Minneapolis to Des Moines

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by pepe1

I am originally from the Twin Cities and I don't think this statement is true...at all. There are a remarkable amount of similarites between the two cities.

I think that depends on what year you left the TC. Today, I do not see any similarities at all, and I travel frequently to both DM and the TC.

If the OP is looking for any remote feel close to Minneapolis, she might want to look at all of the rentals going up downtown there. Not sure what the OP budget is, if it was mentioned I must've missed it. WDM is nice as well, that is the side of town my mother lives in...again, liking it there but her contrast to the TC is that DM is 'quaint'. For her, a good thing...

[Iowagirl566]

Originally Posted by fortycorey

Thanks for the information everyone. I would stay in Minneapolis as I like it but my ex and I moved here knowing no one with no family in the area. That is why I am leaving, to be closer to friends and family. I love Minneapolis and Des Moines is a great place too!

Does anyone know anything about the Jordan Creek apartments on Grand Ave in WDM? They seem real reasonable, just kind of checking out listings on the web until I have time to get down there and look at places.

Thanks Again

I lived in the complex right next door about 12 years ago. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the downtown from there. There is a huge grocery store 2 blocks away. The Valley Juction(Art, Antiques, Shopping and Post Office) area is about 1/2 mile away. The apartments themselves are affordable but getting a little bit old and probably are showing there age I'm guessing inside.
I think there are garages but you might get put on a waiting list until one becomes available.

Where will you be working, do you have a job yet? There is a brand new apartment building a few blocks from the downtown. It was built to be condos but with all the newly built condos and townhouses that have been built in the last 2 years the owners decided to rent instead so I'm thinking that they have lots of upgrades. Can't think out the name of the place but it's on the corner of Ingersol and Martin Luther King (MLK) Dr. There is an new Ethnic/Organic (?) grocery store just around the corner.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Iowagirl566

I Can't think out the name of the place but it's on the corner of Ingersol and Martin Luther King (MLK) Dr. There is an new Ethnic/Organic (?) grocery store just around the corner.

Metro Market. There's a slightly restaurant serving sandwiches, ramen dishes and breakfast using high quality products (i.e. Niman Ranch meats) and then a small gourmet grocery attached to it, with a small butcher and bakery.

I highly recommend the sandwiches there, although they're a bit spendy (about $8-$9 per sandwich). The Register says they have the best fries in the area. The Cuban sandwich is my favorite.

[heymolly]

I was born and raised in and directly outside Minneapolis, and I came to Des Moines about a year and a half ago for school. It was a bit of a change, and it did take a lot of getting used to, but it was by no means a bad move. I enjoy living here a lot. This summer, I rented a 2-bedroom apartment with three friends and we each payed about $140/month, so rent for a 2-bedroom (in a nice area of DSM) was less that $600/month...there are definitely smaller apartments for less.

[simply1]

I have a recent grad single female co-worker who lives downtown, there are a lot of new housing options that might interest you. The East Village also seems to have some new housing, but I don't knwo the pricing in either area.
I've generally preferred West Des Moines, I don't know the Jordan Creek apartments, but I have lived in the Fountains which are pretty nice and larger 1 bedrooms (your own washer and dryer), and Washington Heights which are older but more affordable.

Park Place apartments also seemed pretty nice on Park Avenue, there you would be between downtown and west des moines. The Hamlet are located in a nice area too, had friends who lived there for some time.

I'd probably avoid Sun Prairie.

[simply1]

On the jobs front, every indication is the state is facing a severe worker shortage in the next 10 years, so I don't know where the no jobs idea is coming from.