Moving To Minneapolis From Nyc (Plymouth, Eden Prairie: condos, rent , work)

[JenLee]

Originally Posted by becky609

If your first concern is schooling, and you're wanting to go public, than you should probably cross St. Louis City off your list. Many people in the city go private, and for good reason, the school system isn't in good shape.

Is this really true?I read this on some other thread. We have decided to buy instead of rent and the school is going to be an issue.

First of all, there isn't a "St. Louis City" in MN. Secondly, St. Louis Park has a good school system from what I've heard. Mn in general has excellent school systems; I'm just wondering if they were talking about MN at all where you were reading that.

The private school systems are good here too. I would guess that the families that send their kids to private schools there do so because the private schools there are also great!

[SteviePee2]

Becky609,

Check out Lakeville, a "south of the river" suburb. I lived there for 16 years and loved it. (just left a month ago to take a job in OKC). I honestly can't recall the publication but some major magazine ("Money" maybe) recently voted Lakeville the #1 (!!!) place in the USA to raise a family

Lakeville features: Easy access to I-35 from anywhere in town. The commute into MSP is around 25-30 minutes. If public transportation is your thing there is a "Park and Ride" only a few minutes away (in Apple Valley). NOTE: There is a bit of construction on I-35 right now that is slowing the commute from just about anywhere.

Parks/Rec/etc: Lakeville's got it all, including a HUGE new world class gym (Lifetime Fitness) complete with giant outdoor pool for the adults and kiddies (It was just opening last month when we left Lakeville). Parks in the area are FANTASTIC. We used them extensively and they are all well maintained and CLEAN. Paved bike trails are EVERYWHERE (one of the things we miss the most). You can literally ride for over a hundred miles in Lakeville and Dakota country and never have to ride on the street.

Entertainment, it's all right there...You can be in downtown MSP or STP within 20-30 minutes. There are some good restaurants in Lakeville, although most of them fall into the "chain" catagory..."Enjoy" in Apple Valley (5 minutes away) and "Copper Blue" in Lakeville are two good independent dining choices. If music/clubbing are your thing there are any number of clubs within 15 to 20 minutes of Lakeville. Please note the local music scene is pretty lame...Lots of rock bands playing lots of cover music. MOF, I can't recall ever hearing a band play and original song in the 16 years I lived there.

We're "empty nesters" but I never had trouble finding GOOD daycare or babysitters when the kids were of that age. I can't imagine things have changed. Lakeville is VERY family orineted...lots of community ed. opportunities (classes, activbities, etc). The schools are quite simply the best public schools in the entire country...and I'm serious about that. I don't care what criteria one uses to measure, they are just the best.

All in all a great place to live (and we miss it terribly). MODERATOR CUT

BTW, you will be fine...moving is very stressful, especially when you are leaving family behind. No matter where you end up in MN you will find new friends and fresh activities to become involved with.

Good luck. Feel free to email or contact me via P.M. if you need more info.

Regards,

SteviePee2

P.S. My "little girl" (23 y.o. ) is going to Grad school at NYU...and loves "The City"

Originally Posted by becky609

Hi everyone!!
We are moving from Nyc to Minneapolis leaving behind all friends and family and I am nervous. I would be really grateful for some honest opinions. These are our criteria for living there and if you could suggest some areas we could look into.

1. My husband will be working downtown and the commute should probably be not more than 20-30 min

2. I have a 18 month old son so a park, tot-lot, daycare and other places of interest would be very important as I am a stay at home mom.

3. A gym is very very essential

4.Entertainment and shopping close by would be nice.

My first predicament is whether to rent or buy?We spent one weekend in minneapolis and I thought that living downtown would be great. I am wondering if it makes any sense to move to the suburbs to save money....activities and things of interest for our son is our first concern. Thanks everybody in advance.

[Robert P Stewart]

Of course I'm going to 2nd Lakeville!

The only thing is the drive. The commute depends on a lot of variables. If you're a M-F 9-5'er, expect 30-40 minutes each way.

My wife and I live 3-4 minutes from a Lifetime Fitness. We have 3 kids, ages 3, 3, and 1. She can take the kids to the gym where she gets 2 hours of child care each day while she works out. Its NICE!

Otherwise, I'm still discovering new parks and new places to hang out. One of my favorite things about Lakeville is the number of places to go that do *not* cost money in any way. I realized a few years ago that most destination spots are merely places to buy stuff. Here in Lakeville, yes, we have access to Barnes & noble and all those sorts of places, but we've got lake parks and trails.

We're native east coasters too!

Robert

[Plymn]

Congratulations on moving to Minneapolis. I have read interviews with headhunters who state that it is difficult to get people to move here because of the perception that it is cold here. But once they move here they never want to leave as it is such a great place to live.

I live in Plymouth, a suburb about 8 miles west of Minneapolis, and would recommend it to anyone, very family and activity oriented. The schools are are rated among the best in the nation. My comments follow your items.

1. My husband will be working downtown and the commute should probably be not more than 20-30 min - I also work downtown. My commute is less than 20 minutes in the morning. The city runs its own bus system and has express buses and free shuttle feeders to the express buses. Also a few park and rides in case the shuttles don't work out. You can't beat $2.75 one way price.

2. I have a 18 month old son so a park, tot-lot, daycare and other places of interest would be very important as I am a stay at home mom. - Plymouth is known for its great park system and its Parks Director has won national awards. The park system is one of the reasons we move here. Check out a YMCA for activities for your boy. Our kids love the programs. Great youth sport activities through the city also.

3. A gym is very very essential - The city has entered into a partnership with LifeTime fitness and recently built a state of the art facility. I have used it and there are a number of gyms available in the city and in the surrounding suburbs. Minneapolis/St Paul is frequently rated as the most fit city. In addition the city has a great path system for bikes/walking and wonderful beaches.

4.Entertainment and shopping close by would be nice. - We have all the major supermarkets in the city, Targets and many other stores. Also have two cinemas and a couple of playhouses. We are sandwiched between 2 major shopping areas Ridgedale and Maple Grove. It takes us about 10 minutes to get to either one. We are also about a 15 minute drive to the theater district of Minneapolis. I recommend it highly.

[becky609]

Thank you so much - I really appreciate the time all of you took to give me so much info. I will be in Minneapolis for a week to look at the various areas and I will make sure I check these out!

[allasreddy]

I am looking to share a UHaul.
I am moving from new jersey to minneapolis.
I can share the Uhaul and drive it. I am starting on august 11th in NJ.

[StPauliGirl]

Bryn Mawr neighborhood is quite nice. It is just north of Kenwood, divided by Highway 394. Very family oriented and I understand the Bryn Mawr school is excellent. Close to the lakes and just a few minutes to downtown.

I'm a suburbanite trying to move to the country and away from the city! Though strangely, I fell madly in love with NYC when I was there......if I was fortunate enough to live there, I'd hate to leave it.

[nick is rulz]

I second Bryn Mawr. Its a bit more upper class, but the people are really down to earth. Its kind of a rare wealthy neighborhood without the snooty edge.

I live just north of Bryn Mawr in Harrison, which in the more southern spots of the neighborhood around Logan, Morgan and Cedar Lake Rd...the only real difference between the two neighborhoods is what you pay for your house

Ive been really happy with the area and of all the neighborhoods in the city this one is by far my favorite. Its so quiet at night, and when I look out my apartment window I see the skyline

[M2N]

If you are from NYC I wouldn't move out here to the burbs.

If I had it to do it all over again I'd live off of Minnehaha Parkway... check out that area!

[Isaysos]

If your husband will be working downtown, I would deff. NOT live in Lakeville. Unless he likes getting up really early and sitting in traffic on 35 W all morning and spending a bunch of money on gas. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I would recommend South Mpls. St. Louis Park, Edina, or Highland Park in St. Paul if he will be working in downtown Minneapolis. Those new outer ring suburbs and their long commuting times make me want to barff!