Talk to me about the Lansing/Grand Ledge/Potterville/Charlotte area! (Ann Arbor: housing, rental)

[BetseeT]

So we're gonna have to move from the Kalamazoo area. (House for sale by owner. 1700 sq ft ranch, 2.5 acres with pond and pole barn, surrounded by corn field. Talk to me )

And the new job is on North Grand River in Lansing so we're looking at the Grand Ledge school district, Charlotte, Olivet, Potterville, etc. The school is important; got an 11 yo and a 7 yo and a 9 yo special ed kid. Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks!

[GAisGreat]

Originally Posted by BetseeT

So we're gonna have to move from the Kalamazoo area. (House for sale by owner. 1700 sq ft ranch, 2.5 acres with pond and pole barn, surrounded by corn field. Talk to me )

And the new job is on North Grand River in Lansing so we're looking at the Grand Ledge school district, Charlotte, Olivet, Potterville, etc. The school is important; got an 11 yo and a 7 yo and a 9 yo special ed kid. Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks!

We just recently moved back to the Lansing area, after growing up here and having moved away for a long time. Charlotte, is kinda different, it is a really nice little town, but it just seems like there is always some really bad thing going on there. Ex., a few of the things I've heard happening there over the last 10yrs or so, there was a huge criminal ring that was breaking into homes and businesses all over the city, I mean LOTS AND LOTS of break-ins, and they finally caught them, and it was a large group of high school kids, I believe all on the football team, from mostly middle/upper middle class homes. They've had gang problems there, a couple 'homies' from Lansing and/or Battle Creek move to the area and before you knew now there's little wannabe gangbangers running around. They've had their share of meth/drug problems.
This is far too much bad stuff for a town that small, that's why we scratched that off our list. Grand Ledge, seems to have a lot of the same problems as Charlotte. We also looked at Potterville, nice little area, but housing seemed way overpriced, and there local gov't is a total mess. Heard from people just to avoid that area.
Olivet, really nice little town. Was on our final list, but too far of a drive from where we would have to drive everyday.

DeWitt, Williamston are also very nice areas. So is St. Johns, Haslett, and Okemos.

[michiganbob]

Eaton Rapids is just a little east of where you are looking, but you may want to consider it.

Lived in ER for 12 years before moving last fall. Not the greatest school system, but definately not the worst. Great small town feel and very, very safe. Plus: lots of homes for sale and some are very good deals.

I echo some of the things about Charlotte. Not sure what the problem is, but there always seemed to be something bad going on there. Potterville, no real downtown/business area and way to close to the new GM plant for most people . . . which is why the housing prices have shot up there.

We live near Grand Ledge now and the schools there used to be good, but there seems to be some problems there now (teacher's contract?). Also, don't overlook the Waverly school district which is on the West side of Lansing. Much better schools than Lansing, but still close to where you need to be. Housing is not too bad there either.

[us2indaup]

I grew up in the Eaton Rapids / Springport area, and while Eaton Rapids has grown alotsince the 70's, it still has a small town feel and is a pretty town with large, mature trees, an attractive downtown, and nice amenities like a walking trail and parks (one of which is an island - very nice).
If I have my choice, I'll be retiring to the Eaton Rapids area. My best friend lives near Olivet, and you have to be careful where you live in the area surrounding the town - some areas closer to Duck Lake are rather run-down with ill kept homes and lots of rental trailers. Other areas are nice farm country. I agree that Charlotte has it's problems, it seems to always have had that aspect to the town. All in all, there is no place in lower Michigan I'd rather live than the Eaton Rapids area.

[BetseeT]

Thanks for the info. My very good friend grew up in Eaton Rapids and really liked it. I think that's going to be too far for hubby to drive. He's working on North Grand River up by the airport.

I just don't know what to do. We're not townie people. Yuck... Don't care for neighbors if I can help it. (I'd rather live in the U.P. lol) We have tractors and things like that, raise our own dinner kind of thing.

Really I hate leaving our school district. Vicksburg schools are truly phenomonal (sp?) and trying to find something that compares in an area we can afford is difficult.

What to do, what to do ...

[us2indaup]

BetseeT
I completely relate to what you say about not being "townie" people, but you know what I found really surprising when we moved to the U.P. 17 years ago? There are more rural homes and property available for sale down in that area than there is up here!! In the U.P. a lot of the land is owned by either the Government (National Forest land) or corporations like logging companies and paper mills. It's very difficult to find a rural home with an acre or two up here, whereas when I do a search on Realtor.com for smaller towns in the Lansing area, I find quite a few. When I was growing up, none of my friends lived in town and I myself grew up on a 110 acre old farm, and we were all within 30 minutes of Lansing. So don't lose heart, you'll find the right property - just keep looking.

[GAisGreat]

Originally Posted by BetseeT

Thanks for the info. My very good friend grew up in Eaton Rapids and really liked it. I think that's going to be too far for hubby to drive. He's working on North Grand River up by the airport.

I just don't know what to do. We're not townie people. Yuck... Don't care for neighbors if I can help it. (I'd rather live in the U.P. lol) We have tractors and things like that, raise our own dinner kind of thing.

Really I hate leaving our school district. Vicksburg schools are truly phenomonal (sp?) and trying to find something that compares in an area we can afford is difficult.

What to do, what to do ...

So by the airport, you're looking to be north of Lansing. That's actually a great area, its still pretty rural and country up there. It doesn't take very far to be away from Lansing and not even think that you live anywhere near a city. DeWitt and St. Johns are very nice, if you want to venture further, Fowler, Pewamo-Westphalia are great areas up that way. Wacousta, Eagle, Fulton/Middleton, Portland, are some other nice country areas, not sure on all of them as far as drive, but pretty rural and very small town.

[michiganbob]

If you are looking more to the north side, past the airport, you should know that Meijers will be opening a store in Dewitt sometime this spring (April?).

I lived there for six months and liked the town itself, but didn't care for the local drug store or grocery store, so having Meijers there will be a big bonus. Also, if you come down 127 to the East, you are only about 10 minutes away from Eastwood Towne Center which is a great new outdoor mall with an NCG theater, large bookstore and several nice restaurants. Schools are supposed to be very good, but I did not have any children in them, so I can't vouch for that.

The town did have a reputation of being overpriced, but I think they are a little overbuilt right now, so you might find a good deal on a house if you are looking to buy.

[ElphinKnight]

Haslett is a nice, smaller suburb of Lansing with good schools. I lived there for a short while, and lived in the Lansing area for over 5 years before moving to Ann Arbor 18 months ago. Haslett is connected with Okemos as part of Meridian Twp, so you have a large mall and every other shopping convenience you can think of right at hand. If you like space, Haslett is the best blend of space and convenience. Whether you move to Haslett, Okemos, or anywhere else... I highly, highly recommend the International Restaurant & Tuba Museum restaurant in old downtown Okemos. It's a five minute drive from Haslett. You'll wonder what you've gotten yourself into when you walk in, but just sit and eat and you'll be glad you did.

[ellswo33]

I am in Mason right now just south of Lansing. Small town. It's okay. I've only been here for 3 years and I have been absorbed in going to school and taking care of my kids so I can't tell you too much. I used to live up north farther but still under the bridge.

I also have a special needs child. He goes to Heartwood School. I don't know if your special needs child is mainstreamed or not, but if not, if you live in Ingham County, Heartwood is the school your child would be going to. Feel free to let me know if you need any more info about Heartwood or anything else.