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Old 04-03-2015, 10:49 AM
 
2 posts, read 8,224 times
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Our family of four (2 children, ages 2 and 5) will be relocating from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Indiana this summer for work. Problem is I will be working at Ball State University in Muncie and my husband plans to transfer to the Ford plant in Louisville, Kentucky. Not ideal at all, but we need to find a central location between these two cities for our family to relocate to. We are looking for something safe with good schools and some charm. We love older historic homes, close-nit family-oriented communities, farmer's markets, bike trails, access to fresh organic food, parks, libraries, and weekend family activities. Any thoughts? We've looked into Columbus, Franklin, Greenwood, Indy. But to be honest I'm feeling a bit clueless. Hubby will have to be in Louisville 4-5 days/week. I will need to be on campus in Muncie 2-3 days/week. Thanks for your input. Lisa
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Old 04-03-2015, 12:34 PM
 
Location: TN/NC
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Louisville and Muncie are 175 miles or so apart. Find work in either city (preferably Louisville) or make other plans. This isn't a viable commute.
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Old 04-03-2015, 12:37 PM
 
Location: Englewood, Near Eastside Indy
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Assuming you are serious.......

.......I think Columbus would be a nice choice. Though I can not understand how a situation like this becomes reality. Louisville and Muncie are so far apart and there is regularly some kind of traffic issue on I-65 crossing the Ohio River.
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Old 04-03-2015, 01:13 PM
 
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I wish I were kidding, but it looks like this might be our reality at least for a little while. Right now I have a 1.5 hour commute to campus in East Lansing (where I am finishing up my Ph.D.) that I make a few times a week. If hubby sticks with Ford a few more years his pension will go up significantly, so he'd like to stay with them for now before switching to another company. Faulty jobs at universities are not easy to come by right now, so I'm lucky to grab the tenure-track faculty position that I did. It's not quite as easy as "find a job elsewhere." But I appreciate the input. How bad is the traffic through Indy? Depending on my schedule, I might consider a small studio apartment in Muncie if need be. Lisa
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Old 04-03-2015, 01:24 PM
 
Location: TN/NC
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I would consider just getting the small apartment in Muncie and then having him get a more permanent spot around Louisville. Drive back a couple times a week.
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Old 04-03-2015, 02:32 PM
 
Location: Fishers, IN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LISA4151 View Post
I wish I were kidding, but it looks like this might be our reality at least for a little while. Right now I have a 1.5 hour commute to campus in East Lansing (where I am finishing up my Ph.D.) that I make a few times a week. If hubby sticks with Ford a few more years his pension will go up significantly, so he'd like to stay with them for now before switching to another company. Faulty jobs at universities are not easy to come by right now, so I'm lucky to grab the tenure-track faculty position that I did. It's not quite as easy as "find a job elsewhere." But I appreciate the input. How bad is the traffic through Indy? Depending on my schedule, I might consider a small studio apartment in Muncie if need be. Lisa
Traffic around Indy isn't terrible and has eased a bit on the south side since the redo of the I-65/465 interchange is done, but they just started construction widening I-65 to 3 lanes further south than where it currently ends. I could see that causing some delays though they are usually pretty good at keeping most lane closures to overnight hours. And don't forget Muncie and Ball State are still a good 15-20 miles or so away still when you exit I-69. You'd be going opposite traffic (both commutes) once you got on I-465 and I-69 so that would be the good news.

You could avoid some traffic, reduce the mileage a bit, but add 15-20 minutes to the commute by taking either SR 9 to I-69 in Anderson and going to Muncie or taking SR 46 to SR 3 which goes directly north to Muncie. But then you'll be on 2-lane roads and having to go through smaller towns like Shelbyville and Greenfield on SR 9 or New Castle and Greensburg on SR 3. Those routes are going to be at least 2 hours probably from Columbus to Ball State.
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Old 04-04-2015, 06:40 PM
 
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Traffic just between Louisville and Clarksville is a mess for another year and a half before 2 new bridges are built and the downtown interchange is redesigned. Yesterday it took almost an hour to get from the eastern suburbs over to New Albany. I-65 near Scottsburg is also having work done and is terrible at times. I'm moving to Southern Indiana while still working 18 miles away in Louisville this summer for much cheaper housing. If there weren't improvements coming soon that would eliminate delays I wouldn't even consider it.

I won't tell you not to try it, it's your life, but that's basically all of your free time gone and tons of extra money in gas and car maintenance. I'll echo the other posters: one of you needs to move closer to where the other works. If his job is better then move to Louisville, if your job is better move towards Indy / Muncie
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Old 04-05-2015, 04:33 PM
 
Location: Retired
890 posts, read 874,291 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Emigrations View Post
I would consider just getting the small apartment in Muncie and then having him get a more permanent spot around Louisville. Drive back a couple times a week.
This is the right answer. Or rent a motel in Muncie for the 2-3 days a week you need it.
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Old 04-05-2015, 05:54 PM
 
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Briefly read through this thread - very interesting (and difficult) relocation situation.

Ford Motor in Louisville in on the eastern side of town, so if I were in your shoes I would look into the Madison IN area. Madison itself is a beautiful city along the Ohio river, a disproportionate number of historic buildings for a city its size (around 12,000 people). Here's a nice collection of photographs of it:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=29184.0

It's about an hour from Louisville, but the route is direct and relatively traffic free. Muncie is about 2 hours, but the drive is on all quick, straight, country roads. Madison sits almost directly south of Muncie and IN 3 from I-70 to Muncie is interstate-like most of the way. The only "big towns" along the way to slow you down would be Greensburg and Rushville.



Anyways, it may not be the traditional pick, but if I were in your shoes I'd at least consider it carefully. Especially if you are into historic buildings and want to live in an older house I can't imagine a better city in Indiana for it.


Good luck!

Last edited by SWOH; 04-05-2015 at 06:14 PM..
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Old 04-05-2015, 06:05 PM
 
3,513 posts, read 5,122,891 times
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Also, not sure what your budget, etc. is but here's an idea of what you can buy there.

For around $100k:
Real Estate - 43 Homes For Sale | Zillow

Less than $200k:
Real Estate - 32 Homes For Sale | Zillow

For less than $300k:
Real Estate - 40 Homes For Sale | Zillow

For less than $400k:
Real Estate - 38 Homes For Sale | Zillow

And if you can go over $400k:
Real Estate - 34 Homes For Sale | Zillow
This place is a beauty, the wallpaper might take some getting used to though haha.
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