Moving to Des Moines in ~a month, got questions (Ames: rent, crime)

[creoena]

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I do have one more question though - how is the area between the airport and Ewing Park/Lake Easter?

[DMRyan]

It's hit or miss. You can find some decent pockets of homes there, but I definitely would not want to live in any of the apartment complexes found in this area. The apartments are way overbuilt and the end result is that some complexes have resulted in attracting a bad demographic. There have been some of these complexes renovated recently and the rent would probably appear attractive. There's just too many crime reports near a very large cluster of apartments at SE 22nd and E. Park Avenue for me to constantly feel safe.

The Easter Lake area and adjoining Ewing Park are very beautiful though and are underrated jewel in the metro.

[creoena]

Great, thanks for the information everyone! Definately let me know though about the good apartment complexes in Des Moines!

[dmguy30]

Look along Grand Avenue. There are great historic apartment buildings...on Des Moines' most beautiful street. Many of the condo buildings have owners who rent them out too. I love it. Central to everything.

[Luke9686]

I second the Grand/Ingersol areas. When the OP suggest that quietness and safety are the main issues, that's why I would suggest a suburb. Others may disagree, but given the criteria that's what you're looking for.

[DMRyan]

To each their own and I certainly understand the safety part of picking a place to live, but based on your age, why does it matter if it's quiet? Live in the country if that's what you desire, but take advantage of your age to do something you might not be able to do down the road, and that's live in an urban neighborhoods close to what downtown Des Moines has to offer.

[El Rhino]

[quote=DMRyan;5897904]It's hit or miss. You can find some decent pockets of homes there, but I definitely would not want to live in any of the apartment complexes found in this area. The apartments are way overbuilt and the end result is that some complexes have resulted in attracting a bad demographic. There have been some of these complexes renovated recently and the rent would probably appear attractive. There's just too many crime reports near a very large cluster of apartments at SE 22nd and E. Park Avenue for me to constantly feel safe.

quote]


The area between Easter Lake and the Airport is pretty much the entire South Side, but yeah, I would generally avoid apartment complexes in this area especially the ones you mention around SE 22nd. That's about where I grew up and a few blocks from where I live now and I have absolutely nothing good to say about those apartments and/or the inhabitants. As a matter of fact, if I ran into the dude from Clarke Companies who initially decided to start taking section 8 housing there, I would punch him. Hard.

There still are good neighborhoods and good people in that general vicinity though. Unfortunately between the section 8 housing and a few of the trailer parks on SE 14th*, it makes for some depressing/frustrating times when being out and about in this neighborhood. I can't walk my dog on certain blocks around here due to broken Olde English and Tecate bottles all over the sidewalks, if I had kids I wouldn't send them to the public schools in this neighborhood and some of the things and people you see at Hy-Vee or any other establishment in this area are mind boggling and leave you with little hope for the future of this community.

The South Side is a good neighborhood, it just seems like we're under siege right now. Hopefully in the near future the undesirable elements will move on, take their crime, attitudes, litter, graffiti, pawn shops, predatory lenders and so-on with them.

So yeah, stay away from those apartments.

* I have nothing against poor people. Matter of fact, some of my best friends are poor. It's just that these people in the apartments and certain trailer parks on the SE side are really, really bad.

The Easter Lake area and adjoining Ewing Park are very beautiful though and are underrated jewel in the metro.

Agreed. I go running/jogging there often. Not a lot of people who do not live in that area really know much about Easter Lake or go there, but there's a lot of nice spots for fishing, barbecues, walking, etc.

[creoena]

Thanks all.

When I said quiet I meant quiet as in you don't have to listen to idiots blaring music at 2am, etc etc. Traffic noise and such doesn't bother me.

Seems like I've narrowed it down to West of downtown all the way to outside WDM (other than around Drake University) and easter lake area. Some of the condo's right on downtown seem really nice, but pricey . Does anyone know of any right in downtown that are good and reasonably priced (1000-1100 a month including heat/ac?)

[Luke9686]

I did a quick search on Craigslist for rentals downtown. There are some under $1100 per month. Search "downtown" and "east village". East Village is a neighborhood downtown.

[MastermindDSM]

I think the East Village would be a good fit, restaurants, bars and shops with out the noise of Court Avenue. These apts are brand new and amazing. Oxford Row - Downtown Des Moines
Also check out Beaverdale neighborhood
Beaverdale Neighborhood Association [ Home ]