[Front_Range_Guy]

True. Most small and medium sized city's made that mistake in the past few decades, though.

[Eeyore]

Agreed.

Edit: look at Pueblo West...

[Eeyore]

Also, you know what business my family is in and I know if Pueblo was the size of the Springs the kind of money we could make. So I do have some logic behind my ideas.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah, but also consider the demographics. A bigger Pueblo wouldn't necessarily be a more wealthy, more conservative Pueblo.

[Eeyore]

Maybe but maybe not as most big cities seem to be liberal, Colorado Springs is a exception because of Focus on the Family. That being said I would rather have a big city and make more money then be small but liberal.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Colorado Springs is not conservative because of Focus on the Family... it was already conservative. If Colorado Springs were liberal, FOTF wouldn't be here.

The suburban type development you support would tend to attract conservatives. You probably would do better business, but it would come at a great cost to the future of Pueblo. Frankly, if you're focus is population size and making money... rampant suburban sprawl is probably up your alley. I don't think it's worth the damage it does environmentally, socially, and ultimately, economically.

[Eeyore]

I want a mix, I would like Pueblo to be Denver without the suburbs...

[Front_Range_Guy]

What do you mean when you say that, though?

[Front_Range_Guy]

Bed time. We'll continue this tomorrow... er... later today.

[Eeyore]

Take the city of Denver and put it here, that is generally what I mean with some modifactions. One example is I dont like how they designed the DTC then again most of it is not in the city of Denver.

Night!

[Front_Range_Guy]

I think I know what you're getting at... A project like Pueblo Springs will never get you there.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

FRG,

You know anything about "The Bijou" building. At least more then what thier website says. Im assuming its on hold but cant find anything on it.

[Eeyore]

I think I know what you're getting at... A project like Pueblo Springs will never get you there.

This is where you and I have a difference of opinion as the City of Denver is actually large geographically speaking, they are just land locked. They have neighborhoods, part of the DTC, DIA and of course the urban area. Right now Pueblo does not have the capacity and employers to have the same population as Colorado Springs but Pueblo Springs with the tech park should change that.

[Eeyore]

This was in today's Pueblo Chieftain and is yet another company that is headquartered in Pueblo.


Peter McCarthy and his partners never doubted their 2004 decision to choose Pueblo as the headquarters of Verisma Systems.

The firm - recently named to Colorado's annual listing of 50 Companies to Watch - handles regulatory, record keeping and back-office data support for hospitals and doctors groups in 14 states

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/21/business/local/doc4a3d99c22fd81677527211.txt

:tup:

[Front_Range_Guy]

FRG,

You know anything about "The Bijou" building. At least more then what thier website says. Im assuming its on hold but cant find anything on it.

You'll have to refresh my memory.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

http://www.walstongroup.com/thebijou/

They started construction a while back and there has been slow progress. Have not heard much about it though?

[Front_Range_Guy]

I guess I thought this project died a long time ago... though I've never seen that website, or that rendering before. What I'm saying is... I have no clue what's going on in this case.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

Ya I wasnt sure either. I walk by it a lot and it still has the sign up for construction and lease number. Im guessing its stalled out. They did gut the inside of that place though, so maybe there is some hope of progress if things pick back up some day.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Maybe.

[Eeyore]

We have a building like that in downtown Pueblo. Seems like it starts to get renovated then it stops. Then it starts then it stops.

[Eeyore]

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

The plan: To construct a $3.8 million, 15,000-square-foot, energy-efficient building to house both the nature and raptor centers. The proposed timetable to completion: three years. "A year and a half to find the money - or at least enough to start - and a year and a half to build it, according to the architects (Pueblo's Hurtig, Gardner and Froelich)," says Zarr, who also functions as the nonprofit group's unpaid executive director.

They are located down by the Arkansas river and is a great area with a small board walk and a bike trail goes past it. This is a great idea but to be honost I am not sure they can raise the money.

[Eeyore]

Another big weekend in Pueblo with the usual downtown festivals and this big show at the fairgrounds with a parade in downtown.


"This weekend will be a car enthusiast's dream.

Pueblo will be hosting its 25th annual Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals this weekend, beginning Friday.

The event will take place at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, put on by the National Street Rod Association.

Marketing director for the NSRA Jim Rowlett said this is a special year for the event because it's the 25th anniversary here in Pueblo.

Rowlett said more than 2,000 street rods are expected to be at the Fairgrounds for the event. It is the area's largest vintage car show. The event promises to have some of the most beautiful, best constructed vintage vehicles ever assembled on display as well as commercial exhibitors selling parts and an arts and crafts booth for kids, Rowlett said."

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/25/news/local/doc4a4308e4b696b705933898.txt

CSU - Pueblo will soon add another program. Here is the article from today's Pueblo Chieftain:

"Colorado State University-Pueblo may soon offer a bachelor's degree program in athletic training after the Board of Governor's of the CSU System on Wednesday approved a proposal for the program."

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/25/news/local/doc4a430912af810758217421.txt

Again no major devlopment news but "steps" that are good news for Pueblo.

:cool:

[Eeyore]

We got Hot 95.5 to be our offical sponcer! This is great news for us to have a radio station sponcer us and advertise our event to Pueblo.

:upload_71700: :rainbow:

[Front_Range_Guy]

That's cool... and a little surprising. Isn't KPHT a Clear Channel station? Hm.

What are you hearing about Springs pride? I've heard they're having trouble getting their shit together this year.

Finally... are you going to Denver this weekend?

[glowrock]

I simply cannot believe this thread has become nothing more than a personal chatroom between eeyore and Front Range Guy! :)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Front_Range_Guy]

Why not? I mean I could post about how donna stansbury on A street made some delicious grape jam... cuz that's about all that's going on this town these days.

I made up the grape jam part. Not even that is going on these days.

[bunt_q]

I don't even check this thread anymore... kinda sad. But with limited internet here, it hasn't been worth it.

I did see that the plan to add three combat brigades to the Army has been dropped, and one of the posts that got screwed was Ft. Carson. Those extra 4,500 soldiers or whatever (10,000 folks in all I think was estimated) aren't coming...

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah... I don't even bother with the bad stuff anymore. Which is why I hardly post. It's all bad stuff.

[Eeyore]

FRG,


They are a Clear Channel station. I am hoping having them as our sponcer will help get the word out. I have not heard anything bad about Springs Pride. I know we will have a booth and be in the parade up there. I plan on going up to Denver on Sunday for the parade and the fest for a few hours. I wont stay long. Are you going up?

:rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow: :rainbow:

I don't understand why people always say this is nothing more then personal chat between FRG and I as we have other posters including 007 and a few more Springs posters and even a Boulder one. I look at the Denver room and you guys "chat" there all the time the only difference is the Denver Metro area has 3 million people, thus, you have more posters. The same is said for every city I have looked in. That happens as we post so much we end up being friends. I think certain people are just more critical of the Springs and Pueblo because we don't have the kind of highrises going up yet that we would all like to see. Maybe once this dam economy picks back up we will see development again that will include some. Then you guys will get tired of how we post to many pictures of the highrises going up lol

:2cents:


Bunt, Fort Carson is still adding burgrades and should continue to be a major economic force for the Colorado Springs and Pueblo metro area for a long time to come. I would be willing to bet I could post just as much bad news about Denver as I could for us as this economy sucks lol

:whip:

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_0295-1.jpg

The state's top college coaches sat side by side and answered questions about their teams in late June.

Wristen was a guest at this same event a year ago - before the Thunder Wolves had played a game since the program's resurrection. After a 4-6 season, the coach appeared more comfortable at his seat at the grown-up table.

"It's nice to be included, to be thought of in the same category as CSU, CU and Air Force," Wristen said. "We've had a busy off season, but a different kind of busy. We weren't worried this year if we had enough helmets for practice. We spent a lot of time doing quality control of our program."

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/26/sports/local/doc4a445e63f0159096506390.txt

I remember when it was the University of Southern Colorado and was a state joke. Its nice that it is now considered one of the top football programs in the state and is just more proof as to why I am exited about the universities future.

This calls for some dancing fruit!
:tomato: :cucumber: :apple: :dancing:

[Eeyore]

This was in today's Gazette and is proof as to what I was saying!

A long-expected brigade of soldiers joined Fort Carson's burgeoning ranks in a Thursday ceremony.

The event marked the arrival of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, which, along with the division's headquarters, is moving to the post from Fort Hood, Texas, this summer.

The 3,800 soldiers in the brigade are equipped with tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to take on armored enemies. Lately, though, the brigade has been locked in battle with Iraqi insurgents. The brigade returned from a yearlong tour in Baghdad earlier this year.

Fort Carson is gaining 6,500 soldiers this summer, as the two units move here. The division headquarters is scheduled to formally call Fort Carson home next month. By year's end, the post will be home to nearly 25,000 soldiers, up from 14,000 in 2003.

:tup:

Now Pueblo just need to hurry and annex Pueblo Springs and I will really be a happy camper and posting alot as I can't wait for that devlopment to start....

:P

[Eeyore]

This is great news for the Colorado Springs/ Pueblo metro area. This is just one more reason why I am so exited about our future! Infact, this is such good news I am going to post the entire article!

Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA - Southern Colorado's news leader

New research shows the cost of living in Colorado Springs is 8% lower than the national average. But another Southern Colorado city ranks as one of the least expensive places to live in the nation!

Out of more than 300 cities across America, surveyed during the first few months of 2009,

Pueblo had the second lowest cost of living in the country.

The cost of living in Pueblo is 16% lower than the national average, based on a quarterly report by the Council for Community and Economic Research.

Pueblo's housing prices were the biggest factor. Renting or buying, prices are are 31% below the national average. "That doesn't surprise me a bit," said Jim Hadley, broker and owner of Remax of Pueblo. Hadley says generally land is cheaper in Pueblo. The average price of a house is $128,000.

Compared to the rest of the country, home prices in Colorado Springs are also below average, although not as low as Pueblo's. Denver is 8% above average. "You can see a 60 70 80 thousand dollar difference for the same home here versus Denver," said Hadley.

Researchers studied other factors to calculate their cost of living index, including utility bills and transportation--both below average in the Springs and Pueblo.

Health care costs are 6% above average in the Springs. In Pueblo, they're 10% below average.

Finally, there was one expense category where Colorado Springs faired slightly better than Pueblo: food prices. In the Springs foods like milk, bread, and chicken are 16 to 27 cents cheaper than the same items in Pueblo. Those dimes and nickles add up--making Pueblo's food prices 5% higher than Colorado Springs.

The city with the lowest cost of living in the United States is Pryor Creek, Oklahoma near Tulsa.

Who had the highest cost of living? New York City. With 100 as the average, the big apple had a 219, making it more than twice as expensive as either Pueblo or Colorado Springs.

:whip:

[bunt_q]

This was in today's Gazette and is proof as to what I was saying!

A long-expected brigade of soldiers joined Fort Carson's burgeoning ranks in a Thursday ceremony.

The event marked the arrival of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, which, along with the division's headquarters, is moving to the post from Fort Hood, Texas, this summer.

The 3,800 soldiers in the brigade are equipped with tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to take on armored enemies. Lately, though, the brigade has been locked in battle with Iraqi insurgents. The brigade returned from a yearlong tour in Baghdad earlier this year.

Fort Carson is gaining 6,500 soldiers this summer, as the two units move here. The division headquarters is scheduled to formally call Fort Carson home next month. By year's end, the post will be home to nearly 25,000 soldiers, up from 14,000 in 2003.

:tup:

Now Pueblo just need to hurry and annex Pueblo Springs and I will really be a happy camper and posting alot as I can't wait for that devlopment to start....

:P

Were you trying to prove me wrong, or just be a dick? We all knew the 4th I.D. was coming... there was supposed to be yet another brigade coming, and that got called off. In case you can't read, which I do wonder sometimes, my post expressed disappointment at that fact (I think "Ft. Carson got screwed" is pretty clear). I certainly was not rubbing it in, celebrating, or anything of the sort.

The chatter isn't the only reason folks stay away - you're right, every room does that. The inability to post even a neutral statement without you irrationally jumping all over it (and sounding like a complete moron most of the time) pretty well seals the deal for would-be posters.

[Eeyore]

Were you trying to prove me wrong, or just be a dick? We all knew the 4th I.D. was coming... there was supposed to be yet another brigade coming, and that got called off. In case you can't read, which I do wonder sometimes, my post expressed disappointment at that fact (I think "Ft. Carson got screwed" is pretty clear). I certainly was not rubbing it in, celebrating, or anything of the sort.

The chatter isn't the only reason folks stay away - you're right, every room does that. The inability to post even a neutral statement without you irrationally jumping all over it (and sounding like a complete moron most of the time) pretty well seals the deal for would-be posters.

I was just posting the good news about Fort Carson, no need to take anything personal. And defiantly no need for personal attacks.

Yes and I am pro Pueblo and yes I will defend when my city gets attacked and I do not apologize for that. This is nothing personal against any one person though as I have no personal grudge against anyone in here.

[drifting sun]

I don't think Eeyore was trying to be a dick; no need to say he sounds like a moron because he gets enthusiastic about things that other people might not register as that significant.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I feel responsible for turning Aaron's joke into something ugly. Will I ever learn? No. No I won't.

Anyway, Eeyore... I also plan to catch the parade Sunday morning. I'll probably hang out for a few hours since I actually have the day off this year.

[Eeyore]

I don't think Eeyore was trying to be a dick; no need to say he sounds like a moron because he gets enthusiastic about things that other people might not register as that significant.

I guess I do get exited about smaller devlopments then again I do have my standards as there are many small projects I don't mention in Pueblo. However, if I waited for sky scrapers to be built in Pueblo you would never see a post from me lol. That being said, hopefully, as Pueblo grows and we reach 200,000 then 250,000 and 300,000 people my standards for what I post on new devlopments will go up as well. I suspect that once the major developments start it will get to that point sooner rather then later.

:cool:

[Eeyore]

I feel responsible for turning Aaron's joke into something ugly. Will I ever learn? No. No I won't.

Anyway, Eeyore... I also plan to catch the parade Sunday morning. I'll probably hang out for a few hours since I actually have the day off this year.

I took his joke to seriously as well. My bad. I don't see my self changing either lol

We should meet up at pride.....

[Front_Range_Guy]

BULLETIN: Part of the roof on the downtown courthouse has collapsed
Comments 1 | Recommend 1
June 26, 2009 - 2:55 PM
CARLYN RAY MITCHELL
Part of the west side of the courthouse roof in downtown Colorado Springs has collapsed, Gazette reporter John Ensslin says.The collapse happened about 3 p.m. A huge chunk of roofing material is in the middle of the courthouse courtyard, Ensslin said. There were no reports of injuries.

An evacuation of the 5th floor is under way, Ensslin said. He's at the scene and collecting details.

The collapse appeared related to a lightning and wind storm that struck downtown about 2:45 p.m. The courthouse is at Tejon Street and Cascade Avenue.

The lightning wiped out electric power to more than 1,000 houses in downtown Colorado Springs, a utilities official said.

The strike at about 2:45 p.m. cut power to an estimated 1,300 customers in the 80903 and 80905 ZIP codes, said Steve Berry

Downtown Colorado Springs is experiencing widespread power outages after wind gusts and lightning strikes in a storm that blew in about 2:45 p.m.

1,300 customers in the 80903 and 80905 ZIP codes are without power, said Steve Barry, spokesman for Colorado Springs Utilities. It will be at least 90 minutes before power is restores. A lightning strike is responsible for the outage.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo is saying this is not a severe storm, but Colorado Springs residents should expect heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts of up to 55 mph at least through 4 p.m., said Joe Ceru a meterologist for the service.

Colorado Springs police are reporting tree limbs down in the downtown area and power at the Police Operations Center is out.

[Eeyore]

WOW, must of been a bad sorm.....

I have to add I liked this part:

The National Weather Service in Pueblo is saying this is not a severe storm, but Colorado Springs residents should expect heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts of up to 55 mph at least through 4 p.m., said Joe Ceru a meterologist for the service.

:haha:

[drifting sun]

I wonder then what exactly is a severe storm, according to Joe. We just had some more little flash-floods here in Denver, I guess in Cherry Creek this time.

[drifting sun]

However, if I waited for sky scrapers to be built in Pueblo you would never see a post from me lol. That being said, hopefully, as Pueblo grows and we reach 200,000 then 250,000 and 300,000 people my standards for what I post on new devlopments will go up as well. I suspect that once the major developments start it will get to that point sooner rather then later.

:cool:

You never know Eeyore; some small-medium sized cities have nice skylines, and then there are some larger cities that don't seem to have tall skylines, look at San Jose with around 1mil, there looks like maybe a couple of buildings that I would consider a "skyscraper" (I've never been there, though, so maybe I missed a stray building).

Here in Denver it seems that there have been a lot of cool proposals over the last few years for decent skyscrapers that fizzled out - El Jebel/Trump Tower thing, 1401 Lawrence, that tower on Glenarm, and now we can't be sure if Two Tabor is going to make it.

[Eeyore]

Good question.....

This was for the joe question. I was trying to come up with a good joke about how we like small devlopments but only talk about big storms but I could not think of one lol

[Eeyore]

You never know Eeyore; some small-medium sized cities have nice skylines, and then there are some larger cities that don't seem to have tall skylines, look at San Jose with around 1mil, there looks like maybe a couple of buildings that I would consider a "skyscraper" (I've never been there, though, so maybe I missed a stray building).

Here in Denver it seems that there have been a lot of cool proposals over the last few years for decent skyscrapers that fizzled out - El Jebel/Trump Tower thing, 1401 Lawrence, that tower on Glenarm, and now we can't be sure if Two Tabor is going to make it.

I actually heard from a credible source that Trump actually looked into Pueblo at one time as well.

That being said I know you are right I just think Pueblo is like the genius student that never applies himself. Once we do that then I honestly believe the state should watch out as we have everything it takes to be a large city with a great downtown. I just hope we finally do what it takes to make that dream a reality soon.

[wong21fr]

The state's top college coaches sat side by side and answered questions about their teams in late June.

Wristen was a guest at this same event a year ago - before the Thunder Wolves had played a game since the program's resurrection. After a 4-6 season, the coach appeared more comfortable at his seat at the grown-up table.

"It's nice to be included, to be thought of in the same category as CSU, CU and Air Force," Wristen said. "We've had a busy off season, but a different kind of busy. We weren't worried this year if we had enough helmets for practice. We spent a lot of time doing quality control of our program."

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/26/sports/local/doc4a445e63f0159096506390.txt

I remember when it was the University of Southern Colorado and was a state joke. Its nice that it is now considered one of the top football programs in the state and is just more proof as to why I am exited about the universities future.

This calls for some dancing fruit!
:tomato: :cucumber: :apple: :dancing:

That's the biggest load of horseshit I've heard yet. CSU-P is not even close to the stature of CU, CSU, or AF for their football program. They are DI while CSU-P is DII and there are several other DII programs that I would place above CSU-P. UNC (well, they are DI now), Mines, Mesa State, would be those.

The only good thing coming from CSU-P is that it gives a chance for Colorado College to bring back their football team and would give that school a perenial whipping boy.

[Eeyore]

That's the biggest load of horseshit I've heard yet. CSU-P is not even close to the stature of CU, CSU, or AF for their football program. They are DI while CSU-P is DII and there are several other DII programs that I would place above CSU-P. UNC (well, they are DI now), Mines, Mesa State, would be those.

The only good thing coming from CSU-P is that it gives a chance for Colorado College to bring back their football team and would give that school a perenial whipping boy.

I disagree. CSU Pueblo is a major state university that is growing and will soon have a student population of 10,000 then 20,000 students. Even if we never pass up CU and CSU Fort Collins we will be in the same league as them and have a team that plays on the same level in the next 10 to 20 years. Colorado College and the other small colleges in the state don't have the kind of plans that CSU Pueblo has, thus, they will never be able to compete with the "big" boys.

Don't take my word on it why do you think they let CSU Pueblo in on the "big 5" schools in the state?

[CPVLIVE]

This is great news for the Colorado Springs/ Pueblo metro area. This is just one more reason why I am so exited about our future! Infact, this is such good news I am going to post the entire article!

New research shows the cost of living in Colorado Springs is 8% lower than the national average. But another Southern Colorado city ranks as one of the least expensive places to live in the nation!

Out of more than 300 cities across America, surveyed during the first few months of 2009,

Pueblo had the second lowest cost of living in the country.

Who had the highest cost of living? New York City. With 100 as the average, the big apple had a 219, making it more than twice as expensive as either Pueblo or Colorado Springs.

Eeyore - I'm not sure I'd be throwing this out there as a badge of honor. Having a low cost of living is often simply code for there's nothing here so no one wants to live here. There's a reason why one place might cost more to live than another - It's called demand. The more people that desire to live and play in a particular city the more expensive that city becomes. It's reflective of a cities amenities.

NYC = High cost of living - Fabulous hotels, World class dining, shopping, and entertainment. Not to mention the art galleries, museums, parks and intensive mass transit.

Pueblo = Low cost of living - Err - not so much, though I hear it's got a river walk :D

[Eeyore]

Eeyore - I'm not sure I'd be throwing this out there as a badge of honor. Having a low cost of living is often simply code for there's nothing here so no one wants to live here. There's a reason why one place might cost more to live than another - It's called demand. The more people that desire to live and play in a particular city the more expensive that city becomes. It's reflective of a cities amenities.

NYC = High cost of living - Fabulous hotels, World class dining, shopping, and entertainment. Not to mention the art galleries, museums, parks and intensive mass transit.

Pueblo = Low cost of living - Err - not so much, though I hear it's got a river walk :D

You make some valid points and I have a feeling that as Pueblo grows our cost of living will go up as well.

That being said I am hoping right now that with how Pueblo is becoming the alternative energy capitol of the region and the new developments, with the R&D, industrial and tech parks, being planned that this will cause more companies and people to move here from places like California where their cost of living is very expensive and where most people can't afford the kind of prices they have there.

BTW we also have the state fair, the states largest event!

:P

[Front_Range_Guy]

I took his joke to seriously as well. My bad. I don't see my self changing either lol

We should meet up at pride.....

:yes: We can firm up our plans on FB.

Given the amount of tree damage all over the city (including the debris littering my street) and what happened at the courthouse, I'd say some of those gusts met severe criteria.

Some of the courthouse roof from KRDO.COM (http://www.krdo.com).
http://krdo.images.worldnow.com/images/10603041_BG1.jpg

[Eeyore]

Wow, it looks like it was bad up there. And again Pueblo only like a rain shower lol

[glowrock]

I disagree. CSU Pueblo is a major state university that is growing and will soon have a student population of 10,000 then 20,000 students. Even if we never pass up CU and CSU Fort Collins we will be in the same league as them and have a team that plays on the same level in the next 10 to 20 years. Colorado College and the other small colleges in the state don't have the kind of plans that CSU Pueblo has, thus, they will never be able to compete with the "big" boys.

Don't take my word on it why do you think they let CSU Pueblo in on the "big 5" schools in the state?

This kind of shit makes me sick to my stomach. I swear, Eeyore, do you purposely try to be a complete poser/ass? Dude, there really are NO big schools after CU, CSU, and UNC! Mines is a small, but very, very well-known school that happens to have a pretty damn good football team right now, and Mesa State, while not being exactly super well-known nationally, has a good sports program as well. And remember, there's also University of Denver. Not a "State" school, but certainly excellent in several sports. But CSU-Pueblo? Fine, it might have PLANS to be all huge in a few decades, but all of the sudden referring to it as some sort of grandiose university is a goddamned joke! :hell:

There is a reason noone else posts here other than yourself and frg, buddy. Most of us can't stand swimming in the cesspool that's become this thread! :hell:

Your complete and absolute Pueblo boosterism is so over the top as to make everything else pale in comparison! :hell:

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Eeyore]

This kind of shit makes me sick to my stomach. I swear, Eeyore, do you purposely try to be a complete poser/ass? Dude, there really are NO big schools after CU, CSU, and UNC! Mines is a small, but very, very well-known school that happens to have a pretty damn good football team right now, and Mesa State, while not being exactly super well-known nationally, has a good sports program as well. And remember, there's also University of Denver. Not a "State" school, but certainly excellent in several sports. But CSU-Pueblo? Fine, it might have PLANS to be all huge in a few decades, but all of the sudden referring to it as some sort of grandiose university is a goddamned joke! :hell:

There is a reason noone else posts here other than yourself and frg, buddy. Most of us can't stand swimming in the cesspool that's become this thread! :hell:

Your complete and absolute Pueblo boosterism is so over the top as to make everything else pale in comparison! :hell:

Aaron (Glowrock)

I did not make up the story it was in today's Pueblo Chieftain on the front page of the sports section, I included the link. Now I admit that was my editorial as to why I think they included our school in the "big 5" but its backed up by the fact we are the states fastest growing university and it has been in the chieftain were they will be at 10,000 students in less then 10 years. After that their next goal will be for 20,000 students.

My point is this has everything to do with the fact that we are now officially part of the CSU system and not some random university in southern Colorado like we use to be. Before it was a joke with no future but now we are part of a major system, with a system president for the first time, thus, the university has a great future and that is why they are being included in more and more events that you only see the large schools at.

This is no different then you guys posting in the Denver thread how a major development will help propel Denver to being one of the major cities in the country. I don't go in there and insult you guys when you do that. You guys might disagree with me, and that's ok, but why the personal attacks?

:shrug:

Personally I think some people are use to Pueblo being the "quiet" "industrial" city in southern Colorado but now that we are showing signs of life and actually have a interesting future the state is having a hard time realizing that we can be more then we are. I am pro Pueblo and even though I know I wont get everything I want, I wont stop being who I am for anyone.

[drifting sun]

Glowrock seems particularly upset today for some reason, re: the Denver Development Thread, I don't know why he is having a hard time telling people in less agitated tones that their opinions are unfounded, misguided, etc.

Anyways, Eeyore, I can't quite figure you out, I'm starting to think that you are a closet Denverite, but just don't want to admit it. You keep expressing that you want a thriving urban downtown at the heart of a large city; well, look no further than 110 miles due north, and you have -Denver!- I know that you have pride in Pueblo and want it to be a healthy regional city, but that role is already filled quite adequately by Denver; I'm sure that Pueblo will grow as well, but it will be a long time (if ever) that it has dynamics similar to Denver.

I'm curious (and you don't have to answer if it's too personal) but what kind of ties are holding you to Pueblo?

[Front_Range_Guy]

Perhaps this is not my place... but I think you guys are reading way too much into all of this. Eeyore is just a guy from Pueblo who really likes Pueblo... he's had some new ideas introduced to him since he's arrived here and on some level he thinks they sound good, though ultimately his goal is to see Pueblo grow for ego reasons, and for business reasons. Bottom line... he loves Pueblo, and he thinks all this urbanism stuff sounds neat... but he's in no way invested in it... especially if becoming invested in it means turning your back against sprawling developments that could potentially boost Pueblo's population.

[drifting sun]

You're right, and really, I don't think we can say for certain how the front range cities are going to develop in the long run. Maybe Pueblo might be huge in 50-100yrs, maybe not. Maybe some significant shift occurs that downgrades Denver's regional significance, who knows. I didn't mean to sound like I was picking on Eeyore, all I was pointing out is that Denver is already there in terms of having a solid urban core (and yes, I would like to see dismantling of some of the suburban areas, and subsequently even more people flowing back into the core, but that is just my personal pipe-dream). But I am glad regardless that someone is interested in the affairs of their city, no matter where.

[glowrock]

Glowrock seems particularly upset today for some reason, re: the Denver Development Thread, I don't know why he is having a hard time telling people in less agitated tones that their opinions are unfounded, misguided, etc.


It's not about being misguided, drifting sun. It's about being such a disgusting booster that it simply makes you looks completely out of touch with reality! I'm sure Eeyore is a nice enough guy, just as Front Range Guy is a very nice person, but the inane boosterism makes him look like a complete ass, at least in my opinion.

Maybe I'm upset because nothing's going on of note to keep us interested. Maybe it's that the "new" breed around here is simply way too boosteristic of their home towns (whoa, is that a word? :)) as to make their comments difficult to acknowledge...

Maybe it's just that I've been on SSP for 7 years, and have seen this happen time and time again, ad nauseum.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Eeyore]

I was going to write some long reply but to be honest after reading what FRG wrote I really don't have to as it pretty much sums up how I am. Especially the ego part, I cant stand that Pueblo is no longer the states second largest city.

The only thing I would add to what drifting sun said is my definition of regional. When I say Pueblo is a nice regional city I am only talking about Southern Colorado, maybe northern New Mexico. That is why I call Pueblo Colorado's "second city" as I know we will never be what Denver is to the state, at least in my life time. I do think that eventually the Pueblo/ Colorado Springs metro area will be a nice size region but I don't think we will ever be as big as the Denver metro area but I do think we will always be the second largest region in the state and could possibly have the two largest cities in the state as the city of Denver will max out around 700,000 people and 007 has said Fort Collins will max out at about 350,0000 people. Again that wont happen anytime soon though.

Also, my roots go back far in Pueblo as I am 4th generation Puebloan. So while I have no issues driving to Denver and Colorado Springs to do things that Pueblo does not have yet, like plays and the broncos, or to see family and friends I have no desire to move to either city. And contrary to what it looks like I don't want Pueblo to be another Denver or Colorado Springs, I just want us to take the best aspects of both cities to make us the best city we can be. But as FRG said my biggest goal is to have Pueblo be the states second largest city, and possibly the largest, in my life time.

I do want to add that yes my editorials are as optimistic as Mr Rodgers and I know not everything will happen the way I would like. That being said I always base it on developments or stories that have been announced in the Chieftain or on the news. I never come in here and simply make up a story unless I say I am in a odd mood and say something like I would like to see the worlds tallest sky scraper in Pueblo. That is my idea of a joke as we cant even get a 20 story high rise. Or when I call Pueblo's airport PIA as we can only get flights to Denver in a plane that is about the size of my SUV. Other then that when I am being serious I usually site my sources and just hope for the best possible outcome that will hopefully increase Pueblo's population just like I see people do in Denver when they see a new development they like get announced and what it could mean for the city and metro area knowing full well that nothing is set in stone, especially is this economy.

In the end I guess it was a long responce. I hope it makes sense as I don't come on here to be a ass or intentionally say things to piss people off I am just happy about my hometown and its future and love to talk about it more then most people do. Finally, trust me when I say as I am not a flash in the pan poster as I have been like this my entire life and even when I was as young as 8 my family would ask me if I ever talk about anything besides Pueblo. My responce, NO!

Edit: I remembered this one story I want to add to help explain even more how I am, I have said it so I think FRG knows. One of the happiest days of my life was when I was in middle school in the mid 1980's and Pueblo was picked the best place to live in the country. I made my grandma take me to all the events that the city had to celebrate it and even now thinking back to it I get teary eyed. I say this to show that my love for my home town is real and sincere and not just a show I put on for anyone.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Here's KOAA's new logo Eeyore. Expect it to hit the air with a new graphics package next month.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c243/Chris80906/KOAA5.jpg

[Eeyore]

Interesting.. Thanks. I can't wait to see the new graphics for the news. It will be different not saying the 30 part..

[Front_Range_Guy]

I also found out they will be shutting down channel 30 at the end of the summer.

BTW... I got the logo from KOAA's facebook page. The mod. there claims the new graphics will be "amazing"... but of course they will say that. We'll see. Their current graphics are pretty damn nice, so I'm sort of expecting a step in the wrong direction... but we'll see.

[Eeyore]

It usually takes me a while to like new graphics as I get use to the old ones. I just hope they don't have more shots of downtown Colorado Springs lol

[Front_Range_Guy]

I don't think I'm going to go Eeyore. I'm having a hell of time getting motivated... and the thought of driving 70 miles is not sounding too appealing.

[Eeyore]

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

There has been a debate about CSU Pueblo and it has been suggested that I am too optimistic about the university. Today in the Pueblo Chieftain there was a article about the recent growth at CSU Pueblo, what has fueled that growth and what can be expected in the future that backs up what I have been saying.

Being a major state university is, in my opinion, the reason the state has included our football program along with the states largest ones. If we continue to see the growth like we have seen in the past few years its only a matter of time before we are another CSU Fort Collins and CU Boulder.

I was only going to post parts of the article but after reading it think it is important enough to post it in its entirety. So here it is:

They have come a long way, baby.

A decision two years ago to bring back three sports has made quite an impact on the Colorado State University-Pueblo athletics department. So much so that excitement and enthusiasm on and off campus has reached its highest level in more than 20 years.

The return of football, wrestling and women's track during the 2008-2009 season has affected a myriad of areas including attendance, budget, enrollment, participation, revenue, scholarship monies, staff and salaries.

When the Colorado State University System Board of Governors approved the expansion of the athletics program at CSU-Pueblo in early May of 2007, the wheels began turning. No one knew at the time how much adding three sports - football, wrestling and women's track - would impact the athletics department, much less the entire school population and inject a fresh outlook.

In addition to expanding sports, the school has undergone a facilities face-lift with the construction of the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl, a new student recreation center and student recreation field, the refurbishing of Massari Arena and the continued improvement of the Rawlings baseball, softball and soccer complexes. The numbers show just how much has changed - in just one year.

The athletics budget has grown 57 percent from $2.3 million during the 2007-2008 year to $3.6 million during the 2008-2009 year.

Student-athlete enrollment has doubled, going from 190 participants to 385 participants last year.

Dorm students have nearly doubled, going from 385 to 769. And that number will continue to grow with the addition of new dorms that will be completed in the fall of 2009 and the fall of 2010.

Ticket sales for athletic events have more than tripled, going from $25,000 in 2007-2008 to $82,000 last year. And that doesn't include football season tickets.

Concessions and wearable sales have gone over the top from $8,000 to $65,000, an 812 percent increase.

The athletics staff has increased 45 percent in two years. Staff members totalled 31 during the 2006-2007 school year. This past year, 45 staff members were on board.

And corporate partnerships have risen 82 percent in a year from $110,000 to $200,000.

The influx of monies from a group called the Friends of Football spearheaded by the DeRose family, has made a major impact.

Friends of Football contributed $13.5 million for the startup of three new sports (football, wrestling and women's track) along with the construction of the ThunderBowl and fieldhouse. The university also receives $150,000 a year toward football scholarships from FOF.

"We're very pleased with the numbers and the growth," CSU-Pueblo President Joe Garcia said. "We knew it was a bit of a gamble to bring back football and the other sports. But the community, faculty and staff have been very supportive. This will only work if football can support itself and so far that's happened.

"We're very pleased with the increased interest from students in Pueblo, Southern Colorado and beyond. A lot of it is attributable to the programs we've added."

The revival has injected a new energy into the Belmont campus that has been missing for years.

Over a 16-year period, the athletics program at CSU-Pueblo was heading in a different direction. Football and five other sports were dropped in 1985. The men's and women's track programs followed suit in 1993 and wrestling was axed in 2001.

Slowly, the department has recovered from the elimination of sports.

Baseball returned in 1994 and two years later the team became the first Colorado school to land a berth in the NCAA Division II World Series. Head coach Stan Sanchez's club has annually earned berths to regional play - seven times in the past 16 years.

"There's a sense of energy throughout our campus," said Sanchez, who enters his 17th season this fall. "Our program has been impacted because football has given our campus more of a collegiate life. Our players now can experience the Saturday football game. That's helped us in recruiting and we've been able to sell that." Sanchez also mentioned that he's open to someday landing a two-sport athlete who could play both football and baseball.

"Hopefully, down the road we'll run into a two-sport guy that could benefit both programs," he said. Other sports have joined in.

The women's basketball program under head coach Kip Drown has made it to regional play three times in the past four seasons.

"The biggest thing is the enthusiasm I sense in the community, particulary from football," said Drown, who has been at CSU-Pueblo for four seasons. "From my first couple years here there's a pride we may not have had prior. We used football (home) weekends for our recruiting weekends. All four of the kids we brought in signed.

"It's created a real buzz, a real energy both on campus and in the community. It's a boost to all the athletic teams that are going to benefit us for years to come."

The wound from the past is quickly healing.

CSU-Pueblo now boasts 15 intercollegiate sports - seven on the men's side and eight on the women's side. The pinnacle was reached this past season (2008-2009) when five different programs qualified for NCAA Division II regional play - baseball, men's golf, men's tennis, softball and women's basketball.

And now there's talk of adding a couple more sports in the near future - possibly men's track and field and women's lacrosse.

CSU-Pueblo Athletic Director Joe Folda says the reason for the boon to the university is three-fold.

"President Joe Garcia's leadership, the generosity of community members and the addition of new sports are the primary reasons for the CSU-Pueblo enrollment growth," Folda said.

CSU-Pueblo enjoyed the largest freshman class (1,033) in history in 2008-2009, a 65 percent increase from the 2007-2008 year. The overall enrollment increase of the university was substantial - from 4,142 to 4,610 - or 11.3 percent.

"People are noticing for the first time that CSU-Pueblo is here and has something to offer," Garcia said. "Not all the new students are athletes or football fans but people are seeing things happening here that weren't happening before.

"It's fun to walk around this campus and feel the energy and see the greater numbers of active and engaged students. It feels a lot more like a traditional, residential campus."

And the future looks just as bright.

Projected new facilities projects include a renovation of the library and the renovation of the new classroom building/student center.

Also, new academic programs are in the works.

"We are adding and continue to add more graduate programs to meet demand," Garcia said. "We're also looking to add professional programs to serve economic programs in Southern Colorado."

[Eeyore]

I don't think I'm going to go Eeyore. I'm having a hell of time getting motivated... and the thought of driving 70 miles is not sounding too appealing.

Funny you said that but I am at home and feel the same way. I just dont see the point of driving 4-5 hours to spend 2 hours walking around a fest I can do in Pueblo and Colorado Springs later this summer.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Maybe if I had a 2 day weekend I'd be more in to it.

Related note... I saw on the springs pride center page that Vice Mayor Larry Small has agreed to issue an official proclamation letter for pride this year, since the mayor still refuses.

[Eeyore]

FRG,

Maybe I asked this but does it seem that the Pueblo Chieftain is more of a cheerleader for Pueblo then the gazette is for the Springs. I read them both all the time and I always seem to see more articles on how and why Pueblo is the regional city from the Chieftain then I read from the Gazette about Colorado Springs. Or do I just look for it in Pueblo's paper and not the Springs.

[Eeyore]

Maybe if I had a 2 day weekend I'd be more in to it.

Related note... I saw on the springs pride center page that Vice Mayor Larry Small has agreed to issue an official proclamation letter for pride this year, since the mayor still refuses.

Agreed, plus I have family in from out of town so I wanted to spend time with them this afternoon and tonight so I was only going up and back down fast. I was like ok its nice seeing my firiends but that is a waste of money...

[Front_Range_Guy]

No, you're right. The Chieftain is much more of a cheerleader. I don't know if that should really be the role of a newspaper. On the other hand, The Gazette takes a more conservative/libertarian approach... at times it almost comes off as being against the city... I generally think The Gazette has it more right than The Chieftain. I believe one role of the press is to serve as a watch dog for the government, and The Gazette does that... though sometimes they go overboard and find scandal where there isn't any. The Chieftain's cheer leading makes it sound like it's covering a much smaller town than it is...

[Eeyore]

Maybe that is one reason the Chieftain still does so good in Pueblo when a lot of papers are having hard times. And perhaps Pueblo is still a small enough town where locals, like myself, like to see articles like that. It will be interesting to see how the Chieftain grows with the city and if they are the same when Pueblo is at 250,000 people.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I think those things are both true. My experience in general has been that Pueblo has a fierce sense of community spirit and pride, and I think the Chieftain's coverage reflects that. That is one thing I like about Pueblo.

[Eeyore]

I think that is one of the things I like about Pueblo the most and I think one of the things I will miss about Pueblo as we grow and become a city.

In fact, I think when Pueblo grows like the Springs and Denver and pass the 300,000 mark I can see my self saying how I miss the old Pueblo and how we all got along when Pueblo was only 150,000 people. In many ways we will no longer be my grandfathers Pueblo anymore.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Don't worry. You'll be dead by the time that happens. :)

[Eeyore]

LOL ha ha ha someones making jokes!

:haha:

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm in a bit of a sarcastic mood.

For what it's worth... I'm searching the internet for anything relevant to this forum, and I'm just not finding sh*t right now.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Here's something from The Colorado Springs Independent. (http://www.csindy.com). I wouldn't call it good news... but I guess it qualifies as on topic

Light at the end
It's still no Pearl Street, but University Village should be accessible to walkers and bicyclists
by Avalon Manly

The development of University Village retail center on North Nevada Avenue has been met with mixed responses. Plans for the site, being developed by Kratt Commercial Properties and Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority, suggest University Village will allow students from nearby University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to mingle, shop and work.

But despite its naturally beautiful location, between Monument Creek and Pulpit Rock, it won't call to mind student-friendly strips like the Hill in Boulder. With installation of curbs and medians that will, at the end of this month, turn Nevada into a six-lane road, the development is starting to resemble the shopping centers scattered along Academy Boulevard.

To combat this colder, commercialized image and make University Village more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly, an underpass is being built beneath Nevada, near the I-25 interchange. It will function as a subterranean crosswalk so that people don't have to play Frogger as they traverse six lanes of traffic. Instead, they can walk under the road and emerge onto one of the retail center's storefront-lined plazas.

The tunnel will measure about 12 feet high, 20 feet wide and 100 feet long, with curved walls allowing cyclists and pedestrians to utilize the underpass comfortably. During the day, sunlight will shine through slats in two separate overlays that bridge the six lanes overhead. Lights will be installed to ensure constant illumination at night.

Kevin Kratt, of Kratt Commercial Properties, calls the tunnel a "neat tie-in" between the retail center and UCCS. He mentions that there was talk in early planning for security cameras in the tunnel, but that idea has yet to produce fruit.

UCCS campus police will add the tunnel to their regular patrol circuit. An existing agreement between UCCS and Colorado Springs gives campus police authority beyond the university's boundaries without notifying the city — specifically, within the space bordered by Interstate 25, Monument Creek, Union Boulevard and South Templeton Gap Road. The underpass is in that area, and UCCS police also will patrol University Village.

"We're already routinely patrol that area," says Jim Spice, UCCS director of public safety, "We have access to both sides of the tunnel, and it will be patrolled numerous times per day." Spice is unsure whether officers will be able to see into the tunnel from their cars, or will have to step out of their vehicles.

Kratt estimates the underpass will be finished in four or five weeks, because crews cannot remove obstructing utility lines until new ones are installed in early to mid-July.

University Village's grand opening is tentatively set for Oct. 29, when Costco plans to open along with smaller chain restaurants and stores. Dotted throughout seven multi-tenant buildings, these will include Noodles & Company, Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Kohl's and Lowe's will open in spring 2010, with more smaller businesses to follow.

Changes are happening closer to UCCS, as well. Eagle Rock Road has been realigned and provides new access to North Nevada Avenue from the Four Diamonds parking lots, where a shuttle runs to and from campus. On the hill leading up to the university, a park dedicated to survivors of cancer is under survey for upcoming development, and the Economic Development Administration is considering a grant to UCCS for an amateur sports office/research center, arena and performing arts building nearer Nevada.
— avalon@csindy.com

[Eeyore]

That is good news. It seems like UCCS is becoming like CU Denver and CSU P is becoming like CU Boulder and CSU Fort Collins. Combined that should be good for our region.

I am happy that President Obama got the "new" enegry bill passed the house of rep. I am hoping that will be good for Pueblo and our engery goals.

[wong21fr]

I'd say that UCCS is becoming like CU-Boulder as well. It's a resident campus with increasing athletics and has research programs. It also offers bachelors, masters, and doctorates.

And it's about twice as big as CSU-P.

[Eeyore]

The reason I said UCCS is more like CU Denver was because both schools have research, masters and doctorate programs yet both schools do not want to have major sports teams.

That is why I said CSU Pueblo is more like CSU Fort Collins and CU Boulder as CSU Pueblo is getting masters programs, will get doctorate programs and will have research while having major sports teams.

In the end I believe the most well known universities in the state will be CU Boulder, CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo and the Air Force Academy. I do not think it matters out of theses 4 what is the largest as they will all make significant contributions to the state. Also, other schools like UCCS and CU Denver, while less known because of no major college sports teams, will make significant contributions to the state.

Finally, the other universities and colleges that Colorado has will help make us a strong state economically.

[wong21fr]

Do you really think that name recognition is driven by solely by athletics, namely football? If you choose a school solely on because there is a football team there than you are a idiot.

I don't see CSU-Peublo ever garnering enough national attention to be considered in the same category as the other three schools you mentioned. It will stay a DII school and will have the same athletic recognition as the other DII schools, nil.

Let me know when CSU-Pueblo begins to be recognized nationally for their academic programs and I'll change my story. But that's not happening for several years at the minimum.

[Eeyore]

Do you really think that name recognition is driven by solely by athletics, namely football? If you choose a school solely on because there is a football team there than you are a idiot.

I don't see CSU-Peublo ever garnering enough national attention to be considered in the same category as the other three schools you mentioned. It will stay a DII school and will have the same athletic recognition as the other DII schools, nil.

Let me know when CSU-Pueblo begins to be recognized nationally for their academic programs and I'll change my story. But that's not happening for several years at the minimum.

I agree, CSU Pueblo will have to get to 20,000 students before we are a div 1 school with the same kind of recognition as CU Boulder and CSU Fort Collins and that is years away. However, once CSU Pueblo gets to 10,000 students they will be a strong div 2 school and it will give CSU Pueblo a lot of momentum to get it to 20,000 students.

That being said you would be surprised as to how many students pick a school partially based on the sports programs a university has and now that CSU Pueblo is part of a major university system and Pueblo is warmer then the other cities in Colorado that is a major factor behind why you see many students choosing to go to college here. That will, also, help the city of Pueblo as we are becoming a college town that will attract more people and companies in the future.

And don't worry as I am sure I will let everyone know when CSU Pueblo hits 10,000 students and later 20,000 students!

:P

[glowrock]

I just love how UNC, which is a pretty large school itself, is being completely ignored here... :)

Fine, I'll admit it, CSU-Pueblo will supplant CU-Boulder as the most well-known school in Colorado! Hell, it might just make it to top 10 status in the whole nation! :eek:

Okay, that was hard... Sarcasm off... Haha

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Eeyore]

I will admit I left out UNC simply because I don't know much about that school.

I don't think people understand why I am exited about CSU Pueblo, not because it is in Pueblo but because it is CSU. In my opinion there are two major university systems in Colorado, the CU system and the Colorado State system. Having Pueblo's university part of the Colorado State system is the main reason they are having so much success now when before they did not.

[Eeyore]

A good editorial in today's Pueblo Chieftain about CSU Pueblo so I thought I would post it.

COLORADO STATE University-Pueblo is halfway toward its goal of adding another degree program to its growing list of offerings.

The CSU System Board of Governors last week approved a proposal for a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. These trainers are people who work with athletes in various sports such as football to provide prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries or illnesses that athletes contract.

Currently the same coursework is being provided as an emphasis area under the current bachelor of science degree in exercise science, health promotions and recreation. By putting the program on its own, graduates will be able to qualify for and take the industry’s national licensing exam.

Meantime, the university will be incurring no new costs because the existing emphasis area will be rolled into the new degree program.

Now that it has received the nod by the Board of Governors, the program needs to pass its final hurdle, approval by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. That approval is expected in July. This new degree program will open up new career opportunities for CSU-Pueblo students. It deserves the state’s support.

:tup:

[Front_Range_Guy]

From gazette.com (http://www.gazette.com)

Affiliated Computer Services plans to hire 600 people in Colorado Springs
Comments 5 | Recommend 0
June 29, 2009 - 9:30 AM
THE GAZETTE
Affiliated Computer Services Inc. said today it is hiring 600 people for a customer service center it plans to open next month in northwest Colorado Springs, the biggest local business relocation or expansion announced in three years.

The Dallas-based company, which employs 65,000 at 142 customer care centers worldwide will open the 34,000-square-foot center in the space it is leasing in the Verizon Communications Inc. complex at 2424 Garden of the Gods Road. Affiliated said it hiring an employees and managers immediately with training classes beginning in mid-July; job candidates can apply online at www.acs-inc.com.

"Colorado Springs offers an exceptional pool of skilled an educated talent, enabling us to continue offering some of the best customer care work in the industry," Tom Blodgett, chief operating officer of Affiliated's commercial operations, said in a press release today. "Our ability to exceed our customers' expectations and the desire of economic officials to make this happen very quickly helped bring this project to Colorado."

Affiliated is bringing the most jobs of any company coming to the Springs in six years and is the largest economic development announcement of any type since T. Rowe Price Group Inc. announced plans in June 2006 to expand its customer service center in Briargate and add 650 employees.

Check back with gazette.com for details later in the day.

[wong21fr]

I will admit I left out UNC simply because I don't know much about that school.

I don't think people understand why I am exited about CSU Pueblo, not because it is in Pueblo but because it is CSU. In my opinion there are two major university systems in Colorado, the CU system and the Colorado State system. Having Pueblo's university part of the Colorado State system is the main reason they are having so much success now when before they did not.

Exactly, you don't know a lot about other schools, unless they have a football team. There are other major universities in CO that give CSU, and CU, a run for their money. DU is not a school that you mention but it is consistently ranked higher than CU or CSU for it's graduate programs and is considered CO's premier business and law schools.

CU and CSU continue to kick ass with their awesome engineering programs and Mines' natural resource programs are second to none. Mines can be considered one of the Ivy League of technical schools and it's name will carry far more weight in natural resources than most other schools.

Funny thing is, two of these schools do so without too much recognition in athletics. Go figure.

I think that the jury is still out on CSU-Pueblo. There is definitely a chance for it to succeed but they've got some fierce competition from other schools in the state, (UNC, UCCS, Metro) and the big part will be which of these schools will be able to capitalize on their alumni support. Major growth in higher education is going to come from private donors in the next few decades and I'm not sure which school is going to have the most success in getting their donors to shell out. The CU system has been very successful in fundraising, CSU has been decidedly less so. UNC and Metro also lag far behind in capitalizing on their alumni population.

[Eeyore]

From gazette.com (http://www.gazette.com)

Affiliated Computer Services plans to hire 600 people in Colorado Springs
Comments 5 | Recommend 0
June 29, 2009 - 9:30 AM
THE GAZETTE
Affiliated Computer Services Inc. said today it is hiring 600 people for a customer service center it plans to open next month in northwest Colorado Springs, the biggest local business relocation or expansion announced in three years.

The Dallas-based company, which employs 65,000 at 142 customer care centers worldwide will open the 34,000-square-foot center in the space it is leasing in the Verizon Communications Inc. complex at 2424 Garden of the Gods Road. Affiliated said it hiring an employees and managers immediately with training classes beginning in mid-July; job candidates can apply online at www.acs-inc.com.

"Colorado Springs offers an exceptional pool of skilled an educated talent, enabling us to continue offering some of the best customer care work in the industry," Tom Blodgett, chief operating officer of Affiliated's commercial operations, said in a press release today. "Our ability to exceed our customers' expectations and the desire of economic officials to make this happen very quickly helped bring this project to Colorado."

Affiliated is bringing the most jobs of any company coming to the Springs in six years and is the largest economic development announcement of any type since T. Rowe Price Group Inc. announced plans in June 2006 to expand its customer service center in Briargate and add 650 employees.

Check back with gazette.com for details later in the day.


That is great news for Colorado Springs...

:cheers:

[Front_Range_Guy]

They're not high paying jobs, but at this point, anything is helpful.

[Eeyore]

Exactly, you don't know a lot about other schools, unless they have a football team. There are other major universities in CO that give CSU, and CU, a run for their money. DU is not a school that you mention but it is consistently ranked higher than CU or CSU for it's graduate programs and is considered CO's premier business and law schools.

CU and CSU continue to kick ass with their awesome engineering programs and Mines' natural resource programs are second to none. Mines can be considered one of the Ivy League of technical schools and it's name will carry far more weight in natural resources than most other schools.

Funny thing is, two of these schools do so without too much recognition in athletics. Go figure.

I think that the jury is still out on CSU-Pueblo. There is definitely a chance for it to succeed but they've got some fierce competition from other schools in the state, (UNC, UCCS, Metro) and the big part will be which of these schools will be able to capitalize on their alumni support. Major growth in higher education is going to come from private donors in the next few decades and I'm not sure which school is going to have the most success in getting their donors to shell out. The CU system has been very successful in fundraising, CSU has been decidedly less so. UNC and Metro also lag far behind in capitalizing on their alumni population.

I am not denying that the other schools are great and in some cases better academically, especially the Colorado school of mines. However they get less national attention then CU and CSU Fort Collins because they don't have major sports. In fact, I have friends in California who say that lately they see a lot more about CSU Pueblo then they have before. Also, keep in mind what my number one goal is for Pueblo, to once again be the states second largest city. So, I am more concerned about CSU Pueblo attracting a large number of students so it can have a impact on Pueblo and do its part to make us a larger city. Having sports teams will do that as it will attract more students to attend CSU Pueblo and give us national exposure. That will allow the school to have more degrees and spend money on research and development that will help Pueblo attract companies we never could before. Since we are getting two R&D parks and alternative energy companies the results are already starting to show.

Finally, I am not talking in the next year or even the next 5 years as I know it will be many years before the school has 20,000 or more students attending it. I am just more exited about its future now then I ever have been as CSU Pueblo finally has a future worth talking about.

[Eeyore]

They're not high paying jobs, but at this point, anything is helpful.

Especially in this economy...

:)

[Eeyore]

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

This was on KOAA and is good news but proves my point that there are so many lists anymore that on some list your city is bound to be mentioned. This also proves 007's point that I would be the first to point out when Pueblo was that city!

This Old House editors have picked the 51 best old-house neighborhoods in the country. A historic neighborhood in Pueblo made the list.

The link: http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_top_stories/x528752474/Pueblo-historic-neighborhood-makes-magazines-best-list

This old house article:

Pueblo was once the Pittsburgh of the West—an industrial hotbed where many an entrepreneur came to seek his fortune in the bustling city's steel mills. Once those fortunes had been made, a lot of the newly monied settled in Pueblo's North Side neighborhood, building stately (some might say quirky) homes on streets wide enough to turn a stagecoach around on. These days, North Side is a bit more middle class; you don't have to be a millionaire to buy a truly remarkable home of your own.

The Houses
North Side offers a few popular styles of architecture from between 1870 and 1950, including Italianates and Spanish Revivals. Homes start about $125,000 and go up to $300,000.

Why Buy Now?

If you want a textbook Colorado lifestyle, Pueblo offers it in spades, and more affordably than Denver or Boulder. Looking for work? The Danish company Vestas is building what the company is billing as the world's largest wind-turbine factory here, so in the next few years the city stands to gain about 500 jobs and perhaps a new signature industry.

The link: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20283029_20631513,00.html#

[Front_Range_Guy]

KOAA will start using their new graphics at 5:00 tonight. They've already got their new logo up on their website.

[Eeyore]

KOAA was not on air this morning so I watched KRDO. I dont like how all the stations have Colorado Springs big on their graphics and Pueblo the same as La Junta. KOAA does it to at times but not as much.

[Eeyore]

I saw KOAA tonight and liked the new graphics but I will have to get use to the new music and especially them not saying 5 and 30. I did not realize how much I was use to hearing 5 and 30....

As a side note on Fox news last night they were saying that they think President Obama will include nuclear power in the final energy bill and that 4 plants will get guaranteed financing. That could be good news for Pueblo and our proposed plant, I hope it is one of the 4.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I like it well enough. It's a step up for them, I think. Good riddance to "and 30."

That was always an "Eeyorism" of mine... I hated that Colorado Springs got NBC on a low power translator. Now everything is as it should be in that department.

[wong21fr]

I saw KOAA tonight and liked the new graphics but I will have to get use to the new music and especially them not saying 5 and 30. I did not realize how much I was use to hearing 5 and 30....

As a side note on Fox news last night they were saying that they think President Obama will include nuclear power in the final energy bill and that 4 plants will get guaranteed financing. That could be good news for Pueblo and our proposed plant, I hope it is one of the 4.

Well, watching Fox "news" is your first problem. The other is that the Colorado Energy Park proposal is not nearly advanced enough in the planning stages, I'd stay it's still conceptual, to get funding. Alternate Energy Holdings has a long, long way to go on the CEP and it appears that their main focus is on getting a proposed plant in Idaho going. But neither of these projects is anywhere close to submitting to the NRC for a combined license. I'd expect any nuclear proposal in Pueblo to take at least another decade.

Such is the nature of the nuclear industry.

[Eeyore]

You could be right although I was told last year by people in the industry its more like 3-5 years away and 10 years before it was built and running. I do know they already signed a number of agreements and they bought a sub station in Boone. My sources tell me that its not a matter of "if" but "when" that park will be developed. Even if they start construction on the park in the next year or two then build the nuclear plant in 3-5 years after it got aproved that would be great as it would mean thousands of construction jobs to the metro area.

There was a article in today's Pueblo Chieftain that is a great example as to why I am exited about developments like Pueblo Springs, Serento, CSU Pueblo, the Colorado Energy Park, solar projects etc. Pueblo grew at a sad rate of .9% in 2008 and I believe that without those developments Pueblo will continue to grow slow and will not become the states second largest city again in my lift time. In order to do that Pueblo needs to see growth in the 2-4% rate for the next 10 to 20 years.

FRG, I like your term "Eeyorism", I think its fits nicely lol. But you are right about KOAA it is better now that are on one translator. Now before I go on as a reminder of what I am and what I want for Pueblo here is the best description of me yet by FRG.

"Perhaps this is not my place... but I think you guys are reading way too much into all of this. Eeyore is just a guy from Pueblo who really likes Pueblo... he's had some new ideas introduced to him since he's arrived here and on some level he thinks they sound good, though ultimately his goal is to see Pueblo grow for ego reasons, and for business reasons. Bottom line... he loves Pueblo, and he thinks all this urbanism stuff sounds neat... but he's in no way invested in it... especially if becoming invested in it means turning your back against sprawling developments that could potentially boost Pueblo's population."

The depressing article:

The city of Pueblo's population grew by 922 people, or 0.9 percent, and totaled 104,951, according to the figures. The city of Colorado Springs grew by 4,582 to 380,307, or 1.2 percent.

Since the last census in 2000, the city of Pueblo has added 2,812 people, an increase of 2.8 percent. The city of Pueblo's population is little changed in 40 years. It was 98,000 in 1970. Colorado Springs - one of the fastest-growing cities in the country in the 1990s Ð has added 19,182 since the last census, an increase of 5.3 percent


:drowning:

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/07/02/business/local/doc4a4c309876640193521370.txt

[wong21fr]

You could be right although I was told last year by people in the industry its more like 3-5 years away and 10 years before it was built and running. I do know they already signed a number of agreements and they bought a sub station in Boone. My sources tell me that its not a matter of "if" but "when" that park will be developed. Even if they start construction on the park in the next year or two then build the nuclear plant in 3-5 years after it got aproved that would be great as it would mean thousands of construction jobs to the metro area.


Maybe, but realize that it takes at least 3-4 years to get a combined license (COL) and you need to get a Early Site Permit application before that, though the two can be submitted simultaneously but the Permit has to be issued first. So, realistically, you're looking at five years for approval and you have to do the preparation work before submitting the application, which is probably another five years. That's ten years right there if the ball is already rolling, which it isn't.

The people in the industry are over-optimistic salesmen and, if they are like a lot of the people in the nuclear industry in CO, they don't have a damn clue about what they are talking about because they have never done anything in the industry. They got into it a few years ago when they saw the spike in uranium prices, renewed interest in nuclear power, and the promise of federal spending. But practical experience? There are very few people in CO with any practical experience in the nuclear industry.

[Eeyore]

Maybe, but realize that it takes at least 3-4 years to get a combined license (COL) and you need to get a Early Site Permit application before that, though the two can be submitted simultaneously but the Permit has to be issued first. So, realistically, you're looking at five years for approval and you have to do the preparation work before submitting the application, which is probably another five years. That's ten years right there if the ball is already rolling, which it isn't.

The people in the industry are over-optimistic salesmen and, if they are like a lot of the people in the nuclear industry in CO, they don't have a damn clue about what they are talking about because they have never done anything in the industry. They got into it a few years ago when they saw the spike in uranium prices, renewed interest in nuclear power, and the promise of federal spending. But practical experience? There are very few people in CO with any practical experience in the nuclear industry.

I agree if it was a Pueblo developer wanting to build the nuclear plant I would be laughing all day long as it would be a big joke but keep in mind the devlopers working on the nuclear plant are not from Colorado but is a Idaho company, AEHI. My understanding of the project is Colorado people have the energy park but they signed a agreement with AEHI to build and run the nuclear plant and other companies will build the power plants they want. My hope is that we start the energy park in the next year or so since it will have other energy sources like wind, bio mass, solar, natural gas as well as major industries who need to be by major power sources then when AEHI gets their permits they can build the nuclear plant. Granted I do not know much about AEHI but I did ask in the Idaho forum and they seemed to like them.

The way I think of it is like the Denver Tech Center but for energy companies. The DTC had local developers but it was the companies themselves who moved in and built the nice highrises so I am hoping the same thing happens with the Colorado Energy Park, CEP.

As a reminder of what the park will have here is a description:

BOISE, ID--(Marketwire - September 15, 2008) - Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AEHI) signed an agreement with a representative of the proposed Colorado Energy Park (CEP) southeast of Pueblo, CO to negotiate contracts on land and water rights for multiple large advanced nuclear reactors. The current CEP site is over 21,000 acres and is valued at $83 million, including substantial water use rights. CEP can host a mixed portfolio of renewable energy including solar PV and CSP, wind, biomass, small-hydro and nuclear. AEHI will seek a complement of multiple clean energy providers to fully utilize the large site and share the nuclear plant's transmission, water, road and rail infrastructure. When fully developed, CEP will help meet the state's and region's growing demand for electricity. At CEP, AEHI will help the US achieve energy independence, and meet the goal of increasing sources of green energy to reduce CO2 and toxic emissions from the global environment. The CEP as a merchant site should be able to wield power east of the Rockies as needed to meet demand.

[wong21fr]

Eyeore, if you look at AEHI's website you'll notice that there main focus is development of their Idaho project. Given that, it's another indicator that the CEP is going to take awhile to get out of the ground.

If AEHI pulls off their Idaho project it will be good news for Pueblo, but I would strongly reccomend you take a wait and see approach for the CEP. Because it will be a number of years before it gets off the ground.

On another subject, did you see the story on the BLM designating a chunk of the San Luis Valley as a prime development spot for solar facilities?

[Eeyore]

I did, there was a article about it in the Pueblo Chieftain this week. I am glad to see rural areas in Colorado get some attention for a change. This shows that alternative energy could be great for the state and I would much rather see my money spent here then in the middle east.

I agree with you on the nuclear part, its wait and see right now. I am just overly exited so any potential good news I see I jump on and like I said even if it is years away I hope we get the Colorado Energy Park started with the other power sources then when they are ready they can build the nuclear plant. Even if it is 10 years away in reality that is not far and will be here before we know it and be a boost to the Pueblo metro area.

Also, the DTC was not devloped in 10 years and is still growing so if it takes 20 to 40 years for the CEP to fully devlop that is still going in the right direction for Pueblo unlike what the city has done in the past 30 years. If the CEP had been started in the Nixon administration when the oil crisis first hit the United States imagine what Pueblo would be like today. I am sure we would be a much larger city and a bigger player in the national economy and political scene.