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That's a pretty good summary by s.davis. Though I would say that although the River Market may be more central to the entire Metro, Wesport is more central to the City and the Urban Core.
The Westport and Plaza areas are going to be much larger and have a considerably more diverse range of living options, as well as demographics, when compared to the River Market. (For the purposes of this thread, I'm going to consider the expanded Wetsport area to be analogous with Midtown.)
The RM is pretty much exclusively larger apts/condos/lofts occupied mainly by young professionals. They will generally be on the higher end for rent prices in KC.
Midtown will have just about any type of housing you can find - apartments of all sizes, styles and ages, single family homes, duplexes/homes split into apts, etc. There's a fairly wide range of prices, but there will be more afordable/low priced options than River Market. The demographics for Midtown are diverse, but there is a higher concentration of young bohemian/artists and college kids, as well as young professionals/families and older folks who have been in the neighborhood for many years. It's also more racially diverse than River Market.
The River Market, The Plaza and Wesport/Midtown are all perfectly safe, though there are a few sketchy trouble spots in Midtown and the crime rate will be higher than the other two areas. Since you do seem quite concerned about safety, you may want to explore the areas to make sure that you feel comfortable.
Overall, I think that living in the Plaza/Westport area is a bit more convenient than the River Market, with more amenities and easier access to them.
Thanks for the great breakdowns of the areas, Sdavis and wiseowl. My wife really fell in the love with River market as a result of seeing city market. I love all three areas but I also don't want an area that's so busy I can't get a decent night's sleep. I'm surprised to see it said that Rivermarket is safer than midtown/westport. That's good news for me, but I'd have expected it the other way around. I drove by Cosentino's market in P&L but I didn't remember that it was mentioned in this thread as a grocery store. I actually thought it was a restaurant. I look forward to going in one next time I'm in the area. Thanks for all the great advice. This forum isn't overly positive sometimes and when I read it, it makes it easy to forget what a great city KC is, and why I love it.
I currently live in a 1BR/1BA condo in this building with my girlfriend and I like it. It was previously the Great American Suites Hotel so the layout has a really hotel like feel to it, you won't find exposed brick face inside the units (as far as I am aware) as all the walls are finished. What I like is the high ceilings, exposed timbers, and huge windows (as an end unit, I have 10ft windows) give it a loft feel, but still has a finished feel. The combo clothes washer/dry in the units is meh at best, you'll be able to wash a few dress shirts and hang them to dry. The basement does have coin-op laundry facilities that get the job done. This building and the sister building across the street share an outdoor pool that is about to open, and each building has a small (six or so machines and a bowflex) workout facility in their basements. Scott Fitness is a quick four blocks away on 2nd street down Wyndotte (I jog there daily) for ~$43/mo. Each building also has a recreation room with pool table, bar, tv, ect.... The West building also has a dry sauna, tanning bed, and large hot tub (not like a manufactured one, actually built). Most units come with a parking spot in either the garage, gated lot, or gated surface lot. Lots of people have dogs (some have pretty big ones) in both buildings, and there is a doggy area on the southside of the East building. The City Market on the weekends is about a five minute walk away and is very cool. The Phoenix Jazz Bar, Johns Big Deck, and the Quaff are only a few minutes walk away as well. John's Big Deck bar is also the northern terminus of the KC Strip Trolley (http://www.kctrolleytours.com/), so for only $10 a night on Friday or Saturday night you can get to any or all entertainment districts like Westport, Crossroads, Plaza, ect and back... This is very handy if you like to go out.
Overall, I like it a lot, let me know if you have any questions about the Atriums buildings. You may also check out the Seventh Street Lofts, this building is next door to the Atriums West building and might have more of a loft feel (my friends bedroom walls don't extend all the way up to the ceiling, the walls are more exposed, ect...)
(The West building is mostly, maybe all, 2BR but rental prices are pretty steep).
Last edited by dts12; 05-14-2012 at 01:09 PM..
Reason: Edit to mention the KC Trolley
As far as safety I haven't noticed anything that really caught my eye. I walk to work every day. There is the occasional vagrant about, but they mainly are concerned with dumpster diving. With all the residential activity going on they generally pass through without issue, even after dark. Both building use a key FOB that you have to scan to gain interior access to.
Thanks for the great breakdowns of the areas, Sdavis and wiseowl. My wife really fell in the love with River market as a result of seeing city market. I love all three areas but I also don't want an area that's so busy I can't get a decent night's sleep. I'm surprised to see it said that Rivermarket is safer than midtown/westport. That's good news for me, but I'd have expected it the other way around. I drove by Cosentino's market in P&L but I didn't remember that it was mentioned in this thread as a grocery store. I actually thought it was a restaurant. I look forward to going in one next time I'm in the area. Thanks for all the great advice. This forum isn't overly positive sometimes and when I read it, it makes it easy to forget what a great city KC is, and why I love it.
Cosentinos is a grocery store that also caters to the lunchtime working crowd. They have an extensive salad bar, pizza bar, sandwhichs, ect. I actually just walked down there and grabbed some sushi (they have sushi chef churning out items). I do my shopping about 5 miles north where there is a Sams Club and a HyVee very close, Cosentinos groceries tend to be marked up a bit due to being the only downtown grocery store. The North end of the downtown loop isn't so busy you won't be able to sleep, just grab a fan that has a bit of noise to it or even a noise machine and you'll be fine. With our fan on I never hear any train whistles or traffic on the interstate. I can't remember the last time I noticed a jet at the downtown airport either. If you sleep with the window open, especially if it faces south, you might hear some of the bands at the Phoenix/Big Johns because there is nothing but parking lot between the bars and the building, but if you have your window closed you won't hear it at all. Also, in the Atriums East building, if you have a unit that has a south facing window you'll get an amazing view of the downtown Kansas City skyline.
I, too, am interested in a loft in Kansas City. My husband and I have been in the suburbs raising our kids and with an empty nest looming on the horizon, are ready to move downtown eventually. My question is generationally specific. We're obviously Gen X-ers. Is there an area of downtown where Gen X-ers like me and my husband will fit in?
I, too, am interested in a loft in Kansas City. My husband and I have been in the suburbs raising our kids and with an empty nest looming on the horizon, are ready to move downtown eventually. My question is generationally specific. We're obviously Gen X-ers. Is there an area of downtown where Gen X-ers like me and my husband will fit in?
I can't really help you, but wanted to thank you for making me feel old for reminding me that Gex X ers are becoming empty nesters now.
GenXers already becoming empty nesters? Are you looking to buy or rent? I'm assuming buy...
Check River Market, Freighthouse District and Western Auto lofts - also check out the Walnut Tower in center of downtown, though it's not a loft stye. The Plaza is somewhat oversupplied with condos (too many apts went condo) so consider looking for a good deal there. Some feel The Plaza is a lower risk investment than downtown but if the Plaza isn't for you, I'd like into those three areas downtown.
HA HA! Okay, Wikipedia labeled me as Gen X and age is only a number, right? And we actually have 4 more years if that helps... time flies so quickly that in the meantime, I want to prepare to sell my house and have somewhere to go when it does. I didn't really see myself on the Plaza, just want to find a cozy area closer downtown that had amenities such as a coffee shop, bar or any of the usual conveniences. I'm done with the responsibilities of a house - it did me no good to buy real estate! Going for something modern, but I'm not sure we're hip enough for a younger crowd that might reside at P&L.
The next question is how do I even look at any of these places? Would it be best to get an agent?
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Were I just now moving to KC and looking to rent a loft, I would unequivocally look at River Market.
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