Commute from KC to Saint Joseph? (Kansas City, St. Joseph: property taxes, insurance, rent)

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by StJoeFanatic

I am not sure what the fellow meant by "in a decline" because, for ALL intents & purposes, it is NOT in a decline!

Where is the proof of this so-called "decline"?

I can (and have) provide all kinds of proof to the contrary!

I just arrived back in CA after 2 very action-packed but great days in St. Joseph. It is everything I expected it to be, and more. In my other post describing my MO trip, I remarked that the downtown area and the few blocks immediately south of downtown looked somewhat run-down compared to downtown Santa Rosa. But though Santa Rosa has over twice the population of St. Joseph, its downtown is probably not even half as large as St. Joseph's. Not only that, but there have been gang problems in our downtown mall, and it is rare that you can walk in downtown SR and not get approached by at least one panhandler. You also have to pay to park anywhere in downtown Santa Rosa except for the mall parking garage. We have also had to hire security guards for the downtown library in Santa Rosa because of the disruptive and occasionally dangerous behavior of a number of people who have frequented it. When I visited St. Joseph's downtown and East Hills libraries, and the Rolling Hills Belt Branch library, the atmosphere in each of them was absolutely safe and pleasant. I befriended a developmentally disabled young man at St. Joe's downtown library and told him I was visiting from California and want to relocate. The downtown library branch manager is a class act. OK, so I hope she and I can be co-workers some day soon, but I still say she's a class act no matter what! Lest anyone get the idea that I'm just trying to butter her up!

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt chose St. Joseph last year as one of a number of "DREAM" recipient cities, to receive monies to renovate the downtown area. This renovation is in full swing. Though some of the warehouses south of downtown looked old and run-down, they didn't strike me as unsafe, East St. Louis-style at all. In short, I totally agree with StJoeFanatic (big surprise, huh?! ), and think the town is set for a big upswing.

[northbayeric]

On the specific subject of the commute from KC to St. Joseph, you couldn't ask for an easier romp to and from the two cities. The speed limit on northbound I-29 is already 70 mph by the time you get north of Highway 152. The contrast between it and Highway 101 through Marin County and up north as far as Windsor couldn't be greater. I was sailing along pretty good at about 7:15 pm from downtown KC to where 29 and 35 split off in two different directions. When northbound Highway 101 just north of Novato narrows from three lanes to two, the traffic can back up for two miles because there are no signs warning drivers that the right lane will end, until....well, right about the time the right lane ends!

The only thing left to take care of is all the construction going on at the 229-36 interchange in downtown St. Joseph. No real biggie!

[mjb62676]

Not sure if it's too late, but I would definitely suggest NKC/Platte County and commuting if you have ANY question about moving to St. Joe.

Let me know if you need contacts at BI to ask about this..I know several people that commute to STJ from that area of KC.

[mjb62676]

I should add that I wish St. Joe luck in the future...

[redgirl]

Hi,
My husband may be taking a job in St. Jo. We currently live in PA, and we are wondering how long a commute from Liberty to St. Jo would be? We love well-kept historic areas. We've thought of Smithville or Platte City. Are those do-able commutes to St. Jo. Thanks!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by redgirl

Hi,
My husband may be taking a job in St. Jo. We currently live in PA, and we are wondering how long a commute from Liberty to St. Jo would be? We love well-kept historic areas. We've thought of Smithville or Platte City. Are those do-able commutes to St. Jo. Thanks!

I would NOT advise commuting from Liberty to St. Joseph. The distance is rather far along with the increasing price of gas. Platte City would be a better option. St. Joseph has a large variety in housing stock in terms of age. Have you considered moving to St. Joseph itself if you are working there?

[MoNative34]

Smithville would be alright and is accessable to St. Joe via US 169 30 miles or so. Platte City is the same distance via I-29. Annnnnddd... both have historic areas...

[GraniteStater]

Platte City has a great historic downtown. However, it does have its share of new cookie cutter suburbs which are not pleasing at all to the eye given the relative lack of vegetation surrounding them...

[redgirl]

Thanks for your responses. We are definitely leaning more toward Smithville or Platte City. We will visit both in March. From searching on line, I can tell that they have historic downtowns. However, do they actually have any historic neighborhoods? In searching real estate on line, I find maybe 1 or 2 old homes for sale and the rest are new. Also, we've been reluctant to consider St. Jo, even though that's where the job is, because of the lack of shopping options.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by redgirl

Thanks for your responses. We are definitely leaning more toward Smithville or Platte City. We will visit both in March. From searching on line, I can tell that they have historic downtowns. However, do they actually have any historic neighborhoods? In searching real estate on line, I find maybe 1 or 2 old homes for sale and the rest are new. Also, we've been reluctant to consider St. Jo, even though that's where the job is, because of the lack of shopping options.

Smithville has some older homes, but the town has a lot of new construction. It is very spread out with some houses near the reservoir.