[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by MichiganMovesSouth

Hi All!
My fiancé’s job might move him to Jackson - this is not set in stone. We are about to get married and after had planned to look for a house in Canton where we live now. However, we may hold off in fact he is going to start working out of the Jackson office. So, if he has to work out of Jackson we are considering 2 places to live - Chelsea or Holt/Mason.

We are both MSU alumni (Go Green!) so we love EL. However, I'd like to make a smart move and part of me thinks that living near Ann Arbor is smarter based on the bad economy - Ann Arbor seems a desirable place to live still.

What are your thoughts???

I would certainly pick A2 over EL, there is positively more to do, more employment opportunities and overall is a safer more vibrant community. Ann Arbor still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state despite slow economic growth. Many people who do not live in A2 or visit every other year do not see the continual growth of the area, and opportunities that exist there as compared to other communities. EL economy is based solely on the arrival of students at MSU (and associated academia professions) which drives the local economy, Ann Arbor has a much more established workforce and more choices when searching for employment.

On to housing: Ann Arbor has one of the highest average home prices of the state, and many are holding their value (especially near UM and the old west side). Even if you didn't move to A2, Chelsea would be a closer drive,(than holt or mason) with the Waterloo recreation area in your back yard, tons of lakes, parks and a awesome small town, not to mention only 10 minutes form having dinner in A2 or 15 from Jackson. My opinion may seem biased, but having lived in several areas across the state, I found myself missing the combination of a small city that has big city amenities, recreation and low cost of living.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Ann_Arbor

^ You are right about the first-ring suburbs of Ferndale and Royal Oak- but they resemble the city (Detroit) more, at least, in its better days. They also act as the region's de-facto city in many ways- they have lively downtowns, unique homes/shops/neighborhoods and are home to many of the areas young professionals.

-
I was referring to Detroit's exurbs- the further out suburbs that are carving farm fields into large scale shopping and office plazas, big-box stores and developer friendly subdivisions full of taupe colored vinyl homes, e.g. Canton and Clinton Township.

Yeah, thank you. Look at Southfield and Dearborn. All the suburban areas that took off after the 80's are going to fall out of favor. Look at Kentwood near Grand Rapids, and Waverly near Lansing. All were once nice and now are gang-ridden and becoming blighted. Unlike places like Ferndale and Royal Oak, which are built on a different scale and are more walkable, once the exurbs get to be about 15 - 20 years old, they begin to look tired and people want the new new again.

Actually, Clinton Twp is a perfect example. It's replacing Sterling Heights, Warren, Roseville, etc, which were nice and new like Canton at one time. I was in Farmington Hills a few weeks ago and thought it too was looking pretty ragged. 5 lane roads lined with privacy fences loses its charm after a while.

Sorry, back to the topic at hand.

[MichiganMovesSouth]

Have you considered how much commuting is going to cost you?

Extra gas/miles on the car(s). Then, the spouse that travels the farthest is always tired and cranky because their day is super-long because of prep time/drive time/traffic...everything starts revolving around work/going to work/just wanting to rest after work...

After awhile, you won't want to live like that.

We finally moved closer to my husband's work because his commute cost him 2/hours a day - more if traffic was horrible. We finally decided to move after he ended up getting a hotel room near work during a bad snow storm because traffic wasn't moving and it wouldn't be worth the drive home just to turn around and go back out the next day. Now we live 10 minutes from his work/school and the quality of life we have is so much better

Also, I don't agree with the idea that suburbs are going to fall out of favor. Look at Ferndale/Royal Oak. They just put up a high scale mall in Clinton Township. Also, we are in the midwest - once you get out of the city - you need a car to get anywhere the bus doesn't go.

Also, when you think about having kids - would one of you be a stay at home? My DH and I decided way before we ever had kids that I would stay home with the kids in the early years, so we focused on building his career so he/we could afford for me to stay at home.

Also, are you the type of people who like to travel around or can really see yourselves living in the same house forever? Is being close to family important?

When you have the answers to the lifestyle questions, then you can figure out where or if to move - and if so, rent or buy.

These are just things for you to consider.

Thanks for the input.

Actually we have decided the same thing - I will stay home when we have kids, which I'm guessing is about 3-4 years away. For now, my job is extremely flexible so we are focusing on his job - I might be able to work from home if we move for his job. I guess if he works out of Jackson it would be ideal for us to live there - we just don't want to! He is from there and it's OK but nothing special really.

[MichiganMovesSouth]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

I would certainly pick A2 over EL, there is positively more to do, more employment opportunities and overall is a safer more vibrant community. Ann Arbor still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state despite slow economic growth. Many people who do not live in A2 or visit every other year do not see the continual growth of the area, and opportunities that exist there as compared to other communities. EL economy is based solely on the arrival of students at MSU (and associated academia professions) which drives the local economy, Ann Arbor has a much more established workforce and more choices when searching for employment.

On to housing: Ann Arbor has one of the highest average home prices of the state, and many are holding their value (especially near UM and the old west side). Even if you didn't move to A2, Chelsea would be a closer drive,(than holt or mason) with the Waterloo recreation area in your back yard, tons of lakes, parks and a awesome small town, not to mention only 10 minutes form having dinner in A2 or 15 from Jackson. My opinion may seem biased, but having lived in several areas across the state, I found myself missing the combination of a small city that has big city amenities, recreation and low cost of living.

Thanks for the info. Question - I don't know much about the unemployment statistics and honestly Ann Arbor being so high surprised me - does this have anything to do with a number of students being unemployed?

[MichiganMovesSouth]

Originally Posted by magellan

Yeah, thank you. Look at Southfield and Dearborn. All the suburban areas that took off after the 80's are going to fall out of favor. Look at Kentwood near Grand Rapids, and Waverly near Lansing. All were once nice and now are gang-ridden and becoming blighted. Unlike places like Ferndale and Royal Oak, which are built on a different scale and are more walkable, once the exurbs get to be about 15 - 20 years old, they begin to look tired and people want the new new again.

Actually, Clinton Twp is a perfect example. It's replacing Sterling Heights, Warren, Roseville, etc, which were nice and new like Canton at one time. I was in Farmington Hills a few weeks ago and thought it too was looking pretty ragged. 5 lane roads lined with privacy fences loses its charm after a while.

Sorry, back to the topic at hand.

So, does anyone think this would happen to Chelsea? It's not a suburb of Detroit but it's sorta a 'burb of Ann Arbor?

[Ann_Arbor]

^ Though probably becoming suburbanized, Chelsea seems to be its own town- the Main St., history, layout/ geography gives it a real-ness that isn't associated with newer suburbs.

[sarafinrci]

I also graduated from MSU and stayed in EL. I have 2 kids in the schools and I am a teacher in another district. EL is an amazing city and school district. ACT just rated EL as the 3rd best high school in the state. The community is warm and the city government has so many activities for residents. It is small, but diverse. We are very happy here. I love the laid back, non-judgemental attitude in East Lansing. East Lansing lacks the pretense of Ann Arbor while still offering the museums, art, leadership, and performing arts available in Ann Arbor, in my humble opinion.

And EL is incredibly safe. If those who live in Ann Arbor think EL is unsafe, then that proves my opinion about the pretentiousness of Ann Arbor.

Waverly/Delta Township is far from gang ridden. That is ridiculous.

Good luck!

[MichiganMovesSouth]

Originally Posted by sarafinrci

I also graduated from MSU and stayed in EL. I have 2 kids in the schools and I am a teacher in another district. EL is an amazing city and school district. ACT just rated EL as the 3rd best high school in the state. The community is warm and the city government has so many activities for residents. It is small, but diverse. We are very happy here. I love the laid back, non-judgemental attitude in East Lansing. East Lansing lacks the pretense of Ann Arbor while still offering the museums, art, leadership, and performing arts available in Ann Arbor, in my humble opinion.

And EL is incredibly safe. If those who live in Ann Arbor think EL is unsafe, then that proves my opinion about the pretentiousness of Ann Arbor.

Waverly/Delta Township is far from gang ridden. That is ridiculous.

Good luck!

Hello fellow Spartan!!! Thanks for the thoughts. I do love EL! I'm wondering though - do you feel over run by college students? For the last 3 years of school I spent summers there too and it seemed nice and quiet...then the end of August came around and it was chaos! Of course I lived right in the heart of college students - Elizabeth St, MAC, etc. Where do the non college students reside?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by sarafinrci

I also graduated from MSU and stayed in EL. I have 2 kids in the schools and I am a teacher in another district. EL is an amazing city and school district. ACT just rated EL as the 3rd best high school in the state. The community is warm and the city government has so many activities for residents. It is small, but diverse. We are very happy here. I love the laid back, non-judgemental attitude in East Lansing. East Lansing lacks the pretense of Ann Arbor while still offering the museums, art, leadership, and performing arts available in Ann Arbor, in my humble opinion.

And EL is incredibly safe. If those who live in Ann Arbor think EL is unsafe, then that proves my opinion about the pretentiousness of Ann Arbor.

Waverly/Delta Township is far from gang ridden. That is ridiculous.

Good luck!

It was gang-ridden when I lived in Lansing 18 years ago. I worked in the Lansing Mall in the late 80's and weekends there was like South Central LA. Are you saying it has improved?

[sarafinrci]

As far as being overrun-students just came back and it can be crowded. Actually, it was a nightmare! But I must get used to it after awhile because I don't think of my community as being the way it was when all the students were at walmart and meijers. The city has worked hard at trying to mend the relationship between residents and students. As a student, I ignored the community so I had no idea about all the stuff that was going on here. It is the best of small and diverse. I live in the north end that was recently annexed. There are three to four huge student apartment complexes back here. We are all on Coleman between Chandler/Abbot and Coolidge. I took my kids downtown on CATA over the summer and it was crowded with students. They were all very polite around my children. There was nothing stupid and they all understood how to behave. It was actually cute watching them listen to my children's conversation and chuckle. Glencairn is a great neighborhood as is Pinecrest (more affordable than Glencairn). There is subsidized housing in Pebble Creek. It would much easier for you to buy a house in EL given that you know where the students are. I take my kids into town often and I have never been disappointed by the students.

Magellen: I suppose in the 80s, I was at the mall. I think it also depends on your experience. I always picture gangs as Los Angeles type even though I have never lived there. There is definitely crime, but I don't ever feel unsafe in Lansing or Delta Township. As a high school teacher, I know teenagers are pretty self absorbed with intense arrogance-even though they make me laugh and are also incredibly insecure. At the mall, you would see that all the time. I feel like it is a big deal in other places like Detroit, GR, Flint, Orlando, D.C. Maybe I am a pollyanna about Lansing.

I think we live in a nice blend of safety, diversity, and 4 seasons without anything severe in any category.