Moving from Orange County, CA to St. Louis (Wildwood, Washington: transplants, apartments)

[SoCalgirl34]

Hi! I'm going to be moving from Southern CA to St. Louis for a new job opportunity. I've been checking out the downtown area and everything I read about downtown states how bad the crime is in St Louis and I'm a little nervous. I am looking for some advice and suggestions as to which areas of downtown are best based on my needs. Is downtown 'alive' after the workday ends? Here's more about me and what I'm looking for.

1. I'm a 35 year old single female
2. My budget is about $1500 per month
3. I want to live in a walkable community. Close to restaurants, bars, shopping, grocery stores...

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Tina

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by SoCalgirl34

Hi! I'm going to be moving from Southern CA to St. Louis for a new job opportunity. I've been checking out the downtown area and everything I read about downtown states how bad the crime is in St Louis and I'm a little nervous. I am looking for some advice and suggestions as to which areas of downtown are best based on my needs. Is downtown 'alive' after the workday ends? Here's more about me and what I'm looking for.

1. I'm a 35 year old single female
2. My budget is about $1500 per month
3. I want to live in a walkable community. Close to restaurants, bars, shopping, grocery stores...

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Tina

Hi Tina,

I live Downtown and love it. It is very walkable in the Loft District and Old Post Office District. Downtown West is still in the early gentrification stages but will probably take off in the next 24 months but is having a problem with crime mostly between drug dealers and the homeless.

Your budget shouldn't be a problem. There are plenty of Lofts and apartments under 1500.

Downtown has plenty of good restaurants and clubs in the Loft and Old Post District. Non existent in other areas. Retail scene isn't very good anywhere near downtown. The downtown area seems very scary during the winter months because no one is on the streets.

I would strongly recommend looking into the Central West End. It seems to be more consistent in street traffic and you have plenty of good places to eat and do things. The neighborhood seems more centrally located and there is a better feel in terms of people and vibrancy.

St Louis has a lot of crime. At the same time most homicides seem to impact people in the gang culture and those who hang out with them. Robberies are on the upswing too. If you don't run around the city drunk and high and you pay attention to your surroundings you stand less of a chance of being a victim. I don't feel like I am any less safe here than in other cities I've lived in.

Most people who enjoy living here as transplants tend to find enjoyment in city life. Those who set up their lives in the suburbs and surround themselves with locals who idea of culture in the city is a cardinals game won't find as much enjoyment.

[FrankMiller]

From what I've read about SoCal, you must spend all your time dodging Mexican kidnappers and roving violence gangs, so St. Louis will seem like a relative utopia.

I think Downtown feels a little dead after work hours, aside from sporting events, but several of my friends have lived there and loved it. But Downtown and Central West End are just a few of the many very cool neighborhoods in the city. Southeast Forest Park, Soulard and Lafayette Square are a couple other neighborhoods I know people enjoy. Good luck with the move!

[RubyJune]

I used to work downtown and except for the Ball Park and Washington Ave, downtown is a relative ghost town at night.

I recommend Shaw, Botanical Heights, Southwest Garden area, Tower Grove South - these areas are part of "South City", so you're still in St. Louis City boundaries, but it's more active than downtown. You can get a great place for almost half your budget, there's Tower Grove Park, which is GORGEOUS for walking, and has a Farmer's Market on Saturdays from May - November.

South Grand has lots of great restaurants, shopping, bars, coffee shops, etc. Plus, if you have a car (recommended in St. Louis, our public transit isn't the most efficient), you're a quick drive to Soulard Farmer's Market, Soulard for nighttime activities, Cherokee Street for shopping and restaurants, and even downtown. It's a great, safe neighbourhood and after living here, I can't imagine living anywhere else in the city.

[bella84]

Originally Posted by RubyJune

I used to work downtown and except for the Ball Park and Washington Ave, downtown is a relative ghost town at night.

I recommend Shaw, Botanical Heights, Southwest Garden area, Tower Grove South - these areas are part of "South City", so you're still in St. Louis City boundaries, but it's more active than downtown. You can get a great place for almost half your budget, there's Tower Grove Park, which is GORGEOUS for walking, and has a Farmer's Market on Saturdays from May - November.

South Grand has lots of great restaurants, shopping, bars, coffee shops, etc. Plus, if you have a car (recommended in St. Louis, our public transit isn't the most efficient), you're a quick drive to Soulard Farmer's Market, Soulard for nighttime activities, Cherokee Street for shopping and restaurants, and even downtown. It's a great, safe neighbourhood and after living here, I can't imagine living anywhere else in the city.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. With that said, I'm not sure it's really "walkable", as the OP requested. I love the area, but it's really not an area where it makes sense to walk to the grocery store, nightlife, etc. You CAN walk to those places. It's just not really sensible, assuming you would be walking more than a few blocks. Traveling by car is just too easy. Walking to/from and in Tower Grove Park, on the other hand, is one of the highlights of the neighborhood. The farmers' market is my favorite part of living nearby!

The only highly-walkable areas I can think of (my personal definition of highly-walkable is a place where driving is more of a hassle than walking) are the Central West End and Downtown. Even so, a car would still be necessary for getting around to and from any area outside of the immediate neighborhood. St. Louis just doesn't have a the type of urban environment necessary for supporting a large public transportation system used by the masses.

[Brickmama]

I have lived downtown the past 8 years and love it. it has one of the best mix of restaurant and bars scenes of any area in the region. It has modern loft and condo buildings. Its very close to public transportation stops and sporting events. Downtown is a safe area even though crime has been a little more prevalent than usual I expect it to settle down to normal patterns before long. I walk all over downtown and have never been a victim of a street crime. Let me know if you have anymore questions about building or areas within downtown.

[topospace]

Originally Posted by FrankMiller

From what I've read about SoCal, you must spend all your time dodging Mexican kidnappers and roving violence gangs, so St. Louis will seem like a relative utopia.

I think Downtown feels a little dead after work hours, aside from sporting events, but several of my friends have lived there and loved it. But Downtown and Central West End are just a few of the many very cool neighborhoods in the city. Southeast Forest Park, Soulard and Lafayette Square are a couple other neighborhoods I know people enjoy. Good luck with the move!

From what I've read about St. Louis, you must spend all of your time dodging rioters, gang shootings, and going to the clinic to get treated for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

[luckodeirish]

Hi, looks like you are getting some great info.
I relocated from North Tustin to STL back in August, bought a house out in Wildwood with 5 acres as I was "over" having neighbors.

Lot to love about the area, be prepared for every single person you meet to ask "why would you leave OC for STL" ��

Good luck with your move!