Son moving to Rapid City in two weeks (Deadwood, Columbia: apartment complexes, homes)

[LindaLou2]

Need some advice-- My son is moving to Rapid City from Florida the week of Thanksgiving and needs to find an apartment before he gets there. He called Harmony Heights and Homestead Gardens today and both have units available. He is single and will be working downtown Rapid City. Does anyone have opinions on either? ---Also being a Florida boy used to wearing flipflops daily --any advice on clothes he need to buy before the move or should he wait to buy there??? Does he need to do anything special to his car before the trip?---as you can see I'm a little worried about the cold. Any help would be greatly appreciated--Thanks
One more thing--would you suggest a place to buy discounted furniture---

[ashnat]

He can buy once he get's here, but he needs to come in pants and a jacket. People wear flip flops here on cold days, it drives me nuts. But he really needs some closed toe shoes. A town 45 minutes away, got 46 inches of snow last week!
Not sure on the car, as I've always lived and bought in cold weather climates. No clue if his car would need anything.
Both apt places are fine. Harmony is closer to downtown.

[DannyBanany]

Like Ashnat said, both apartment complexes are very nice but they are kind of a commute to downtown. He might like something on the Southside or Westside a little more. For clothes, I suggest just a regular coat (Columbia, North Face, Helly Hansen, etc.) and just regular shoes will suffice. It's not like he's going to be treading through inches of snow everyday. I get by fine with loafers.

I think an oil change and maybe just a plain check up will suit the car just fine. If his tires are low on tread he may want to get new tires. Ice can get slippery and it helps to have a good tread. Snow tires are a possibility too but I don't think they're necessary because any snow that Rapid City gets usually melts in a day or two.

Dicounted furniture:

Big K Furniture and Appliance
-805 East Denver Street

Main Furniture and Pawn
-1625 Cambell Street

Fischer Clearance Center
-1720 West Main Street

Pac Rat Palace
-1350 Deadwood Avenue

i Sold it on eBay
-1730 Haines Avenue

[Jammie]

Remember the anti-freeze and an ice scraper, too.

Welcome to the forum, Linda and we welcome your son to South Dakota.

[debey]

Request that they check antifreeze levels, in the car,

[debey]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Remember the anti-freeze and an ice scraper, too.

great minds, LOL

[Jammie]

Debey, we were posting at the same time. Great minds think alike.

[LindaLou2]

Thanks for the help. Have you heard anything about Corral Park apartments?

[DannyBanany]

Originally Posted by LindaLou2

Thanks for the help. Have you heard anything about Corral Park apartments?

Corral Park is a very nice apartment complex. A really good friend of mine lives there and he absolutely loves it. It's on the nicest part of town (just down from Carriage Hills in fact) and it's next to an elementary and middle school, Arrowhead Country Club, and it's surrounded by pines. After Carriage Green Estates, it's probably my favorite apartment complex. The commute downtown is probably the same as Harmony Heights or Homestead Gardens.

Corral Park is pretty expensive too. My buddy lives in a studio and I think he said it runs about $700 but all utilities are included. That's considered pretty high for a Rapid City studio.

[ardsley]

Ice scraper for windows, small broom (or scraper with attached brush for snow) check antifreeze for low temps, non-freeze windshield washer (he may have to buy this as he goes north or when he arrives) and a STRONG car battery with good cranking power.

If an apartment has a garage, that is a plus.

For clothing, be able to layer. Non-working time will be spent mostly in jeans/LS pullover shirt, sneakers. Sneakers are fine when no snow--which is most of the time. Pretty much the same as winter in (northern) FL.

Most apartments on west side of town are good, also on south part of town. Has he asked the opinion of his future co-workers? Someone at work may live in a nice complex and can shed some light on the topic.

He'll do fine, Mom. I know about the worried part, those of us who wear the mommy badge know the feeling. Is someone riding along with him? It's a long trip for a solo. Perhaps another family member (sibling, cousin, parent) can join him on the trip and help move in?
~ardsley

PS- Winter weather is possible--Pack an EMERGENCY KIT for the car-Food (power bars, candy bars), water, space blanket, candle(s) in coffee can, flashlight, etc. Our philosophy: If you have the preparations, you won't need them, if you do need them, you'll be happy you have it with you. Many of these items can be stuffed into metal the coffee can.