercial area surrounding the new interchange will feature the best new life-style retail center site along the Colorado front range. Other commercial sites will be available for neighborhood shopping, office parks, and research and development facilities. The residential areas will feature covenant controlled communities with thematic architecture and a full amenity package, including finished parks with ponds and water features, a community pool, a club house, a K-8 school site, and extensive trails with links to the Fountain Creek Open Space."

I just found out that they want to break ground as soon as 4th quater this year if the re zoning goes as planned if not 1st quater next year....

:upload_71700:


Ok... I had to dig a few pages back for this one. Are there any diagrams or renderings of this place you could find? Any word on what retailers may be involved? And with Pueblo Blvd, I assume it will connect with I-25, and extend down to where Pueblo Blvd. currently ends on Hwy 50? Sorry, I'm still getting familiar with the Pueblo roads haha.

[Eeyore]

Ok... I had to dig a few pages back for this one. Are there any diagrams or renderings of this place you could find? Any word on what retailers may be involved? And with Pueblo Blvd, I assume it will connect with I-25, and extend down to where Pueblo Blvd. currently ends on Hwy 50? Sorry, I'm still getting familiar with the Pueblo roads haha.

Here is the link:

http://www.davidjerb.com/

Go to the devlopment then on the bottom of the page you will see Serento it has pictures of the devlopment.

And you are right about Pueblo Blvd, it has it on the map as well.....

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0677.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0675.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0679.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0678.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0680.jpg

Today I am focusing on the Risk Management Building (RMS).


Some information on the building:

This is one of Pueblo's historic buildings as it was built in the early part of the last century by a man who moved here from Chicago, his name was Pope. This this block was knows as the "Pope block"

In the mid 1990's it was bought by Qualmed, a medical insurance company, that moved to Pueblo. Unfortunately they were bought out and left. Then just a few years ago PEDCO was able to attract RMS and they remolded the building and now employ about 750 people as well.

Some information on RMS:

RMS is the world's leading provider of products, services, and expertise for the quantification and management of catastrophe risk. Founded at Stanford University in 1988, RMS grew rapidly in the 1990s, offering technology and services for the management of insurance catastrophe risk associated with natural perils such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and windstorms, as well as products for weather derivatives and enterprise risk management for the P&C insurance industry. Today, RMS also leads the market in risk modeling for man-made disasters associated with acts of terrorism, and recently released the first infectious disease model to quantify and manage the risks associated with pandemic disease on the world’s population and economy.

[BigBird9]

Here is the link:

http://www.davidjerb.com/

Go to the devlopment then on the bottom of the page you will see Serento it has pictures of the devlopment.

And you are right about Pueblo Blvd, it has it on the map as well.....

Great, thanks. It's much larger than I expected it to be... I like it :yes:

[Eeyore]

And that is the smaller of the two developments starting this summer in Pueblo look at this one called "Pueblo Springs Ranch" that will include a tech park.

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/puebloannex.jpg

Pueblo has already finished the 1st annexation so on paper the city of Pueblo now extends to the El Paso county line.

What CU Boulder says about it:

oPueblo County - Historically, Pueblo County has experienced moderate population growth. This trend will change when the Pueblo Springs Ranch is complete. The 23,000-acre subdivision in northeast Pueblo County is expected to have about 75,000 households, or 200,000 people when completed.

Now some on here do not like it but as is understood I am not a true urbanist so I think it will be good for Pueblo.

[wong21fr]

It will be good for Pueblo, but will probably help kill the downtown. With it's scale it may shift the center of Pueblo north and Pueblo's DT revitalization may never move beyond a slightly expanded Riverwalk.

Pueblo Springs Ranch will do to Pueblo what Briargate did to COS, stifle the city center.

[CS-Urbanist]

That's interesting and in my opinion show the difference between the two cities in that one line.

In the Springs you have to say "market limited building height" in Pueblo when I called our zoning and asked to clarify what B-4 meant he said "unlimited building height".

I think what you said gets to the "market driven" point. In Pueblo, they already have unlimited building heights, yet no tall buildings... I don't see the Form-based code actually producing anything taller than 15-20 stories.

[CS-Urbanist]

It will be good for Pueblo, but will probably help kill the downtown. With it's scale it may shift the center of Pueblo north and Pueblo's DT revitalization may never move beyond a slightly expanded Riverwalk.

Pueblo Springs Ranch will do to Pueblo what Briargate did to COS, stifle the city center.

Agree... The developer of Serrento has some cool stuff on there (Abilene?) but I can't say Serrento looks all that exciting... Where is the mix of uses, home types, etc. Also looks very suburban in terms of parking amounts, etc... Just my opinion...

FRG, looking forward to reading about your interview...

[BigBird9]

Wow, that Springs Ranch thing is huge. They expect 200,000 people in the future??? That would more than double the current population, wouldn't it? I guess I have mixed feelings about stuff like that. It will be good for Pueblo as a whole, no doubt. But it may end up hurting downtown, and it could become a typical US sprawlburg. I think that if it's planned right, it could be excellent for the area. However, if it's not planned well, it could kill the center of the city and turn Pueblo into a sprawling traffic nightmare. I hope it's built at least in a semi-pedestrian manner. I'm not a true "urbanist" either. But, I am not a fan of sprawl, and I would like to see the core of Pueblo continue to grow and develop. Hopefully downtown will be able to retain it's charm with economic growth, and be able to sustain this Springs Ranch development to the North at the same time.

By my Google Earth calculation, from the far North end of the Pueblo city limits to the South end of Fountain, it's a mere 12-13 miles.

As long as it doesn't turn out like Pueblo West. I mean, I don't hate the place... but it looks like some giant was carrying a big box of middle-class suburban homes and tripped over Pikes Peak, spilling these houses all over the plains west of Pueblo.

[Eeyore]

Wow, that Springs Ranch thing is huge. They expect 200,000 people in the future??? That would more than double the current population, wouldn't it? I guess I have mixed feelings about stuff like that. It will be good for Pueblo as a whole, no doubt. But it may end up hurting downtown, and it could become a typical US sprawlburg. I think that if it's planned right, it could be excellent for the area. However, if it's not planned well, it could kill the center of the city and turn Pueblo into a sprawling traffic nightmare. I hope it's built at least in a semi-pedestrian manner. I'm not a true "urbanist" either. But, I am not a fan of sprawl, and I would like to see the core of Pueblo continue to grow and develop. Hopefully downtown will be able to retain it's charm with economic growth, and be able to sustain this Springs Ranch development to the North at the same time.

By my Google Earth calculation, from the far North end of the Pueblo city limits to the South end of Fountain, it's a mere 12-13 miles.

As long as it doesn't turn out like Pueblo West. I mean, I don't hate the place... but it looks like some giant was carrying a big box of middle-class suburban homes and tripped over Pikes Peak, spilling these houses all over the plains west of Pueblo.

I actually completely agree with you. One interesting statistic is when Pueblo Springs is annexed Pueblo will be about 90 square miles, half of the size the city of Colorado Springs is now. They are 350,000 to 400,000 people so when built out Pueblo will be able to have the same amount of people in just half the land area.

Also, the 24,000 acers includes a very large tech park so that is even less land to put the 75,000 housing unites so I suspect it will be more dense, defiantly more dense then Pueblo West, that is why Pueblo wants to annex it so we don't have another Pueblo West on our hands.

I think the more people will only help downtown as there will be a need for high rises, possibly even the 30 plus story one I want.....

[Eeyore]

It will be good for Pueblo, but will probably help kill the downtown. With it's scale it may shift the center of Pueblo north and Pueblo's DT revitalization may never move beyond a slightly expanded Riverwalk.

Pueblo Springs Ranch will do to Pueblo what Briargate did to COS, stifle the city center.

Lets compare Biergate to Pueblo Springs.

What is the distance from Bieragte to downtown Colorado Springs? I bet its a lot longer then it will be from Pueblo Springs to downtown Pueblo, which is pretty much a hop, skip and jump.

And Pueblo Springs will be a lot more Dense.....

[wong21fr]

Well straight line distance from DT COS to Briargate is about 7.5 miles. DT Pueblo to Pueblo Springs is approx 9 miles straight line.

[The Dirt]

Oh no. The Pueblo Springs discussion. Every time I hear about it, I just want to cringe. Why the hell would any city want to do this??? Why is it so disjointed from the rest of Pueblo?

Looking at Ken's city boundary map, this is just so typical of Colorado's "flag pole" annexations geared only as land grab city competition.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah, I don't know if I can handle another round of the Pueblo Springs conversation.

I do, however, like your pics of the RMS building, Eeyore.

I have a bit of an odd work schedule that I won't bore you with, but today was my Monday, and I probably won't have the time or energy to sit down and mess with the interview stuff again until Friday night at the earliest.

[Eeyore]

Sorry guys I know I am a broken record about Pueblo Springs but keep in mind this is the first development since I was born, a once in a life time. Pueblo is the same size now as it was when I was growing up, the only thing new is eagle ridge.

Also, since I am not a true urbanist I like it, as long as they devlop it right.

Another thing I am a believer that in order for Pueblo to have any chance of high rises, possibly over 30 stories some day, there has to be a need. How does Pueblo get that need, by more growth. How do we get more growth, developments.

I think that Colorado Springs is somewhat unique as people out side of downtown do not like it as FRG says and don't care to go. You do not see that in Denver and you don't see that in Pueblo, I think as we grow that will stay the same and the downtown will grow with us, it has the room.....

[Eeyore]

FRG thanks!

Tomorrow for the "downtown challenge" I am going to focus on a new building that has been built but the name of buildings goes back to Pueblo's early days....

[CS-Urbanist]

[QUOTE=Eeyore;4110824] How does Pueblo get that need, by more growth. How do we get more growth, developments.QUOTE]

They certainly are not getting any closer to the 30-story building you have been dreaming about by spreading out even further. You need a critical mass of population to get great density in the downtown. This is not the way to do it. Look how uneffective it was for Colo. Spgs to add Briargate...

[Eeyore]

[QUOTE=Eeyore;4110824] How does Pueblo get that need, by more growth. How do we get more growth, developments.QUOTE]

They certainly are not getting any closer to the 30-story building you have been dreaming about by spreading out even further. You need a critical mass of population to get great density in the downtown. This is not the way to do it. Look how uneffective it was for Colo. Spgs to add Briargate...

It worked for Denver and Pueblo will still be less area then the city of Denver is.

[Front_Range_Guy]

[QUOTE=Eeyore;4110824] How does Pueblo get that need, by more growth. How do we get more growth, developments.QUOTE]

They certainly are not getting any closer to the 30-story building you have been dreaming about by spreading out even further. You need a critical mass of population to get great density in the downtown. This is not the way to do it. Look how uneffective it was for Colo. Spgs to add Briargate...

You're wasting your time.

[Eeyore]

[QUOTE=CS-Urbanist;4111165]

You're wasting your time.

I have to agree with FRG, this is one area where we will have to agree to disagree since I am not a true urbanist. Truth be told I love highways and I take them as much as I can in Pueblo......

[wong21fr]

I think that Colorado Springs is somewhat unique as people out side of downtown do not like it as FRG says and don't care to go. You do not see that in Denver and you don't see that in Pueblo, I think as we grow that will stay the same and the downtown will grow with us, it has the room.....

I still think you are overestimating how much Pueblo Springs will actually integrate with Pueblo. It's further away from DT Pueblo then something like Briargate is from DT COS. The way the property is shaped only provides for one linkage to I-25 and is really physically separated from the rest of Pueblo. The ranch is going to get most of it's initial growth from Fort Carson and then will set out on it's own. What this will end up doing is shifting the center of gravity for Pueblo further north and southern Pueblo will laungish. The only reason that the development wants to be annexed is that is the only way to get the zoning denseties required and they will get access to public money for infrastructure as well as soem tax incentives.

I know you want good stuff to happen to Pueblo, but Pueblo Springs will not enhance Pueblo. It's going to change it into something you won't recognize. You'r basically advocating for the southern portion of the Metro Denver I-25 corridor to come in without having the enough growth in central Pueblo to offset it.

But your mind is made up so I'll drop the issue and let you continue to cheerlead this really, really bad idea.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0681.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0682.jpg

This building was just built a few years ago and is home to a bank, the Southern Colorado Community Foundation and the University of Phoenix.

Brief History of McCarthy:

This was one of Pueblo's founding families in fact according to "Pueblo a Pictorial History" T.G. McCarthy was one of the people who helped start one of Pueblo first banks, The Western National Bank on August 2, 1881. His family also has been in the funeral home business for years and that is what made then well known in Pueblo.

[wong21fr]

Nice little bit of infill. Keep them coming.

BTW, it's nice to see the PuebloStrong found a home on city-data.

[Eeyore]

I still think you are overestimating how much Pueblo Springs will actually integrate with Pueblo. It's further away from DT Pueblo then something like Briargate is from DT COS. The way the property is shaped only provides for one linkage to I-25 and is really physically separated from the rest of Pueblo. The ranch is going to get most of it's initial growth from Fort Carson and then will set out on it's own. What this will end up doing is shifting the center of gravity for Pueblo further north and southern Pueblo will laungish. The only reason that the development wants to be annexed is that is the only way to get the zoning denseties required and they will get access to public money for infrastructure as well as soem tax incentives.

I know you want good stuff to happen to Pueblo, but Pueblo Springs will not enhance Pueblo. It's going to change it into something you won't recognize. You'r basically advocating for the southern portion of the Metro Denver I-25 corridor to come in without having the enough growth in central Pueblo to offset it.

But your mind is made up so I'll drop the issue and let you continue to cheerlead this really, really bad idea.

This is one of those cases where it will be annexed, like I said on paper it has, so either I am right and in a few years downtown will grow or you guys are right and in a few years downtown will be worse off. For the sake of downtown I hope I am right but we will see.......

[Eeyore]

Nice little bit of infill. Keep them coming.

BTW, it's nice to see the PuebloStrong found a home on city-data.

The ironic thing is I have issues with the moderators all the time there, I think some people love to hate me and Pueblo. I am told by some, off the record, they like how I keep things moving even though my style is unique.

[Eeyore]

This was in today's Gazette. To be honest and blunt the paper acts like not having it built in Pueblo County will bother us, I say fine build it in Fremont County that will have no impact on my life. The only thing is now they will not have use of the Pueblo Reservoir to store their water....

OPINION: Big win for pipe

The Southern Delivery System, an idea with an uncertain future for the past 10 years, has been given the green light. It will be built, barring some strange or bizarre occurrence of monumental proportions.

The pipeline, which will carry water from the Arkansas River to Colorado Springs and points in between, must pass through one of two neighboring counties. That meant the pipeline had never been more than a good idea, because completion would require approval of one or both of the other counties involved. Option A, Colorado Springs Utilities' preferred option, would bring water from Pueblo Reservoir, through Pueblo County, north to Colorado Springs. Option B, looking more likely and attractive by the day, would bring water from the Arkansas River in Fremont County.

Pueblo County leaders, entertaining some reasonable concerns about return flows and environmental effects, have been trying to devise a package of stipulations that would enable the project to move forward without undue negative consequences for their jurisdiction. Fremont County commissioners have been in the same situation.

Tuesday, however, the Fremont commissioners gave unanimous approval for the pipeline with a set of reasonable stipulations Colorado Springs Utilities officials seem comfortable with.

"SDS is going to happen," said CSU spokesman Steve Berry. "There had always been a degree of uncertainty until now. This is really a big win for our community."

The Fremont County option will cost about $150 million more than Option A, which gives Pueblo County and CSU officials a rough idea of how much money can be spent to alleviate Pueblo County's concerns.

Congratulations to Fremont County officials for negotiating in fairness to help bring about a project that will foster economic success for the Front Range. And congratulations to Pueblo County commissioners, who have also shown their level-headed willingness to work in good faith so far with Colorado Springs. Soon, the project will proceed, one way or another.

[The Dirt]

The ironic thing is I have issues with the moderators all the time there, I think some people love to hate me and Pueblo. I am told by some, off the record, they like how I keep things moving even though my style is unique.

PuebloStrong was always and still is welcome here. I just don't get the whole DBN(???) network.

[wong21fr]

^Except for his whole being banned thing. Something about him in the Burg Dubai construction thread screaming about Pueblo steel being in the building.

[The Dirt]

^Except for his whole being banned thing. Something about him in the Burg Dubai construction thread screaming about Pueblo steel being in the building.

I didn't know he was banned. I thought he left willingly. :shrug:

[Eeyore]

I didn't know he was banned. I thought he left willingly. :shrug:

He was banned and I am not sure what happened in the Dubi room but have you guys seen that room? The things people say in there I think they should just close it down... I refuse to go back.

To be honest I have not been to any rooms here besides this one, our we the exception and not the rule in how good we all get along even though we may disagree on a few topics?

About his Bulldog Network.

He went to Centennial High school and they are known as the Bulldogs. He runs a few online things in Pueblo and has people who watch what he posts, he calls that the Bulldog network....


http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0458.jpg

Just for fun I thought I would post a picture of the best high school in the country!

I am a Central Graduate myself so I am a Wildcat!!! But I like to watch his "puppy" network anyway..

My class yell

"The BLUE and WHITE spirit that can't be outdone, were the mighty WILDCATS of 1991"

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/Wildcats.jpg


Just as a note Pueblo is a place where what high school you went to is asked your entire life, that might change once we grow and would be aspect of Pueblo I would miss...

[Eeyore]

I hear that the Rocky Mountain News is going out of business...

Now that makes the Pueblo Chieftain the oldest news paper in Colorado!

:old:

[Fir Na Tine 343]

This kind of suprised me, as much as you have been mentioning about the big highway projects. Not to stir the pot too much, just didnt expect that.




No Highway Stimulus Money For Pueblo

Posted: Feb 25, 2009 07:25 PM MST

By Sean Hauser
s.hauser@krdo.com

PUEBLO - C-DOT has confirmed that Pueblo will be left high and will not receive any of the state's highway stimulus money.

President Obama showed plenty of love for pueblo residents before the election with several visits, but his stimulus bill, has left the Steel City absolutely nothing when it comes to highway money.

Overall, Colorado is expected to receive $403 million in highway stimulus money. C-DOT officials say that the majority of the money will go to Denver, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. Residents in Pueblo, obviously not happy to hear the news, but some are still looking at the bigger picture.

"I'm kind of bummed to hear we may not get any more stimulus money for construction on I-25, like the eagle ridge construction," said Rod Hegler, a Pueblo Resident. "I thought that I-25 could use some further improvements but I'm more concerned about building the economy overall."

Colorado Springs is projected to land about $41 million for two projects. Denver will receive upwards of $90 million.

So why was pueblo left out?

Well some officials say that it was because of projects like the 4th Street Bridge that have already received recent federal aid. That project will most likely continue, but others that pueblo officials had planned, will not until they find further funding.

[Front_Range_Guy]

The McCarthy building was under construction back at the end of 2006 when I did my first Pueblo photo thread. It is a nice addition. :tup:

It's true the Rocky's last issue is tomorrow. They are holding a news conference at 1:30. :(

[Eeyore]

This kind of suprised me, as much as you have been mentioning about the big highway projects. Not to stir the pot too much, just didnt expect that.




No Highway Stimulus Money For Pueblo

Posted: Feb 25, 2009 07:25 PM MST

By Sean Hauser
s.hauser@krdo.com

PUEBLO - C-DOT has confirmed that Pueblo will be left high and will not receive any of the state's highway stimulus money.

President Obama showed plenty of love for pueblo residents before the election with several visits, but his stimulus bill, has left the Steel City absolutely nothing when it comes to highway money.

Overall, Colorado is expected to receive $403 million in highway stimulus money. C-DOT officials say that the majority of the money will go to Denver, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. Residents in Pueblo, obviously not happy to hear the news, but some are still looking at the bigger picture.

"I'm kind of bummed to hear we may not get any more stimulus money for construction on I-25, like the eagle ridge construction," said Rod Hegler, a Pueblo Resident. "I thought that I-25 could use some further improvements but I'm more concerned about building the economy overall."

Colorado Springs is projected to land about $41 million for two projects. Denver will receive upwards of $90 million.

So why was pueblo left out?

Well some officials say that it was because of projects like the 4th Street Bridge that have already received recent federal aid. That project will most likely continue, but others that pueblo officials had planned, will not until they find further funding.

Also, a lot of the projects planned for Pueblo CDOT is still studying them.... THANKS CDOT. :hell:

Another thing is the developments that will require new interchanges up north have barely started so we do not need them yet.

The big thing the stimulus plan will do for Pueblo is:

1) with the alternative engery spending that should fast track the proposed Colorado Energy Park.

2) the "Buy American" provision will force all the projects to buy the steel locally helping the Rocky Mountain Steel plant.

I did hear that Governor Ritter has some discretion on how the money can be spent so I would not be surprised if some finds it way to Pueblo once we start to whine! As I have said Pueblo whines better then any city I know.

:sly:

[Fir Na Tine 343]

Here are a few for the downtown challenge. Eeyore will like this one since some city has their name on it. Finished in the last couple of years.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0285-1.jpg

Just a parking garage but they did a pretty good job with the design. This was completed within the year.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0277-1.jpg

This is the Central Bankcorp building. A major renovation took place converting this building last year. Here is a before and after. http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/101_0278-1.jpg


Here is what it looked like before. Pretty nice improvment. FRG took this picture and posted it earlier in the forumn.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/FirNaTine343/centralbancorp-1.jpg

[Eeyore]

I LOVE the Pueblo Bank and Trust Building in Colorado Springs! That is one of my favorite buildings in your city......

:omg: :awesome: :boogy: :tomato: :upload_71700: :banaride: :rainbow:

[Fir Na Tine 343]

Why am I not surprised

[Eeyore]

Don't forget there is one off Academy Blvd as well. I always thought that was funny when I would go to the Springs growing up and the first thing I saw off the interstate in downtown was the Pueblo Blank and trust building then again off Academy.

I think they should build the 20 story building in the Springs then way when someone asks what's the tallest building the answer would be the Pueblo Bank and Trust building lol

[Fir Na Tine 343]

I think that would make you more mad then me. Because I would be looking at a 20 story building. I wouldnt care if they put a I love Pueblo sign on the top of it. lol

[Eeyore]

Remember I grew up in the 1980's.

I have always liked Colorado Springs I was just jealous that they were growing and Pueblo was not and in fact losing population. And the local news stations always reminded me every day, why for years I would not watch any local station, even KOAA, and watched KCNC out of Denver. I especially did not like the old KOAA owner John Gilbert who had his snooty editorials a lot of times about how great Colorado Springs was.

Now that Pueblo is growing, the local stations remind us every day why I watch KOAA again, I am not as jealous and I would not be mad if the Springs got the first 20 story high rise because I would be like well when Pueblo gets there we will have one too. Once Pueblo Springs gets annexed and they start developing it as well as serento and the Colorado Engery Park then I will not be jealous of the Springs at all because I will be able to point to big developments here, another reason I am so exited about them.

All that being said about the high rise, I would find it so amusing that the tallest building in the Springs was named Pueblo B&T that it would more then make up for the fact its in the Springs. Mainly because I know how I would be if the tallest building in Pueblo had the name Colorado Springs in it.

Edit: That's not to say I wont have my moments, Pueblo and Colorado Springs will always have this rivalry, but I think the days are gone where the Springs was thriving and Pueblo was losing people.....

[Fir Na Tine 343]

I think everyone is done thriving for a while. But I would hope we both thrive again, maybe in different ways. I know your excited about Pueblo Springs, which is fine. Im hoping for less of that up here, and more infill.

[Eeyore]

I think both cities will thrive again sooner then you think and it will be in different ways as the economies of the cities are different. Which is good for our region.

Pueblo and Colorado Springs have different issues when it comes to growth, if I was in the Springs I would be pushing for in fill a lot as well but down here we don't have much land to be in filled. Our downtown sure but that will come with growth, there is just not a need for high rises now but if more people come there will be a need and since we have no infill for them they will have to build out.