Where are all the kids??? Please HELP!!! (Madison, Fitchburg: middle-class, appointed)

[msnntv]

I live in an idyllic kid friendly neighborhood. Its part of the "Regent" neighborhood. Its bordered by Regent st/ Spooner St/Monroe St. Its an older mature neighborhood (1920s homes). Stop by the Hillington Green playground after school and it will be crowded with kids of all ages (preschool to high school) being "kids." Its walking distance to shops on Monroe, the zoo, campus, etc. The neighborhood is a perfect mix of all aged kids to retired folks. Schools are wonderful. Its a lovely comfortable place to be.

[lokimc]

the near west side has a lot of families and young professionals. your best bet would be to contact one of the elementary schools and talk to staff/teachers--van hise is a nice school . Van Hise Elementary School - MMSD

[remcycle]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Remcycle,

I'm going down in May (17-22nd), for the fist time. I can't afford Austin proper so I'm looking at Round Rock, Georgetown and even Taylor as they have some nice historic houses. I don't think I'll want to live that far out, however.

So, I'm essentially looking at the urban sprawl areas because I can't afford to do otherwise....

Yeah, unfortunately, Austin is like that. It's become VERY expensive and you'll notice that the further out in the sprawl you get, the more rude people become.

Still, if you HAVE to live way out, I would suggest Lago Vista (lake life on the north shore and the costs are still low, so buy now!), Bastrop (the only place in Central Texas with Pine Trees if you ever need to get your Wisconsin fix!), and Taylor is still cute but has had some crime issues recently...mostly kids with nothing to do but steal stuff from peoples' cars, homes, etc. Marble Falls is also about 45 minutes from downtown Austin and is one of the prettiest small cities in Central Texas...and it's very close to Inks Lake State Park and Enchanted Rock State Park, which are the most beautiful spots in the entire state outside of Big Bend in my opinion (and I've been all over and seen most of it).

Round Rock *used* to be nice (I went to high school there) but really has become a mess with all the shopping malls and toll roads and stuff. It's starting to look a lot like the foul northern suburbs of Dallas. Still, for it's proximity to Austin, it's good in terms of investment, but I would never live there again, let alone raise a family there. Georgetown is really really cute, but the prices are starting to skyrocket now that the tollroads have brought downtown Austin almost half an hour closer. If you're gonna buy out there, do it now.

Hope some of that helps you out.

I live in an idyllic kid friendly neighborhood. Its part of the "Regent" neighborhood. Its bordered by Regent st/ Spooner St/Monroe St. Its an older mature neighborhood (1920s homes). Stop by the Hillington Green playground after school and it will be crowded with kids of all ages (preschool to high school) being "kids." Its walking distance to shops on Monroe, the zoo, campus, etc. The neighborhood is a perfect mix of all aged kids to retired folks. Schools are wonderful. Its a lovely comfortable place to be.

I totally agree and it looks like a GORGEOUS neighborhood. The next time I've got $350K burning a hole in my pocket I'll make sure to give a realtor a call. In the meantime, our budget is about half that (maybe a little closer to 2), so we'll be digging for gems on the eastside.

[Megan1967]

Thanks for all the info on housing around Austin! So you lived there growing up, huh? I've been on the Austin forum and some sort of disturbing things have been coming up. Namely a deep seated resentment on the part of long term natives toward anyone new coming in. If you as a native found Austin less friendly than Madison, I'm beginning to worry how welcome I'd be. Someone specifically listed Wisconsin as a place where "rude and arrogant" Northerner are coming from. <gulp!> I *think* I'm fairly polite and even a little self deprecating at times, not arrogant at all .

[123writer]

remcycle,
When looking for a neighborhood with kids, we drove around and looked at how many driveways had basketball hoops or backyards had play structures! I realize what you are saying about Semonile Forest, my brother lives there and he has two teenagers. The houses are older, so I think most of the kids have grown and left the nest. Up the road from you is a neighborhood called Lacy Heights with newer houses and closer to Stoner Prarie. Drive through and count the b ball nets and swings! BTW Verona is head and shoulders above Madison schools especially in the elementary area( so I have heard from numerous sources.) People I have met who live on the other side of Osmunden Rd. (that go to the Madison schools ) are in a pickel and want to move before their kids get into middle and high school at West HS.. Also available to Verona area school district children is the Core Knowledge Charter School located in the Badger Ridge Middle School Campus. I loved this option, but we ended up buying a house in the Middleton School Dist. and they don't offer anything like this. Check it out, I thought it was great! Good luck in you home search, we are moving out there from San Diego at the end of May, and the neighbor's kids are already asking when my son will be out there!! Really, before you buy or rent again, knock on the neighbors 'doors and ask!!!! Get ahold of the neighborhood school directory and see where the kids are living and look there. We even went as far as to call up complete strangers out of the book and ask about the neighborhood, and believe it or not, everyone was friendly and helpful and no one thought we were weirdos....LOL

[L.K.]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Thanks for all the info on housing around Austin! So you lived there growing up, huh? I've been on the Austin forum and some sort of disturbing things have been coming up. Namely a deep seated resentment on the part of long term natives toward anyone new coming in. If you as a native found Austin less friendly than Madison, I'm beginning to worry how welcome I'd be. Someone specifically listed Wisconsin as a place where "rude and arrogant" Northerner are coming from. <gulp!> I *think* I'm fairly polite and even a little self deprecating at times, not arrogant at all .

Those "rude and arrogant Northerners" may be coming from Wi,but,they must not be native Wi people,as none of us are rude or arrogant!

[jbear182]

I totally agree and it looks like a GORGEOUS neighborhood. The next time I've got $350K burning a hole in my pocket I'll make sure to give a realtor a call. In the meantime, our budget is about half that (maybe a little closer to 2), so we'll be digging for gems on the eastside.[/quote]

Look in the area of Lakeside Street (between John Nolan and Park Street) just off Monona Bay. It shares the same school district as the near west side, is much more affordable and is one of Madisons best kept secrets.

[jbear182]

Originally Posted by 123writer

remcycle,
When looking for a neighborhood with kids, we drove around and looked at how many driveways had basketball hoops or backyards had play structures! I realize what you are saying about Semonile Forest, my brother lives there and he has two teenagers. The houses are older, so I think most of the kids have grown and left the nest. Up the road from you is a neighborhood called Lacy Heights with newer houses and closer to Stoner Prarie. Drive through and count the b ball nets and swings! BTW Verona is head and shoulders above Madison schools especially in the elementary area( so I have heard from numerous sources.) People I have met who live on the other side of Osmunden Rd. (that go to the Madison schools ) are in a pickel and want to move before their kids get into middle and high school at West HS.. Also available to Verona area school district children is the Core Knowledge Charter School located in the Badger Ridge Middle School Campus. I loved this option, but we ended up buying a house in the Middleton School Dist. and they don't offer anything like this. Check it out, I thought it was great! Good luck in you home search, we are moving out there from San Diego at the end of May, and the neighbor's kids are already asking when my son will be out there!! Really, before you buy or rent again, knock on the neighbors 'doors and ask!!!! Get ahold of the neighborhood school directory and see where the kids are living and look there. We even went as far as to call up complete strangers out of the book and ask about the neighborhood, and believe it or not, everyone was friendly and helpful and no one thought we were weirdos....LOL

Your numerous sources are incorrect. While some districts in Madison are better than others,( the district opposite Osmunden is just ok) the better ones are as good or better than Verona. West High is one of the best H.S. in the area. West High is on the near west side and is where the vast majority of the UW instructors and professors send their children. A highly motivated faculty and student body with access to a wide assortment of class offerings can be found at West High. Verona is a generic town with "no there there." BTW, my wife and kids moved to Madison from San Diego as well. Leucadia to be exact. Good luck in Madison, as much as I miss N. County, we love Madison and have no regrets.

[Megan1967]

JBear is right about West High. State-wide, it's one of the best. I've *never* heard anyone who has had kids attend there say anything bad about it, usually they rave about how good it was for their children.

[noniwilli]

I am moving from Massachusetts with 3 little kids, and have searched all the options in the western side of Madison...and have come up with Oregon, in the Bergamont subdivision, which has a water park opening Memorial Weekend! There are a lot of kids - which my kids are so happy about. Great schoools - check it out!