Possible move to Grand Rapids, areas to consider. (Kalamazoo, Burton: apartments, rent)

[shoes4birds]

My husband and I have lived in Byron Center for about three years now and as far as the town and schools go -- we love both. We are off 68th and Burlingame - and our location of Byron Center is perfect in that there's a hospital and our children's school (Marshall Elementary) right around the corner. Grand Rapids is just a ten minute drive, Grandville (mall) and Wyoming are right around the corner along with Target, the interstate, Meijer, some local produce stands, and anything else we need (restaurants, Home Depot, etc.) The school staff has been excellent in helping our daughter who needs speech therapy. They truly handle children one-on-one. It's also a very reasonably priced area in comparison to EGR.

We are selling our home to move to North Carolina. My husband is a native of the south and I lived there for twelve years so the winter was just too much for me having moved back to Michigan along with the many days of cloudcover during the winter (depressing). But if I would recommend any area to anyone wanting to move to GR, I'd say Byron Center.

Also, if you need the name of a fantastic realtor, I've got one for you - you can contact me through my profile.

Good luck to everyone moving to the area.

[bluezee]

If you are going strictly off school district, the top 5 ranked districts in the Grand Rapids area are (as of last review):

1) East Grand Rapids
2) Forest Hills
3) Caledonia
4) Byron Center
5) Rockford

I believe Jenison was next on the list but I'd have to look back to be sure.

[apalmer8501]

Hello everyone, There is so much good information in this area, I as well am being relocated to the Grand Rapids area, looking to rent an apartment for a while until I get a feel for the area. I have been looking in the Kentwood area but haven't seen much said about it. Is it a good area?
Thanks!!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

Hello everyone, There is so much good information in this area, I as well am being relocated to the Grand Rapids area, looking to rent an apartment for a while until I get a feel for the area. I have been looking in the Kentwood area but haven't seen much said about it. Is it a good area?
Thanks!!

There have been a couple of people asking about apartments in Kentwood. Some are good, some aren't so good.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/grand...s-2-years.html

[GMonkey]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

Hello everyone, There is so much good information in this area, I as well am being relocated to the Grand Rapids area, looking to rent an apartment for a while until I get a feel for the area. I have been looking in the Kentwood area but haven't seen much said about it. Is it a good area?
Thanks!!

Right. Some good, some, ehhhhh. Where will you be working? I spent my elementary school years there, and then lived there for a while in my late 20s. It's known as "Rentwood" since there are sooooo many apartment complexes there.

[apalmer8501]

What area's are yuck??
Our company is consolidating locations we are closing the Macomb Township, MI office and consolidating into the Grand Rapids facility Use to be Stephenson & Lawyer on Patterson

I have been looking at:
Hidden Lakes Apts
Oxford Place
Huntington Glen

Any comments on these?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

What area's are yuck??
Our company is consolidating locations we are closing the Macomb Township, MI office and consolidating into the Grand Rapids facility Use to be Stephenson & Lawyer on Patterson

I have been looking at:
Hidden Lakes Apts
Oxford Place
Huntington Glen

Any comments on these?

I did a google search on those locations and I think they'd all be fine. I think I actually checked out Oxford Place with my brother about 10 years ago, and it seemed to be OK. 44th and Breton area is a pretty safe area as far as I know, especially with that massive new retirement village nearby. Horrock's is a great market (SW corner), if you like fresh fruit and vegetables. I wish we had one on the Northeast side.

I think The Crossings near Kalamazoo and M-6 (South Beltline) are decent.

Kentwood is kind of mixed as to good areas/bad areas. It's more like there are some really dumpy/filthy subsidized apartment complexes and some really nice/upscale ones. I actually don't think crime in Kentwood is as bad as people perceive. But as GMonkey said, they allowed SO many apartment complexes to be built that it kind of ruined the area for homeowners. Apparently Kentwood is trying to turn that around and put a moratorium on apartments for a while (so I heard).

[bluezee]

Originally Posted by apalmer8501

What area's are yuck??
Our company is consolidating locations we are closing the Macomb Township, MI office and consolidating into the Grand Rapids facility Use to be Stephenson & Lawyer on Patterson

I have been looking at:
Hidden Lakes Apts
Oxford Place
Huntington Glen

Any comments on these?

Well, I've known folks that have lived in all three complexes over the years and had some troubles, particularly in Hidden Lakes and Oxford Place with car break-ins, etc. Petty stuff, but still worth noting I'd think. I also had some friends in Huntington Glen that had a very positive experience, but you do have unsavory Wingate across the street.

You may want to check out River Oaks (if it is in your price range) or Fieldstone. I've not heard good or bad about The Crossings so that may be worth a look too.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by bluezee

Well, I've known folks that have lived in all three complexes over the years and had some troubles, particularly in Hidden Lakes and Oxford Place with car break-ins, etc. Petty stuff, but still worth noting I'd think. I also had some friends in Huntington Glen that had a very positive experience, but you do have unsavory Wingate across the street.

You may want to check out River Oaks (if it is in your price range) or Fieldstone. I've not heard good or bad about The Crossings so that may be worth a look too.

Another thought apalmer8501 is that Grand Rapids is not that sprawled out, and you can find apartments on the NE side or in Grandville that would still only be 15 - 20 minutes from where you work (Patterson). Or even downtown, if you don't have kids.

[GMonkey]

I had friends who lived in Viewpointe Apartments. They were really nice inside. You would be close to work, but also close to East Grand Rapids, Cascade, and other nice areas for shopping and entertainment. I was just reading some of the reviews...most were favorable, but it seems that a couple of people have had pretty bad experiences.

Viewpointe Apartments Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other Grand Rapids apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com

I'm a firm believer in living as close as possible to work, but magellan is correct that in GR/Kentwood you can certainly balance work commute with places which may be more desirable to live.