Which are safe areas to live in KC? (Lee's Summit, Chesterfield: 2009, apartments)

[STL-KC]

HI,

I am moving from St.Louis to Kansas city in June 2009. I'll be joining UMKC School of Dentistry.The School is on 650 E 25th St, 64108. I am looking for 2 bedroom apartment. my first preference is around the dental school, although I have a car so i can also drive if i stay a little far e.g 5 miles form the school. my budget is $550.

I read in other forum that area south to 80th st and prospect and troost are not safe for living and near airport is also not good.

Which areas are safe to live near UMKC School of Dentistry or north or south or midtown?

[kcmo]

You might first try looking right around the school. There are some pretty nice areas just to the south of UMKC and Children’s Mercy and east of Gillham. It's not a large area though and if you go east or south too far, you will quickly be in shady areas, so stay close to the hospital hill area. I would try that area first.

If you can't find anything there, then your best bet is to just starting looking into the entire urban core from the River to the Plaza. There is a ton in that area in all price ranges. You might try some of the apartment buildings on Armour Blvd in Midtown. Many have been renovated and I know somebody that lives in one and they seem to like it. In that price bracket, I would imagine, you will have to stick to Midtown for the most part. Midtown is very "urban". Things do happen there, but I have never considered the area unsafe, especially if you don’t go out walking around by yourself at night. It's like any urban big city.

80th and Troost is not bad really. You are on the edge of the Waldo area there. People hear “Troost” and they immediately think bad. There are some very nice places in that area, mostly west of Troost, but also east of Troost.

80th and Prospect is a pretty bad area though.

Are you talking about KCI or Downtown airport? KCI is not really near much of anything. But the areas to the south of KCI are very upscale and suburban. It’s a fine area.

Downtown Airport is in an industrial area. The closest residential to it are the river market and the NKC area. Both area good. There is a small area called Harlem near Downtown airport that has some run down properties, but I doubt that is even an area that would come up if you are looking for a place to rent.

Bottom line is if you are used to or are wanting to live in an “average” urban area of a big city, then Midtown would be no problem. If you are from Chesterfield and don't feel comfortable in areas like Soulard, The Loop, Uni City etc or even areas near Lambert. Then I would stick to the Plaza area or go north of the MO river.

[Cairo_East]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Downtown Airport is in an industrial area. The closest residential to it are the river market and the NKC area. Both area good. There is a small area called Harlem near Downtown airport that has some run down properties, but I doubt that is even an area that would come up if you are looking for a place.

Slightly unrelated, but I've never been able to figure out how you get to Harlem. I've driven past it hundreds of times, but I've never seen it or the road to it. It seems completely cut off from any other streets.

[kcmo]

^ Take Broadway north across the river and exit like you are going to the Downtown Airport. But at the end of the ramp, go right instead of left and go under the RR tracks through the tunnel. You can also get there from NKC if the tracks are clear.

Nothing really there. Just some houses, old hotels that are now really bad apartments and maybe a few small businesses. It where the Downtown casino should have gone as it was the site of a major casino plan, but the city went with the stupid Flamingo/Isle of Capri instead.

[selzm7]

I went to UMKC and there are a lot of houses in that area that people are looking for roomies if that's not an option, since you will be going to UMKC you may want to call the Student Life Center, they can assisst you with this info. There are many high rise apt a couple of blocks from the main campus also which is off of Rockhill Rd. As far as a commute as long as you are in the city limits and not in places like Lee's Summit, Shawnee etc, driving distance in this city is not more than 15 minutes, seriously.

[kcmo]

selzm7, although I agree with you, the OP is looking more around the area of Hospital Hill than UMKC. That's not a far drive, but FYI.

[AJK1535]

The apartment buildings on Armour are AWESOME. They are all well finished and keep with some of the retro details as an homage to the 50's construction of the buildings. The area is definitely urban but they have good security and you should be fine there. They are managed by MAC property management and the office is at 640 E Armour if I remember correctly.

If I were you I would also look at some of the buildings along Broadway from the River to about 20th st.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by AJK1535

The apartment buildings on Armour are AWESOME. They are all well finished and keep with some of the retro details as an homage to the 50's construction of the buildings. The area is definitely urban but they have good security and you should be fine there. They are managed by MAC property management and the office is at 640 E Armour if I remember correctly.

If I were you I would also look at some of the buildings along Broadway from the River to about 20th st.

Agreed. I know a few people that have moved into the amour area and they really like it. That area has really turned a new leaf.

You can't get a better location. You are close to everything in Midtown.