Como Area (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rice: crime, house prices, neighborhood)

[sisterloo]

Hello,

I am a Minneapolis resident thinking about purchasing in the Como Area of St. Paul, specifically on Simon Avenue.

Can anyone tell me, is this a good area? The neighborhood I have seen is all right, but I wonder if it is too close to Frogtown and if I would be stuck with a house in 10 years?

Thanks for any advice you can offer...maybe I just need to keep living in Mpls?

[EmptyH]

I just looked at a bunch of homes in the Como area - closing on one soon. I looked at a house on Simon, just west of Dale. The street itself seemed OK to me, but a few blocks south looked a little sketchier. I decided I would have to visit the neighborhood a few times before deciding to make an offer on the house I looked at. Walk around the neighborhood for a while at different times of the day - make sure one of the times is dusk. I would also recommend talking to any residents of the area you run across while walking and asking them about the neighborhood.

The St. Paul Police Department also publishes great crime maps that break crime in to several categories. The maps are color coded and shade each 6-10 block area different colors to make it easy to compare. Take a look at the maps for the past couple of years for the area you're moving into and see if the area your house is in is getting better, worse, or staying the same.
SaintPaul Police Department

[maristra]

Hi Sisterloo,

We moved from South Mpls to Como Park in 2001 and I am so happy we did. Our neighbors all around here are so much warmer and friendlier than what I was used to. I got away from all the jet noise and Como Park is just lovely. We have concerts playing at the band-stand all summer long, the Conservatory is so pretty all year long. If you are used to the city with its diversity and edge then you'll love it over here. House prices have steadily climbed since we bought over here but of course now everything is stagnating or even dropping.

Maristra

[BillyB]

I would say go for it, I love Como park! I would only be more concerned if you were on Rice street, just because that street tends to have the most complaints with the clubs and bars.