Moving to St. Paul need advice (Minneapolis, St. Louis Park: for rent, townhome, neighborhoods)

[Family of five]

I just reread the posts again and saw that schools are a ways off for you. There are some really nice preschools in the Mac-Groveland area, which may be something you are interested in soon.

As far as rentals, there are some on St. Clair Avenue (duplexes), Randolph Avenue, and Cleveland Avenue. There are 3 colleges in this neighborhood so some students rent off campus. Steer clear of Crocus Hill and Merriam Park neighborhoods around the University of St. Thomas - that is the biggest school and neighbors complain of party houses. I would look in the Villager newspaper - it serves Mac-Groveland and the surrounding neighborhoods. Let me take a quick look at the classifieds...I'll direct message you.

[mudmuffin]

I think that the Mac-Groveland area would be ideal for you. Very family friendly and easy to get to downtown St. Paul. Lots of shopping in the area and the area has a pretty low crime rate. A bus ride is only about 15-20 minutes to downtown if you live in that area. Other areas to consider are Highland Park, Merriam Park (ask the neighbors about absentee landlords) Crocus Hill (pricier) and Town & Country though I don't think the home turnover in that area is very quick.

You will want to consider the commute from Stillwater as it is rarely 15-20 minutes and you will often get stuck in traffic near the downtown area on the freeway either coming or going or both. It takes about 1/2 hour to go from downtown St. Paul to Stillwater at 55mph on a Saturday morning with no traffic. Recently the route has been heavily patrolled with unmarked highway patrol ticketing speeders.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by mudmuffin

I think that the Mac-Groveland area would be ideal for you. Very family friendly and easy to get to downtown St. Paul. Lots of shopping in the area and the area has a pretty low crime rate. A bus ride is only about 15-20 minutes to downtown if you live in that area. Other areas to consider are Highland Park, Merriam Park (ask the neighbors about absentee landlords) Crocus Hill (pricier) and Town & Country though I don't think the home turnover in that area is very quick.

You will want to consider the commute from Stillwater as it is rarely 15-20 minutes and you will often get stuck in traffic near the downtown area on the freeway either coming or going or both. It takes about 1/2 hour to go from downtown St. Paul to Stillwater at 55mph on a Saturday morning with no traffic. Recently the route has been heavily patrolled with unmarked highway patrol ticketing speeders.

Why would you get a ticket for going 55 in a posted 65 MPH zone?

[Lillietta]

[ I also spent quite a bit of time in a few of the elementary schools in the St. Paul public schools with my aunt, a 40 year veteran teacher in the St. Paul public schools and there is simply NO comparison to the environment in the inner city schools to that in the suburban schools.

I work for the Saint Paul Public Schools, and Golfgal is right, unfortunately. My daughter is a teacher and will not send her daughter anywhere but to a suburban school district, and not just any suburban district.

[Lillietta]

[quote=punkerdunker;1485701]My opinion of St. Paul public schools is not informed by my 2 yr. old, but by my own experience as a student in the district from 3rd grade through high school. I

The schools have greatly changed, for the worse, unfortunately. I work for the Saint Paul Public Schools and I know about lock-down exercises that are being put into practice and how police are hired to patrol the middle and junior high schools.

Education and parenting have changed - education by lack of funding and parents who either overindulge their kids or are not there for them for whatever reason - drugs, divorce, et. This all has an effect on how kids learn and how teachers teach, and so many problems with the administration who also have their hands tied because of legislative issues. I wish I could praise the St. Paul Public Schools, but I know too much so cannot. This is also true of Minneapolis, only somewhat worse.

[Minnehahapolitan]

There are legitimate reasons to not like Saint Paul schools, but having lockdown practices is not one of them. I know they did the same thing in Edina last year or so. There is also a police officer on duty there at all times. That isn't a Saint Paul problem.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by pumkin

Any suggestions on search tools specific to the St. Paul area? I've looked on Craigs list but many of the listings are Mnpls or it's suburbs. Thanks again.

Try the online edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Twin Cities | Special Sections | Real Estate | Page 31



Twin Cities | Special Sections

[mudmuffin]

golfgal, at least part of the route from downtown St. Paul to Stillwater is 55 mph. I used to live in North St. Paul and worked in downtown. As I worked an odd shift I drove against rush hour traffic both ways and I never made it in 15-20 minutes. Stillwater is a good 10 miles past NSP.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by mudmuffin

golfgal, at least part of the route from downtown St. Paul to Stillwater is 55 mph. I used to live in North St. Paul and worked in downtown. As I worked an odd shift I drove against rush hour traffic both ways and I never made it in 15-20 minutes. Stillwater is a good 10 miles past NSP.

36 to 35 to downtown is 65 or 60 MPH posted. Without the construction on 35 you could easily get from Stillwater to United Hospital in 20 minutes. I have driven that route 100's of times, without going faster then the flow of traffic. The problem with going from North St. Paul on 36 was all the stoplights and the slower speeds. Yes, Stillwater is about 10 miles from NSP but because of the roads you take it can be faster. It is 20 miles from Downtown Stillwater to Downtown St. Paul and with the 60+MPH speeds you can get there in 20 minutes and when 36 is complete it will be less time because you knock off about 5 miles of going around on 35.

[Slackajawea]

Crocus Hill is the area immediately next to United Hospital and it's a beautiful, family-friendly area with a lot of old mansions that have been converted to apartments and condos. Grand Ave. is at the heart of the neighborhood and has all the shopping and dining experiences you could want, all within walking distance. At the end of Grand Ave. is United Hospital. St. Paul also has sidewalks, which makes walking easier, which most suburbs do not. Also, you can send your kid(s) to any St. Paul school you want regardless of what district your in, so if you don't like one, you can always try another.
I highly recommend Crocus Hill, but as others have pointed out, Highland Park and Mac-Groveland as really good neighborhoods too.