Moving to Burnsville; Advice? (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park: transplants, 2015, crime)

[solafive]

Hi, I'll be moving to MN, Burnsville to be exact from California. Yes, California.

I would appreciate ANY advice or knowledge about Burnsville. I will be right near Burnsville high school. Any word of wisdom or experience of Burnsville really would be appreciated. I am just trying to prepare and educate myself on things only locals would know.

Thank you in advance!

[old fed]

total wine at county 42 and aldrich. that's all you need to know

burnsville is a typical suburb with all the suburban things you'd expect. IMO there's not much that distinguishes it from the surrounding suburbs but others may disagree. it's been built out for quite awhile. it has all the stores and chain restaurants you'd expect and if it doesn't you'll find what you need in eagan or lakeville. parts of it are getting a bit tired and maybe even a bit dicey but i think overall it's fine.

learn the back roads to get to places so you can stay off of 42, it's a nightmare, or at least i always hated it. i'd use mcandrews whenever possible and that would get me most places i needed to go.

i haven't lived there for 10 years (moved to another suburb then finally left the state a couple years ago) but was back last summer. i'd have no qualms about moving back if i had to but the metro was just getting too big for me.

[Citykid3785]

I have lived in Burnsville and other cities in the south metro. Burnsville was the first suburb "south of the river" that was built out, due to highway 35. This gave it a shopping mall and early development in the 60s I'm guessing. For these reasons, it has a mild reputation as being the worst of the south metro cities when compared to apple valley, eagan, and lakeville. Parts by the river are industrial, and other parts are a bit worn. Perhaps slightly more crime than the others too.

But I'm being critical because that's what's useful to you. We are comparing a Lexus (eagan) and a Nissan (burnsville), not a lexus and a used smart car if that makes sense. As a whole 95% of the twin cities suburbs are pretty, safe, clean, with good schools, burnsville included. It just doesn't compare to it's neighbors because it has worse schools/crime/older infrastructure.

In an imature/overblown sense, it was known amongst my school district (D196, I went to Eagan. Bville is D191) when in high school that burnsville was the "ghetto school." Not really true, but relative to the nice new high schools we went to, that was certainly the image of burnsville. If it makes you feel any better, Rosemount was the "farm school" as it was more out in the country, lol.

[solafive]

Thank you, guys for your detailed information.

When I visited back in April of 2015, I stayed in Brooklyn Park. Someone advised me to not stay in that area since it's not "safe". But, I had not noticed anything bad or dicey. Just seemed like a chill suburb town with some African American residents. Not sure if that's what makes it "unsafe". I thought it was pretty nice there.

I am starting to think where we grow up and what we get accustomed to, for some certain things may draw an alarm and for some not. Seemed like Minneapolis in general was very nice and friendly. I think it'll be just nice living in Burnsville.

[Citykid3785]

Brooklyn park is a tale of two citoes, north of 85th, and south (a no-no)

[johnkeats]

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[gweilo845]

Originally Posted by old fed

learn the back roads to get to places so you can stay off of 42, it's a nightmare, or at least i always hated it.

I live on the Apple Valley/Burnsville border and I can back this up - 42 sucks. It's always packed, especially around the exits to 35 and the Burnsville Center area.

[solafive]

Originally Posted by gweilo845

I live on the Apple Valley/Burnsville border and I can back this up - 42 sucks. It's always packed, especially around the exits to 35 and the Burnsville Center area.

ok, noted, thank you!

[pvoyd]

McAndrews Dr and Southcross Dr are usually good alternatives to some portions of 42.

[ellysbelly]

Originally Posted by solafive

Hi, I'll be moving to MN, Burnsville to be exact from California. Yes, California.

I would appreciate ANY advice or knowledge about Burnsville. I will be right near Burnsville high school. Any word of wisdom or experience of Burnsville really would be appreciated. I am just trying to prepare and educate myself on things only locals would know.

Thank you in advance!

Welcome. Surprisingly enough, there seems to be a number of California transplants here in MSP (but you'll definitely get a number of comments along the lines of, "You know it gets cold here, right?" ).

Not overly familiar with Burnsville, other than it seems well sited so you can easily commute into either downtown. Most of the 'knocks' on Burnsville seem to pertain to the school quality (which isn't thought to be on par with their neighbors, but is still likely better than many other districts in the country) and that there are some areas that have a higher density of low-income housing (not certain whether where you'll be living is close to those areas and/or whether that would concern/bother you).

Welcome to MN, hope you love it here!