New to Minnesota in April (Minneapolis, Plymouth: apartment, to rent, townhouses)

[weis007]

Hi all,
This may be something you all have been getting a lot of lately, but here goes.
I am getting transferred this April to Minneapolis from NYC. My wife and I currently live in Jersey City, NJ. I'm hoping to get some neighborhood information so we can plan our move in the most informed way. We are both professionals, 34 years old, and expecting our first child. We pay about $3,000 in monthly rent now and we'd be comfortable maintaining that payment if we must; I'd like to pay less. We only have 1 car, and at least for a few months, would like to keep just the 1. We hear the North Loop is nice and also Highland Park. Is this true? What are some nice family-friendly areas that may fit our profile?
Thanks for some advice. I'll be happy to provide further information if you need.
I appreciate the time, all.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Could you please supply some more "likes" and preferences that would help us narrow it down (e.g. walkable, city or suburb, SFH or multi-family, proximity, accessibility, amenities, etc.)?

[uptown_urbanist]

North Loop has some families, but not a lot. Could still be worth considering, though.

What do you want in a neighborhood? Are you working downtown? How big a place do you want to rent? For 3k you can easily find yourself a single family house in a nice neighborhood, or a nice apartment in a high-rise downtown with all the amenities, or a townhouse near the river, or... well, you have a lot of options. Even drop it down to 2k and you'll have most of those options and can still get a luxury 2-BR with parking. Or potentially even less. We looked at a nice 2-BR with a private balcony overlooking Lake Calhoun a few years ago; prices have gone up since then, but I think that place still only rents for around $1650 or so now, not including parking. That place even had a rooftop pool. Or the Churchill, in downtown Minneapolis, has 2-BRs with two balconies with amazing views, along with lots of amenities, for the $1700-1800 range. Or go with a nice vintage spacious Uptown duplex with a backyard and walking distance to pretty much everything for around $1300. Or a 3-BR single family house in Linden Hills for around $2k, plus or minus a few hundred depending on how big or how updated.

My favorite urban family-friendly neighborhood is Uptown, but it doesn't have as many kids as other city neighborhoods like Linden Hills, for example. Depends what you're looking for. I prefer Uptown to downtown because there are a lot more useful amenities; you have things like theaters and restaurants, but also have a lot more options for groceries, shopping, etc. And for the kids, you have easy access to the lakes and more playgrounds. But downtown is getting better, and with a newborn you won't be a playground regular right away, anyway. If you do look downtown, might also want to consider Loring Park; the Loring Greenway connects Nicollet Mall with Loring Park, and there are a number of townhouses and apartment buildings located directly on the Greenway (as well as nearby). It's a landscaped pedestrian-only space that has always been a hit with my young son; in the summer there are fountains to look at, and a very nice (but small) little playground tucked in there, along with picnic tables, etc. Live somewhere like that and you could easily do strolls over to Loring Park or the Walker Art Center/Sculpture Garden, as well as walk to the core of downtown via either streets or skyway. There's a grocery store in Loring Park now (a nice one), and it's also a short walk from the downtown Target for all those baby basics. In many ways I prefer being closer to the river, but think Loring Park is a lot more convenient for living.

In other words, you have a lot of options, so you can afford to be picky about what type of neighborhood or housing type you like best.

[Sunbrite]

weis007,

Please provide much more detail about what kind of neighborhood you are looking for. The Twin Cities has many, many many different neighborhoods and we'll need more info to give you great recommendations.

It sounds like you are looking for something where you can easily take public transportation to work? Which area will you be working in, also which area will your wife be working in?

Highland Park is a very family-oriented area, and is near the light rail, so that is certainly an option.

[weis007]

Thanks for the responses. Here's a little more about where we're coming from, and what we want from a neighborhood.
We're used to (and like) a very walkable area with parks, restaurants, shops, etc close to public transportation. We are definitely used to a more urban setting; something too suburban is not our style. We live in a high rise now, though we want to buy a single family home eventually.
We both will work downtown, and will be taking public transit to work if at all possible. We do have the one car, so one of us can drive to work if necessary.

[dravogadro]

I will vote for Seward:

- very walkable. Not NYC dense. Close to the river, parks, stores, restaurants, childcare center....You can even walk to the hospital and deliver your baby!
- if you need to use another car, there is a nearby Zipcar location
- multiple bus lines and 'near'-ish to the light rail (walk or bus connection)

I have noticed more and more young families moving in.

[Kayekaye]

No not Seward. Sorry. I vote for the suburbs. Maple Grove, outer Plymouth, Minnetonka, Edina. That is from the north to the south on the west side. It is true you have to stay in the city for walkable areas but we are a very car centric area. At $2000 or less for housing you can easily have two cars with that extra thousand. Don't be leery of the suburbs, they are vital and thriving with as much culture as the city ever had. Minnetonka center for the arts, Plymouth Playhouse, Chanhassen theater, and honestly you can get anywhere in a half hour or 45 minutes save for a brutal snow storm at rush hour.

[GBCommenter]

Originally Posted by weis007

Thanks for the responses. Here's a little more about where we're coming from, and what we want from a neighborhood.
We're used to (and like) a very walkable area with parks, restaurants, shops, etc close to public transportation. We are definitely used to a more urban setting; something too suburban is not our style. We live in a high rise now, though we want to buy a single family home eventually.
We both will work downtown, and will be taking public transit to work if at all possible. We do have the one car, so one of us can drive to work if necessary.

I think Seward would work for what you're saying well, and I'd also throw in neighborhoods such as CARAG (near Uptown). ECCO would also work - though closer to Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue - the main thrust of Uptown life, which is also somewhat less family oriented (but right in the thick of things).

You might also want to at least give a glance to St. Anthony West. There is a mix of housing between newer and more upscale and more traditional older housing. SAW is in the part of Minneapolis known as "Northeast" (not to be confused with "North"). Depending on where, you still are near some local shopping, near the Mississippi River and Nicollet Island for nature and parks, and near bus lines. Be mindful, Northeast has traditionally had a more blue-collar feel to it - which some like and not others cup of tea. SAW is somewhat less blue-collar due to the housing developments nearer the river.

[Mplsite]

I think saying that burbs like Minnetonka and Maple Grove have as much culture as the city pretty much erases any credibility: that would be like me looking for someplace dense, walkable, and safe in/near NYC and someone saying Staten Island and Levittown are the places I should focus on. And that they have just as much culture as NYC.

[MPLS_TC]

I guarantee you will not like it here coming from newyork. You would be better off finding another location.