What’s happening to Des Moines?

[CascadiaClone]

@alarson Thanks for the drive-by dumb rating. Curious what you disagree with in my post.

 

[deadeyededric]

That was my point, we have to grow, if we don't we'll see decline. But we have to realize that the type of growth is critically important. The type of suburban sprawl we've seen throughout the last 70 years is problematic. That type of growth costs a city more than it generates in revenue. The only way to cover that gap is to grow more, and in that past that has been more sprawl. The problem is that's a delicate house of cards that can easily come tumbling down. We'd be better off to try and grow in ways that create more lasting value than our current growth does.

When and if growth happens, I hope housing prices don't get out of hand in the metro. If you take affordability away from DM what is the draw?

 

[EnhancedFujita]

When and if growth happens, I hope housing prices don't get out of hand in the metro. If you take affordability away from DM what is the draw?

That's already happening now though, you can't really buy a new build house in the metro at what would be considered affordable. So you need to rely on the existing stock to meet the affordable market, but when there is a limited supply and an increasing demand, then the price inflates. Now on comparison to the coastal cities we're still affordable by comparison, but that comparison isn't what's important. The important thing is providing affordable housing for the expected job growth of the metro. Most of that expected job growth is at a wage that gets priced out of most new build housing, even new build rental properties.

 

[EnhancedFujita]

Here's more info for anybody that wants to nerd out on housing policy

Workforce Housing | Housing Tomorrow - Here We Grow | Des Moines

Here We Grow helps Greater Des Moines implement its workforce housing strategy by fostering greater community and economic development strategies across our region.

www.herewegrow.city

 

[BCClone]

Size is a bad way to compare metro area livability.

For example, good old QC's, " Combined Statistical Area (CSA) population of 474,937,"(wikipedia). We all know the beautiful QCA!!!!

" Asheville metropolitan area, which had a population of 424,858 in 2010, and of 469,015 in 2020.[4]"(wikipedia)

Uhhhhhh,.......where would you want to chill?

The only people who say size doesn’t matter are those without size….

 

[BCClone]

That's a solid 10 minute walk. I say put in an aerial tram. Above traffic is way better than down in it.

Going there isn’t bad, but eat a big meal, drink several drinks and then walk back to Wells. It’s brutal, like walking up an entrance ramp from an over head blacktop for half a mile.

 

[jcyclonee]

Usually there is five of us when we fly so when you were talking $150-$200 a ticket each that’s a big difference

Besides, travelling to the TC's is way better with cool people like @VeloClone, @BoxsterCy, and myself living here.

 

[ISUTex]

Is anything I said untrue?

All of it. Talking out of your ass again.

 

[I@ST1]

You’re right that Portland is a beautiful city, but making the claim that the homeless problem is confined to a relatively small area is unequivocally false. I don’t know if I’d say the city is overrun, but it’s closer to that than the opposite. Portland is in the middle of a mental health/drug addiction/houseless crisis.

source: I live here, and love it despite it’s flaws.

Hope they get it cleaned up before Iowa State MBB plays there….

 

[CascadiaClone]

Hope they get it cleaned up before Iowa State MBB plays there….

To be honest, it’s mostly just unsightly. As long as you don’t let that bug you too much you’ll have a great time. The Rose Quarter (where the Moda center is) isn’t too bad. I don’t think it’s something that will be totally cleaned up in a years time as it is going to take systemic change for that to take place. The pandemic definitely made it worse so hopefully as we recover from that, the homeless issue will get better as well.

Portland rules. So much to do, one of the best restaurant scenes in a major US city, and is smack dab in the middle of the most beautiful area (imo) of the country. It really gets an undeserved bad rap. I’ll die on that hill

 

[BryceC]

I fly out of DSM a decent amount and pretty much every time within 30 min of boarding there are no seats left at the gate. The restaurant is always full too.

At what airport are there tons of seats available at the gate 30 minutes before boarding? I've flown out of a lot of places and I've never strolled up to a gate 20 minutes before the flight and dropped into an open seat.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

At what airport are there tons of seats available at the gate 30 minutes before boarding? I've flown out of a lot of places and I've never strolled up to a gate 20 minutes before the flight and dropped into an open seat.

I never said tons of seats. But I have arrived at a gate with 20-30 min to go at plenty of places and gotten a seat.

Newer airports/terminals are generally better at this - DTW, PIT (although overbuilt now), the new terminal at DCA are some examples that are night and day with DSM. DSM is obviously not in their league in terms of size. But even the newer part of CID is much more comfortable than DSM and DSM has more traffic.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I saw recently where Twisted Vine Brewery was moving to the Market District/East Village area from their current location in West Des Moines.

They didn't have a choice, they lost their building to the whole valley west revitalization project.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

The one thing I will say is when we played volleyball in Omaha we always found a place to eat by any of the venues and things for the girls to do off hours. Not so much in Des Moines. We walked around downtown Des Moines trying to find anything to eat and there wasn't so much as a subway.

If only we had hand held internet devices....

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

What is it? Like 4 blocks?

LOL it's literally like six blocks.

 

[Gunnerclone]

LOL it's literally like six blocks.

Just set up a Rascal rental kiosk outside of WFA I guess.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Just set up a Rascal rental kiosk outside of WFA I guess.

There's probably a couple dozen still in the grass out at the fairgrounds that are up for grabs.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Just set up a Rascal rental kiosk outside of WFA I guess.

Or hire a Sherpa to get you up the hill./

 

[I@ST1]

To be honest, it’s mostly just unsightly. As long as you don’t let that bug you too much you’ll have a great time. The Rose Quarter (where the Moda center is) isn’t too bad. I don’t think it’s something that will be totally cleaned up in a years time as it is going to take systemic change for that to take place. The pandemic definitely made it worse so hopefully as we recover from that, the homeless issue will get better as well.

Portland rules. So much to do, one of the best restaurant scenes in a major US city, and is smack dab in the middle of the most beautiful area (imo) of the country. It really gets an undeserved bad rap. I’ll die on that hill

This doesn’t sound good. Hope you are safe.

Deputies declare riot in downtown Portland, one warrant arrest made

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office declared a riot in downtown Portland on Friday night after a gate to the Multnomah County Jail was damaged.

www.kptv.com

 

[CascadiaClone]

This doesn’t sound good. Hope you are safe.

Deputies declare riot in downtown Portland, one warrant arrest made

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office declared a riot in downtown Portland on Friday night after a gate to the Multnomah County Jail was damaged.

www.kptv.com

Ugh, not surprised at all. Thankfully all of this always happens downtown so it’s easy to avoid. I just learned about it this morning. I’m all good, thanks!