Rents in Saint Paul MN? (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: 2013, rentals, appliances)

[tjasse]

Also, a lot of apartments in that area are complete dumps. There's one nice new building on Marshall. There's lot of those 1920s era brick buildings, which can be "charming" with wood floors and built in cabinets, but also very drafty, loud clanging radiator heat, old appliances, dodgy water pressure, etc. There are also a lot of 1960-70s era crapholes with gross carpeting.

This isn't that much different than the rest of the metro, though. If it costs $650/m or less, it's going to be a dark, dingy studio with 40 year old appliances.

I don't know why you'd live over there for cycling. Cycling sucks in St. Paul compared to Minneapolis.

[tommyp1]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

I would say that location has more impact over rent than square footage. Number of bedrooms matter, of course, but a small 1-BR in a desirable location is going to cost a lot more than a huge 1-BR in a less desirable spot. Heck, even a 1-BR in a popular location could easily cost more than a 3-BR somewhere just two miles away. You definitely pay for location.

You absolutely nailed it! It's entirely about "location." Unfortunately (as with anything) as other replies have mentioned you get what you pay for: old non-refurbished apts. I believe I'll come up with something...but I'll have to be careful. Thanks.

[tommyp1]

Originally Posted by tjasse

Also, a lot of apartments in that area are complete dumps. There's one nice new building on Marshall. There's lot of those 1920s era brick buildings, which can be "charming" with wood floors and built in cabinets, but also very drafty, loud clanging radiator heat, old appliances, dodgy water pressure, etc. There are also a lot of 1960-70s era crapholes with gross carpeting.

This isn't that much different than the rest of the metro, though. If it costs $650/m or less, it's going to be a dark, dingy studio with 40 year old appliances.

I don't know why you'd live over there for cycling. Cycling sucks in St. Paul compared to Minneapolis.

Agree. It's starting to sound like "student housing" where the greedy landlords do little for upkeep and/or restoration. As I replied to 'uptown_urbanist' I'll have to be careful. I may even have to fly up there to survey the situation. Cycling? LOL. I'm a St Paul boy with all those "street names named by drunks" (Jesse Ventura). I never was to enamored with the "LA of the Midwest" (what the Pioneer Press called Mpls back in my day). In fact when the guys (college days) got together for Winter poker...I always had to go to Mpls. They NEVER crossed the river. St Paul is a "squeaky clean" neighborhood city but doesn't have the land mass that Mpls. has. I love cycling it at my age esp. with the distances not being great eg. from river to river (E to W). That's WHY Mpls gets the "ViQueens."

[tjasse]

I just meant MPLS has 50 miles of grand rounds trails, the bike greenway, diagonal trail, minnehaha creek trail, and about 100x more painted bike lanes. It's like bike city and gets voted #1 in the country for cyclists. I thought you mentioned bicycling but maybe I read that wrong.

I always thought Minneapolis was the "Minneapple" , the Manhattan of the midwest. Now it's the LA of the midwest too? Both seem a bit delusional. It's more like Omaha with more stuff to do.

St. Paul is squeaky clean if you stay in Mac Groveland, Cathedral Hill and Highland Park. There are a lot of neighborhoods that have had better days.

That said, the apartment situation is not much different in Minneapolis but there's more inventory.

[tommyp1]

Originally Posted by tjasse

I just meant MPLS has 50 miles of grand rounds trails, the bike greenway, diagonal trail, minnehaha creek trail, and about 100x more painted bike lanes. It's like bike city and gets voted #1 in the country for cyclists. I thought you mentioned bicycling but maybe I read that wrong.

I always thought Minneapolis was the "Minneapple" , the Manhattan of the midwest. Now it's the LA of the midwest too? Both seem a bit delusional. It's more like Omaha with more stuff to do.

St. Paul is squeaky clean if you stay in Mac Groveland, Cathedral Hill and Highland Park. There are a lot of neighborhoods that have had better days.

That said, the apartment situation is not much different in Minneapolis but there's more inventory.

Well you're right...I am a cyclist and the prime reason I'd like to get back to my roots (don't know if you picked up on that?). Right now I live in Vegas that has already killed 12 pedestrians (50+ in '14) AND as a Metro cop recently said to me: "it's not a cycling city." I'm not surprised with Mpls.'s trails. They have the space to do it. St Paul used to be called "the river city." It's confined by the river (even though Mpls diverted it years ago near St Anthony falls). I walk, bus it (now lite rail), and cycle...all "green": and St Paul is also a great 'walking' city. (My 2nd most favorite city is Boston (way to expensive unless an hour out West of) and a person said to me when I was last in STP at a bar (Cosetto's) on Selby one nite: "St Paul is the last city West of Boston, set up with a "neighborhood design/grid." I was born/educated there and had NEVER heard that.) I just picked the wrong area to live in (dntn) the last time I was there (4+yrs ago). One of the reasons I also left (been a 'desert rat' in recent years) was the TC's 2 seasons: Winter and Summer, but that may change? I could convert to "hardcore cycling" with studded tires and those new "chain enclosed" bikes: LOL. Thanks.

[tommyp1]

Originally Posted by tommyp1

Well you're right...I am a cyclist and the prime reason I'd like to get back to my roots (don't know if you picked up on that?). Right now I live in Vegas that has already killed 12 pedestrians (50+ in '14) AND as a Metro cop recently said to me: "it's not a cycling city." I'm not surprised with Mpls.'s trails. They have the space to do it. St Paul used to be called "the river city." It's confined by the river (even though Mpls diverted it years ago near St Anthony falls). I walk, bus it (now lite rail), and cycle...all "green": and St Paul is also a great 'walking' city. (My 2nd most favorite city is Boston (way to expensive unless an hour out West of) and a person said to me when I was last in STP at a bar (Cosetto's) on Selby one nite: "St Paul is the last city West of Boston, set up with a "neighborhood design/grid." I was born/educated there and had NEVER heard that.) I just picked the wrong area to live in (dntn) the last time I was there (4+yrs ago). One of the reasons I also left (been a 'desert rat' in recent years) was the TC's 2 seasons: Winter and Summer, but that may change? I could convert to "hardcore cycling" with studded tires and those new "chain enclosed" bikes: LOL. Thanks.

Minneapolis: "Minneapple"? Yes I know that but "LA of the Midwest" goes back to the '60's-'70's when (according to some St Paul newspaper writers in their opinion) you could get anything you wanted (including sin) across the river. Eg. they had many porn shops and arcades (Hennipen Ave. was a lot MORE than the "Gay-'90's) all owned by a guy named Ferris Alexander who forgot to pay his taxes. The FBI closed them all. Women and church leaders were happy. The 2 cities are VERY different. More history: Saint Paul was in its' hay-day (progressive) when George Latimer was mayor (3 terms). George loved Saint Paul. He created "Town Center" which opened up the city to shopping, nite life etc. Now since the Colemans (and a little 'shrimp' (?) I went to school with before the Colemans) have been in power it's been in great decline. No vision. Town Center is a ghost town with not even a "pot to #### in" on weekends. My daughter when she lived and worked (unfortunate for her) in dntn couldn't believe how slow they were to plow the dntn after a big snow (2010): 2-3 days. I could go on and on...but thanks. Add to tjasse for 3/9/2015

[tjasse]

Yeah i actually remember when there was more stuff to do downtown minneapolis. My grandma and I used to take the bus from St. Anthony Park to Shinders when I was like 8... if you can believe that. Downtown St. Paul was more interesting, too. She was a fan of Gokey's.

[tommyp1]

Originally Posted by tjasse

Yeah i actually remember when there was more stuff to do downtown minneapolis. My grandma and I used to take the bus from St. Anthony Park to Shinders when I was like 8... if you can believe that. Downtown St. Paul was more interesting, too. She was a fan of Gokey's.

I saw Bud Kraeling (bald CBS weatherman) once in the porn section of Shinders (6th & Hennipen). Freaked me out (not really). I used to take the bus (before that the trolly) with my grandma to dntn St Paul. At one time there were 8 movie theaters there, and then the excuse was the "box stores" (Target etc.) ruined it all along with "White flight" to the 'burbs. They still have Red's Savoy Pizza (E7th) though...the best pizza in the cities. Just stay away from Alary's bar though...they only admit Bear fans (no ViQueens wanted).

[spectre000]

Originally Posted by tommyp1

Just stay away from Alary's bar though...they only admit Bear fans (no ViQueens wanted).

Ha ha. Hope that's just an exaggeration. Alarys is quite fun actually. Nice patio area too.

[trulyhabesha]

Originally Posted by tommyp1

The city data stats give the median rent of $750-$800. That seems a bit unrealistic. I never 'got-off' much on "wood-floors" or antique cabinetry etc. I grew up in Merriam Park (Cleveland & Laurel) and it's funny that neighborhood isn't mentioned on city-data (instead, they list Macalestar-Groveland). Anyway, I moved back to St Paul 5+ years ago but chose the WRONG area IMO: downtown (Sibley St). I left. Now I'd like to return but live on the #21 Selby-Lake line on Marshall ave. It's also a great cycling/walking area. I'm totally "green." It's an ideal location for getting anywhere in the Cities...but maybe the landlords KNOW that and thus the high rents? I'm trying to stay within $500-$600 and when I stayed dntn on Sibley it was at a "Fed tax-credit" (rent control) unit. I don't know if that exists in Merriam Park? Thanks for reading.

I currently live in Merriam Park on Montrose Place in a 1 bedroom apartment and pay $669 per month for rent. I think I only got this deal because I moved in Late November 2013 and they were desperate to fill the unit. It is a great location access to 21 selby lake and going into Minneapolis as well as 94 off of cretin and access to the trails along the Mississippi river!!! I am moving now and sad to leave but my sister moved back from college on the east coast so we are getting a house together.

WE are moving to aurora avenue and Lexington not the nicest neighborhood but the house is 3 bedrooms plus garage and only $1100 a month and its been re-vamped nicely by a young man from Minnetonka looks like people are buying up the houses near the green line on both sides of university and will fix it up and most likely attract young folks like me and my sister 23 &24 who are more interested in urban living and access to public transportation it is just a block from the green line and we are all in for public transportation!!!!