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04-10-2008, 10:03 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
5 posts, read 8,917 times
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Best place to live between Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor?
Hi All,
I have an interview next week in Benton Harbor and am trying to find some potential places to live between Kzoo and BH. I was born and raised in Portage and have a lot friends and family still in that area. If I land the job, I'd like to be near Kzoo but also not have too long of a commute to BH.
Does anyone have any suggestions on good places to live within a reasonable distance between the two cities? I'm a single early thirties guy and would like some form of city life, things to do, nightlife, etc. (even if its small town). I've been looking online at Paw Paw and Mattawan as potential areas but those seem like they may be a little too far of a commute but I'm not sure how long those typically are during a rush-hour. There doesn't seem to be much info on available apts/homes to rent online. Also, I don't know too much about the St. Joe area other than playing baseball and basketball games there in HS (been awhile). I would also consider South Haven or really any of the surrounding areas. Ideally, I would love to live on a lake or inland lake community, etc. However, first and foremost, I'd like to find a nice apartment to get settled for a while and then begin to look for a place to buy given the time constraints with relocation, etc.
Any knowledge of specific places/apts or insight is greatly appreciated. I'm excited about getting out of the traffic and crowds of Chicago and nice cost of living differential!
Cheers,
KL
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04-10-2008, 11:40 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
316 posts, read 271,237 times
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ST Joe is great! You would be near Lake Michigan and the people are mostly very attractive. You could do a lot of fun things on the lake, and be near Chicago folks in the summer.
Mattawn, and Paw Paw for someone looking for nightlife? Coming from Chicago? Don't waste you're time.
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04-11-2008, 06:11 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
5 posts, read 8,917 times
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Thanks for the reply. I'm going to consider St Joe for sure! I understand the nightlife won't be anything to sneeze at in Mattawan and Paw Paw but just wondering if there are things to do I guess. I have an interview on Tues. and they are having some folks take me to dinner to discuss apts and places to live, commuting etc. Wish me luck!
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04-12-2008, 01:03 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
105 posts, read 96,312 times
Reputation: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klchicago
Hi All,
I have an interview next week in Benton Harbor and am trying to find some potential places to live between Kzoo and BH. I was born and raised in Portage and have a lot friends and family still in that area. If I land the job, I'd like to be near Kzoo but also not have too long of a commute to BH.
Does anyone have any suggestions on good places to live within a reasonable distance between the two cities? I'm a single early thirties guy and would like some form of city life, things to do, nightlife, etc. (even if its small town). I've been looking online at Paw Paw and Mattawan as potential areas but those seem like they may be a little too far of a commute but I'm not sure how long those typically are during a rush-hour. There doesn't seem to be much info on available apts/homes to rent online. Also, I don't know too much about the St. Joe area other than playing baseball and basketball games there in HS (been awhile). I would also consider South Haven or really any of the surrounding areas. Ideally, I would love to live on a lake or inland lake community, etc. However, first and foremost, I'd like to find a nice apartment to get settled for a while and then begin to look for a place to buy given the time constraints with relocation, etc.
Any knowledge of specific places/apts or insight is greatly appreciated. I'm excited about getting out of the traffic and crowds of Chicago and nice cost of living differential!
Cheers,
KL
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If you want city life and nightlife, eliminate Hartford, Lawrence and Mattawan from your list.
If you are looking for lakes and lake areas, you can consider Watervliet and Coloma. They both have very active lakes in the summer. They are 10 miles from Benton Harbor, maybe closer depending where you live.
St. Joseph will have the most entertainment options. A drive between St. Joseph and Kalamazoo during typical traffic is 55 minutes on I-94
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04-12-2008, 02:25 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
316 posts, read 271,237 times
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NOt only that but you can take the train from downtown and be in Chicago in an hour and a half or so I believe. =)
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03-16-2009, 05:01 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2009
2 posts, read 1,574 times
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Are you still looking???
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03-17-2009, 08:39 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
58 posts, read 48,081 times
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St.Joe would be my first pick..
If I can only get a job there!!!!!
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03-17-2009, 09:57 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: After College Brooklyn, NYC/Hudson County, NJ!
168 posts, read 136,061 times
Reputation: 39
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Kalamazoo O_O
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04-22-2009, 06:07 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2008
743 posts, read 247,400 times
Reputation: 314
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St. Joe has a lot to offer someone with a decent job, and more. You could easily go to KZoo every weekend, if you are healthy and hvae good transportation, it is about an hour and 15 minutes to get there. I used to date someone all the way from KZoo to South Haven. Paw paw is very small, Hillsdale is a happening town compared to Paw Paw, and Mattawan, just seems to be a boring bedroom community of Kzoo.
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04-25-2009, 10:36 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
58 posts, read 48,081 times
Reputation: 18
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I might be planning a trip up there next month just to prospect some, I haven't been on that side of Michigan in over a year now..
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