Plaza on Platte is not ordinary apartment living, nor is it ordinary living. If you do drugs or alcohol, or love behaving like a criminal, you will be bounced out of here pronto, thanks to the tough but fair management of Sister Miriam Grace. If you obey the law, are considerate, get along with others and are drug and alcohol free (or want to be in the above areas) you will be staying for a much longer period - even as long as you like (keep in mind Sister Miriam does apartment cleanliness checks, if you pass these regularly you are a keeper tenant with her). These checks are required by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority. Like I said, the Plaza is no ordinary place to live.

Depending on which unit you are able to get, you will share your refrigerator and kitchen space with several others, one other, or for a select few, privately. Due to Sister Miriam?s diligent management, these are kept clean on a regular basis - yes, even the refrigerators!

Since this is a former U. S. Route 24 motel, the soundproofing is minimal, especially in the larger two story units. Again, Sister Miriam helps out with noise issues. . . and is very fair. You can study and sleep here with confidence. . . despite the terrible lack of insulation between walls!

I?m no fool. I know this Knob Hill area is rife with problems that have gone on for years. There are those in the area - and even the complex - who will tempt residents with drugs, criminal behavior, etc. etc. but in the end those who fall to such temptations get bounced out post haste. You have to decide if you are willing to live the straight and narrow or keep on living a life of misery. The choice is yours. . . choose wisely!

You can guess -correctly- that I was on the straight and narrow while living here (as I would behave before and after living at Plaza) and didn?t care if I was the "fink." My time of it was easy because I behaved and acted the way you should according to the rent requirements, and yours can be just as easy too. Don?t let the neighborhood characters fool you. You **can** live here and do quite well, thank you!

How do you get to live at the Plaza on Platte' Since it?s subsidized housing and under Housing Authority oversight, a good place to start would be by going to Ecumenical Social Ministries - ESM - downtown at the corner of Bijou and Weber Streets and ask to be put on the waiting list. They will screen you there and later you will be telephoned when a vacancy at the Plaza occurs. **Don?t contact the Sister until you get the phone call - that?s jumping the gun** and be patient. You will get a unit in due time. . .

Some last thoughts: was I a bit apprehensive and scared when I first moved in' Yeah. . . Any police stuff going on' Sure. They even search warranted my apartment an hour before dawn (but I wasn?t their wanted man - he had moved out months earlier before the police got there). Was I ever totally letting down my guard while living there' Not on your life. . . just look at the residents. . . they **aren?t** the neighbors you would ordinarily choose! But did I choose living at the Plaza' YUP! Did I regret it' Not for a moment, now that I can look back on it. The Plaza did its mission - keeping me from homelessness. Not kissing up to Sister Miriam, but her ability to get the losers packing out of there made all the difference - otherwise it would have been a real hellhole.

Hope this helps you in deciding one way or another on the Plaza on Platte. It?s not the Iowa Motel anymore. . . but it also will never be mistaken for the Broadmoor!!!

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