South City Neighborhoods (St. Louis, St. Charles, Kirkwood: apartments, safe area, living)

[nifer]

Hello! I received a teaching job in the fall in the Kirkwood District. For the last few weeks, I had planned on moving next to my brother in St. Charles (his in-laws own the building, so it was a nice no-fuss find). However, I didn't realize the commute would be so long in the morning and I keep hearing about how St. Charles, although nice, is not the ideal place for a young, single professional. Now I'm 3 weeks from my moving day (from Iowa) and have no place to live. Sad.

Kirkwood is obviously nice, but the apartments I've found online are above my price range (which is about $500/mo). I hear great things about South City and I'm finding lots of 4-family building apartments (which I think would be ideal for me). However, I know nothing about the safety and appeal of the neighborhoods. I am a runner and would love to feel safe going out for a run.

Can anyone give me information on South City neighborhoods? I think safety (and of course, affordability) is my biggest factor. Thank you so much! I'm excited to be in St. Louis!

[ShadowCaver]

I vastly admire your desire and will. I don't have much details in the way to offer you, but you might want to check out other threads w/in this forum, along with the following sites for info about this rich area:
Neighborhoods - St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis Neighborhoods: Map
St. Louis Neighborhoods

[aragx6]

Where exactly are these apts? South City is a big area, and while much of it is quite safe, there is plenty of it that i wouldn't want to be running around in.

Also, not sure where in St. Charles you'll be living, but the commute from there shouldn't be any more than 40 minutes. It would be substantially less from most of South City, but your $500 budget may limit you somewhat.

[oscottscotto]

Can you still get apartments for $500 a month? jk

Hey, seriously, check out the apartments located at the NE corner of the Brentwood and Manchester intersection. I forget the name of them, but they would rival that price range, be a strait 5 minute shot to Kirkwood, would be in a safe area for running, and be close enough to city and suburb amenities.

[MissouriLovesCompany]

Okay here is the deal...
There are several South City neighborhoods that are safe enough to actually be active outside with no worries, the top two I would recommend would be St. Louis Hills and Southampton in the 63109 zip code by the intersection of Hampton and Chippewa... I rented a one bedroom apartment off Devonshire for $450 a month in 2006, and it is also extremely safe and very nice. Tower Grove South is also nice as well as The Hill and Dogtown, but rents range there from $500+ generally. Areas to avoid would be Bevo, Tower Grove East, Dutchtown, Lemay, Carondelet.

Maplewood although in the county isn't bad either and would cut down on you commute...

But in all of the areas listed you can find 1+ bedroom apartments for around $400+ a month.

Welcome to St. Louis and if you need anymore help let me know!