Moving to St. Paul need advice (Roseville, Mendota Heights: renting, home, buying)
Minneapolis - St. PaulTwin Cities
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I agree with the last 2 posts. I have friends who bought a house a couple years ago on Delaware Ave just north of Annapolis. I live in a nicer part of the West End and I think their immediate neighborhood is better than mine. In fact, I think it gets worse as soon as you go south of Annapolis on Smith, entering into West Saint Paul, contrary to what GolfGal says about that boundary. She might very well be right when you're closer to Robert street, but that whole area between Smith and Cherokee Park is really attractive and quiet. The houses along the park are gorgeous. My only complaint with the area is that I'd rather not live across the river from the rest of St.Paul.
To those that have made comments about painting with broad brushes and calling areas "Bad," I have to agree.
I grew up on the "East Side." Unfortunately, the area where my folks home is has taken a turn for the worst, but there are many areas I would still live in, even within the same neighborhood that I grew up in. Now, to get my country wife to agree is another story! <sigh> But I digress.
As kids, we never knew that there were bad areas. Maybe poorer areas, but never "bad." Now the West side, that's a different story. Us East Siders always painted with a broad brush, I'm sorry to say. Maybe it was because the kids looked different than us and never had good athletic teams? Maybe it was just city rivalry? Who knows, but either way, I think the only people who can really give you the flavor of a neighborhood is someone who lived there. Clawhammerist has given the best overview of the West Side I've read in awhile.
I've lived in some of these places, and still my brush somethimes paints a broad stroke. No offense, but someone living in Lakeville has no clue to what the East Side, West Side or any side has to offer, unless they've lived there.
Now, ask me about the politics of the city of St. Paul, and why I think many people leave, and that's a different ball of wax! LOL!
BTW: I wanted to add somethnig about walking across the river.
My brother works for Quest (don't hate me for it!). 99% of the time he parks across the river somewhere on the flats and walks the Wabasha Street bridge to work. Yes, even in winter.
Not only does he save $100 per month (there's his portion fo our Wild season tickets) but he gets some exercise each day.
The river can be seen as a huge roadblock in my opinion. People just need to look beyond it once in awhile.
I agree with the last 2 posts. I have friends who bought a house a couple years ago on Delaware Ave just north of Annapolis. I live in a nicer part of the West End and I think their immediate neighborhood is better than mine. In fact, I think it gets worse as soon as you go south of Annapolis on Smith, entering into West Saint Paul, contrary to what GolfGal says about that boundary. She might very well be right when you're closer to Robert street, but that whole area between Smith and Cherokee Park is really attractive and quiet. The houses along the park are gorgeous. My only complaint with the area is that I'd rather not live across the river from the rest of St.Paul.
Ok, I will give you the WEST side of Smith but the EAST side of Smith isn't good. Trust me, I have been there WAY too many times.
OK, so the lessons learned here are:
1) There are some nice neighborhoods on the West Side
2) There are some not-so-nice neighborhoods across the city line in WSP
I was raised in and graduated from Stillwater & I do NOT recommend it! It is a beautiful town to visit, but I would not move your children there. The drugs are taking over badly (I even did a page in our school yearbook about it and that was 7 years ago; it's only gotten worse). It is also a town that is all about gossip and backstabbing. I lived on the golf course and I still feel that way about it...just thought someone should give you a heads-up who has actually lived there! It is also one of the richest places to live, so you can definately get more for your money elsewhere!
Zmom, Stillwater is still a nice place. It's just grown a little too fast for the area. 25 years ago there was basically nothing on Hwy 36 between North St. Paul and Stillwater and there was practially no housing up on the hill or in Oak Park Hts. There are drugs everywhere, from North Mpls to Dellwood.
Hi- I benefited from reading this discussion on moving advice. I wanted to seeif you or anyone else could advise on great places to live near St. Paul. My husband has been offered a conditional job offer from the St. Paul Fire dept. We will probably have to rent for awhile considering I can't go with him before the move to look at houses. We are coming from Virginia/DC area and know NOTHING about where to move. I know my husband wants an easy commute no more than 15-20 min. He wouldn't mind living in a condo in St. Paul, but I am not sure about that. We will be having our first baby in March and I want to be sure to get connected to other new moms. He is not sure bout which station he would be working at if he gets the job. So, I wasn't sure if all the other suburbs mentioned previously (Stillwater, Mendota Heights, and Rosemount) would still be good choices. Any advice? Also, I have never lived in that cold of a climate before. I am trying to find a good maternity winter coat now which is challenging(waited to long to shop for one in my local Motherhood Maternity store.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by punkerdunker
Most St. Paul public schools are very good. They have excellent teachers, programs and classes for students who want to learn. The student body is more diverse in the city proper, which means that there are students who come from a wide array of backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions. They aren't all priveledged white kids. If this scares you, then heed Golfgal's advice and go to the suburbs or enroll your children in private schools. Otherwise, I don't know why Golfgal is so dismissive of our public schools. Some students are not strong performers for reasons stemming from home life and other issues. Thats not the school's fault, and it hardly impacts another students' ability to get a good education. Also, E.C.F.E. is awesome in St. Paul. My two yr. old and I are just starting our 2nd year. The 1st year was great.
I've noticed that anytime someone posts about considering living in St. Paul Golfgal tries to steer them into the suburbs. I thought you should hear a differing viewpoint.
By the way, Stillwater is NOT close to St. Paul. But maybe you don't mind. Perhaps you should tell us how long of a commute your spouse would consider reasonable.
Hi- I benefited from reading this discussion on moving advice. I wanted to seeif you or anyone else could advise on great places to live near St. Paul. My husband has been offered a conditional job offer from the St. Paul Fire dept. We will probably have to rent for awhile considering I can't go with him before the move to look at houses. We are coming from Virginia/DC area and know NOTHING about where to move. I know my husband wants an easy commute no more than 15-20 min. He wouldn't mind living in a condo in St. Paul, but I am not sure about that. We will be having our first baby in March and I want to be sure to get connected to other new moms. He is not sure bout which station he would be working at if he gets the job. So, I wasn't sure if all the other suburbs mentioned previously (Stillwater, Mendota Heights, and Rosemount) would still be good choices. Any advice? Also, I have never lived in that cold of a climate before. I am trying to find a good maternity winter coat now which is challenging(waited to long to shop for one in my local Motherhood Maternity store.)
Does he have to live in the city limits of St. Paul? Often that is the case with fire/police departments. All of those suburbs would still be good locations depending on where his station is. He wouldn't want to live in Stillwater if his station was on the west side of St. Paul, that is too long of a commute but West St. Paul (which is different then the west side of St. Paul), Inver Grove, Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount are all easy commutes to the west side.
If his station is near the fair grounds, Stillwater would be a better choice because of the commute.
As for clothing, you will find that for the most part what you need isn't any different then what you need in DC for the most part. On the coldest days in the winter, just add another layer but the general temps aren't all that much colder then DC.
Target and Kohl's both have pretty good maternity selections around here too.
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Sticking up for the West Side!!!
99% of the time he parks across the river somewhere on the flats and walks the Wabasha Street bridge to work. Yes, even in winter.
