Raleigh on Yet Another Best Of List
2008 has been the year of “Best of..” lists for Raleigh. Raleigh was #1 on MSNBC’s “Best Places to Live” in July and Best Places for Business and Careers on Forbes. I’m starting to believe that the city is paying off the magazines and voters. The latest is the “Best Performing Cities of 2008” and Raleigh was edged out by some city called Provo-Orem in Utah. We are obviously up there with the finest.
The Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary and technology growth.
Is Raleigh really growing as fast as these lists continue to state? With all the new condos under construction and talk of more skyscrapers, it would seem as though we are booming. But will these condos sell? We are one of the few areas in the country where houses are selling at a higher than average rate.
And I continue to ask…Where is the retail in Downtown? Taz and Holly Aiken can only hold down Wilmington Street for so long. Why isn’t our city courting any retail locations that will make the downtown contiually progress. I can’t wait to be on the list of “Fastest Growing Retail Sector in a Post Suburbia-era Downtown.”
North Carolina has 2 other cities on the top 25 Best Performing Cities of 2008, Wilmington and Durham. See all results here.
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TheCatalyst
09/14 06:53 AM
How about a little research??
“Some city called Provo/Orem” is home to the Sundance Institutes Feature Film Lab (and MANy othe Sundance Labs). In case you aren’t aware of that either, it is this little nonprofit that some guy named Robert Redford started in the late ‘60s. They work all summer long into the fall working with TONS of famous and independent actors, filmmakers, composers, editors, & crew. One of the MANY films worked on prior to shooting was “some” film called Reservoir Dogs, just to name one. This all takes place just outside Orem & Provo Utah making it a hot bed for performances.
http://www.sundance.org/ -
John Morris
09/14 02:52 PM
TheCatalyst -
I think all these “top 10” lists are inaccurate, and question the motivation of those that put them together. However, I think your gentle reminder about one industry in one town is an exaggerated example. After all, it supposedly
“...ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth.”
I think a metropolitan area’s ability to create and sustain growth goes beyond Sundance and the non-profit associated with it.
Please note that I am in no way saying how cool or uncool Provo is.
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TheCatalyst
09/14 11:15 PM
My point was not to justify Provo’s place on the list. I am pointing out that it is not as obscure as this article makes it sound. It is one of the most influential cities in the country for the independent film world.
~Andrea -
Brian
09/15 12:55 PM
Having spent a lot of time in Orem/Provo for work, I found that decent jobs and scenery are about the only things the area has going for it. Unless you are married and a member of the LDS church who enjoys chain restaurants you will probably not enjoy Orem/Provo.
If you are a young couple or single you will find Orem and Provo completely absent of any nightlife or quality dining options. BYU and the LDS church make it difficult to find an apartment that allows alcohol or unmarried persons of the opposite sex to visit, let alone reside together. However, if you can stand a 50 minute commute each way, then Park City or to a lesser extent SLC might make taking a job there worth it.
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