Finding a new suburb... (Bloomington, Brooklyn Park: environment, relocate, real estate)

[MNNative]

My husband, myself and our 2 children (5 yr old and 1.5 yr old) are looking to relocate. We are all native to MN though after reading some different threads I'm beginning to feel like I haven't been around much as I'm discovering new things about various areas of town I wasn't familiar with...anyhow, some background info:

Hubby lived in West Bloomington all his life.
For the most part I've lived in Edina yet attended Richfield schools (go figure).
We have lived in St Cloud and Burnsville as well. ---St Cloud was TOO small town for me/also too far from "home" and our neighborhood and elementary school in Burnsville are fantastic but we forsee issues as our children continue in the school district and we need to move NOW, and our neighborhood is just not within our budget.

I stay home with our kids while he works in Roseville.

Our criteria:
A single family home in a family friendly neighborhood. Our budget is unbelievably tight, so we have quickly realized many of the "best" areas are totally blown out of the water. Schools are important but I am realizing that generalizations about districts are typically inaccurate. To every city/suburb there is a good, middle, and bad neighborhood and I feel that is the case with districts as a whole. So, I am looking mostly at SCHOOLS and not at DISTRICTS...but naturally, when I find a school or schools I like I am taking into consideration the district's "reputation" as well.

Am I losing anyone? lol

Here are our feelings:
Taking into account my husband's current 30+ minute commute to work, which we would love to reduce, we would like to live in most areas of District 196 (Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan), however they are not within our budget. West Bloomington and Edina would be nice...obviously also not within our budget. I've heard things about Mounds View's district but mostly just about their high school (the one titled Mounds View). The homes we find in our price range fall into the Irondale HS boundary...thus kinda defeating the point of Mounds View schools, eh? I'm unfamiliar with most of the eastern suburbs anyhow...are Mounds View and New Brighton worth it? We've thought about Maplewood but I'm reluctant to move to that area (again, unfamiliar) and am not so thrilled with the schools. To be honest, we are heavily considering Brooklyn Park.

Before you go and sigh and scream uncontrollably (I've read other threads bashing Brooklyn Park and they've sparked my interest into learning more about the area since I know of so many people moving up that way...) we are looking at northern Brooklyn Park, specifically the area near the Coon Rapids Dam--Anoka/Hennepin schools. (Gasp? Did I hear a gasp?)

First of all, let me state my case for Brooklyn Park and then I'd love to hear any thoughts, both regarding Brooklyn Park and also regarding other areas that might be of interest to us in our house hunt!

1. The "news" and "crime" I'm gathering (both from the threads on this site and from crime stats) are primarily grouped in the southwestern quadrant (generally between 85th Ave N and 62nd Ave N and between Boone Ave N and Zane Ave N) of a large size suburb with somewhere around 65,000+ people. If you want to really include most of the other markings on the crime map, let's just say everything south of 85th Ave N is off limits. That still leaves an enormous amount of real estate north of 85th Ave N! (Yes, a few blips here and there but for the most part...) So, I can't help but get a little annoyed when I hear how much Brooklyn Park sucks. There is so much more to the area than the low-income housing I keep hearing is such a problem, right?! In fact, I was up there recently and I find it's quite possible to venture around our prospective neighborhood and not venture through the "unsafe" southwestern quadrant...

2. I understand Anoka-Hennepin to be the largest school district in MN and I hear that there are budget issues though my findings are showing that Anoka-Hennepin is really good at managing their finances given the challenge of such a large student body. Am I misinformed? I have looked for information regarding the prospective schools our kids would attend and I can't help but LOVE them. They really get me excited for the opportunities my kids will receive. Does anyone actually have EXPERIENCE in dealing with the Anoka-Hennepin schools and can give me some information. I'm not REALLY excited over information on test scores...I want to know that kids are being taught in a creative, progressive, enriching atmosphere. Test scores don't mean much to me... I think we are doing a good job instilling an eagerness to learn into our children (if I may toot my own horn, lol) and so I'm just looking for a nurturing environment. I keep hearing that "most TC suburb schools are the same" yet I also find a lot of opinions that tag along with that comment...so really, how are they the same? lol

3. Just to add, the area we are looking at is seconds away from GORGEOUS brand new developments so we feel like we'll have a plethora of choices whenever it comes time to upgrade. In addition, we REALLY love the idea of having such a large park "next door". Like I said before, I don't know much about the areas outside those that I've lived in...but considering our main focus is staying nearby Roseville as much as possible (and still within a reasonable commute to St Louis Park, Edina and Bloomington - which we do about 1x per week) it seems as though I'm going to have to learn about other areas.

Sorry for this extremely long post, but I really do appreciate any thoughts and suggestions! Thanks!!!

[MNNative]

Just to add, after reading it over I want to mention we are moving because we need more space (2 bed apt isn't cutting it). We want to be settled by the time school starts in the fall, hence the "NOW".

[nick is rulz]

Brooklyn Park is fine. I spend most of my working week in the area commuting from the city and its really no different than the majority of suburbs. Brooklyn Center, on the other hand....

[Minnesota is cold]

I wouldn't live in Brooklyn Park. I worked there for a few years, till last March. Parts are ok but too close to the bad for comfort for me. You drive down Zane off of 610 and it seems nice but then the garbage starts showing up on the street by 85th. I used to go over to the cub foods off Zane and 610 (new shopping complex just down from the new Target headquarters) I would see the unsavory element driving next to me every day. Too close for comfort. Ok during the day but wouldn't want the night wanderers to wander down to my neighborhood.
Look at Andover- it's a northern suburb- Anoka County. Rum River Elementary. It is a great school. The YMCA community center is awesome, great hockey arena and pool-
This is a great community- only problem is the drive to the city. Hanson Blvd is very long and the tail gaters are bad up here. If you don't mind the drive- its a great place to raise your kids!
By the way I was born and raised in New Brighton, went to Mounds View Sr. High. Used to be just like the Andover suburb I live in now but not so much anymore- the older parts are a bit run down and have section 8 apts.

[MNNative]

What do you think about these cities (schools, crime, "reputation" in general, etc)?

Mounds View
New Brighton
Shoreview
Mahtomedi

Thanks!!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MNNative

What do you think about these cities (schools, crime, "reputation" in general, etc)?

Mounds View
New Brighton
Shoreview
Mahtomedi

Thanks!!

What is your budget? If you can't afford Rosemount you aren't going to be able to come close to anything in Mahtomedi or Shoreview.

Anoka schools have had financial troubles for years. The community isn't very supportive of bond referendums that most districts need because of the reduction in the amount of state funding that schools get. District 196 is the third largest district in the state and doesn't have anywhere near the problems that Anoka has. It wins awards yearly for their financial responsibility. The size of the district shouldn't mean they have more problems.

Mounds View schools are very good. Maplewood can be a very dicey area. There are some good areas and some pretty bad areas.

[MNNative]

According to some searches online we have (surprisingly) found 1 or 2 homes in each of the cities I listed (including Rosemount actually). I just want to know if any of those cities are worth bringing up to our realtor.

[golfgal]

Mahtomedi has great schools and if you are trying to stay near Roseville then that is the place to be on that side of the cities. My guess is that the houses you are finding are on very busy streets or something along those lines because Mahtomedi is a pretty expensive suburb. If you can find something you like there that works for you it is a GREAT choice.

The commute from the northern suburbs isn't going to be fun. I would start in the Mahtomedi and Stillwater area first on that side of the cities. The commute from Rosemount to Roseville will be 30-40 minutes on a normal day. Mahtomedi to Roseville will be about 10 minutes.

[MNNative]

Golfgal, you seem to be the resident know-it-all (in a good way) when it comes to schools and neighborhoods...
I know Mounds View schools are good, but as a whole?
What about Roseville schools?
I actually heard that Anoka-Hennepin just passed their most recent financial request...

Naturally anyone can chime in, I don't mean to single out Golfgal.

How about areas in general...Mahtomedi sounds like a winner overall. Rosemount, obviously. Mounds View, New Brighton, Shoreview...are they good places to live?

What's there to do around the eastern suburbs?

[hammy5]

I have a girlfriend who lives in Brooklyn Park and she does not have any issues with it. She lives near the CR Dam but her kids are in the Osseo district. I currently live in Anoka-Hennepin school district and am scrambling to get out. In my opinion, I would not send my child to any school in this district. The district as a whole is terrible and there is no end in sight. Yes, they passed 2 of the 4 levy's this year. I just don't have faith in the district. I have a family member that works at one of the HS and it is a nighmare.

Just something to think about.