People's Republic of Boulder
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7/1/2006
I lived and worked in Boulder for 25 years (last visited in 2003), but I’d never ever want to move back there. The city does have many positive features. The level of education is quite high because of the university and many scientific institutes. Outdoor recreation activities are abundant and include skiing, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and rock climbing. The Rocky Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop for the city. However, Boulder really peaked in the late 1960s and 70s in terms of culture and lifestyle. Today it’s just another sprawling American city along the highway. It has become quite banal even though residents continue to believe that it’s the best place to live (and become quite defensive towards anyone who questions them). City planners continue to use the discredited “garden city” model that became popular in the 60s. This has severely stunted the city’s normal urban and cultural development over the decades. It has also lead to economic problems and inflated home prices. Small and poorly constructed 1960s vintage homes often sell for more than $400k. The city often claims to be metropolitan, but in reality it has become increasing homogonous, i.e., young affluent suburban whites. Families with children and seniors tend to relocate to surrounding cities which are more hospitable. Boulder is certainly not a terrible place to live, especially for people that are affluent, white, and that enjoy the outdoors. However, others might find the city unjustifiably pretentious and lacking in many respects. For these people Fort Collins, which is a similar university town an hour to the north, could prove a much better alternative. (The author currently lives in Italy on the Mediterranean coast).
Robert | ,