Pleasant Hill Area?? (Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny: apartment complex, employment, crime)

[metro223]

I am moving to Des Moines this summer for college (DMACC) and I am looking at apartments in the area. Ankeny has some really good ones and I found a great place in Pleasant Hill. I haven't had the chance to check out that area of town yet and was wondering if anybody from the area or who has been to the area could give me any information.. Is there much commercial development in that area of town yet? (altoona, ph) and I would doubt crime is an issue but i know its just ouside of east dsm and have heard thats not the BEST part of town....

I was also wondering about the commute to ankeny, i would imagine it'd be 15 min tops, pry 10 the way i drive, is the 5/65 loop 6 lane and does it get congested often? Anyone feel free to help me!!

[pepe1]

Pleasant Hill is a nice little suburb. Lot's of nice, new development (mainly residential). Pleasant Hill itself has a grocery store and a few restaurants. Near by Altoona has The Target's, Wal Marts, Lowe's, and quite a few more restaurats.

It's true that the East side of Des Moines is generally less desireable to live in, but Pleasant Hill is far enough removed from those areas. Pleasant Hill is very safe.

The Drive to Altoona to the Ankeny DMACC campus will be a breeze. All interstate and no traffic on that side of town, even at rush hour. 15 minutes absolute tops.

[Tek_Freek]

I agree with pepe1. Good choice, and not that far from things to do. The entire city is now encased by Interstate and the freeway goes down the center of town. If you want to get to West Des Moines you can do it (outside rush our) in 15-20 minutes. I pick WDM because it the other end of the Des Moines area.

[metro223]

i found places in ankeny as well, it seems to be a little more expensive, but i'm assuming thats because the North side is more established with retail and conveniences than pleasant hill area. which city would you guys prefer if you were able to choose? one over the other or are both areas just as good? (when i visited ankeny i was impressed with all of the stuff they have brought there so i just don't want to be dissapointed with ph.)

[GraniteStater]

Ankeny tends to be a little bit more upscale along with Clive and areas of W. Des Moines extending into Dallas County. The towns east of Des Moines are more rural and seem to be growing at a slower rate compared with the west and north suburbs.

[Luke9686]

Honestly if you are college aged and single, you will probably be disappointed by both. They are both typical suburbs with not much to do. If I HAD to chose, it would be Ankeny because it has more.

I would chose the Western burbs or somewhere closer to downtown and Ingersol if I had a choice. You will still be no more than 30 minutes to school.

[pepe1]

Ankeny has better access to places of employment in the metro, and more amenities than the eastern suburbs. Thus it is more expensive to live there.

Apartments have always been one thing Ankeny has lacked. There are some real sh~% holes in Ankeny ( the apts in the NW side of town for instance) and a select few places that are just OK but pretty pricey.

If you could find a nice place in Pleasant Hill and save a few $$$'s in the process, I would take it. Like I said the drive from Pleasant Hill to DMACC is a breeze.

[El Rhino]

I believe DMACC has some virtually on-campus apartments for rent, you might want to look into that. I've been in one, it wasn't too bad. Just an average, no-frills apartment complex.

[Tek_Freek]

One thing not mentioned yet. Winter. The stretch of interstate from Ankeny to DSM was, in the past, wicked when it snowed or got icy. It may be better now since it has been rebuilt and lanes added. I hope so.

[metro223]

not that its important, but just out of curiosity, how many lanes is the s. bypass/loop thing?