Crown Heights? (Wichita, Lawrence, Lenexa: houses, established neighborhood, buying)

[MovingToWichita]

My husband and I are young twenty-somethings preparing to move to Wichita from Lawrence for my husband's job. We love Lawrence for the most part. I know moving to Wichita will be a bit of a culture shock after being accustomed to Lawrence, but we're originally small town Kansans so I think we can handle it.

We may rent, but are seriously considering buying. We both grew up near Wichita, and are fairly familiar with the city. We LOVE older, established neighborhoods with houses that have character. Our (obvious) neighborhoods of interest have been College Hill, Crown Heights, and Rockwood/Woodlawn Village.

My personal favorite is Crown Heights. I like that the houses are slightly newer and homier than those in College Hill. While we have no kids now, we plan to in the immediate future. The Hyde school district is a bonus for us.

Can anyone give me an honest opinion on Crown Heights? Is there any difference between the neighborhood on the north versus the south side of Douglas? Is any house in Crown Heights proper going to have good resale value (compared to other parts of Wichita in a similar price range)?

Also, I'm not interested in hearing about the suburbs; I have no intention of living in Andover or anything like it with its endless, depressing line of sterile taupe houses. I'm excited to become a part of the Wichita community!

[athfo]

Originally Posted by MovingToWichita

I know moving to Wichita will be a bit of a culture shock after being accustomed to Lawrence, but we're originally small town Kansans so I think we can handle it.

This statement cracks me up. What are you basing this on? The politics in Lawrence? The large student population in Lawrence?

[MovingToWichita]

Cracks you up, huh? Have you ever lived in Lawrence? Lawrence is a fabulous little community (the preppy, JoCo KU kids aside) of only 90k people with a tight-knit, liberal population who believe in utilizing the government to increase the services available to people of all economic situations in the town. The public transit system is nothing short of phenomenal and dutifully snakes all throughout the city. There is no end to the locally owned business pride. Would the Community Mercantile survive in Andover, KS? I hardly think so. How about long lists of alternative medical services? Mass Street is a lovely haven of unique culture. Indie music scene; hello! The Earth Day festivities here consume the entire city, and we fight the creation of new Walmarts and strip malls like they are the devil himself. We can't even bring ourselves to destroy the wetlands for the would-be convenience of the K-10 overpass!
When I caucused for Obama, my district ALONE overflowed both Abe and Jakes AND Liberty Hall; two quite large venues.

I feel moderately conservative living in Lawrence, but relatively speaking, Wichita will make me a tree-hugging liberal.

I'm basing my statement on my experience here in the city of Lawrence, my beloved home, versus my experience in Wichita, and the rest of Kansas, to be honest.

I love Wichita, but let's not get into how different it is in comparison to what I've described above. No one in their right mind will argue that the two towns are in any way similar.

Now, do you have any advice on Crown Heights, or do you simply wish to patronize me for my opinions? If you know anyone who would kindly have a quick conversation about the merits of buying in Crown Heights, please send them my way.

[talbet]

Originally Posted by MovingToWichita

Cracks you up, huh? Have you ever lived in Lawrence? Lawrence is a fabulous little community (the preppy, JoCo KU kids aside) of only 90k people with a tight-knit, liberal population who believe in utilizing the government to increase the services available to people of all economic situations in the town. The public transit system is nothing short of phenomenal and dutifully snakes all throughout the city. There is no end to the locally owned business pride. Would the Community Mercantile survive in Andover, KS? I hardly think so. How about long lists of alternative medical services? Mass Street is a lovely haven of unique culture. Indie music scene; hello! The Earth Day festivities here consume the entire city, and we fight the creation of new Walmarts and strip malls like they are the devil himself. We can't even bring ourselves to destroy the wetlands for the would-be convenience of the K-10 overpass!
When I caucused for Obama, my district ALONE overflowed both Abe and Jakes AND Liberty Hall; two quite large venues.

I feel moderately conservative living in Lawrence, but relatively speaking, Wichita will make me a tree-hugging liberal.

I'm basing my statement on my experience here in the city of Lawrence, my beloved home, versus my experience in Wichita, and the rest of Kansas, to be honest.

I love Wichita, but let's not get into how different it is in comparison to what I've described above. No one in their right mind will argue that the two towns are in any way similar.

Now, do you have any advice on Crown Heights, or do you simply wish to patronize me for my opinions? If you know anyone who would kindly have a quick conversation about the merits of buying in Crown Heights, please send them my way.

We need about 100,000 more people like you in Wichita, I would trade50,000 Born again fundamentalists for 5,000 people like you. Wichita has a bit of the Christian mental block thing going on. You will read some of the posts I will get from just such individuals who think they have to wave the cross in everyone’s face because Jesus loves them best. LMAO.

[kcmo]

Lawrence = Lenexa West .

[pioneer88]

I like lawrence and all but I think you have what athfo meant all wrong ( or maybe not, I don't know). The idea that lawrence is a big city compared to Wichita is what is comical. While I do believe the role of small businesses, public transportation and the overall culture of Lawrence is great, Wichita has a lot of these same things and many others as well. All the while without having to rely solely on a university to make the town go. But like I said, I'm a big fan of Lawrence etc, but if you go into a new city with all of those assumptions you'll miss out on a lot of the good that is truly there. Take time to find the good in the place and meet the quite diverse population, after all there are over 350,000 of them. Good luck.

[MovingToWichita]

Does anyone have some good opinions/information on northeast Wichita neighborhoods?

[TheDub]

I'd like to hear about this too. Does Crown Heights have a strong sense of community and quirkiness than other areas possess? I don't think that any area of Wichita will be quite as "out there" as Lawrence, but what areas get close in terms of culture/arts, community, and educated populace?

[Modron]

I like the Crown Heights neighborhood. What I found when I was shopping for a house there - ten years ago - was that the property values are a lot like College Hill in that you pay a premium just for the location. A number of the homes I looked at at that time needed some real work. So, I would have been paying more than for a similar home than in another neighborhood and had the cost of necessary repairs (like leaking basements) and renovations on top of that. I did know someone who bought a home in need of some renovation in Crown Heights and it worked out ok -she was able to actually raise the value of the home- because a lot of friends helped her out with repairs and improvements.

A house in Crown Heights that has been kept up and updated might come with a comparatively high price tag.

I also looked at an airplane bungalow in College Hill that was very reasonably priced, except that it needed, and would continue to need -because of the structural issues with that style of home- expensive repairs.

Now, if it were me, I think the neighborhoods around College Hill and Crown Heights have some really beautiful homes that tend to maintain their property values over time. I'd buy one if it was practical for me and I wouldn't be in over my head long-term with repairs and payments. If that's what's right for you, I say go for it.

Oh, and I went to university in Lawrence. There is a difference in the two cities. And, I was not in the whole student mode while I was there. I was a somewhat non-traditional student. I attended church in town and was acquainted with people whose lives did not totally revolve around the University's student life. (Although I find any suggestion that the University really doesn't influence the town comical, as if the town is just so, so separate. That would be like saying the aircraft industry doesn't influence Wichita. It's just not even sensible to suggest such a thing.) Especially, if you were educated at KU you will notice a difference not just in people's views, but in the way they think and formulate those views. It can be somewhat breathtaking, and not in a good way, from time to time.

Best of luck to you.

Oh, and athfo, I know I'm wrong about what I've said here and -well, about everything. No need for you to tell me so.

[MovingToWichita]

Thanks Modron. I hope to live in the Crown Heights/College Hill area one day sooner than later. I think my husband and I will really enjoy it. I'm very excited to be a part of the Wichita community! I am REALLY grateful for your time and your opinion. Thank you!

I know what you mean about Lawrence. And you're right; the university is not AT ALL separate from the town. Personally, I completed a post graduate degree at KU and I work there full-time now. Unfortunately, I don't have a high opinion of the school though. I had bad experiences overall with the student culture, the administration, and the quality of my degree. Once I began disengaging from the KU community and began engaging with people in the local Lawrence community, I started to like Lawrence a whole lot more! We never did find a church we loved, though. I think we'll find a much better variety in Wichita. A definite bonus.