My Shock I (First one of 2008)

Bloomington development bucks zoning standards to blend new with old

Those crazy liberals in the People's Republic of Bloomington have no idea what they are doing!

No cul-de-sacs?!?!? Are they serious? Where are my kids supposed to play?

My last trip to Bloomington was a complete disaster. I was FORCED to eat at a locally owned restaurant and actually had to walk almost four blocks from my car to get there. Strip Malls are almost non existent and people actually use public transportation. Can you believe it? No wonder Bloomington is consistently rated one of the dumbest, fattest and worst places to live in the country.

• Bloomington was named one of America's top 50 adventure towns by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. One town was chosen for each state; Bloomington made the list thanks to great outdoor recreation options like Lake Monroe and the Hoosier National Forest.

• Mother Earth News Magazine named Bloomington, Indiana one of Eight Great Places you've never heard of, citing the college town's sustainability practices.

• "The verdict: Whether you're gay, straight or somewhere in between, Bloomington offers something rarely found in this country: a small town with a bold history of openness and acceptance." Out Traveler Magazine,

• Inc. Magazine ranked Bloomington Number 19 in the country on its list of America’s best cities for doing business. “Not only is Indiana University the largest employer in town, its faculty and students helped spawn 60 tech-related start-ups.”

• Bloomington was named number 10 on the Forbes list of Best Places for Business. The rankings were based on criteria including the cost of doing business, cost of living, crime rate, culture and leisure, job growth and educational attainment.

• Bloomington was listed at number 8 on the list of Top 10 Places to Live from Men’s Journal Magazine. The magazine looked at 50 variables to find the “healthiest, sexiest, most fun and most affordable towns in the land.”

• Forbes.com ranks Bloomington 11th in the nation among the best small cities to do business in. Forbes rates the cities in nine categories: advanced degrees; cost of doing business; cost of living; crime rate; culture and leisure; educational attainment; income growth; job growth and net migration.

• The League of American Bicyclists named Bloomington one of only 13 bicycle-friendly communities in the nation. The communities were recognized for a "longstanding commitment to providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists and for encouraging bicycle travel for both transportation and recreation."

• Travel & Leisure Magazine tells its readers to " . . . look no further than Bloomington, Indiana. Its cobblestoned streets, limestone buildings and old-fashioned porches create a laid-back setting, while the outdoor markets and frequent concerts and lectures keep energy at a steady high. To paraphrase one local artisan, Bloomington has the soul of a big city but the heart of a small town . . . the cultural pulse of the Midwest.

• Family Wealth's Great Places to Retire (from the publishers of Money magazine) ranked Bloomington number 6 in the nation. "

• The 50 Healthiest Places to Live and Retire in the United States, a book by Norman D. Ford, ranked Bloomington 12th in the country. Ford cites Bloomington's low level of urban stress and ample sources of culture and social awareness. The area also is dedicated to fitness, nutrition and has lower than average costs of living and housing. The book describes Bloomington as a bike-friendly city with a highly articulate population. It is located close to six state and federal recreation areas.