Loveland: A Valentine from the Rockies by Courtney Ronan
Although Denver is surrounded by majestic, snow-capped mountains and forestland, urbanism has encroached upon this once-pristine landscape. Overcongestion, heavy traffic, crime, and in particular, pollution, have plagued Colorado's biggest city. A mere 45 minutes away from Denver, though, lies Loveland, a historic city nicknamed the "Gateway to the Rockies" after its location at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. A city of approximately 46,000 residents, Loveland offers the best of all possible worlds: Colorado's wealth of scenic beauty, minus the hustle and bustle of Denver. And yet, Loveland residents are hardly deprived of the cultural offerings of the typical big city. In fact, Loveland has demonstrated a particular devotion to the arts, which has not been overlooked by the artist community. Many artists have elected to take up residence here in favor of a larger metropolis. Loveland is securely based upon a diverse economic foundation. Although several large corporations have put down roots here (Colorado Memory Systems and Hewlett Packard among them), small businesses thrive here. In addition to the arts, Loveland specializes in publishing, manufacturing, trade, retail, technology (including microelectronics and computers) and biotechnology. Most important, Loveland's local work force is among Colorado's most skilled, providing the city and its wealth of small businesses with an insurance policy of sorts. Another major selling point for Loveland is its crime rate, which ranks among the state's lowest. That's due in part to the efforts of its local police department, whose progressive policies and programs have deterred crime by ensuring a fast response time and maintaining adequate distribution and high visibility throughout Loveland. If you plan a visit or relocation to Loveland, by virtue of the fact that you'll be in the Rocky Mountain State, you'll have easy access to a world of outdoor sports year-round -- most notably skiing (Vail and Breckinridge are about two hours away). Hiking, biking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, boating, fishing, rafting, snowmobiling ... the possibilities are near-endless, especially when you consider that Loveland enjoys an average of just under 300 days of sunshine each year. From the tourist's perspective, what sets Loveland apart from other Colorado cities is its devotion to the fine arts. Loveland became the first city in Colorado to pass an "Art in Public Places" Ordinance. Approved in 1985, the ordinance allocates 1 percent of Loveland's capital construction projects valued at $50,000 or higher for the acquisition of works of art. In particular, Loveland is known for its two bronze foundries, which accommodate local, national and international artists. Bronze is often used to create magnificent sculptures. To see a good representation of this art form, head to the Benson Park Sculpture Garden and the Loveland Civic Center. Their extensive collections have placed Loveland on the map in the eyes of academic and professional artists throughout the country. Loveland residents gather annually for local art festivals, which express the community's strong commitment to its local artist population. Another very unique expression of the city's sense of community is its Valentine Remailing Program. The program dates back to 1946, Postmaster Elmer Ivers and Chamber of Commerce President Ted Thompson and his wife, Mabel, decided to spread their city's name far beyond its geographical boundaries. In 1947, the Loveland Valentine Remailing Program began, relying on the cooperation of local volunteers. Thanks to their efforts, millions of valentines have been "personally" stamped by Cupid himself and then remailed from Loveland, surprising approximately 300,000 lucky recipients in every state and 140 foreign countries each year. In contrast to cities like Boulder, where strict land preservation efforts have resulted in a shortage of properties and a rapid increase in asking prices, Loveland's housing inventory remains reasonably priced, on average. Local economic statistics list $50,000 as the average home value in Loveland, which hardly seems possible in the 21st century. Regardless of the feasibility of that data, a search of local home listings indicates that indeed, home prices are quite reasonable in Loveland. Many two- and three-bedroom single-family homes are priced, yes, from below to $100,000 to the mid-$100,000s. And yet, if you're looking to purchase a sizeable home equipped with all of the luxury amenities you can find, it's possible to find homes priced in the $400,000s, $500,000s and above, although the more moderately priced homes outnumber them. In many respects, Loveland is the embodiment of all of those aspects of small-town life for which homeowners long. Although it's not isolated by any means, Loveland's size is modest compared to other Colorado cities with comparable concentrations of small businesses and large corporations. Its low crime rate, good weather, strong economy, skilled workforce, strong sense of community and affordable housing inventory make Loveland a likely candidate for hot growth in the 21st century. As Loveland continues to attract new businesses and residents, it remains to be seen whether or not the city will hang onto the qualities that make it a desirable destination now. |
