Moving from chicago to marion county. (Indianapolis, Seymour: theater, good schools, living)

[luzclara]

It's totally possible to live downtown, send your kids to public schools and get around (at least partially to largely) without a car - I've been doing it for years and I'm not the only one.

The Cultural Trail is truly awesome. It's fully lighted, landscaped, and a dedicated non-motorized right of way that connects everything I need...grocery store, central library, IUPUI, Pan Am Center, work, kid #2 school, even my office are right off of the trail. When it snows, the trail is better maintained than the streets.

I do have a car, and especially with kids wouldn't want to go without one, but I don't use it every day.

My kids go to wonderful schools, both IPS magnets: CFI #2 and Sidener Academy. We've also attended a terrific private school, the Oaks Academy. For high school we'll probably have kid #1 at Herron High School (a charter) but will look at IPS' Arsenal Tech for kid #2. There weren't many "good" options when we moved here 10 years ago, but we now have so many high-quality options that it really would be a major factor against us moving anywhere else.

The downside is that yes, there is property crime. Our neighborhood is up to around 10 garage break-ins in recent weeks, and the same night our neighbors down the block had their garage broken into, we found a guy caught on our rear camera trying out the door handles on my car parked outside. We keep all doors locked, have security cameras installed, and yeah, when we first moved in and were green, got stuff stolen off our patio and out of our garage. Learn to be a hard target, and it doesn't mean you're scott-free, but it helps. Still, the positives of living downtown - so far - outweigh the negatives.

[Tanyaboo]

Thank you this is really helpful

[jman07]

The city of Indy is nothing compared to Chicago, so don't even think it will be like it. Indy is basically a suburb and there is no "going to the city" or "living in the city" like Chicago. The northern burbs of Indy can be nice and similar to Chicago's though.

[gabaghoul]

Originally Posted by Tanyaboo

Hi I am moving from chicago to Marion county IN. I would like to know if there are good or bad areas, decent rental homes because I have children I would like a home not an apartment and schools. I also wouldn't mind an area like a quiet suburb type area.

This is a new development that I just passed by today on the northside. It's an apartment complex, but it's in a great quiet area. They look like they just built them very recently. Quite expensive, but on a budget for a home, you should be ok. They have 3 bedroom 3058 sq.ft apartments. Search this forum for good and bad areas, there should be plenty of threads.

Lakefront living that's close to it all. Luxury apartments and townhomes homes for rent at Solana at the Crossing in Indianapolis

good and bad areas thread: 10 crime-troubled neighborhoods

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by jman07

The city of Indy is nothing compared to Chicago

Is there any real reason to explain something like this? I mean seriously, who comes to Indianapolis expecting to find Chicago?

[Broadrippleguy]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

Is there any real reason to explain something like this? I mean seriously, who comes to Indianapolis expecting to find Chicago?

good question haha.
Each City is unique in character.
Some are more different than others and some have similarities.
for example the layout of Downtown Indianapolis and Chicago are the same in that they both use the grid system and not just downtown but across the city.
Heck i think Chicago copied Indianapolis street numbering for streets south of the Loop.
Go figure haha.

[A.winer]

I live downtown (Fletcher Place neighborhood) and did everything I could to avoid the suburbs. We have a 3.5 year old and a 10 month old and I wouldn't have it any other way. We have 9 kids just on our block. There are great magnet school, private school and charter school options. In fact, it's getting quite competitive as more and more families are moving downtown. Our neighborhood has monthly kids club and events as well as bocce leagues, book club, etc. We are right off the cultural trail, near bars, blue beards, close to Fountain Square and downtown restaurants and bars. In fact most everything is walking distance to us.

I like Meridian Kessler as well but downtown is just so vibrant and exciting. I really feed off the energy. Not to mention we are getting a full YMCA downtown...breaking ground in the spring, only 3 blocks from my house! Can't beat the growth! It's all very exciting.

[IndyBound75]

Originally Posted by dewthedru

Wow. That's impressive.

I'm not worried about the lack of entertainment. The things we like most about living here is the urban lifestyle...walking to school and the store, taking public transportation, the EL, Michigan Ave, running along the lake, nice neighborhoods that aren't just white people, etc.

I know Indy has some nice urban areas but we haven't been able to explore them yet. I'll be there tomorrow through Thursday and will spend time in Broad Ripple, Meridian-Kessler, and Irving...something to see if there's anything like what we currently have.

This is going to sound incredibly bad but that is one small reason why I need to move out of Northern MI. I am the only black person to be had in this area!! I miss seeing other black people!!

[dewthedru]

Sound incredibly bad? Lol. Nope. I totally get it.

[dewthedru]

Sorry but your post is making me laugh. I've been in northern MI quite a bit and there aren't many areas with a higher concentration of white people.