Commute times from towns east of St. Paul (Minneapolis, Eagan: houses, new construction)

[judahgable]

Hi -- My family and I are relocating to MN in the next couple months. I will be working in St. Paul in the Crocus Hill / Summit Ave. / Macalester area. We've been looking for nice towns, within a fairly short commute, with excellent schools, and hoping to find a non-cookie-cutter house for between 300k - 400k. So far, we've identifed a couple of towns as potentially good candidates: Mahtomedi and Afton.

If you have any opinions with regard to these towns, or others you think might fit the bill, I'd really appreciate your insight. Also, if anyone can tell me how long the typical commute is from these or others towns, that would be very useful.

Thanks much!

[golfgal]

Mahtomedi has some of the best schools in the state, Stillwater schools are also excellent (Afton). Your commute from Mahtomedi will be easier and depending on your exact time of departure less then 30 minute commute--after they get the road construction done on 35E and 36 that is. Stillwater would be another option for schools.

With where you are going to be working some other good options for looking for houses would be in the Mendota Heights, Eagan, West St. Paul area (NOT the west side of St. Paul which is entirely different). The West St. Paul/Mendota Heights schools are excellent too and your commute would actually probably be easier depending on where you are exactly because you can take some non-freeway roads to that area.

[judahgable]

Thanks -- do you know how long the construction is supposed to last?

[Robert P Stewart]

Until 3007.

In Minnesota, there are 2 seasons. Winter and construction.

[Carguy]

I would definitely look at Mendota Heights as Golfgal suggested. We bought there 3 years ago and have been pleasantly surprised at what a great location it is. It is only about 12-14 minutes to the Summit/Crocus Hilla area; much closer than you'd think. It is 12 minutes fromt he airport, yet with zero air traffic over us, 15 minutes from the lake Harriet and Calhoun and a little more from Minneapolis. Diversity of housing pricing and from new construction to many nice "mid-century" homes.

[HannahZ]

Are you going to be closer to Crocus Hill or Macalester? Because that isn't the same area.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by judahgable

Thanks -- do you know how long the construction is supposed to last?

These two specific projects are supposed to go through Fall of 2008-they are both pretty major projects. Highway 36 is going to be closed completly and 35E is undergoing some lane reconstruction, etc.

[judahgable]

Holy smokes -- isn't 36 the same thing as 94 east of the cities? Can they really close it completely?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by judahgable

Holy smokes -- isn't 36 the same thing as 94 east of the cities? Can they really close it completely?

No, 36 is a bit north of 94. Once they re-do 36 the commute times from that side of town to St. Paul and Mlps are going to be cut down quite a bit. Right now 36 through North St. Paul is full of stop lights, etc. they are taking those out and making it more of a highway from what I understand.