[Front_Range_Guy]

It means at my station we're too busy chasing around crimes and crashes to cover community events like this food wars thing. Sad but true.

On a less sarcastic note, the fact that Mike Daniels was hosting the event was reason enough for us to steer clear of it.

[Eeyore]

LOL and Mike Danniels did a live report from the depot about it. I guess that shows the difference between a city with a MSA population of 160,000 and a city with a MSA population of 600,000 people.

You know just tossing this out there but perhaps if Pueblo were to grow to the size of Colorado Spring I would not be as happy as I think I would be because I like the small town feel of Pueblo and how events that are unimportant in cities like Colorado Springs and Denver are front page news here.

Edit: I think if they picked one person from one station to be a judge they should of given the option to the other 2 stations out of courtesy.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Food Wars being in town is news. I don't know if it warrants live coverage. I'm guessing KOAA sponsored the event and that's why they covered it the way they did.

There seems to be a unique group think down there. If you want to be a successful politician in Pueblo, say something bad about Colorado Springs. If you want to be a successful media outlet in Pueblo, talk about how wonderful Pueblo is. I don't know if this is because of the size of the city, or other cultural and socio-economic factors.

Either way, I still maintain that just because KOAA knows how to play it's Pueblo audience doesn't mean that's where it's staffers want to be.

I haven't watched lately. Does Lisa still anchor from Colorado Springs on Thursday's?

[Eeyore]

I agree with your take on Pueblo and that would be a interesting study to compare Pueblo to other cities of similar size to see why, but only to me so I am sure its not worth the time and money.

I bet with any company some people who work for KOAA love being in Pueblo and some hate it. I know I was talking to the main director at one time and he loved being in Pueblo and does not want it to grow even though it would help the station because he likes small towns. And you have people like Mike Danniels and Lee Douglass who seem to like living here while people like Lisa Lyden do not and that is why she got her "princes" news studio in the Springs.

On another note I am still mad about the Springs back drop at 10 so I have stopped watching the late news. I am interested to see the new ratings so I can find out if I am alone in Pueblo on this or not.

As far as if Lisa still anchors from the Springs on Thursdays I have not watched lately either. I would watch the early newscasts but I am rarely home before 6:30 and like I said I just can't watch the late news with the Springs backdrop.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm flipping between 5, 11, and 13.

I'm not convinced KOAA knows that PPCC's centennial campus is locked down because of a possible gunman. I didn't see 11 report it either, but they have it on their web. 13 had a phone interview with someone locked in the library.

Situation apparently is resolved.

[Front_Range_Guy]

On another note I am still mad about the Springs back drop at 10 so I have stopped watching the late news. I am interested to see the new ratings so I can find out if I am alone in Pueblo on this or not.


The set didn't seem to have much of an affect in February. The trend of KOAA being number 1 in overall households, but losing viewers fast in key demos continued. That's why you are seeing the changes at KOAA. They are trying to hold on to their majority older viewers by continuing to do what they've always done, but they're also trying to quit bleeding 18-54 adults by essentially copying KRDO, which is where all of those viewers are going. KRDO won demos in February which is what matters when setting ad rates.

[Eeyore]

Interesting.

[Front_Range_Guy]

This Gazette article (http://www.gazette.com/articles/tejon-98330-downtown-bit.html)is Chieftain-esqe.

[Eeyore]

Yes it is.

Question: When you talked about the numbers increasing for KRDO in the key demographic were you talking about Colorado Springs or both Colorado Springs and Pueblo?

[Front_Range_Guy]

Overall for the entire DMA. I don't know the specific breakdown county by county. I would assume KOAA wins Pueblo in households and demos, though.

[Eeyore]

Have you seen the radio arbatron? With the new stations in Pueblo I was wondering how they were doing compared to Clear Channel?

BTW I was talking to my dad about what you said about Pueblo and he thinks part of it is because Pueblo has not grown much so you have less new people moving to the city. That means the people here have been here for years and with Colorado Springs having a history of calling Pueblo "P- u town" there has been a resentment that is part of the fabric of the city. So when politicians and media outlets talk about it they are liked.

[Front_Range_Guy]

That's as good of an explanation as any.

No, I don't really follow radio ratings. Usually The Gazette publishes them when they come out, though.

[Eeyore]

Is KKTV still struggling? What about the other stations like fox?

[Front_Range_Guy]

FOX didn't even show up in the last ratings. There is almost literally no one watching their newscasts. KKTV is in about the same position they were last time we talked. I'm not sure if Gray has made any progress straightening out it's finances. I doubt it. The election should give everyone a little boost from political ad sales.

I have to drive to Pueblo to pick up my friend in an hour. I dread that stretch between South Academy and PPIR.

[Eeyore]

FOX didn't even show up in the last ratings. There is almost literally no one watching their newscasts. KKTV is in about the same position they were last time we talked. I'm not sure if Gray has made any progress straightening out it's finances. I doubt it. The election should give everyone a little boost from political ad sales.

I have to drive to Pueblo to pick up my friend in an hour. I dread that stretch between South Academy and PPIR.

KKTV, wow is all I can say. They ruined that station.

Why do you not like the stretch between South Academy and PPIR? Just being nosy, is this a friend or "friend"?

:)

[Front_Range_Guy]

No quotation marks, unfortunately.

There tends to be a lot of horrible crashes on that stretch of highway. I prefer to avoid it.

[Eeyore]

There has been lately plus a lot of traffic between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. I don't get why CDOT does not expand it to 6 lanes. They should get it done now and be pro active not retro active like they usually are.

Not having quotation marks might be a good thing. I have that with a friend but he is not a boi fiend but not a friend. I am not sure what we are and that is just a lot of stress. Mainly because he is more high maintaience then even me!

It should be cold tonight, my central heat is on now. I hear its because of the volcano in Iceland and it will be a cool and wet summer.

[Front_Range_Guy]

There has been lately plus a lot of traffic between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. I don't get why CDOT does not expand it to 6 lanes. They should get it done now and be pro active not retro active like they usually are.

Not having quotation marks might be a good thing. I have that with a friend but he is not a boi fiend but not a friend. I am not sure what we are and that is just a lot of stress. Mainly because he is more high maintaience then even me!

It should be cold tonight, my central heat is on now. I hear its because of the volcano in Iceland and it will be a cool and wet summer.

I don't know if it needs to be 6 lanes. The biggest problem I have on that stretch of highway is that there are so many people that drive below the speed limit. You're not supposed to drive in the left lane, but it's impossible to stay in the right lane, because there's some jackass going 60 every couple of feet in the right lane. I get annoyed having to pass every 5 seconds.

Actually the friend I was talking about is a female, so there's no drama there at all. I have had friends with benefits type situations in the past. I liked it. Fun but no strings, works for me. I'm low maintenance, and I have no tolerance for high maintenance. I think this is part of the reason I struggle socially. I don't have the desire or energy to be a snob, and I sure as hell don't want to be around snobs. Life is so temporary. Simple is the way to go.

We're still early in May. I doubt temps are that far off normal. I think I read that the average last freeze in Colorado Springs happens May 8.

[Eeyore]

I don't know if it needs to be 6 lanes. The biggest problem I have on that stretch of highway is that there are so many people that drive below the speed limit. You're not supposed to drive in the left lane, but it's impossible to stay in the right lane, because there's some jackass going 60 every couple of feet in the right lane. I get annoyed having to pass every 5 seconds.

Actually the friend I was talking about is a female, so there's no drama there at all. I have had friends with benefits type situations in the past. I liked it. Fun but no strings, works for me. I'm low maintenance, and I have no tolerance for high maintenance. Life is so temporary. Simple is the way to go.

We're still early in May. I doubt temps are that far off normal. I think I read that the average last freeze in Colorado Springs happens May 8.

I should be honost. I just want I-25 to be 6 lanes because it would be more fun to drive on for me. I, also, just want a cool and wet summer so maybe that is wishfull thinking.

The thing is he and I are not friends with benefits either. Its a long story but the same guy I have been talking about for a while on here whom I might or might not date.

I am going out to eat but will be back on after.

[Front_Range_Guy]

It sounds like the situation is more stress than it's worth.


I would love another stormy summer, but last year was pretty wet, so I'm not really expecting the same again this year.

[Eeyore]

It is but for some reason I really like him.

I always hope for storms.

I just got back from downtown, I had dinner on Union Ave and they had "Friday Art Night". I was talking to the coordinator and she told me the new name for the area that includes the Riverwalk is E district. I kind of like it see if it catches on.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I went to Loonies Comedy Corner. It was fun. The service was slow and the venue was run down, but the comedians were funny enough.

You really like him? Does he really like you? Where can I see his picture? :D

[Eeyore]

I went to Loonies Comedy Corner. It was fun. The service was slow and the venue was run down, but the comedians were funny enough.

You really like him? Does he really like you? Where can I see his picture? :D

Local places can be great. That is why I have stated going to local musical productions. That is, also, why I have started supporting the local scene as well. In fact I am going to the Sangre De Cristo Gala next month for the first time.

I do but he is hard to figure out and high maintenance and that is not a good combnination. So right now I am doing my own thing and seeing how things play out.

I do have a few pictures of he and I on our trip to Orlando. If you want I can e-mail you one.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah, I wanna see. Can you e-mail it to me on Facebook?

Is he playing games with you? Don't let him string you along...

[Eeyore]

I will e-mail you a pic tonight when I get off work.

He is playing games and that is why I have decided to do my own thing, be his friend and see where it goes as I am tired of trying. The one good thing is he is in Bakersfield, California helping his mom and won't be back here until next spring so that is giving me time to think and not see him around town. However, since he is so high maintenance I am not sure he will make it there till next spring, hell he might not even make it thru the summer as he is hard to live with.

BTW I am glad he does not know about this site as I would be in big trouble if he read it lol

[Front_Range_Guy]

:haha:

[Eeyore]

I saw this in the Chieftain about the cost of the SDS. This looks like it is a lot more then previous stated. Plus it does not include other parts of the project that must be built that could push the cost of the project to over $3 billion dollars. It will be interesting to see how their economy handles the cost.

Financing for the first phase of the Southern Delivery System will push costs for Colorado Springs to $2.3 billion, a financial analysis of the project reveals.

The cost includes inflation over the next six years and financing for bonds, according to a memo to Colorado Springs City Council released this week.

The information followed questions raised about financing at a City Council meeting in April.

Council will act next week on a measure to increase water rates by 12 percent over the next two years. Similar hikes through 2016 would double water rates for Colorado Springs residents.

The costs do not include two reservoirs that would be built on Williams Creek sometime after 2020 or expansion of pumping and treatment plants that could add another $387 million to $774 million in today’s dollars, just for construction.

The financing costs for the future projects have not been calculated, said Dave Grossman, Colorado Springs Utilities spokesman.

The link: http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_28b05130-5a7e-11df-bbd5-001cc4c03286.html

[Fir Na Tine 343]

FRG,

Did you move, are you in the Springs now? I just noticed you changed a lot of things around on your header.

[Front_Range_Guy]

No. I Still live in Security and work at 8th & Cimarron like I have for the last 4 years. I guess it's not really true that I'm Live in Colorado Springs, but I'm in the Colorado Springs metro. Close enough, plus I post from work a lot.

[Front_Range_Guy]

So I went to my friends birthday bbq in Washington Park in Denver, and a couple of us went to get coffee. We ended up at Ink Coffee at the 16th street mall. We ended up trapped in the middle of a huge gang fight. Someone was wearing red ::gasp:: I was sort of cornered. They were beating the shit out of the guy at my feet. It was weird how they just ignored the fact I was there and focused on beating their target. Once the crowd cleared, some people in purple rushed in and washed the blood off the sidewalk. Several minutes later a squad car came. The cops asked a few questions, blamed the fight on people attending the cinco de mayo celebration and basically made themselves out to be huge racists against Mexicans, then said they were too busy to deal with this and left. Rather an eye opening afternoon.

I've never seen someone get beat down up close like that, and I've never been so sure that I was next.

[Eeyore]

WOW is all I can say. Glad you made it home safely.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm a little angry this morning. I'd like to think that I won't stop going to downtown Denver over something like this, but the fact is, the 3 of us are damn lucky we weren't hurt. One of the guys who was with us lost a wallet, and when we were talking to the cops and some of the guys who were involved were standing down the block watching us... I never wanted to get the hell out of a place as bad as I did right then and there. It pisses me off that I'm going to have to think twice about downtown Denver from now on, and whether or not I want to put myself in the position to potentially have to go through something like that again, which I do not.

[acw007]

Today the Coloradoan had a very detailed article about the state of the brewing industry in Fort Collins. Its definitely worth a read. (http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100509/BUSINESS/5090315/Craft-beer-industry-growing-in-Fort-Collins)

[Crush_Buds]

Wow FRG. That's nuts. I've seen stuff like that happen a couple of times. One time I was walking down 15th and saw a huge fight about to happen across the street. A cop pulled up at the light in front of me and I said, "hey there is a fight going on right there" and pointed directly across the street. The cop looked at me to his right, pointed straight ahead in his direction, and said, "I'm going that way," and drove off. He didn't even turn his head a whole 90 degrees to the left to see what was going on. Fucking cops.

I hope you don't let it all get you down on downtown Denver. Don't let the douche bags win by pushing you out. I feel very safe downtown, I just always keep my head up.

:tup:

[Eeyore]

I know where you are coming from as one time in London I was chased because I was gay by a group of people who wanted to kill me. Fortunately I can run fast and got away. That being said I agree with Crush Buds when he says you can't let certain people run your life because then they win.

[Front_Range_Guy]

True enough. I know that. I might be a little more selective about exactly where I go, when, and why, but I'm not going to write off downtown Denver over this. I've already made changes as far as when I will go downtown in Colorado Springs and where I will go because all of the violence over the last couple of years. I just need to be a little more aware, and a little smarter about where I go, when, and why.

I've always had rose colored glasses when it comes to Denver. I've always sort of held the place and it's people up on an unrealistic pedestal, and probably have made some pretty dumb decisions over the years because of it. Yesterday was a reality check that I can't leave my brain in Colorado Springs.

[Midnight Cowboy]

One time I was riding the subway in NYC, and a fight broke out between four morons. Everyone in the subway car that was not fighting crowded to one side to let these idiots beat the crap out of one another. The subway is typically a safe place to be, that was the only fight I ever saw on one, and I doubt that anyone on the subway that day stopped taking public transportation. The truth of the matter is, bad things happen, sometimes right in front of you. The good news is this has already happened to you once, so the likelihood of it happening again is pretty slim. I am willing to bet the next hundred times you go to downtown this will not repeat itself.

[Front_Range_Guy]

:previous:

True.

[Midnight Cowboy]

Deleted

[Front_Range_Guy]

It's probably best to just laugh it off and move on with life.

[Eeyore]

And learn from it. Like you I was not aware of my surroundings as much as I should of been when I went out, even in foreign countries. As I look back I was really lucky nothing never happened to me. For example the night before I had to run in London I was out with my friends and I was drunk as hell and lost them. So I was alone in a city I did not know and when girls cam up to me hitting on me, I think they were hookers, I said "no thanks I am gay" and I am sure everyone heard. Not a smart thing to do but I thought gay bashing "only happens to other people not me". Obviously I do not do that anymore.

[Front_Range_Guy]

On an intellectual level I know this is not true, but on some weird other level I tend to have the attitude that there are only bad people in Colorado Springs, and that the rest of the world is full of nice happy open minded people who just want to live their lives... and I tend to let my guard down when I leave town because of it.

[Eeyore]

Perhaps that is because you work in the Springs media so you see what happens there, good and bad, where in other towns you mostly only see the good. Kind of the opposite of me as I only like to view the good things that happen in Pueblo and ignore the bad but am quick to look at the bad stories in other cities.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I tend to only see the bad. I'm working on changing that, but it's sort of my nature.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I just read the beer article. Brewery employees make $70k a year?! Where do I sign up?

[bunt_q]

Where do I sign up?

Denver. A mysterious land of tulips and breweries, where the happy open-minded folk frolic all day long. ;)

[Front_Range_Guy]

:haha:

[TonyAnderson]

So did the guy they beat down just get up and leave, or what?

[Front_Range_Guy]

Yeah. A couple of people came and helped him up. They didn't beat him unconscious or anything. He left behind some splatters of blood, a glasses lense, and a little spray can... maybe axe or something like that.

[acw007]

Axe is gross and tacky. Thats why he got beat up. :)

[TonyAnderson]

Lol, what kind of gangbanger was this?

[Front_Range_Guy]

It was a blue vs. red thing, and may have been racially motivated too. Black vs. Mexican. I'm not sure which group was representing which gang.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Tonight the Colorado Springs City Council approved the the urban renewal designation for the proposed Copper Ridge Mall site near Northgate and I-25. Most likely a desperation move to try to spur the economy, generate tax revenue for the general fund, and generate revenue to go towards extending Powers Blvd. to I-25. The developer has promised to contribute money to extend Powers. Council also approved water rate increases of 12% in January, and in 2012 to pay for the Southern Delivery System. City council also approved the $4.5 million dollar purchase of a shopping center near Woodmen and Academy to make room for the expansion of Woodmen Road.

[bunt_q]

Tonight the Colorado Springs City Council approved the the urban renewal designation for the proposed Copper Ridge Mall site near Northgate and I-25. Most likely a desperation move to try to spur the economy, generate tax revenue for the general fund, and generate revenue to go towards extending Powers Blvd. to I-25. The developer has promised to contribute money to extend Powers. Council also approved water rate increases of 12% in January, and in 2012 to pay for the Southern Delivery System. City council also approved the $4.5 million dollar purchase of a shopping center near Woodmen and Academy to make room for the expansion of Woodmen Road.

Let's see, to summarize. Use an urban redevelopment mechanism to facilitate more and more sprawl. With contributions "promised" (Springs-speak for "not guaranteed") to extend a road that will do the same. Oh, and let's buy a strip mall to widen a roadway to allow for newer strip malls even farther east. Did I miss anything?

I'd like to say it's two steps forward, three steps back. But Colo Springs continues to outright sprint in the wrong direction. Sigh... and to think, I will be living there again as of June 11. Double sigh... I sure hope my transition-on-the-couch period is very brief.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I would replace "not guaranteed" with "not going to happen."

Otherwise you've got the idea.

How long will you be here? For some reason this reminds me your "small fish in a big pond" post from a few years back.

[Eeyore]

I still don't get why Springs needs a 3rd mall. I think it will be disastrous. I am all for Pueblo Spings but if Pueblo were to use this tatic to help it grow I would be pissed. Also, the rate hike wow.

[Eeyore]

I thought I would post this here because it talks about Bannen Lewis and Pueblo Springs and the big difference between the two. One thing it left out was the fact Pueblo has more then enough water for Pueblo Springs at build out without any expensive water delivery systems that is expected to be paid for by current residents and businesses. This is from the Gazette:

Banning-Lewis could have been phased. Just look at Pueblo, where a 24,000-acre annexation, Pueblo Springs Ranch, has been proposed as a 50-year phased project.

The link: http://www.gazette.com/articles/cows-98544-annex-current.html

I have said all along I am not against some suburban sprawl, as every major city has sprawl, but it needs to be limited and new growth needs to be managed, not stopped, the best it can. I think this, and the story of urban renewal being used for a new mall in Colorado Springs, is a great example of how Pueblo is managing our expected growth while Colorado Springs is still trying to figure it out how to manage their expected growth.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I think the city council is so desperate for new sales tax revenue that they'd approve just about any development inside city limits right now. In principle I don't support continued northward expansion or using urban renewal designation in this way. At most, I think we're going to end up with a big, empty, half built mall... because I don't buy for a second that any of these big name retailers the developer claims to have on board are interested in expanding in these economic conditions, much less into a metro market of less than 1 million.

Couple that with the fact that it's going to be a long, long time before the state has the money to extend Powers, and then this developer comes along promising to fork over the money to make it happen. Frankly, I can understand why council felt like it didn't have any choice but to approve the deal. From their perspective, it sounds great.

Here's the problem.

IT'S. NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN.

[Eeyore]

^

Agreed

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm trying very hard to change my tone in this thread, and to hopefully change my attitude by making some changes to my life. I know I've chased away some forumers who represent what's right about Colorado Springs with my constant negativity.

I think if I start slowly working toward the goal of living what I preach, I will meet more like-minded people, and spend less time bemoaning the town, and hating myself for being a hypocrite.

In the last month I've traveled to San Diego, started recycling, started composting, and started volunteering weekly at the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, in their office in the Plaza of the Rockies downtown.

It's a start. Hopefully only the beginning of much bigger changes to come, that will translate into me being a better person, and a better forumer.

I've been very unfair to Colorado Springs in my attempt to fit in here.

[Eeyore]

That is great. I find I learn a lot with what is going on in Pueblo by geting out and helping. Perhaps you and I can learn from each other as I have turned people away from being to positive about Pueblo when its not the place or the time. I am trying to change as well, I will see how it goes.

[bunt_q]

Plaza of the Rockies... I *loved* our 5th grade ice skating trip downtown. Those were the days.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Plaza of the Rockies... I *loved* our 5th grade ice skating trip downtown. Those were the days.

I ice skated there a couple of times when I was little.

[Eeyore]

Even I remember Plaza of the Rockies....

[Front_Range_Guy]

I also have this memory of there being grates in the sidewalk next to the building that a whole bunch of steam came out of. I don't think it's there anymore. Maybe it was associated with the ice skating rink? Maybe my memory is wrong?

[Eeyore]

That I don't remember but that does not mean anything.

[bunt_q]

I have no recall of steaming sidewalks either.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm probably just insane.

[Eeyore]

LOL no.

[Fir Na Tine 343]

I remember steaming sidewalks. I think it did have something to do with the HVAC systems of the ice rink. I was young, but I do remember that.

[Front_Range_Guy]

:previous:

Yeah. It's actually a fairly vivid memory for me. I can't even specifically remember what street it was on (I want to say the Tejon side), but I do remember thinking it was amazing every time I saw it, and wanting to stop and play in the steam.

[Eeyore]

I would go with your memory on this over mine any day.

That being said what happened to Plaza on the Rockies and why?

[Front_Range_Guy]

I don't know the specifics. I do know the ice rink was shut down and converted into office space. I'm guessing the building's owners decided they could make more money that way.

[Front_Range_Guy]

So... If I were to basically let the negative aspects of Colorado Springs speak for themselves, and focus my efforts on spotlighting the positives, would that be a good thing, or would I just look like Eeyore?

[wong21fr]

^Nah, you are actually capable of rational thought when it comes to pointing out the positives.

[Eeyore]

I don't think you have to completely ignore the negative aspects and you can highlight the positive aspects like the people do in the Denver thread. Just don't have the kind of predictions I do for Pueblo as that is what makes me the poster we have all come to love on here.

[Front_Range_Guy]

There's no risk of that happening, Eeyore.

[Eeyore]

There's no risk of that happening, Eeyore.

:haha:

[acw007]

Apparently the design of the next phase of the Penny Flats development is still evolving. I found a updated sketch of building #3 which is currently working its way through development review.

The original design before the height increase:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg152/acwilson007/P3old1.jpg

The previous 6 story design:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg152/acwilson007/P3old2.jpg

The design currently in review:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg152/acwilson007/P3new.jpg

[Eeyore]

I want to see it in color but in first impression is I like the old design better even if its not as tall because its not just a box but I liked the roof line.

[Eeyore]

^Nah, you are actually capable of rational thought when it comes to pointing out the positives.

I have been thinking about this comment and my issue is for some reason I have been trained to think in terms of competition. I can rarely look at Pueblo and see the changes Pueblo had in the past 5 to 10 years or say "this development will help us" without comparing it to another city. Perhaps it's because growing up in a duel market, Pueblo and Colorado Springs, I have always seen the two cities compared, good or bad, and now I just do it as a force of habit. Whatever the reason is, that is something I am working on.

[Front_Range_Guy]

RE: Penny Flats

I like versions 1 and 3 best. I agree with Eeyore, the roofline on 1 gives it a slight edge. It's hard to imagine without color, but the notes about which materials will be used help. I think the current design that is under review will look great, if built.

[acw007]

This building is one of three that will face the linear park that bisects the development and is supposed to begin construction this summer. I think the current design is the best. The angled roof in the first design just didn’t do it for me. In the end the design really doesn’t matter much since this building will be smack dab in the center of the block but I think it will be a lovely box.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I like the mix of materials they plan to use on the facade, so I'm sure it will look great.

[Eeyore]

I agree it should look great.

[Giovoni]

I have been thinking about this comment and my issue is for some reason I have been trained to think in terms of competition. I can rarely look at Pueblo and see the changes Pueblo had in the past 5 to 10 years or say "this development will help us" without comparing it to another city. Perhaps it's because growing up in a duel market, Pueblo and Colorado Springs, I have always seen the two cities compared, good or bad, and now I just do it as a force of habit. Whatever the reason is, that is something I am working on.

For what it's worth and I don't pretend you post anything here to get anyone else's approval; but I've noticed your posts have tempered dramatically for the better in the last couple weeks.

[Crush_Buds]

:cheers:

[Eeyore]

For what it's worth and I don't pretend you post anything here to get anyone else's approval; but I've noticed your posts have tempered dramatically for the better in the last couple weeks.

Thank you. I am trying to improve.

[acw007]

Fort Collins to consider tax breaks for HP expansion
By Staff

FORT COLLINS - Fort Collins City Council will consider at its May 18 meeting whether to grant Hewlett-Packard Co. up to $1.6 million in tax breaks to help it expand operations at its Harmony Road facility.

The planned expansion involves retrofitting 40,000 square feet in the Building 6 annex to create an engineering-focused lab, to be completed in two phases totaling $64.4 million in construction and equipment investment.

The city's proposed package is a combination of a one-time use tax rebate of up to $600,000 for the installed equipment and a personal property tax rebate on the equipment of up to $1 million over the next decade. The personal property tax waiver is good only as long as the equipment is actively in use.

Josh Birks, Fort Collins economic advisor, said the city has been working with HP on its expansion plans for over a year.

"We based (the incentives) on the level of investment they'll make and on the level of competitiveness," Birks told the Business Report Daily. "We were told they were looking at some of their other sites for the expansion."

The additional operations are expected to create more than 100 jobs with annual average wages of $90,000. City staff estimates that the value of the expansion will exceed the cost of the proposed rebate package, generating net revenue to the city of approximately $2 million.

Birks added that HP has indicated it would be hiring in the next 18 months.

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According to the city this expansion will create 536 direct and spin off jobs during construction. And apparently the majority of the people HP will be hiring will be relocating from out of state.

[Eeyore]

WOW! That is great news for Fort Collins!

[Front_Range_Guy]

Nice high paying jobs, and new people to move in and snatch up all those new condos.

[Front_Range_Guy]

The Colorado Springs Independent has published an extensive article on the new mining exchange hotel/entertainment complex transformation that's underway right now. With the completion of he USOC HQ, this is without question the most exciting thing going on downtown right now. I'll try to get out and get some photos of the building for context in the next week or so, in the meantime I suggest reading the article. It's really quite exciting.

Two entrepreneurs bet on a downtown rebirth (http://www.csindy.com/colorado/reclaiming-gold/Content?oid=1706038)

Some new information in this article... apparently they plan to bring the beautiful old Utilities building into the project as well.

The article also includes a link to a really awesome virtual tour.

[Front_Range_Guy]

The Mining Exchange Hotel has a website now, with a nice big version of the rendering seen in the Indy article.

http://miningexchangehotel.com/

[Fir Na Tine 343]

This is an exciting project and they are making great progress on it. New restaurants, unique bars, dueling piano bar, and a great hotel. I was down there the other day and they are really going to bring some life to that block facing Nevada. What a great historic building they picked to make their centerpiece.

[Eeyore]

Even I am excited about this especially the restaurants:

Il Postino, a restaurant to occupy what's now Tre Luna Downtown Event Center, with a focus on Italian fusion with a Mediterranean flair;

• Springs Orleans, a stamped concrete patio café spanning the full length of the alley between the Mining Exchange and Independence buildings, which will serve café au lait and beignets (plus food from all complex eateries);

• X200 restaurant, with a menu of 200 tapas and 200 wines by the glass, enabled by a "sophisticated and expensive" system to allow opened bottles to be preserved for close to two weeks;

I will so be there when they open. I wonder if they will do anything for their first weekend?

[acw007]

The Mining Exchange Hotel has a website now, with a nice big version of the rendering seen in the Indy article.

http://miningexchangehotel.com/

Very cool. Do you know how many rooms the hotel will have?

[acw007]

Sooo… the design of the new Fort Collins Discovery Museum is evolving much like the next phase of the Penny Flats… and its ugly:

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg152/acwilson007/FCDM2-1.jpg

Well its not that ugly but still…
I was watching some planning and zoning meetings and OZ was saying how the museum directors were really pushing them to design something that wasn’t institutional or government looking. Kind of funny cause now it looks like a jail but I’m sure it will look great in real life. And for a predominantly one story building its pretty tall. The viewing platform will be almost 60ft up. Should offer some great views of the city.

[Eeyore]

007,

If they build that you can't make fun of "pueblo" buildings as the Sangre De Cristo art center has a lot more charactor.

[acw007]

Is more character code for more ugly? :)

[Front_Range_Guy]

It looks institutional, and it's ugly. Back to the drawing board.