Single female looking for nice and convenient place to live? help please? (St. Louis: apartments, renting)

[RickMG]

There is a large Gold's Gym at the corner of Manchester and Weidman in Manchester (just about 5 miles from Chesterfield down Hwy. 141). Like Fistacos said, St. Louis is not a taxi town unless you live and play in the loft district. There are plenty of apartment complexes that are very nice on Manchester Road in Manchester within walking distance of Gold's that fit the type of community you say you'd like to live in. As for nightlife, you probably will have to drive, but considering you'll probably be driving to and from work five days a week, and usually going out on weekends, I would figure driving for play, as St. Louis is a very easy drive to just about anywhere.

[lotus921v]

are there certain blocks on washington ave that are better than others? or certain ends of the loft district that should be avoided?

i'm just so torn on where to go

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Go where you want to. Downtown will probably have most of the things you need within a pretty close distance, but parking and commute will be a concern.

A suburb like Richmond Heights will probably have less of what you need, but parking will not be a concern and the commute will be shorter. But Richmond Heights may require more of a drive to clubs and restaurants and the like.

You just need to decide what's most important. If you live Downtown and spend 150 minutes in a car per week (5 days a week), is that more driving than you would have if you live in Richmond Heights, and spent 65 minutes a week in a car (let's say 15 minutes a day 5 days a week), but drove into the city for social activities?

If you like the Downtown loft living, and it's where you want to be, then go there. It's your decision. Let us know how else we can help.

Best of luck.

[joanie55]

Commute seems to be a strong concern for you so until you get to know your way around I would not live downtown or the CWE. I think you would like Clayton - they have a lot of apartments there although I don't think many "complexes." Personally, if I worked in Chesterfield I"d live in Chesterfield. I lived there when I was young and there is plenty to do there but it is definately a suburb. There are lots of apartment complexes in the area as well. When I lived there I went to the CWE and downtown all the time when I wanted to go out, go to a concert etc. I had a lot of friends who lived in the city at the time that I met in college, so I was always driving down there and didn't think a thing of it. My mom worked in the city at the time and made the commute every day until she was well into her 50's. But when the weather was bad there were some hellish commutes. IF you're from Buffalo though, you should be used to driving in bad weather

[Brickmama]

I live on Washington Ave which is safe anywhere from Jefferson on the western end to the Landing on the eastern end. There is more density and offerings between 600 Wash and 1600 Wash with more street live. The whole loft district is generally safe and you shouldnt have problem and is only getting better in every aspect. Its a very exciting place.

[aragx6]

Joanie, What is there to do in Chesterfield exactly? That's not meant as a burn or anything, I'm just genuinely curious what you suggest the OP would do in Chesterfield.

[lotus921v]

haha, yeah joanie, driving in a blizzard at 90mph is fun for Buffalo natives. lol. snow doesn't scare me, but i'll be honest, hearing about a possibility of tornadoes out that way freaks me the heck out!

and is there anything to do in Chesterfield?
I know there's the chiro school there. Is it primarily students?

[aragx6]

No I woudln't say there's many students there at all. Chesterfield is very family oriented. It feels exurban -- newer houses big lots, drive everywhere.

Tornadoes -- My guess is that none of us have ever actually been in one. Eastern Missouri gets some, but not nearly as many as further west. We'll get a few warnings a year, but the thing about tornadoes is that they are very localized, whereas a hurricane can destroy everything for hundreds of miles, tornadoes will hit one house, miss the next etc.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

There have been 2 in my town in like 10 years, but neither was deadly and neither came near my house. Neither was extremely destructive, partially because this area is so rural.

[joanie55]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Joanie, What is there to do in Chesterfield exactly? That's not meant as a burn or anything, I'm just genuinely curious what you suggest the OP would do in Chesterfield.

Well I wasn't speaking of good live entertainment or sporting events but there is plenty of good shopping and restaurants. Personally, I like to live near where I work. Especially if you are young, driving into the city for the added variety is just no big deal. But getting you basic needs met is I guess what I was mostly referring to. And there are bars there as well, or used to be - like the oyster bar that was good for happy hour, etc.