Job relocation has sent me to Shawnee/KC - small town places? (Overland Park: apartment complexes, for rent)

[AJ1966]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum, and it seems like a great resource. My job has sent me to the following location:

W 67th St
Shawnee Mission, KS 66203

It is south of Merriam, and NW of Overland Park, or at least according to the map. Not even sure what town it's classified as.

What do you think of this area? I have found some apartment complexes a few miles away, 70-75th St or so, for a reasonable price. Is this a fairly safe area?

1 other quick question:

What is the most rural place closest to this area? I myself don't care at all for cities; I'd rather rent a house with a garage/land in a safe area, even if it's "boring." It looks like KS may be one of the few places I can live with few neighbors and still have a reasonable commute/cost of living.

I am moving from CT, from a rich county, but I am a small town person. I am 23, no kids, no real requirements for where to rent for now other than what I listed. If anyone has any input, I'd love to hear it. I am actually looking forward to moving here; it sounds interesting!

[deg512]

If you are at 67th and I-35 area, that is still Merriam. Once you get west to Switzer you get into Shawnee. I think it is still Merriam as far east as Antioch.

I live in a house not far from 67th Street in Shawnee. I don't know too much about the apartments, but there are some along 67th Street east of Neiman, some around 75th and Quivira, and some on Neiman around 69th. There are some newer apartments at 67th and Lackman, not too far from the newish Target and Home Depot which are along Shawnee Mission Parkway.

To go rural you should head west - out to western Shawnee or DeSoto, or rural Wyandotte County near Edwardsville or Bonner Springs.

Good luck!

[Versatile]

You might check out the Stilwell area to the south and even a little farther south to Louisburg. Louisburg is not big enough to have a Walmart but it is growing. Or you might try the Martin City area of south Kansas City. A real biggie is to check out your drive times for the commute; as well as do some homework and find out what new highway construction is going to start in the area you desire and commute to. They have been in a process of replacing several bridges over I-35 hwy in the last few yrs and it creates some havoc for some that would normally use that bridge in the commute to work etc.

[old_boy]

First, yes, the area you will be working in is a safe area. In terms of apartments in the vacinity, you will find apartments in the 75th Street area you mentioned, plus, there are quite a few apartments along I-35 in the Mission area along Foxridge Drive. If you want to live in the country, the quickest commute to affordable country living would be to head northwest to western Wyandotte County or southern Leavenworth County, which is just to the west of Wyandotte Co. From this location, you can take I-70 East to I-635 South right to the area you will be working. DeSoto was mentioned earlier, and also would be a good choice, but you'd have to take streets to work rather than highways, which would slow you down. And, it is beautiful in southern Johnson County/Stilwell/Louisburg, but you have to go quite a ways out to find something rural & affordable and the traffic coming in is a lot heavier along 69 Hwy/I-35... but it's definitely something to consider.

[Dawter]

I agree, Shawnee is a safe place to live.
Moving here from Nebraska I have lived in the Whispering Hills apartments on 124th & Antioch for 3 years.
I love it. My apartment is nice and clean, the staff is friendly and my view is neat...but paying $600 a month for rent and having nothing to show for it does get old.
I am looking to buy a house so my apartment will be open when I leave.
The apartment complex's have good specials and you should be able to find a clean apartment for around $550 in Overland Park.
Don't settle for a crummy one. Keep looking until you find a nice one. It IS possible!
You are looking for an apartment, aren't you? I know one that may be vacant soon

[AJ1966]

Originally Posted by Dawter

I agree, Shawnee is a safe place to live.
Moving here from Nebraska I have lived in the Whispering Hills apartments on 124th & Antioch for 3 years.
I love it. My apartment is nice and clean, the staff is friendly and my view is neat...but paying $600 a month for rent and having nothing to show for it does get old.
I am looking to buy a house so my apartment will be open when I leave.
The apartment complex's have good specials and you should be able to find a clean apartment for around $550 in Overland Park.
Don't settle for a crummy one. Keep looking until you find a nice one. It IS possible!
You are looking for an apartment, aren't you? I know one that may be vacant soon

http://www.whisperinghillsks.com/

Would this be it? It would be 10 minutes from where I will work.

I will be moving in July. I would be heading down to KS in June to check things out. If you are going to live there until that point, keep in touch! The rent sounds reasonable!

Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

[antonics]

How is the Kansas ISD? Can they handle autism-related problems. I have an 8-year old son who has Asperger syndrome (mild form of autism) and needs a special school. I am choosing to relocate in either Shawnee, Kansas; Houston, TX and Round Rock, TX. Nightlife in Shawnee ok? Am an american but born and raised in the Philippines. Any info on the above questions is greatly appreciated. Best regards

[jeh]

btw shawnee mission is just a name created by the phone book to cover the whole area.

[flborn]

Having worked for the Shawnee PD, I'd recommend you not move to the apartments on 75th east of Quivira or a couple of others in the area. If you want small town, go west of K-7, which is an easy drive to 67th. DeSoto is probably more what you want. If you want more information, and good information, call the crime analyst (susan smith) at the Shawnee PD. She will give you the best information you can find.

[KCMetro]

Originally Posted by AJ1966

I am moving from CT, from a rich county, but I am a small town person. I am 23, no kids, no real requirements for where to rent for now other than what I listed. If anyone has any input, I'd love to hear it. I am actually looking forward to moving here; it sounds interesting!

Just so you know, Johnson County, which is the county shawnee is located in, is the third richest county in the world. I'm not a yuppy or anything, but just a little fyi....