Flagstaff has changed...A LOT (Phoenix, Tucson: how much, hotels, home)

[Screenwriter70]

Originally Posted by Kid Ashbury

Why? The California desert is hotter than Flagstaff, hosts some of the worst air pollution in the U.S., is crazy crowded just about everywhere, AND you have to pay California taxes... how would the California desert win anything beyond the "best place to drive through and never dwell" award?

I don't have to pay CA taxes. Plus it's closer to LA, where I must go for meetings with film producers.

[Kid Ashbury]

Originally Posted by Screenwriter70

I don't have to pay CA taxes.

How is it that you don't have to pay California taxes while living (and working as a screenwriter) in California?

[infocyde]

Originally Posted by Kid Ashbury

How is it that you don't have to pay California taxes while living (and working as a screenwriter) in California?

*Magic*

[Hschlick84]

You can notice Flagstaff is changing when local restaurants close permanently. Granny's Closet, Galaxy Diner and a few other places I'm probably missing. When those are demolished, 4 story and taller luxury apartments replace the vacant lots. The unique local culture slowly goes away.

[tickyul]

Currently in Flagstaff.......will be here for just a day. Pretty city, looks nice and clean but seems very crowded.

[Slater]

Originally Posted by Hschlick84

You can notice Flagstaff is changing when local restaurants close permanently. Granny's Closet, Galaxy Diner and a few other places I'm probably missing. When those are demolished, 4 story and taller luxury apartments replace the vacant lots. The unique local culture slowly goes away.

Heck, didn't realize that Galaxy Diner had closed. Haven't been there in quite a while, though. When did it shut down?

[xPlorer48]

Bellingham, my home town, has the same demographics: WWU, natural beauty and an influx of wealthy home buyers pushing up the median cost to $451,808 through last November. The university hasn’t built new dorms for decades and has recently started building a dorm after knocking down another. The private sector had to fill the student housing gap so now there are 5&6 story apartment buildings being erected plus the rental management companies are buying up neighboring homes.

My town doesn’t look the same and it isn’t the trajectory I would have chosen. We live on rural acreage and combine our town trips mid-morning to avoid the traffic. It seems like we are putting off appointments and errands just to avoid the city.

Median household income for Bellingham in 2919 was $47,886. There are 4 refineries, WWU, a hospital, and an aluminum smelter within a 50 mile radius. Other than a few small manufacturing businesses the remainder of the jobs are clerical, retail sales and other service-sector jobs.


We have grey overcast drizzly weather from mid-October into mid-April but that doesn’t seem to deter those determined to move here. We do escape to the lesser populated parts of the west for about 3-4 months annually so don’t have to think about the decline in livability, at least to us. But, when we return from a 6-7 week camping trip, another mid-rise is being built.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by xPlorer48

Bellingham, my home town, has the same demographics: WWU, natural beauty and an influx of wealthy home buyers pushing up the median cost to $451,808 through last November. The university hasn’t built new dorms for decades and has recently started building a dorm after knocking down another. The private sector had to fill the student housing gap so now there are 5&6 story apartment buildings being erected plus the rental management companies are buying up neighboring homes.

My town doesn’t look the same and it isn’t the trajectory I would have chosen. We live on rural acreage and combine our town trips mid-morning to avoid the traffic. It seems like we are putting off appointments and errands just to avoid the city.

Median household income for Bellingham in 2919 was $47,886. There are 4 refineries, WWU, a hospital, and an aluminum smelter within a 50 mile radius. Other than a few small manufacturing businesses the remainder of the jobs are clerical, retail sales and other service-sector jobs.


We have grey overcast drizzly weather from mid-October into mid-April but that doesn’t seem to deter those determined to move here. We do escape to the lesser populated parts of the west for about 3-4 months annually so don’t have to think about the decline in livability, at least to us. But, when we return from a 6-7 week camping trip, another mid-rise is being built.

People will put up with grey skies or any other kind of deterring weather if they really want to live in a certain place. Grey skies and drizzle aren't going to keep people out of the Pacific Northwest, especially if the persons who are moving like the scenery. I once lived in the PNW (in Everett). I would like to be back there again, but the cost of living is too much. Drizzle and grey skies aren't going to keep me away. I actually like hiking in such weather.

[Hschlick84]

Flagstaff's Galaxy Diner closes doors | News | jackcentral.org

Originally Posted by Slater

Heck, didn't realize that Galaxy Diner had closed. Haven't been there in quite a while, though. When did it shut down?

Aug 2nd 2019

[Slater]

The new(ish) student housing complex recently opened right across from the old Galaxy Diner. Despite that, I think there's still more in the works.