housing in west county

[JulianJT]

^ Yeah, those "sweet" 3000 sq ft 5 br homes in Chesterfield took probably 2 days to build (just had to have the crane drop everything into place, right?) and $10,000 worth of material, only to turn around and sell for $400,000.

But, "Hey, if that's what it takes to get away from diversity, it's worth every cent!"


And of course, I'm using some exaggeration in my example.

[Kanick]

Hey now! I live in Manchester in a 40 year old ranch and I'm a Parkway Central grad. We aren't all like your descriptions. One my street, we have three Muslim families and two African American families. The family directly behind us is from China. It's not quite as cookie cutter as you might think.

Then again, I wouldn't probably choose to live here but I have three kids (one in middle school) and they love living here. So I've decided to stay until they finish school and I'm gone. I do find too many people with a limited mentality and it can be frustrating sometimes.

[ucfjtm]

Originally Posted by JulianJT

But, "Hey, if that's what it takes to get away from diversity, it's worth every cent!"

There are plenty of people who live in the suburbs who didn't even consider diversity/lack of it as a reason not to live in the city. Your money goes farther, there's less traffic, less noise, usually less maintenance on a newer home, attached garages, etc. There are a lot of people who don't use what the city has to offer very often, so it's an easy choice to them. Some people find a lot of use out of a large yard. Some people like designing and building their own home. There are thousands of houses in the suburbs that aren't in the new cookie cutter subdivisions. Many of them are very well constructed by selected builders, and they have far less issues than many of these century homes in the city.

Some people don't consider "diversity" as an issue either way - they're looking for other aspects of where they live that they can control. You can't control diversity, so there's no point in picking a home solely on it. Many people choose to live in the suburbs because that's the lifestyle they're used to.

It's obvious that you've got a fight to pick with anyone who chooses the suburbs over the city. I can see that each has many things to offer - there are good and bad sides to both. "Diversity" isn't part of the decision making process for many in either case.

[alikat1205]

for me, diversity was not the issue or the reason to look in the suburbs. the reason was crime! i did not want to live in the city or near any high crime areas. i prefer a suburban area that is fairly close to the amenities of the city. i looked in eureka but for me, it was too far, and had nothing to offer, and the houses were extremely cookie cutter. i did find the cookie cutter thing all over west county, and i hate it.

[JulianJT]

lol @ "less traffic." I guess you have never been to a suburb before? I'll take my traffic in the city ANY DAY to Rte 159 in Fairview Heights or Olive Blvd in Creve Coeur.

"the reason was crime! i did not want to live in the city or near any high crime areas."

Wow, yet another assertion that anywhere in the city is either in or near a high crime area.

My neighborhood is bordered by the following; Forest Park (SCARY!), The Hill (FRIGHTENING!), Maplewood (Oh, thank God, it's a suburb). Isn't that scary!? I sleep with one eye open every night of the week. Sometimes my wife and I alternate staying awake with a rifle for all of the thugs coming to rob and rape our women.

Have you ever gotten off of 40 before hitting Busch Stadium and actually driven through a residential neighborhood? Some neighborhoods not so much, but in my neighborhood, WE HAVE YARDS. No, none of us are sitting on 2 acres, but we have yards. My back yard has all the room for things I need to do; toys for my son (baby swimming pool, sandbox, etc), the grill, a huge patio, etc.

[alikat1205]

i understand that you feel comfortable but as someone who is not familiar with the areas, i wanted to be somewhere with less crime, and not knowing the pockets of the city that are nice, and safe, i had to start in the suburbs. i am just moving to st. louis and don't know all the things that a lifelong resident would know. why does that offend you?

[DKVA]

Hey guys-enough is enough there are city people and there are country people. This is what makes the world go around. Don't knock any on there preference on where to live.