Battle of Missouri? (Kansas City, Springfield, Independence: rent, condos, neighborhoods)

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by Plains10

The temperature observations at the KCI airport should be invalid. The reasons: the temperatures were recorded there 20-30 years ago when the area was completely rural with no industry and few people present. Now, the KCI airport area is becoming increasingly urbanized and their are coal power plants in Platte County which produce mammoth amounts of CO2 and contribute to the urban heat island effect nearby along with global effects. The Kansas City metro climate is slightly cooler than the Saint Louis metro area because the KC metro area is closer to the central Great Plains, which is prone to having severe cold air outbreaks (especially in the past).

that's probably true. Still, there is not much of a noticeable difference I'd say in their climates...I would still never use climate as a reason to pick St. Louis over Kansas City and vice-versa...the differences I've noticed tend to usually be minute at the very maximum, and which city is colder than the other on a given day depends on the day. The climate is probably not the best way to choose one city over the other IMO because the differences are generally minute at best to my knowledge. But I will let Plains10 have the finally say since obviously he/she knows his/her meteorology.

[vegaspilgrim]

1. Is either of two cities more prone to tornadoes?

2. How does the older city parts of KC and STL compare to the older neighborhoods of Denver? Denver, in addition to the downtown area, has a whole bunch of other mini urban style business districts-- Cherry Creek, the area by Colorado Blvd/ CU Hospital, the DU area, Capitol Hill, Highlands, Platte Park, etc, and a ton of old city neighborhoods, with a redevelopment and condo construction boom going on right now. Plus a ton of urban parks-- Washington Park, City Park, Cheesman Park, Sloan's Lake, etc. Does KC or STL compare to this?

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

1. Is either of two cities more prone to tornadoes?

2. How does the older city parts of KC and STL compare to the older neighborhoods of Denver? Denver, in addition to the downtown area, has a whole bunch of other mini urban style business districts-- Cherry Creek, the area by Colorado Blvd/ CU Hospital, the DU area, Capitol Hill, Highlands, Platte Park, etc, and a ton of old city neighborhoods, with a redevelopment and condo construction boom going on right now. Plus a ton of urban parks-- Washington Park, City Park, Cheesman Park, Sloan's Lake, etc. Does KC or STL compare to this?

KC I would imagine is a bit more prone than St. Louis, but tornadoes are FAR from unheard of in St. louis either...generally they either occur north or south of the center of the metro area.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

1. Is either of two cities more prone to tornadoes?

2. How does the older city parts of KC and STL compare to the older neighborhoods of Denver? Denver, in addition to the downtown area, has a whole bunch of other mini urban style business districts-- Cherry Creek, the area by Colorado Blvd/ CU Hospital, the DU area, Capitol Hill, Highlands, Platte Park, etc, and a ton of old city neighborhoods, with a redevelopment and condo construction boom going on right now. Plus a ton of urban parks-- Washington Park, City Park, Cheesman Park, Sloan's Lake, etc. Does KC or STL compare to this?

Yes, KC has plenty of nice older neighborhoods. Some larger older homes would be found south of the Plaza along Ward Parkway in the 50s and 60s block numbers. Another urban neighborhood that is fairly safe would be Westport. The high dollar urban neighborhoods are found in Mission Hills, KS which is close to the Plaza and Downtown and Leawood, KS.

[vegaspilgrim]

Thanks ajf and plains10. I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me in the future. Right now, both KC and STL are looking better than Phoenix. One quick question-- for both cities-- is it possible to fly in and tour either city without a car, or do really need to rent a car to see what each city is all about? For each city, how many days would you have to spend in each to really get an idea for each city's feel? Also, how do feel about UMKC and UMSL?

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Thanks ajf and plains10. I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me in the future. Right now, both KC and STL are looking better than Phoenix. One quick question-- for both cities-- is it possible to fly in and tour either city without a car, or do really need to rent a car to see what each city is all about? For each city, how many days would you have to spend in each to really get an idea for each city's feel? Also, how do feel about UMKC and UMSL?

One word for St. Louis...METROLINK, the city-tram. That connects you to Downtown Clayton and Downtown St. Louis and essentially gives you everything you need to know about the whole city with St. Louis County included, which IMO is the TRUE St. Louis. A day-pass costs 5 bucks, you can tour the Central West End, go up in the Arch, visit the casinos via the metro link, check out the Central West End, Forest Park, which contains the Zoo, Art Museum, and St. Louis Science Center... explore Saint Louis University and all of Grand Blvd., which it virtually owns up to Lindell-Olive, Washington University. The only thing the Metrolink cannot provide you with is a direct connection to the Hill, Anheuser Busch, and the Lemp Mansion...which iMO are must-sees...but the Metrolink connects to all the important stuff in st. Louis pretty much. All it costs you is five bucks to see St. Louis in a day. In two days, ten bucks. in three, 15...etc. that's quite lower than your gas bill will be...the Metrolink IMO is something tourists must use if they want to see both the important parts of St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Happy tours my vegas friend....i'm sure since you live in vegas the casinos might not be that interesting to you. The farthest I'd go into Illinois with the metrolink is just East Riverfront, where the Casino Queen is, if you feel like gambling. In fact, if you flew to St. Louis, you could also connect to a hotel you'd be staying at in downtown (I'm guessing...or clayton)...via the Metrolink. IF you were staying in Clayton...you should take the train east to Forest-Park DeBalivere and then get on the "Shrewsbury/I-44" train westbound...and get off at the Clayton station. It takes about 20 minutes longer than a cab would, but saves you $20. If you are staying at a hotel downtown, just stay on the "Shiloh-Scott" train until you get off somewhere downtown where-ever your hotel is. If your hotel is at the airport...simply just take the train like I mentioned above to see both downtowns and everything that is St. Louis practically. Just about every important thing in St. Louis is within walking distance of a Metrolink station. The Metrolink should be your companion in St. Louis...it will show you the way . KC is not as easy...I'm not sure if they have a tram or not but I don't think they do.

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by razzy

Similar climates. KC is just a bit colder than St Louis, and maybe a bit less hot and humid in the summer, but other than that they are very similar.

St Louis is hillier and has more trees than KC does, but also has more flood plains. The Illinois side of the St Louis metro area is very flat and is largely in a flood plain at least till you get about 5 or more miles into the state.

The Illinois side is known for its Great bluffs .. lots of hills .. some examples are
Alton - All hills
Calhoun county - most rock hills
Grafton area is flat but then goes directly into hills


I guess if you enter from East St. Louis you maybe right - I dot go in that direction for obvious reasons.

I am wondering what part you enter Illinois in from St. Louis?

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Here we go again...DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU READ ABOUT CRIME. St. Louis' only crime problems are in North City, and East St. Louis, Illinois. In St. Louis County there is hardly any crime. The St. Louis suburbs are some of the safest I've ever known. Unless you are interested in living in East St. Louis or North City, where the ghettos are, and both of these are tiny specks in the metro, crime should not be used to decide which city wins. St. Louis I would imagine as a whole metro is as safe as KC.

East St. Louis Illinois - crime is rated by the state. Am I right?

FYI - I will not go to St. Louis at night I do not feel safe ..and it is not because of the news because I hardly watch tv ... or look at the news ........
Maybe crime is not high in those areas that are high $ areas where there is security .. look at the malls many are ran down looking and have a emtpy feeling with the "mall rats" walking through them ... yes there are some nice malls .. one folds another opens - I havent quite understood this.
Facts are facts .. crime is up ......meth is on the rise.......... we live in a sad world.

[razzy]

Originally Posted by ajf131

that's probably true. Still, there is not much of a noticeable difference I'd say in their climates...I would still never use climate as a reason to pick St. Louis over Kansas City and vice-versa...the differences I've noticed tend to usually be minute at the very maximum, and which city is colder than the other on a given day depends on the day. The climate is probably not the best way to choose one city over the other IMO because the differences are generally minute at best to my knowledge. But I will let Plains10 have the finally say since obviously he/she knows his/her meteorology.

I agree with this. Climate should not be a reason to pick one or the other. KC may be slightly more tornado-prone since it is right next to Kansas and the great plains. But I havent heard of any more major tornadoes and storms hitting KC than I have St Louis. St Louis was hit last summer, almost exactly a year ago, with one of the most ferocious storms in recent memory. Trees down everywhere, power outages, widespread damage, you name it.

[razzy]

Originally Posted by 2beamissourian

The Illinois side is known for its Great bluffs .. lots of hills .. some examples are
Alton - All hills
Calhoun county - most rock hills
Grafton area is flat but then goes directly into hills


I guess if you enter from East St. Louis you maybe right - I dot go in that direction for obvious reasons.

I am wondering what part you enter Illinois in from St. Louis?

I was thinking more of directly from the east which would include East St Louis obviously.

You are right, north of St Louis in Illinois it is very hilly with lots of bluffs. The river drive along the Mississippi from Alton to Grafton is a very pretty drive.