What kind of city is Topeka ??? Does anyone know ?? (Wichita: best neighborhood, sales)

[Ravie]

I, personally, think Topeka is pretty ho-hum. Unless you;re a student at Washburn, there isn't much to do. The downtown is trinket shops, law offices, and boring other things...Some of the bars are the type where if they don't know you when you come in, you;re going to get dirty looks. The east side of town tends to be the side people have told me and others to stay away from. There are shootings and stabbings here almost daily by all the little gang-bangers who are trying to be the elite homie.

Rent isn't bad here, but minimum wage is WAY behind the times. it's going up to 7.25 over three years, but it should be 7.25 NOW..

The hospitals are pretty good, but if you don't have insurance, you'll be sued by Stormont Vail unless you have a bunch of money. I've heard that St Francis is much better about how they do things having to do with money.

There is a big diversity of people here. some of the nicer well educated, some of the middle class, some of the preppy stuck ups...some of the druggies, some of the everything.

I think, personally, that for a city with so many people with Jesus stickers and plates on their cars, there could be a lot more done to make this community better as a whole. It's like unless you're their friend or go to their Church, they don't want to help you.

As far as Fred Phelps goes? yes, he is bizarre, and the person who made that comment before...well, you;re in the minority if that's how you're gonna fight that point. that's all I'm saying.

There's not much nature here. Lots of fake lakes. You have to PAY to swim at many of the beaches. Insanity to me.

There is some good food. Jobs are so-so. lots of low paying retail jobs here. and some industrial jobs. not much for cultural employment (arts, humanities...etc..)

I think Topeka is boring. I'm 21. I think of myself as fairly industrious as far as finding things to do, but I hate having to come up with things to do on a regular basis.

The good things? lots of litle boring colleges for people to get like...medical assistant degrees...and of course, Washburn University. a GREAT place for schooling. albeit a bit expensive. and of course, Allen County Community College in Burlingame, which costs half as much as Washburn, so for people like me doing a four year degree, you don't have to pay 138 dollars at Washburn for something you can do for 68 at Allen County. (I plan on doing gen eds at Allen then doing my last two years at Washburn)

Okay, there's the mean guy of the posting bunch who obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. how about a rebuttal?

Ravie

[Luke9686]

When I lived there in 2005 a lot of the Potwin area was run down and ghetto.

And about the fred Phelps thing. No its not that someone with a different point of view is bizarre. But having 5 year old children standing outside holding signs that say "Thank God For 9/11" is. He is a wacko, and so are most of his followers. Anyone that would allow their children to stand there with those signs, some with sexual inuendo (sp?), has no clue...

[Luke9686]

Used to, couldn't get out fast enough. Topeka has nothing for me. Some people like it, I don't.

[HappywhereIam]

I also used to live in Potwin as well as other neighborhoods in Topeka. My husband and I had very good jobs, but we found Topeka to be a stifling provincial town. People are very cliquish, and Potwin is the worst for that. I have never met so many "nobodies" who thought they were somebody. Unless you think living in an old drafty house makes you "cool," and you want to live around people who are very satisfied with themselves, don't live in Potwin! Collins Park is a wonderful area, but you are close to Fred and his people there. You don't really notice that in day to day living. Stormont-Vail is probably one of the best hospitals in the nation. I read that someone complained about them here, but try living in any other state...SV is outstanding.
In general, Lawrence is so much more interesting than Topeka. It is a fun town, with lots of good people. Live downtown if you can! Kansas City is also a great town. I am sorry to have to say that Topeka is so bad; I wish I could be more positive, but it is really not a very friendly town unless you like to play social games. I would walk down the street when I lived in Potwin, and people would address me with my worktitle rather than my first name...these were my neighbors! I felt awkward...was I supposed to say "Hello Mr Insurance guy, or Mr Retired postal worker.." Very, very odd. Also, if you are not white, you are not welcome! When my husband and I moved in, everyone was so happy because an AA gentleman and his wife had looked at the house we bought, and everyone was worried that particular house would go to "someone like that...!" In addtion, my child had a friend who was adopted from China. My neighbor on the day I moved in asked who that "china girl" was and if her mom was my maid...! Good luck! Also remember you do NOT need a realtor. Use a good attorney and buy and sell yourself. I did it!

[born1980]

As I have posted earlier, I was born and raised here. I've lived in the Topeka area my whole life, with the exception of school at KU. I used to bash it a great deal and its true that the cultural scene is lacking. We moved to the Shawnee Heights area because it is close to Lawrence without the higher prices. As someone who commuted to KC for a year and was looking to move there, let me say it isn't worth it. If you are going to pay higher real esate prices, move somewhere farther away you have never experienced.

The most frustrating thing about Topeka is the bickering. The city and county government needs to focus on the big picture, rather than personal attacks. I think the riverfront development is a big chance for the city to do something great. Having been in Green Bay, WI, for 8 weeks on business, I can tell you that water attracts people. We hung out in an entertainment area across from factories, but no one cared. The older people in this town who are so opposed to anything new or different need to get a new routine. I can tell that the vast majority of my friends from high school left and never came back. Unless we want this town to actually make progress instead of continually staying stagnant, we must think big.

[ol'gfromeastsideyakima]

phelps was blocked by surrounding town folk at a local funral for a hometown vet of d.s.he a pain in the bumb. not typical he and his fans(group).s.e.kansas

[denverian]

Originally Posted by TheShoeboxDiaries541

So, everyone with an opinion that doesn't fall in line with yours is bizarre?

The man is more than just an "opinion". He's a certified nut job!

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Becky Burghart

Born1980: Great POST. I too went to SHHS, loved it and STILL live here. Topeka has the 6th most affordable homes in the country-that is huge when it comes to affordability.

The thing about Lawrence is: Home prices are 20% higher than Topeka because they are competing with Kansas City.
If you are a young couples you might be attracted to the college town of Lawrence just plan to pay more in your housing payment. I love going to Lawrence for entertainment I just would not want to live everyday around a bunch of students--personal preference.

Topeka is 30 minutes from Lawrence and 1hr 15 minutes to Kansas City. I can be anywhere within 20 minutes. As a side note: Someone mentioned Silver Lake it is a very nice rural community as well as Auburn. Both of these communities have everyday necessities without the big town feel. These towns have about 500 families and are both within 30 minutes of downtown Topeka-you might check them out too.....

I think Lawrence's higher housing costs are due to it being a more desireable place to live, not "competition with KC". Real estate is simple supply and demand. People aren't flocking to Topeka, so you get cheaper housing costs, which is a plus for the city.

[born1980]

Becky: It is amazing how many people on this site put all of Topeka into one category. Hopefully you work with some out of town buyers and can show them the variety of nice neighborhoods this town does have. Keep up the good work!

[LOUDBulldog]

Ok, besides a couple of short stints, Im a lifelong Kansan. I am sad as heck to hear that Coal is going to win over Windpower, In Iowa and Minnesota, windpower has been wildly successful, and I know firsthand. Now on to Topeka. I am sure I will anger a lot of people, but so be it. To me Topeka is a crap filled piece of crap coated in crap. All of my life it went by the names of Toe-Picker and To-Puke-a. The Capitol is really nice, The Zoo at Gage park used to be nice. I think they still have a good museum on the far west end of town. The rest of the town is just dirty. So yes there are neat things to see there, but I'd never live there on a bet. One last thing positive I can say about Topeka is that Stormont-Vail is a fine Hospital. I agree with the person that said Lawrence or Silver Lake are fine options. That being said, I would say that the city should get off its butt and work on revitalizing the interior city, it could be beautiful with the right kinds of programs, it is really as if the town never recovered from the tragic tornado of 62, I believe thats the year. If Topeka wants to draw new people, or be the city it once was, some new leadership blood is needed, or some of the current city admin needs to get creative. The only reason the town hasnt fallen to total ruin is the Capitol, let's hope it can be restored to the gem it once was longggg ago, until then, Lawrence or Silver Lake is the way to go.