[Eeyore]

Hello, I've been reading a little bit about Vestas and have a question hopefully you guys may be able to shed a little light on. I am wondering why Vestas, after choosing to locate the bulk of its manufacturing facilities in Colorado, would then choose Portland as the site of its NA HQ? I mean just from a logistics standpoint it doesn't seem to make sense since to have executives etc...fly in from Denmark to Portland and then on to CO? IMO I would think it would be much more effficient to have centralized operations, i.e NA HQ and manufacturing facilities in one state. On on different topic, Eeyore would you happen to know how deep the HARP is? I've been looking everywhere and can't seem to find anything about the specifics of its construction. Thanks.

That is a good question, you would think Pueblo or Denver would of been a better place for the headquarters but I have no idea why they put it in Oregon.

To be honest since they are already calling it "Pueblo's Vesta's" I think Pueblo would of been the best choice for the corporate headquarters but I am not biased at all!

:P

As far as the Riverwalk it is not deep at all, in fact I think I could stand up in it so it is less then 6 feet, but I do not know the exact depth.

[Eeyore]

Some interesting states came out of the Denver Business Journal.

Denver ranked among the top cities in America in average income in 2008, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Per-capital personal income in the Denver-Aurora area was $47,510 in 2008, 22nd highest among 366 U.S. metropolitan areas covered in the report, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said.

Denver's average personal income grew from $46,682 in 2007 and $45,072 in 2006, BEA reported.

But the Denver area ranked lower than average in the growth of its average income in 2008 from the previous year. Per-person income grew 1.8 percent between 2007 and 2008, below the national average for U.S. cities of 2.5 percent.

Denver's average income grew 3.6 percent in 2007 from 2006, versus the national city growth rate of 4.9 percent.

Total income in the Denver area was $119.1 billion in 2008, up 4 percent from the previous year, BEA said, but much of that increase reflected the area's ipopulation growth.

Boulder's per-capita personal income in 2008 averaged $52,719, 12th in the nation and up 2.6 percent from the previous year, BEA reported.

As for other Colorado cities:


Colorado Springs' average income was $36,571 in 2008, 130th in the nation and up 2.4 percent.

Grand Junction's income averaged $34,675, in 174th place and up 6.9 percent.

Pueblo averaged $28,357, in 331st place and up 4.1 percent.

Nationwide, the average income in U.S. metro areas was $39,582 in 2008, up 2.5 percent.

The urban area with the highest average income in 2008 was Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn. ($82,266), followed by Naples-Marco Island, Fla. ($64,349) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ($61,747).

Total personal income of all people in all U.S. cities grew 3.3 percent in 2008 over 2007. The previous year, growth was 6 percent.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1572.jpg

This is a update on Pueblo newest hotel and is located in the Eagleridge area. This area has grown nicely in the last 10 years and is defiantly one of Pueblo's success stories.

[pyeblow]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1569.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1568.jpg

This is a update on the re-model of the old Minnequa Bank building located in Bessemer, an extended urban area in Pueblo. This will house the new health care company that is moving to Pueblo.

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1570.jpg


As I was taking pictures of the remodel I saw this restaurant and this gives a idea of what a lot of Pueblo's mom and pop restaurants are like and why we are known for them all over the state.

Hey Eeyore, isn't that the house where Galileo's used to be? Just wondering. I've never heard of that hot dog place.

[pyeblow]

The Community Center near Mesa Junction, over by Central High, is almost done. I drove by it this morning and I kinda like it. Looks like maybe another month or so before its finished, unfortunately I didn't have a camera handy. I might take some pics tomorrow if I go back that way.

[Eeyore]

It looks like the old Galileo's but its a different building.


I have been watching the construction of the new community health center as well, it has been a few weeks since I posted a picture, I will say I love the style of brick on it. Next time I go by I will take a picture as well. BTW I heard that area was called the Pueblo Central area, I am guessing because of Central High School.

So people know what we are talking about here is the last picture I took of the Community health center:

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1364.jpg

[Eeyore]

Lol In all honesty my money is on Fort Collins. It will probably be 12 stories. It will have four levels of parking with ground floor retail, two levels of office space, and six levels of residential space. I guarantee something like this if not exactly like this will happen in the near future.

The only way Pueblo will get one before us is if a company moves in. Nobody would build that much office space in Pueblo with out having a major tenant in mind and I don’t see a residential highrise being possible. Unless its low income or senior housing.

I was thinking and if they want to build a 23 story senior tower in Pueblo I would be a happy camper!

:yes:

[Eeyore]

This was in the Berthoud newspaper and is a great example as to why I say the Colorado State Fair is a gem for Pueblo and the states largest annual event.


"And even before the dust settles on the local fairs, many participants have already set their sights on the big show at the state fair, coming to Pueblo in September."

:tup:

The link: http://www.berthoudrecorder.com/News/2009/aug/6/news-local/rounding-real-fun-county-

[Eeyore]

I had to post this because I am not sure if its good or bad for Pueblo???



Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA

One of the largest outlaw motorcycle gangs in the country will be in Pueblo over the next several days.

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is holding their national rally on private land near Highway 78, just west of Pueblo. (Just so everyone knows this is more commonly known as the Beulah highway.)

The FBI says the Bandidos are a growing criminal threat to the nation, because of their involvement in drug trafficking. The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo Police and the Colorado State Patrol are increasing patrols to keep a close eye on the event.

"You're going to have a higher visibility presence of law enforcement, just for the mere fact of who they are and what they represent," said Kirk Taylor, Pueblo County Sheriff.

The rally started Thursday and runs until Monday, Aug. 10.

Up to a thousand members are expected to attend.

[Front_Range_Guy]

So, Colorado Springs city council is finally facing the music and holding a public meeting about the USOC situation before taking a final vote on the new plan. It starts at 7. I'm not going, but I have a feeling it's going to be ugly.

[Eeyore]

So, Colorado Springs city council is finally facing the music and holding a public meeting about the USOC situation before taking a final vote on the new plan. It starts at 7. I'm not going, but I have a feeling it's going to be ugly.

What choice do they have? If the Springs loses the USOC it would be a big blow to the city.

:shrug:

[Front_Range_Guy]

What choice do they have? If the Springs loses the USOC it would be a big blow to the city.

:shrug:

True, but I still think they're going to face a room full of people who have the same attitude CityCenter does. It seems like in general, the idea of community and civic pride is lost on christian conservatives.

[Eeyore]

True, but I still think they're going to face a room full of people who have the same attitude CityCenter does. It seems like in general, the idea of community and civic pride is lost on christian conservatives.

Tonight is a must night to watch the news and see what happened that's for sure......

I will post my thoughts after.....


:)

[Eeyore]

To help bring FRG's spirits up here is a great article about UCCS that was in the Gazette:

A long-awaited building will be dedicated at 9 a.m. Thursday at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. But the $56 million Science and Engineering Building, equipped with every imaginable bell and whistle and then some, represents more than just extra space for the campus.

The 156,000-square-foot facility is another step toward elevating what once was a small hometown commuter school to research and development prominence. That, officials say, will bring more patentable innovations, funding and students to what is already one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation.

This is great for southern Colorado to have CSU Pueblo and UCCS growing so fast.

One note though if this was in Pueblo the Chieftain would not just run one article on it but a week long series with color pictures and editorials as to why CSU Pueblo is the greatest thing since sliced bread lol

:cheers:

The link: http://www.gazette.com/articles/building-59674-colorado-science.html

[Front_Range_Guy]

:previous:

I posted that article yesterday, but yes, it is good news.

[Eeyore]

MY bad. Not sure how I missed it......

[Front_Range_Guy]

You were probably busy thinking about Pueblo.

[Eeyore]

From what I’ve seen the building wasn’t terrible looking, but I haven’t seen much. It would be awesome if some one down south could snap some photos of it because sadly this is probably the tallest building under construction between our three cities…

Wow that’s pitiful… :rolleyes:

I am going back since I missed some posts cus I was excited about the rain storm. Don't forget about the Parkview Medical tower in Pueblo. Here is the last picture I took:

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1217.jpg

Look how the crane towers over the sky line. BTW look at the Interstate, it looks so urban.....

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1014.jpg

Old close up, I need a new one. I will post one tomorrow. Also, keep in mind Pueblo has many buildings being built that are from 4-6 stories. No sky scraper but not bad for a city of 100,000 people.

:)

[Eeyore]

You were probably busy thinking about Pueblo.

More like the rain storm... I just heard about it and got my camera and went on "rain patrol"....

:haha:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Based on the news coverage, it sounds like the meeting went pretty much how I expected it would. It does sort of seem like the USOC and LandCo went out of their way to make sure the taxpayers got stuck with the entire bill. Combine that with corruption allegations against the mayor, the various lawsuits, and the fact that the city continues to do a terrible job of spelling out in a tangible way how having the USOC here will benefit the community, and it's really no surprise people are having a hard time getting behind this.

I want the USOC here... but this entire process has been very dirty. This whole deal is chock full of political corruption and corporate greed.

[Eeyore]

Based on the news coverage, it sounds like the meeting went pretty much how I expected it would. It does sort of seem like the USOC and LandCo went out of their way to make sure the taxpayers got stuck with the entire bill. Combine that with corruption allegations against the mayor, the various lawsuits, and the fact that the city continues to do a terrible job of spelling out in a tangible way how having the USOC here will benefit the community, and it's really no surprise people are having a hard time getting behind this.

I want the USOC here... but this entire process has been very dirty. This whole deal is choc-full of political corruption and corporate greed.

I agree but I don't think the Springs has any choice. Not sure how the collateral buildings will change things though....

I still say this is one deal when its sad that Pueblo and Colorado Springs do not work together. Combined we could of given them a deal that both cities could afford and one they could not refuse. In the future I hope we start to work together.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I agree but I don't think the Springs has any choice.

Sure it does. It can let the USOC go. This is far from over. (http://csbj.com/2009/08/05/fischer-to-challenge-cops/)

I think the state and some other organizations kicked in some money, so that obviously will have to be a consideration regardless of what ends up happening.

[Eeyore]

I want to say, and I have b4, but that is where this forum has changed me the most. Sure I am not a urbanist and to be honest I don't think I ever will. However, I am finally over my jealousy of the Springs and realize that together we will be a stronger region. That being said I am not perfect.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm not sure what prompted that... but in general I agree with the sentiment.

[Eeyore]

I'm not sure what prompted that... but in general I agree with the sentiment.

That is Eeyore being drunk..... I had some wine at dinner....

:haha:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Ah. That makes sense.

:cheers:

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'd like to adopt a politically centered, "be the change you want to see" type philosophy. Easier said than done.

Tomorrow is the last day I will have to get up at 5 a.m. for the foreseeable future, thanks to a recent promotion. Hopefully I'll be better rested, and therefore less grouchy, once I get adjusted to my new routine.

[acw007]

I am going back since I missed some posts cus I was excited about the rain storm. Don't forget about the Parkview Medical tower in Pueblo. Here is the last picture I took:

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1217.jpg

Look how the crane towers over the sky line. BTW look at the Interstate, it looks so urban.....

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1014.jpg

Old close up, I need a new one. I will post one tomorrow. Also, keep in mind Pueblo has many buildings being built that are from 4-6 stories. No sky scraper but not bad for a city of 100,000 people.

:)

You know "many" is a stretch. One hotel and a six story hospital addition isn't exactly a building boom. The building in Colorado Springs is commercial also, so it could easily be 30ft taller than the park view building. Witch reminds me that Poudre Valley Hospital just added a new medical building and parking ramp across the Lemay from the main hospital. I should post a picture one of these days. That also reminds me of this rendering I ran across the other day from the 60’s when PVH was considering building a 10 story addition and demolishing the older parts of the hospital… I need to do some research.

and wine is gross... :)

[Eeyore]

I'd like to adopt a politically centered, "be the change you want to see" philosophy. Easier said than done.

That I agree with......

:cheers:

[Eeyore]

You know "many" is a stretch. One hotel and a six story hospital addition isn't exactly a building boom. The building in Colorado Springs is commercial also, so it could easily be 30ft taller than the park view building. Witch reminds me that Poudre Valley Hospital just added a new medical building and parking ramp across the Lemay from the main hospital. I should post a picture one of these days. That also reminds me of this rendering I ran across the other day from the 60’s when PVH was considering building a 10 story addition and demolishing the older parts of the hospital… I need to do some research.

and wine is gross... :)

Pueblo has more then those two as we have the police complex, health department, Riverwalk, CSU Pueblo, Central Pueblo and the south side. I am not sure how many but its a fair amount given the economy.

Also, from my understanding a hospital has the same requirements as a commercial building that is why they are using such a large crane. Keep in mind Fort Collins only has one hospital while Pueblo has 2 major regional medical centers that have tall buildings...

Finally, I love wine....

[Front_Range_Guy]

I love wine. I've recently become addicted to Rose wine. The wine that comes out of Canon City is excellent.

[Eeyore]

I love wine. I've recently become addicted to Rose wine. The wine that comes out of Canon City is excellent.

I bet, I want to do a tour.....

[Front_Range_Guy]

You can pick up a bottle at just about any liquor store. I'm interested in taking a tour of the winery, but also somewhat apprehensive because of my irrational fear of all things religious.

[Eeyore]

You can pick up a bottle at just about any liquor store. I'm interested in taking a tour of the winery, but also somewhat apprehensive because of my irrational fear of all things religious.

Thats right, I forget about that but its big in my family because we are itialn, well at least they talk about it....

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm assuming your saying that your family is religious because they are Italian?

[acw007]

Pueblo has more then those two as we have the police complex, health department, Riverwalk, CSU Pueblo, Central Pueblo and the south side. I am not sure how many but its a fair amount given the economy.

Also, from my understanding a hospital has the same requirements as a commercial building that is why they are using such a large crane. Keep in mind Fort Collins only has one hospital while Pueblo has 2 major regional medical centers that have tall buildings...

Finally, I love wine....

Blah. I don’t care to argue any of this. We do just fine with PVH and if you didn’t know PVHS has a campus on Harmony and they plan on adding a cancer and children’s hospital in the near future. So we have four hospitals in the Fort Collins Loveland metro. Six stories is not a tall building. Beer is god. Stick my tongue out. I win. You loose. I’m gong to bed lol.

[Eeyore]

Blah. I don’t care to argue any of this. We do just fine with PVH and if you didn’t know PVHS has a campus on Harmony and they plan on adding a cancer and children’s hospital in the near future. So we have four hospitals in the Fort Collins Loveland metro. Six stories is not a tall building. Beer is god. Stick my tongue out. I win. You loose. I’m gong to bed lol.

LOL if you want to include Loveland then I get to include Colorado Springs so we have more medical centers not to mention a state hospital that is larger then your hospitals combined...

BTW Saint Mary Cowrin already has a major cancer center that is regionally renowned and stroke center and both hospitals have level 2 trauma centers.


:P

[Front_Range_Guy]

It doesn't work that way Eeyore. Fort Collins-Loveland is actually recognized as a single metropolitan area. Colorado Springs-Pueblo is not... and shouldn't be.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Bed sounds like a good idea. Night all.

[Eeyore]

I feel like Saint Paul. When it suites me I say Pueblo is only 100,000 people and look at us however when it suites me I include Colorado Spring and say look what our region has. lol

:jester:

[Eeyore]

007,

Pueblo and Colorado Springs are essentially one region as far as business in concerned and political concerns. Just ask any business person, water works, city council and law enforcement. That is why I want us to work together more because as we grow together its only going to be more in the future. Like it or not Pueblo and Colorado Springs will always be joined at the hip.......

NIGHT ALL!

[Eeyore]

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

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

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1556.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1557.jpg

I have always wanted to say this but never have. I think this shows that Pueblo was the same back in 1909 that we are in 2009. People like me think the city is more important then it really is and that idea has somehow become a culture here. That is why we had to build our county building like the U.S. Capitol, now granted ours is much smaller but the design is the same and how they both are larger then life, one for the nation and one for Pueblo or as most Puebloan's would say the region Pueblo leads.

To give a example I remember as a kid asking where the senate and house of representatives met in the Pueblo county building and did not understand why Pueblo did not have that like the nations capitol....

:haha:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Guess you're right. I love how Occhiato's reaction is all Eeyore-ish.
from chieftain.com (http://www.chieftain.com)

Pepsi Bottling to close
By DENNIS DARROW
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN


The iconic Pepsi Bottling Group distribution center in Pueblo will close in October, the bottling group said Wednesday.

The warehouse's work of trucking Pepsi products throughout Southern Colorado will be combined with an existing distribution center in Colorado Springs, the company said.

Pueblo's center employs about 50 workers.

Many of the workers will be offered the chance to relocate to other distribution centers, Pepsi Bottling Group public relations director Jeff Dahncke said in a statement. "We value our Pueblo employees a great deal and many of them will have the opportunity to relocate to other locations. It's too early to discuss specific staffing plans," Dahncke said.

The pending closure comes as a blow to many in Pueblo, including the Occhiato family, which started distributing Pepsi products in 1938 and ran the site until selling to the bottling group in 1982.

The family's first entry into the distribution business started around the turn of the century with beer deliveries. The family later switched to soft drinks as a result of Prohibition.

The plant supported many Pueblo civic activities, including Colorado State University-Pueblo, where the student center is named after the family.

Also, a number of Occhiato family members - many of whom worked at the plant - rose to prominence as local business, political and civic leaders.

Pueblo City Councilman Mike Occhiato, who spent much of his own business career helping run the plant started by his late grandfather, Mike, said he was stunned by the closure decision.

In the past week, Bottling Group executives paid him a courtesy visit to discuss their plans and, during the talks, Occhiato said he lobbied heavily for keeping the plant open.

"I think it's a bad plan. It's going to disrupt the market. They won't have a presence here. It's going to be a Colorado Springs company.

"I just don't think it's going to work for them, and I told them so," Occhiato said, who between 1982 and 1984 managed the plant for the Bottling Group. Occhiato is now a real estate agent. The consolidation of the Pueblo and Colorado Springs sites is not related to this week's announcement that PepsiCo Inc. is buying Pepsi Bottling Group and another larger bottler, Dahncke said.

PepsiCo Inc. announced on Tuesday plans to buy Pepsi Bottling Group - its largest bottler - and PepsiAmericas for $7.8 billion in an effort to consolidate its drink operations.

PepsiCo had spun off Pepsi Bottling a decade ago.

Bottling Group executives on Wednesday did not detail the reasons for the consolidation beyond stating the move was done to serve customers "more effectively and efficiently," Dahncke said.

Occhiato said he thinks a number of factors went into the decision, including the possibility that part of the plant site could figure into the future makeover of Interstate 25 through Pueblo.

The plant is located adjacent to the interstate near the Indiana Avenue exit.

Planning on the Interstate 25 makeover is ongoing with the Colorado Department of Transportation studying land and property along the highway that might be acquired as part of the redesign.

Occhiato said he was told by Bottling Group executives that uncertainty over whether the highway department would someday seek part of the plant's property was another of the factors in the decision.

Occhiato said he plans to send a letter to PepsiCo executives, asking them to get involved and review the decision given the announcement this week of their purchase of the Bottling Group.

"We built the company on its service. If they don't have service, that consistency and personal touch . . . (and) if they give that up to save a few bucks, they're asking for trouble," Occhiato said.

[Eeyore]

:previous:

I have already been talking about that article with my friends and we agree. Pueblo has always been a "Pepsi town" but not anymore. In fact I can say when the contracts come up in my dads restaurants I will no longer have a issue with us going with coke and in the past I have been one of the main reasons my dad has stayed with Pepsi.

:slob:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Sooo... channel 11 has started doing a 9 a.m. newscast. That's weird. Are they that hard up for programming?

[Eeyore]

That seems odd.... Kind of a weird time......

[Eeyore]

I was thinking more about the county building and personally I would like to see them move the clerical functions out of that buildings and put the city council on one side and the county commissioners on the other side then on the second floor make it the Mayor's office, if we vote to have a mayor. Make that building the political center of Pueblo. They could move all the clerical functions to the current court building after they build the new one.

I know that wont happen but just my thoughts on a Friday.

[pyeblow]

Definitely won't happen, especially since City Council and the County are to separate entities. I don't think the city can operate on the county's property, or at least they wouldn't. I think the city should just work on renovating City/Memorial Hall, make it more attractive.

[Eeyore]

Sometimes I think Pueblo should do what Denver did and consolidate the city and county into one and only have a city council. Then we would be the city and county of Pueblo.

[Eeyore]

In the Denver thread they are talking about Ikea, I guess lack of development news. I know its unlikely but I would like to see them move in by the Riverwalk in downtown Pueblo. That would gives us enough money to extend the Riverwalk to Runyon Lake and Runyon Field.

[acw007]

And by unlikely you mean impossible? There isn’t enough room for an Ikea. Pueblo doesn’t exactly seem like an Ikea kind of town either… If they placed an Ikea in lets say north Denver? That would work. Easy access to Fort Collins and Boulder. College students LOVE cheap furniture.

[Eeyore]

:previous:

I have already been talking about that article with my friends and we agree. Pueblo has always been a "Pepsi town" but not anymore. In fact I can say when the contracts come up in my dads restaurants I will no longer have a issue with us going with coke and in the past I have been one of the main reasons my dad has stayed with Pepsi.

:slob:

This post kind of came off as anti-Springs and at the time I was kind of up set so I wanted to clarify what I meant.

I don't think they should close down any local distributors in Pueblo or Colorado Springs. I know from personal experience that when companies try to do local deliveries from Colorado Springs the service suffers. As both cities grow, and they will grow, it makes more sense to have local distributors in each city. That is why I would switch to Coke because they have a local one and now Pepsi does not, so any issues we have will be better solved with the local company.

I think that is what Mike meant when he said they will be viewed as a Springs company. Then again he comes from the generation that is even more anti Springs then even I can be because he lived during Pueblo's glory days and to be honest is one of the reasons the Springs is bigger as he had the attitude about Pueblo that current politicians have about the Springs now.

:yes:

[Eeyore]

And by unlikely you mean impossible? There isn’t enough room for an Ikea. Pueblo doesn’t exactly seem like an Ikea kind of town either… If they placed an Ikea in lets say north Denver? That would work. Easy access to Fort Collins and Boulder. College students LOVE cheap furniture.

Ikea is cheap, trust me Pueblo loves cheap. Sure most people would not go for the same reasons college kids go, because its the trendy thing to do, but if they could get a good deal they would be there in a NY minute.

As far as the Riverwalk, we have plenty of room. In fact they could take the AT&T parking lot now and build a 3 or 4 story building like the one they have in San Diego and use the parking garage right behind it. Again its unlikely but not impossible. IMO.

[acw007]

The words “Pueblo” & “trendy” do not belong in the same sentence...

[Eeyore]

The words “Pueblo” & “trendy” do not belong in the same sentence...

We do march to our own drum.....

:haha:

[Front_Range_Guy]

What the news didn't say last night is that, according to The Gazette, of the 50 or so people who showed up to the meeting... only 7 people had anything to say. 6 People spoke out against the USOC deal, 1 person was for it. I wouldn't exactly call that an overwhelming outcry against the plan.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1574.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1578.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1576.jpg

As promised here is a updated picture of the new Parkview Medical Center tower. I will say that I like having a "urban" medical center in Pueblo. They have one of Pueblo's largest parking garages and have bought so much more land so I plan on then expending for some time to come with more towers, and since they got a variance to build as high as they want, they are not zoned B-4, I bet a few will be taller then the ones they have now!

[Front_Range_Guy]

Some potentially good news from The Colorado Springs Business Journal. (http://www.csbj.com)

Crowley: El Paso County recession over
by Rob Larimer

Published: August 7,2009

Time posted: 10:02 am

Tags: Fred Crowley, recession

New economic data suggests that El Paso County is pulling out of the recession.

Jobs, housing numbers, car sales and the return of Fort Carson soldiers are some of the economic indicators that point to an emerging economy, said University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Senior Economist Fred Crowley.

Real wages are expected to increase for several more months, and building permit numbers are steady, he said.

Car sales numbers for July are expected to rebound sharply thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program, and sales tax revenue should see a spike because of the new troops at Fort Carson, Crowley said.

Crowley had predicted that the local economy would bottom out during the fourth quarter of last year and would begin to emerge during the first quarter of this year.

The strength of the local economic indicators confirmed his prediction.

The Business Conditions Index now stands at 79.09, up from its March value of 70.4, a 12.35 percent improvement since March.

The Business Conditions Index is a measure of 10 seasonally adjusted local economic indicators, including building permits, enplanements, employment, sales tax, car sales, foreclosures and wages.

“The bottoming of the BCI and significant improvement in several local indicators since March suggests the Colorado Springs economy is probably out of its recession,” Crowley said in his Quarterly Updates and Estimates newsletter.

[Eeyore]

What the news didn't say last night is that, according to The Gazette, of the 50 or so people who showed up to the meeting... only 7 people had anything to say. 6 People spoke out against the USOC deal, 1 person was for it. I wouldn't exactly call that an overwhelming outcry against the plan.

Agreed and one was Doug Bruce and he is against anything in the Springs so IMO does not count. If I had to bet I would say that the other 5 are NYMBYs who are against anything in the Springs too.......

I look for a 4th quater turn around in all of Colorado, maybe a little this quater if we are lucky.....

[Front_Range_Guy]

Nice to see some construction pics Eyeore.

[Eeyore]

Thanks! Next year once this dam recession is over I hope to have some private buildings going up that are this tall or taller.

It was just my luck, Pueblo finally snapped our building drought and had some nice prospects and we get the worse recession since the great depression.

:haha:

[Eeyore]

This was on kktv about Pepsi closing the Pueblo distribution Center. Coke has to be happy about this.....

I am so not a happy camper right now. If they close it I will NEVER drink a Pepsi product again.

:hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell:


http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/52700462.html#

This is a great example why my main goal is for Pueblo to grow, unless we get more population this will happen more and more. With companies it all a numbers game.....


I so need some good news in the Chieftain tomorrow, anything....

:fingerscrossed:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Uh. That's what the article I posted earlier said. I'm confused as to why your just now getting angry about this.

[Eeyore]

They had a live report in Pueblo and this shows the video plus it talks about how they will have to drive the trucks to Pueblo then La junta. I just saw it on my google alerts so it reminded me. I know its about the same thing you posted but it has been eating at me all day and I am sooooooooooooo pissed now I can barely see. Remember when I said I don't get mad when people make fun of me or I get rejected but when Pueblo gets rejected then I am about ready to fight and that is how I feel right now......

The best example was in Stat Trek when Scotty got into a fight with the Klingons. Captain Kirk asked why. Did they make fun of him, he said never he can handle that. Then Kirk goes did they make fun of me, he said never you tell us to control our selves. He said what then? He said they made fun of the Enterprise. He said you got into a fight over the Enterprise. He said yes, I have to stand up for her honor.


I know it does not make any sense but I have always been that way.

[Front_Range_Guy]

It makes sense that you're angry. It doesn't make sense that it took you so long to get angry.

For what it's worth, here's KRDO's coverage (http://www.krdo.com/global/story.asp?s=10869614).

[Eeyore]

I have been mad all day its just been building. I already informed my dad that when our contract comes up we will no longer have Pepsi and he agreed but I think he mostly did because he does not care and knows it is important to me....

Also, for some reson seeing it on tv made it more real......

Thanks. I will watch it now. The only reason I saw KKTV was it came across my google alerts.

[Eeyore]

At lest Pueblo got some much needed good news today!

:D

The Midtown Post Office will remain open through at least 2010, Pueblo's postmaster said Friday.

Although things seem to change daily at the U.S. Postal Service, said Postmaster Bob Podio.

"Midtown should be OK through December 2010," Podio said Friday. "The Belmont office should be pretty safe, too."

On July 21, Podio told The Pueblo Chieftain that Midtown's future was uncertain and that Belmont was also on the list of 3,200 offices nationwide under threat of closure.

But by July 27, when he went on vacation, Podio said it looked as if both offices were off the closure listing. When he returned to work on Wednesday, "they were (both) high on the (closure) list."

"I worked all day Wednesday with my superiors to get them off the list," Podio said Friday. Podio's superiors include the district manager, who oversees Wyoming and Colorado.

Thursday evening, Podio met with people who wanted to save Midtown, located in the Midtown Shopping Center, 1000 W. Sixth St., including state Sen. Abel Tapia, state Rep. Sal Pace and City Council President Vera Ortegon and members of the Downtown Association.

"I'm very impressed by Senator Tapia, Representative Pace and Councilwoman Ortegon," Podio said. "They really stepped up."

Podio said more will be known next year when the Midtown lease is negotiated. It currently runs through 2010 with Sound Venture Reality, owners of Midtown.

"We'll know more next year, if the lease negotiations go well," Podio said.

Louie Carleo of Sound Venture said he was pleased to hear the office would remain open for the foreseeable future. "We'll do everything we can to keep them," Carleo said Friday.

Podio said he has been contacted by just two people opposed to closure since the issue first arose last month. But the Downtown Association was worried about the possibility, said Margaret Ward-Masias, its executive director.

"We just feel like we can't afford to have a Downtown without a postal presence," Ward said. "We basically petitioned (Podio). Abel, Sal and Vera were adamant that we needed to keep that post office there.

"While there are few big businesses Downtown, there are many small businesses and 13,000 employees Downtown," she said. "We contacted both our U.S. senators and (Rep.) John Salazar, and feel we got some help from them."

Podio said things look solid right now, but warned that the situation could be fluid because of the financial difficulties the postal service faces.

[Eeyore]

This should help Pueblo get out of the worse recession since the great depression...

The rainbow after a hailstorm does end in a pot of gold, as the aftermath of last week's pounding reminds Puebloans.

Payout of the projected $106 million in insurance claims from the July 30 blast began in earnest this week. The city also is bustling with an influx of insurance adjusters and skilled laborers.

Puebloans know well the economic jolt that can come in the aftermath of a damaging storm. Fresh on their minds is the August 2007 hailstorm.

Amid rising local jobless rates and a crash in new home construction, the 2007 hail hit and overall sales activity in Pueblo spiked. A wave of unrelated new commercial construction also contributed.

This summer, Pueblo's even more firmly gripped in a recession with a jobless rate near 9 percent, home construction at historic lows and sales activity down 7 percent compared to a year ago.

Residents hope for a bigger silver lining than ever.

They should receive their wish.

The estimated insurance claims from last week's storm are nearly twice as high as the $60 million price tag put on the 2007 battering, the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said this week.

The 2009 storm may rank as Pueblo's costliest - and the state's 10th costliest - ever, the agency said.

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/08/08/business/local/doc4a7cdf98afb85193025238.txt

[citycenter]

so let me make sure I am understanding this correctly... Things are soo bad in Pueblo that it takes a HAIL and WIND storm to create jobs for you guys????? And on top of it the NEWSPAPER gets so excited about all of these insurance adjustors coming to town that they actually publish something in the paper? WoW!!! You guys really do things differently in Pueblo! :jester:

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah. I've never heard of a city hoping for a natural disaster to spur economic development.

[Eeyore]

I agree Pueblo does march to the beat of our own drum, in a way that is what makes Pueblo well Pueblo! We got bad news yesterday but the city did not let it keep it down, even if it did get me down.

That being said its proven that neutral disasters help spur economic development. Now I would never wish for anything like a hurricane or tornado or earthquake where lives are lost and lives ruined but a little hail storm is different. Yes it can cause injury but for the most part they are minor and lives are not ruined but the economic impact is still felt. Our sales tax will be up for the next 6 to 9 months, people will be working thus spending money and many out of town people are here and right at the right time too. And with 40% of the cars being totaled and more damaged dealerships will be busy.....

I agree, alone this would not end the recession but combined with the other good news it should do the trick. Vesta's is about to open its plant and hire 550 people, as city center said they will build 2 more large buildings and hire hundreds of people on top of the 550 people. This is before any suppliers move in and I have been told it will be soon as well. Then if we get the boulder truck company, and we have a good shot and we are the most logical place for a manufacturing plant of its size in Colorado, they will hire thousands of people and have even more suppliers. Serento will start soon causing more construction activity, when/if Pueblo gets the largest solar plant in the world they will hire hundreds of people to construct it. Not to mention what is going on at the chemical depot and the hundreds of millions that is now being spent as that goes into full swing. And of course CSU Pueblo's growth with Thundervillage.....

I now predict a 3rd quarter recovery for the Pueblo metro area.

:yes:

[Crush_Buds]

I agree Pueblo does march to the beat of our own drum, in a way that is what makes Pueblo well Pueblo! We got bad news yesterday but the city did not let it keep it down, even if it did get me down.

That being said its proven that neutral disasters help spur economic development.



Please show me a scientific study showing so. Not just one coincidental trend from 2007. I highly doubt that. Insurance helps replace, not add on, especially during the height of a recession as you have already stated.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1588.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1589.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1590.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1591.jpg

I never posted my favorite "new" building. Now we all know my favorite Highrise is the Wells Fargo building but I thought I would post the Library building because it is articulately nice and one of the best public libraries in the state.

[Eeyore]

Please show me a scientific study showing so. Not just one coincidental trend from 2007. I highly doubt that. Insurance helps replace, not add on, especially during the height of a recession as you have already stated.

Just look at this article as it explains it:

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/08/08/business/local/doc4a7cdf98afb85193025238.txt

[Eeyore]

Please show me a scientific study showing so. Not just one coincidental trend from 2007. I highly doubt that. Insurance helps replace, not add on, especially during the height of a recession as you have already stated.

Or look at this:

How disasters help

Natural disasters can give a boost to the countries where they occur - and sometimes, the more the better

THE EARTHQUAKE THAT struck China's Sichuan Province in May left behind scenes of almost apocalyptic devastation: mountaintops sheared off into valleys, cities reduced to rubble and dust, cracked dams, collapsed bridges, and at least 80,000 dead.

If the Chinese government is to be believed, the earthquake also did something else: it helped the country's economy. A little over a month after the quake, the State Information Center, a Chinese government research body, announced that the massive rebuilding effort, and the billions of dollars it would pump into the Chinese economy, would far outweigh the economic losses from the quake, enough to bump up national economic growth by 0.3 percent - a small but not insignificant part of a 2008 growth rate most estimates put at just under 10 percent.

The link: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/07/06/how_disasters_help/



Look at this from the NY Times:



Studies have found that earthquakes in California and Alaska helped spur economic activity there, and that countries with more hurricanes and storms tend to see higher rates of growth. Some of the most recent studies have found a link between disasters and subsequent innovation.


The link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/business/worldbusiness/08iht-disasters.4.14335899.html

[Crush_Buds]

Even the NY times article states that the idea is a theory, and not a actually casual relationship. I think there are many other important factors to the rebuilding and growth after a disaster that can easily not guarantee flourishing success. Especially when the US cities mentioned in the article LA, Anchorage, and parts of Florida, and that these events noted in the article happened at least almost 20 years ago besides Chinese and Japanese earthquakes. And sadly, this article talks about major disasters and not hail storms. Disasters where a vast amount of entire buildings need to be replaced. I'm not saying it won't happen in Pueblo, I just think its hard to say..."it's already been proven," because it has not. The article clearly states that.

"The study of the economics of disasters remains a small field, with few major papers. And skeptics charge disaster economists with oversimplifying enormously complex economic systems and seeing illusory effects that stem only from the crudeness of the available economic measuring tools."

[Eeyore]

Even the NY times article states that the idea is a theory, and not a actually casual relationship. I think there are many other important factors to the rebuilding and growth after a disaster that can easily not guarantee flourishing success. Especially when the US cities mentioned in the article LA, Anchorage, and parts of Florida, and that these events noted in the article happened at least almost 20 years ago besides Chinese and Japanese earthquakes. And sadly, this article talks about major disasters and not hail storms. Disasters where a vast amount of entire buildings need to be replaced. I'm not saying it won't happen in Pueblo, I just think its hard to say..."it's already been proven," because it has not. The article clearly states that.

There was over $ 106 million dollars in damage that the insurance companies will be paying off the rest of the year. Keep in mine Pueblo is only 100,000 people. To put that in perspective that would be about 2.5 billion dollars being spent in the Denver metro area. That will have a major impact on the Pueblo economy. I agree, and said so in the post, that alone it would not get us out of the recession but with the other planed developments it should do the trick. We will see if I am right or wrong!

[acw007]

Is "artchcertatle" one of them words that only fancy people in cosmopolitan cities like Pueblo use?

The library is obviously lovely and probably the only new building in Pueblo that doesn't look cheap and generic. I would like to see it person... maybe I'll befriend somebody at the super max so I have an excuse to go down there. :)

[Eeyore]

LOL I fixed the word....

:P

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1584.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1585.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1586.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1587.jpg

While on my way to the library I thought I would take pictures of the new police complex and the Catholic building going up by the Riverwalk.

[Eeyore]

As a side note tomorrow I am going hiking at the Pueblo Mountain Park. I will take pictures of the historic park and post them on Monday!

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm starting to hate the word historic.

[Eeyore]

Why is that?

[pyeblow]

The Catholic Pastoral Center thingy is only two stories? What gives?

[Eeyore]

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

Its not a highrise I want but it's a nice building and a nice filler for the area.

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1581.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1579.jpg

I went to this restaurant last night. It does not look like much but this is another local restaurant/ bar that Pueblo is famous for. This place has one of the best prime ribs in the city and has been around for decades.

:tup:

[acw007]

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

Its not a highrise I want but it's a nice building and a nice filler for the area.

eww...

[Eeyore]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp25/josseppie/IMG_1583.jpg

This is the CSU Pueblo dorm. Not the best picture but shows all the windows it has in the main part!

[Eeyore]

007,

Why is it that Fort Collins only has one medial center? I always thought with the size of town and how big CSU Fort Collins was they should have 2. Even your one hospital is not that big either....

[acw007]

Like I said yesterday we have two hospitals. Poudre Valley and the Harmony campus. Between the two of them they employ more than Parkview and St Mary Combined. PVHs employs more than 3,000 people in the city. Parkview employs 1700 and saint mary employs around 1000. We do more than well with PVH witch is the only hospital in the state to be named one of the 100 hospitals in the world for 6 years in a row. PVH is extremely well situated in our city as well so there is no need for another hospital. We are also one of the healthiest cities around so our hospital isn’t exactly busy.

In addition to the main hospital and the Harmony campus, Poudre Valley Health Systems also operates MCR in Loveland and a small hospital in Windsor.

[Eeyore]

This is a Saturday night and I am bored so I was looking up things and I had already mentioned that when the new police complex is done that a developer wants to put a condo/hotel highrise at the current site. I know its unlikely but I would like to see something like this.

The description:

The Pueblo Tower at the Riverwalk could vault 24 to 28 stories into the downtown sky, bringing with it an entirely new concept in residential living: the condominium/ hotel/ re-tail building. The top floor would be a perfect fine dining restaurant.

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

:fingerscrossed: :fingerscrossed: :fingerscrossed: :fingerscrossed: :fingerscrossed:

[Eeyore]

Like I said yesterday we have two hospitals. Poudre Valley and the Harmony campus. Between the two of them they employ more than Parkview and St Mary Combined. PVHs employs more than 3,000 people in the city. Parkview employs 1700 and saint mary employs around 1000. We do more than well with PVH witch is the only hospital in the state to be named one of the 100 hospitals in the world for 6 years in a row. PVH is extremely well situated in our city as well so there is no need for another hospital. We are also one of the healthiest cities around so our hospital isn’t exactly busy.

In addition to the main hospital and the Harmony campus, Poudre Valley Health Systems also operates MCR in Loveland and a small hospital in Windsor.

You do not know about our Park West that is like your Harmony Campus. Plus Pueblo West has a Parkview as well.

Not sure about your stats, just by looking at the buildings you can tell that Saint Mary Corwin and Parkview are bigger.

[Eeyore]

Parkview Medical Center is the largest non-government, nonprofit, private sector employer in Pueblo County with 1,972 employees and provides a skilled medical staff of 308 physicians. The impact of our workforce triggers a strong impact on the community as Parkview’s annual payroll contributes $78 million to the economy.

Saint Mary Corwin

By the Numbers:
1,073 associates
335 affiliated physicians
408 licensed beds
8,113 annual admissions*
34,983 annual emergency room visits*
$27.4 million in uncompensated and charity care provided annually*
* For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007



Emergency services; Level II trauma center and Flight For Life helicopter base
Stroke Center with disease-specific certification for high quality care for acute stroke Intensivist’s program to complement intensive care services
Outstanding oncology services and one of the leading cancer centers in Colorado, The Reverend Roger Patrick Dorcy Cancer Center
Comprehensive cardiovascular program including diagnostic, interventional and non-invasive procedures, electrophysiology, Neurodiagnostic Center and cardiac rehabilitation
Comprehensive diabetes care, including an award-winning patient education program
Inpatient and outpatient surgery services
Inpatient, acute, medical rehabilitation unit; inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation services; speech therapy; occupational therapy; extended care facility
State-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic services, including the accredited stereotactic Breast Screening & Diagnostic Center; 64 and 32-slice CT scan, angiography, EKG, ultrasound, PET CT and MRI
Interventional radiology program with vascular access services and percutaneous vascular stenting
A full range of services for women and newborns, including The Birth Place for labor and delivery, a certified Level II newborn nursery and a variety of classes for expectant families
Largest, accredited family practice residency program south of Denver; Southern Colorado Family Medicine
Comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery and neuro rehabilitation service, including minimally invasive spine surgery
Ambulatory Infusion Center
Acute hemodialysis, peritonial dialysis and phenesis services
Innovative perioperative holding area providing a more inclusive environment for family involvement at all phases of the perioperative experience
Pharmacy-directed services, including diabetes prevention, coumadin clinic, lipid clinic, intravenous iron and erythroporetin therapy for anemia



Established the first stroke center in Colorado and awarded with a Certificate of Completion by the National Stroke Association
Recognized by the American Heart Association for successfully implementing AHA guidelines for cardiac care and stroke
Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Accredited clinical and anatomical reference laboratory and blood transfusion services
Received the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for diabetes education and wound care
Designated by the State of Colorado as a Level II Trauma Center.
Recognized by the Adam Williams Traumatic Brain Injury Foundation.

Given the fact we are only 150,000 people that's a lot! Keep in mind this does not include the Park West medical campus and it is growing.....

[Eeyore]

I forgot to include the Colorado State Hospital:

Statistics
CMHIP is located on 300 plus acres in northwest Pueblo and is the state’s largest public psychiatric hospital and the only hospital serving the Forensic population.

CMHIP operates as an agency of the Colorado Department of Human Services and provides services for approximately 3,000 citizens per year.

We employ 1,028 staff with an annual payroll of approximately $33.3 million. CMHIP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer.

Fees for service are assessed on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay. Medicaid and Medicare pay hospital costs for eligible clients. No one is denied admission due to the inability to pay.

Our current bed capacity is 458 and is allocated as follows:

Geriatric/Adult/Adolescent Psychiatric Services (GAAPS) :
Adult population (64 beds): Provides inpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment to adults with acute mental illness. Individualized treatment programs are created to meet the needs of each patient.
Circle (20 beds), a specialty program, is unique in that it treats people who abuse substances and who also have serious psychiatric disorders.
Geriatric Treatment Center (40 beds): Provides inpatient geropsychiatric services to persons 59 years of age and older. Hospitalization is designed to provide acute psychiatric treatment to patients with social/behavioral problems, depression or dementia.
Locked Adolescent Unit (16 beds): Provides inpatient psychiatric care services for older children and adolescents in a locked setting.

Institute for Forensic Psychiatry (298 beds): Serves individuals with mental illness referred by the criminal justice system. Evaluation and treatment services are provided to adults pre-trial, post-conviction or following acquittal by reason of insanity.

Medical/Surgical Services (20 beds): Provides medical, surgical and dental care services to patients of Colorado Mental Health Institutes at Pueblo and Fort Logan, Pueblo Regional Center and clients from the Department of Human Services and Department of Corrections

:whip:

[acw007]

I don’t care. Like I said before we are very well served by one of the best hospitals in the nation that by its self employs more people than your two crappy hospitals together. I don’t need to argue petty shit like this with you all the time. And just because you say something looks bigger to you doesn’t make a single difference. You also call a eight story building a highrise. Does you calling it that change the fact that it’s a squatty ugly building? Nope. If we had any need for another hospital we would have another hospital. Let it go.

[Eeyore]

I know it turned into that but to be honest my intent was to say I would not be surprised if Fort Collins got another major hospital in the next 10 years. Not to compare it to Pueblo.

[acw007]

Banner health, which operates Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and McKee Medical Center in Loveland has been trying to build one here for years and recently put in a urgent care clinic on Harmony. They’re totally going to open a hospital here to get back at us for opening MCR in Loveland. lol

[Eeyore]

LOL I can see that. Its a numbers game. The larger Fort Collins gets you will need more bed space in the hospital, pure and simple.

[acw007]

PVH has more than enough room to expand. They just wrapped up construction of a five story surgery center and parking ramp across Lemay from the main building. They still have alot room to grow on their 90 acre campus. And The Harmony Campus is intended to become a major medical center. PVHS is in a giant funding campaign to build the cancer hospital and children’s hospital I mentioned the other day. They already employ more than 1,000 people at that campus.

[Eeyore]

You guys are more dense... So I guess that makes more sense. Why double up on services....