Single and Moving to Kansas (Overland Park, Kansas City: low income, apartment complex, for rent)

[casualsuede]

Hi Everyone!

I'm moving to Kansas on a job relocation and will be working in Overland Park.

I want to know the best place I can live but I will be renting and I am currently in my thirties and single, so strong family oriented communities are not for me at this point in my life.

I'm into the nightlife and the urban cafe lifestyle and I want to live in a place that is diverse, and of course, has low crime. I am looking for 5~10 miles from Overland Park.

I'm coming from Toronto, Canada, which has one of the most diverse populations in the world (ranked 2nd to NYC) and while I don't expect as much diversity, I am looking for a place that is not too much of a single thing.

While money isn't really an issue, I am not rich, so I won't be looking at $2000/month bachelor pads.

Also, I don't know if there is a difference between KC, KC and KC, MO, so if anyone can help me on that, it would help me out!


Any areas you can point me to would be highly appreciated.

[katie45]

Glad you'll be moving to our neck of the woods!!

There are many apartment complexes in the Johnson County, KS area (Overland Park is in Johnson County). I would recommend you go to forrent.com; you'll find a lot to choose from, and I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding what you're looking for. And I don't see you having to pay anything close to $2k/mo for rent.

I can't really help you with the night life since I'm not into that anymore; but I'm sure other posters can shed some light on that subject for you.

The two Kansas Cities are right next to each other. On the Kansas side, KC is in Wyandotte County (north and adjacent to Johnson County)...the rents are more reasonable in Wyandotte, but the crime is much higher in that area as well.

There are many who will debate which state is the better to live in; I like the KS side mainly because it's closer to my job, the roads are in better condition, and I just find it easier to get around in JOCO (Johnson County, KS).

If you'll be working in Overland Park, I'd recommend finding an apartment close by and avoid living in MO and having to deal with the traffic every day; and too it will be easier when the winter weather sets in.

There are many cities in JOCO, here is a link that will list them for you:
Johnson County, KS

You may hear many refer to Shawnee Mission, KS....there is no such city....that is used by the post office for our area, and also the school districts. We do, however, have the towns of Shawnee and also Mission in JOCO. Olathe is in JOCO and is our county seat, yet when they refer to Shawnee Mission, it does not include Olathe.

Ok, I'm getting to confusing here!

I think you'll really like it here a lot!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by casualsuede

Hi Everyone!

I'm moving to Kansas on a job relocation and will be working in Overland Park.

I want to know the best place I can live but I will be renting and I am currently in my thirties and single, so strong family oriented communities are not for me at this point in my life.

I'm into the nightlife and the urban cafe lifestyle and I want to live in a place that is diverse, and of course, has low crime. I am looking for 5~10 miles from Overland Park.

I'm coming from Toronto, Canada, which has one of the most diverse populations in the world (ranked 2nd to NYC) and while I don't expect as much diversity, I am looking for a place that is not too much of a single thing.

While money isn't really an issue, I am not rich, so I won't be looking at $2000/month bachelor pads.

Also, I don't know if there is a difference between KC, KC and KC, MO, so if anyone can help me on that, it would help me out!


Any areas you can point me to would be highly appreciated.

Based on your price range I would recommend the Plaza area of KC, MO. It has all the shopping, restaurants, etc, and is not too far of a drive to Overland Park, KS. Nightlife and the singles scene is much better in that area compared with Johnson County KS which is catered very much to families, and much less to singles.

[kcmo]

First off. Even though you will work in Kansas, you will not want to live there. Not coming from the "city" of Toronto. Not being single and wanting to avoid suburbs.

KCK really has nothing for you at all and Johnson County, where Overland Park is located, is 100% suburban. Think Mississauga, ON. Only less dense.

From what you describe, "urban" KCMO is really your only option.

Let me try to explain KC to you real quick.

First.

The Metro has about 2 million people. 60% of that is on the MO side.

The "city" is on the MO side and the suburbs are split pretty evenly in MO and KS.

There is really no comparison between KCMO and KCK. KCK is basically a blue collar suburb of KCMO. Some people don't like to call KCK a suburb, but when you see the area, you will think it is a suburb. KCMO is a "big city" like any other big city ie, Denver, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Cincy etc.

KCK is not only a suburb, it’s a pretty small city with only about 150,000 people spread out over a very large area. It’s also very low income etc with some middle class sprawl occurring out by the speedway. Coming from Toronto, KCK will appear almost rural to you in most parts of town. You won’t like it. KCMO is also a very large city geographically, but it has a very old, dense urban core. This area of KCMO is about 250-300,000 people. You will want to avoid the suburban areas of KCMO such as the far east, south and northland areas.

The MO suburbs are also not something you will want either. That includes the Northland and all the east and southern MO suburbs like Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Belton, Liberty etc.

You will want the urban core of KCMO.

Most jobs in OP are only about 20-30 minutes from the urban core of KCMO. You not only can reverse commute, but you will more than likely not even have to get on an interstate. You will probably be more than 15 miles from your job, but again. If you want something that is not suburban you will have to live 10 miles from College Blvd. minimum. But again, the commute is not bad at all.

I would look at the Country Club Plaza area. You will find a ton of mid to high end urban housing there. You can also look into midtown KCMO around the Art Museums or Westport where you will also find a wide variety of apartments, condos and even some single family homes for rent.

A bit further north, you can look into the Crown Center and Crossroads area where again, you will find a lot of condos for rent. People bought a lot of condos in the past few years and many of them are for rent now. There are a lot of really charming historic buildings in KCMO that are now condos. We have so many of these that it's even hard to find a new construction condo building. But they are out there too.

Western Auto, San Francisco Tower, Union Hill etc to name just a few in this area.

Go a bit further north and you get into the downtown and river market areas. Same deal there. Wallstreet Tower, Quality Hill, 909 Walnut, the View and many others.

Just stick to the area of the city between the river and about 55th and state line and about Gillham. And you will be fine.

Any place else and you are in for some major culture shock coming for a large and diverse city like Toronto and you will want to leave the first week you live here.

Trust me. I see it all the time. People here don't understand that most young, single (or married) people from other large cities do not want to live in a place like Johnson County. But people move to KC and settle in the KS suburbs and end up hating KC even though they never even experienced the actual "city". People "looking for" a good suburban area tend to really like Johnson County, but in your case, stick to urban KCMO. You will also find urban KCMO much less conservative and far more diverse and open minded.

Good luck.

[athfo]

*sigh*

kcmo at it again...

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by athfo

*sigh*

kcmo at it again...

What should I say?

What "you" want me too say?

Should I tell this guy that he should look into an apartment complex at 119th and Quivera when it's pretty obvious that would be the last place he would want to live? He should be in an all white area that was not even here 15 years ago, where everything revolves around massive six and eight lane streets and intersections that are a suicide mission to cross on foot? Why would he be on foot? Why would he want to walk to Target or Walmart? I doubt the guy will consider a strip mall bar and grill “nightlife”.

He's young, he's single, he wants nightlife, he wants diversity, he wants urban.

He doesn't want a family oriented, boring suburban area with perfect roads and amazing schools.

He wants a charming, interesting, diverse area that is walkable, has transit options, plenty of entertainment, shopping and dining options that are not your typical off ramp chains, yet in a safe and convenient area to the suburbs.

He wants to live in a city not a suburb.

He is from Toronto.

Have you been to Toronto? He will not like the suburban midwest.

Sorry. I'm just being honest.

There are plenty of people that love Johnson County. Most are going to be families, most are going to be from the rural states that surround KC.

People from Iowa tend to be OK in JoCo. Families looking for suburban lifestyles tend to be ok with JoCo.

Younger people from other large cities tend to not be ok with JoCo.

It's just the way it is.

I would think you would want this guy to actually enjoy living in KC when he moves here and not be ready to move on after six months.

Now when the "family" from Plano Texas asks about moving to KC.

I will say to them. You will love Johnson County...

But JoCo doesn't fit this guy from what I can tell and it would be great if he could post a reply to this thread in about a year after he has had a chance to figure out our area.

I would bet anything that I hit the nail on the head.

I typically do

[katie45]

Originally Posted by athfo

*sigh*

kcmo at it again...

My thoughts exactly! As I wrote in my posting, there are those who seem to want to continue with the Hatfield-McCoy scenario that should have died out a century ago. Maybe those on the MO side are so miserable they just have to try and put KS down? Makes no sense to me at all; but then I'm not miserable.

[casualsuede]

Originally Posted by kcmo

What should I say?

What "you" want me too say?

Should I tell this guy that he should look into an apartment complex at 119th and Quivera when it's pretty obvious that would be the last place he would want to live? He should be in an all white area that was not even here 15 years ago, where everything revolves around massive six and eight lane streets and intersections that are a suicide mission to cross on foot? Why would he be on foot? Why would he want to walk to Target or Walmart? I doubt the guy will consider a strip mall bar and grill “nightlife”.

He's young, he's single, he wants nightlife, he wants diversity, he wants urban.

He doesn't want a family oriented, boring suburban area with perfect roads and amazing schools.

He wants a charming, interesting, diverse area that is walkable, has transit options, plenty of entertainment, shopping and dining options that are not your typical off ramp chains, yet in a safe and convenient area to the suburbs.

He wants to live in a city not a suburb.

He is from Toronto.

Have you been to Toronto? He will not like the suburban midwest.

Sorry. I'm just being honest.

There are plenty of people that love Johnson County. Most are going to be families, most are going to be from the rural states that surround KC.

People from Iowa tend to be OK in JoCo. Families looking for suburban lifestyles tend to be ok with JoCo.

Younger people from other large cities tend to not be ok with JoCo.

It's just the way it is.

I would think you would want this guy to actually enjoy living in KC when he moves here and not be ready to move on after six months.

Now when the "family" from Plano Texas asks about moving to KC.

I will say to them. You will love Johnson County...

But JoCo doesn't fit this guy from what I can tell and it would be great if he could post a reply to this thread in about a year after he has had a chance to figure out our area.

I would bet anything that I hit the nail on the head.

I typically do

Thanks for your response. I wish athfo could defend his comment, but he doens't choose to do so.

ATHFO: Obviously this is an issue that has been going on for a while. IS there another thread that discusses this?

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by katie45

My thoughts exactly! As I wrote in my posting, there are those who seem to want to continue with the Hatfield-McCoy scenario that should have died out a century ago. Maybe those on the MO side are so miserable they just have to try and put KS down? Makes no sense to me at all; but then I'm not miserable.

I love living in KC.

I just want people that move to KC to love living in KC too.

This guy would be miserable on the Kansas side.

Why is this so hard to understand?

[smellykat]

I certainly have my differences with kcmo, but he's spot on with his advice to the poster from Toronto. This person would truly be very unhappy living in Johnson County. Toronto is a very diverse, cosmopolitan city. I have visited there. Fascinating city! Johnson County is an absolutely wonderful suburb for families, but not for young singles. I grew up in Johnson County, but I left to move to California as a single person and returned to live in urban Kansas City (Plaza) because Johnson County is very, very boring for young singles. Bought a home in Johnson County as soon as I married and love every minute of the JOCO suburban life! Urban Kansas City Missouri is booming and the perfect place for young singles! The Toronto poster could never live anyplace else and like KC. There is nothing worse than living somewhere you hate! It truly affects your psyche!