Possible relo to Kansas City... (Overland Park, Olathe: credit, home, schools)

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

KC is generally quite pro-growth and not that fiscally conservative. Platte County is one of the fastest growing counties in the metro percentage wise, but still has fewer than 100,000 people. The advantage of Platte County is the easy access to interstates, downtown, and close proximity to the airport.
It is also the most white collar suburban area of KC, MO.
PS: you will also get more responses if you pose this question in the Kansas City subforum as well.

The pro growth thing sounds great!

How many minutes would it take the hubby to get to the GM Fairfax plant from Platt County?

Thanks for the tip about the Kansas City subforum!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

How many minutes would it take the hubby to get to the GM Fairfax plant from Platte County?

20-25 minutes.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

20-25 minutes.

Hey...it's in the range! Thanks!

[kcmo]

Hundreds of people have been moving to KC due to GM Fairfax jobs.

A local news channel recently did a story that 75% of them buy houses in the Northland of KC (probably Platte County) I would guess most of the others end up in Johnson County or Jackson County (poor Wyandotte, they provide the jobs and don't get much return on the investment) Plus the news said many are also renting in the Northland.

If you work at Fairfax, you can live in one of the best suburban areas of the city and be 5-15 minutes from GM during rush hour.

I have answered this same question many times. Look at Platte County. That would be areas of KC,North, Parkville etc.

Amazing areas, awesome schools, some of the prettiest topography in the region, charming historic districts like Parkville, yet new very popular retail centers like Zona Rosa and Briarcliff. VERY close to GM and all of urban KCMO yet in VERY good suburban school districts and suburban settings. KCI airport, casinos, amusement parks all closer. All for 20% less than comparable areas of Johnson County that would be much further away in areas that I don’t think are as nice (topography etc) and much further away from KCI, downtown and just about everything else in KC. Plus you would have much more traffic. You see, from Platte County, you can reach GM without having to fight traffic going downtown by taking US69 (Fairfax Bridge).

It's really a no brainer. If you work at GM, it would be silly to live anywhere but Platte County. Even Western Wyandotte County (KCK) is further away is nowhere near as nice.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Hundreds of people have been moving to KC due to GM Fairfax jobs.

A local news channel recently did a story that 75% of them buy houses in the Northland of KC (probably Platte County) I would guess most of the others end up in Johnson County or Jackson County (poor Wyandotte, they provide the jobs and don't get much return on the investment) Plus the news said many are also renting in the Northland.

If you work at Fairfax, you can live in one of the best suburban areas of the city and be 5-15 minutes from GM during rush hour.

I have answered this same question many times. Look at Platte County. That would be areas of KC,North, Parkville etc.

Amazing areas, awesome schools, some of the prettiest topography in the region, charming historic districts like Parkville, yet new very popular retail centers like Zona Rosa and Briarcliff. VERY close to GM and all of urban KCMO yet in VERY good suburban school districts and suburban settings. KCI airport, casinos, amusement parks all closer. All for 20% less than comparable areas of Johnson County that would be much further away in areas that I don’t think are as nice (topography etc) and much further away from KCI, downtown and just about everything else in KC. Plus you would have much more traffic. You see, from Platte County, you can reach GM without having to fight traffic going downtown by taking US69 (Fairfax Bridge).

It's really a no brainer. If you work at GM, it would be silly to live anywhere but Platte County. Even Western Wyandotte County (KCK) is further away is nowhere near as nice.

Wow! That was really, really informative! Thank you so much for taking the time to fill me in on the layout of the area. I really appreciate it!

Right now...the Hubs works at the Spring Hill Plant in Tennessee...and I don't know whether or not you've heard or not, but they are going "idle" at the end of November. All of the white collars (husband included) have been put in for transfers to other GM plants. So far we know of folks going to Kansas, Lansing, Michigan and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. But it's looking as if the likelihood may be Kansas which is why I'm wanting to find out more about the area before we get transferred.

Right now...the Hubs only has about a 10 minute drive to work with no red lights! It's a breeze for him! He's gotten spoiled during the 20 years we've lived here in Tennessee having such a simple drive to work! Very much unlike what he had when we lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he had a 45 minute drive. Anyway...now he's spoiled and out of practice!

Again, thanks for all the tips you've shared! It is soooooooo appreciated!

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by thriftylefty

you could even go to Platt woods or Parkville anything along Highway 9 will get you in fairfax, I know people in Raytown, Grandview, Lees summit or Overland Park that have done it for their whole life.
Schooldigger.com -- Search and compare elementary, middle, and high schools. this is a good site to look for the best schools, if you can find the top elementary school in the areas you are looking at, you will prolly be happy with the homes nearby.

Yeah, I agree that if the school district is a good one, the homes and neighborhoods tend to be nicer and hold their value as well. Thanks for the link!

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

Wow! That was really, really informative! Thank you so much for taking the time to fill me in on the layout of the area. I really appreciate it!

Right now...the Hubs works at the Spring Hill Plant in Tennessee...and I don't know whether or not you've heard or not, but they are going "idle" at the end of November. All of the white collars (husband included) have been put in for transfers to other GM plants. So far we know of folks going to Kansas, Lansing, Michigan and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. But it's looking as if the likelihood may be Kansas which is why I'm wanting to find out more about the area before we get transferred.

Right now...the Hubs only has about a 10 minute drive to work with no red lights! It's a breeze for him! He's gotten spoiled during the 20 years we've lived here in Tennessee having such a simple drive to work! Very much unlike what he had when we lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he had a 45 minute drive. Anyway...now he's spoiled and out of practice!

Again, thanks for all the tips you've shared! It is soooooooo appreciated!

If you want a little bit of land, you would LOVE Platte County. I would look into un-incorporated Platte County which is just northwest of Parkville. This area is building up very fast, but the lots are larger than typical suburban lots. Not huge rural lots, just larger. Plus the topography of the area is really pretty and if you are coming from TN, you are going to feel right at home.

Tom Watson Parkway which runs through this area is being widened right now west of Parkville. That will make the commute even faster, but even now, you could get to GM from this area in about 15 minutes. Park Hill and Platte County Districts are great, so your investment would be good from that perspective and if you live in un-incorporated Platte County, you could avoid some city taxes like the KCMO E tax.

I also think you will find this area a little more diverse when it comes to suburban demographics. Not quite as many soccer moms etc, kids everywhere etc. It’s more of a mixture of families and empty nesters than a lot of booming suburban areas that tend to attract families and lots of kids. I think one reason for that is the allure of Downtown Parkville which has many charming antique shops and restaurants, plus many popular festivals, the river front parks etc while places like Olathe, Lenexa etc pretty much have chain places and stuff that is geared toward families. Plus, it's just a quieter area than most built up suburban areas.

Yet, you have all the ultra suburban chain stuff 5-10 minutes away along the I-29 corridor and the eclectic urban stuff 10-15 minutes away just on the other side of the river. Don't forget GM is just across the river. Seriously, it's so easy to sell Platte County.

You also might look at places like Riss Lake or the Bluffs. Not as much land, but lots of trees and you can have a home in bluffs or on the lake.

Bluffs
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...232.42,,0,2.46

Riss Lake
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie...346.71,,0,5.58

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by kcmo

If you want a little bit of land, you would LOVE Platte County. I would look into un-incorporated Platte County which is just northwest of Parkville. This area is building up very fast, but the lots are larger than typical suburban lots. Not huge rural lots, just larger. Plus the topography of the area is really pretty and if you are coming from TN, you are going to feel right at home.

Tom Watson Parkway which runs through this area is being widened right now west of Parkville. That will make the commute even faster, but even now, you could get to GM from this area in about 15 minutes. Park Hill and Platte County Districts are great, so your investment would be good from that perspective and if you live in un-incorporated Platte County, you could avoid some city taxes like the KCMO E tax.

I also think you will find this area a little more diverse when it comes to suburban demographics. Not quite as many soccer moms etc, kids everywhere etc. It’s more of a mixture of families and empty nesters than a lot of booming suburban areas that tend to attract families and lots of kids. I think one reason for that is the allure of Downtown Parkville which has many charming antique shops and restaurants, plus many popular festivals, the river front parks etc while places like Olathe, Lenexa etc pretty much have chain places and stuff that is geared toward families. Plus, it's just a quieter area than most built up suburban areas.

Yet, you have all the ultra suburban chain stuff 5-10 minutes away along the I-29 corridor and the eclectic urban stuff 10-15 minutes away just on the other side of the river. Don't forget GM is just across the river. Seriously, it's so easy to sell Platte County.

You also might look at places like Riss Lake or the Bluffs. Not as much land, but lots of trees and you can have a home in bluffs or on the lake.

Bluffs
parkville, mo - Google Maps

Riss Lake
Google Maps

Land...hmmmmm...let's talk about that for a bit.

Currently we have 5 beautiful acres backing up to a pond that is usually covered with geese and wood ducks. I absolutely LOVE this property, but I've been here for 20 years and at this stage of the game, it's getting a bit much to tend to for my liking. When we first bought the place, we were 32 and our children were still young and it was a perfect place to raise kids! I love the nature that abounds...deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, herons, turtles the size of large pizzas, etc. But at 52...it's a lot harder to maintain than it was when I was 32! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

So...at this point I think we want something with less land to have to maintain but that isn't nestled too close to the neighbors either. I wanna be able to sit out on my patio and not have Fred and Eythl breathing down our necks! I'm thinking 1/2 to 1 acre would be sufficient at this stage of our lives. The other thing that I really want is city sewage. We currently have a septic tank and I've never had a lick of trouble with it, but then I tend to go easy on it too! I have never installed a garbage disposal, nor do we flush any feminine hygiene products down the toilet. (Ok...that's probably more information than you really wanted, right??!?!??)

But anyhoo...I have missed having a garbage disposal since we moved from Cincinnati 20 years ago! I've also really, really, really missed flushing my tampons down the tube and not caring about where the heck it goes! Ya know...as long as it goes somewhere it's not gonna cause me problems, I don't care! I don't wanna know where it goes!!!!!

So...we really don't wanna be out in the boons anywhere...did it done it and lived to tell about it! I really want restaurants that are convenient and city sewage and city services, city parks that are well maintained by the city for the pleasure of the citizens, etc.

So...can I get that in Platte? Could you be a bit more specific about the shopping and restaurants available in Platte? I'd love to hear more about it.

As far as a lot of small children around...yeah...the hubs and I are past that stage in our lives so we really don't wanna be covered up in an area that specifically caters to children at every turn. Things that appeal to the more...shall we say...mature person would be good! I don't need or want a McDonalds on ever corner.

You're being very helpful, and I really appreciate the information you've given me so far! I can't thank you enough.

[kcmo]

As far as I know, most of the areas I’m talking about have basic city services. Even un-incorporated Platte County does, in the areas I’m talking about, I’m sure it might vary from development to development so don’t hold me to it. These areas are not way out in the middle of a rural area, it’s on the edge of a fast growing and pretty upscale suburban county. If you go clear out along I-435, you probably won’t have sewers. But I think most people that live in this area have sewers. There are tons of multi million dollar homes in this area. I’m sure most of them have sewers.

Shopping/Dining

You have Downtown Parkville. I’m not into antique shops and all that, if you are, they have those, plus the old style ice cream places etc, but Downtown Parkville has some great restaurants.
Parkville, MO About Historic Downtown Parkville Missouri

Zona Rosa
A large mixed use urban plaza in a suburban area. It’s brand new and very popular. This walkable shopping district has many retail stores and restaurants (mostly chains) plus theaters, a popular comedy club, condos etc.
Zona Rosa :: Shopping, Dining, Entertainment, Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri

Mega retail area near Zona Rosa
The area around Zona Rosa has many large typical shopping centers (Barry Woods, Tiffany Springs Marketcenter, Boardwalk etc) that have just about every chain store and restaurant you can think of plus a 24 screen megaplex/IMAX

Briarcliff Village
This is similar to Zona Rosa only it has more local places and more condos and office buildings. Lost of great restaurants.
Briarcliff Village: Home

Tuileries Plaza
Brand new upscale shopping center just outside of Parkville.
http://www.tuileriesplaza.com/index.html


Downtown North Kansas City
This is a great area with many unique shops and restaurants, a theater etc. Charming historic district.

Also within a very short drive of Platte County is Village West which is a lifestyle center in western wyandotte county in Kansas. It's in more of a rural area, but worth the drive because it's "something different"
http://www.legendsshopping.com/

There is also some good dining and entertainment at the Casinos. Argosy is in Platte, Harrah's is very close by near Downtown KCMO.

[luzianne]

Johnson County, on the Kansas side. Overland Park, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Lenexa, Westwood. Johnson County is THE wealthiest county in Kansas (at the risk of sounding like a snob) and one of the wealthiest (not sure the number) counties in the nation. It's a nice place to live and very low crime. Overland Park is ALWAYS on - is it Money Magazine's? - best places to live. If you are looking for upscale, look at the newer areas of Overland Park and Leawood.