Paul

has written 4 SperlingViews. Currently, Paul is living in Albany, NY and has a little something to say:

so nice! Posted On: 6/11/2007 12:01:34 PM

Minneapolis is a wonderful place hands down. The downtown is wonderful. Nicollet Mall downtown is like Michigan Avenue in Chicago but less pretentious. Lake Harriet, Calhoun and others are beautiful. The neighborhoods on the southeast and southwest sides of the city are well kept and very charming. The new light-rail system is a gem. Great job opportunities, great wages, good schools, very educated place. Air service is very good.

Just OK Posted On: 6/11/2007 11:45:19 AM

Albany is a mixed bag. While the cost of living isn't too high, the housing is very, very old and much of the city seems rundown compared to other places that I've lived. I live in a more refurbished area which is nice, but the parking is a hassle much of the time even though I ride the bus quite often. The city government is not reponsive and leaders seem to be more interested in taking care of themselves than putting the residents first. Everyone says the schools are bad, but I'm not sure if they really are, or if it's just a knee-jerk reaction--urban school system--must be bad. On the plus side, there are great restaurants, theaters, and shopping in the city and surrounding towns, the scenery is great, and it's a great location if you like going to larger cities such as Boston or New York.

Great place Posted On: 6/11/2007 11:34:48 AM

Overall, Fargo is a very nice place, but the downtown and Island Park are my favorite parts of the city. For its size, Fargo's downtown has a lot to offer and there are more things opening all of the time. The newer sections of the city around West Acres are not very appealing, but as someone who loves old neighborhoods, I'm a bit biased. The newer sections are really not any worse or better than any other suburban area. The more established areas of the city are quite charming, quiet and very family oriented.

Wonderful Posted On: 6/11/2007 11:26:33 AM

I've lived in many places and the quality of life in Grand Forks easily surpasses all of them. The people are calm, down-to-earth, and easy to get to know. The comment on the lack of jobs may have some grounding, but I was affiliated with the university and found the compensation and benefits to be reasonably competitive. The schools are great, rents are low, home prices are low, crime is low, there's no traffic, very little noise, no parking hassels, and great parks. The leaders in the city government are honest and very receptive to neighborhood and community interests which is a far different story than in the other places I've live.