Best areas to live for a downtown commute? (apartments, rentals)

[seanr9ne]

I just started working downtown this week, and I am looking for somewhere to live. I want to avoid the traffic as much as possible, and try to achieve this by living as close as possible. Would love for a 2 bdrm loft downtown, but I only want to pay about 500/person. I have a couple places I have found...Soho West and Quality Hill. Anybody know if these are decent places? They look pretty decent through pictures online, but get some bad ratings from former residents.

I was also thinking about maybe living near the KU Med or Brookeside area...anything nice around there?

I am just out of college, so I would like to get some urban living in before I eventually outgrow it, but obviously I'm a little constrained monetarily.

Anything could help.
Thank You

[skrazzle]

soho west are very nice

quality hill apartments (not quality hill tower, no idea there) is also very nice i used to live there

Rivermarket also has some very good deals... you will find more driving around downtown and writing down #s or going in places then you will online. It seems harder to find info online about downtown rentals.

[RjRobb2]

If you prefer surburban living, I would suggest living up north right off 169 Hwy.

I use to work at 23rd and Grand and it would usually only take me 12 minutes to get to work unless their was heavy traffic and then it would take 20. Their were days there was no traffic and it would only take me 8 minutes.

[bls5555]

Live up north somewhere around the N. Oak Trafficway, 56th St, 64th St, 72nd St, Barry Road area off I-29

[WiseOwlSaysHoot]

The poster said he wanted urban living.
Do not look north of the river if you want urban.

Pretty much any place that is urban will offer you a relatively easy commute to downtown.
If you want proximity to Downtown, I second the recommendation of the River Market. Also, don't forget about the often overlooked West Side.

The area around KU Med (to the east of it) is a great neighborhood and I would definitely recommend. I would say to skip looking at Brookside as it has so few rentals, has a bit longer commute to DT than other areas, and won't offer the same level of urban living.

[kcmo]

I agree, if you are young and have the chance to live in the city, do it.

Then somebody, when you want something more suburban, go north. It's the really the best suburban area in KC if you ask me and if you want more than "just" suburbia since it's so close to everything.

But for now, I would think you could find something north of the plaza and south of the river that would fit you.

If you want a house, the 39th ST / KU area is a great area. If you are more into a loft or apartment, then you downtown and plaza areas should have something. Don’t be afraid to venture into the Midtown, Westside or even Old Northeast areas. You might find something that you will really like.

I don't know what things really cost anymore though, so can't really help you there, although depending on your income, there are quite few nice places in the downtown area that offer income restricted rents.

[aakoch]

I have found quite a few lofts in the River Market area; anyone care to comment on any building in particular?

[JackieB23]

One hassle of living downtown is grocery shopping - be prepared to drive to Westport/Valentine or north of the river for it.

I used to live in the Roanoke/39th street area (not far from KU med) and still have friends there I visit often, and it's a nice area to live in. Crime? Sure, but not horrible, and you have Sunfresh right there off of SW trafficway (and I love to walk up to Half Price Books in Old Westport shopping center at SW Trafficway & Westport Rd). Getting downtown from there is a breeze, too. Great area for a younger person - walking distance to Westport bars and 39th street shopping/cafes.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by JackieB23

One hassle of living downtown is grocery shopping - be prepared to drive to Westport/Valentine or north of the river for it.

I used to live in the Roanoke/39th street area (not far from KU med) and still have friends there I visit often, and it's a nice area to live in. Crime? Sure, but not horrible, and you have Sunfresh right there off of SW trafficway (and I love to walk up to Half Price Books in Old Westport shopping center at SW Trafficway & Westport Rd). Getting downtown from there is a breeze, too. Great area for a younger person - walking distance to Westport bars and 39th street shopping/cafes.

Downtown has one of the nicest grocers in the city now.

Cosentino's Market In Brookside

[TabulaRasa]

When I worked downtown, I commuted from the Plaza (by bus, in fact) and had absolutely no problems.