Questions about Sheboygan Area (Milwaukee, Howard: real estate, debt, for sale)

[Further North]

Hey everyone,

I’m considering a job in the Sheboygan area right now and I have some questions about the area. I grew up in the Upper Peninsula so I’m no stranger to small town living and the pace of life, lack of entertainment (besides beer ), lack of stores, etc. None of that really bothers me. I’d be 3.5 hours from home, and be able to get out in the woods again etc, and enjoy a much more relaxed pace of life. I do have a couple of questions and concerns though:

- Someone mentioned the rising gang and drug problems. Without any ill racist intention to single out any particular nationality, what group does this tend to be? Has theft gone up because of this? I’m living in Chicago now in neighborhood with some moderate gang activity now, so I’m not deeply concerned about this, just wanna be aware of it.

- I’ve read people mention the following nearby towns in other threads: Sheboygan Falls, Howard’s Grove, Oostburg, Kohler, Lake Elkhart, and Plymouth. Of these, which would you rank the best to live in? ANYTHING is probably shorter commute wise then what I’m accustomed to in Chicago so don’t consider that to be a significant factor to me.

- In regards to the preceding question, which would you recommend for nightlife, recreation (biking trails or beaches especially), weight lifting gyms, restaurants, and convenience? I’m honestly VERY anti-big box, so I’d consciously AVOID Walmart to go the local hardware store and grocery store. After a 4 year hiatus from small town living I returned to the Upper Peninsula for a summer and found myself quite content to go to small local businesses vs. the Big Box retailers. However, it doesn’t hurt to be close to a Home Depot, Best Buy, etc. so long as they haven’t blighted the town’s small businesses. I’d say of those factors, some nightlife and a gym to work out at rank pretty high.

- How scarce are single women? I’m 27, and I ain’t gettin’ any younger! One of the reasons I was EAGER to leave the Upper Peninsula when I did was the fact that there were real slim pickin’s for women. Most people had this, “I better real this one in and keep ‘em” attitude about marriage and got married early. By age 25 you were a full blown spinster! I’m at the age where settling down is starting to cross my mind so I wanna make sure single people exist, and they’re not just carrying baggage from their first divorces!

- Are there any nearby colleges? I’ll probably consider some continuing education in the future, and college towns tend to be a little more lively as well.

- How is the rent and cost of housing? I don’t know that I’d be prepared to buy at anytime soon since I’m more concerned about eliminating debt at this point in my life, but I may consider it at some point. It’s possible that I may seek employment with Kohler someday down the road (I’m not applying to them right now however), and if that were to happen I’d probably buy. I WOULD like to find a duplex or town home to rent at this time, most likely with a roommate though. I just want more space and a garage. I’m probably willing to spend up to $800 a month for that.

- I’m going to Sheboygan this Friday for an interview, and my plan is to go on a long “joy ride” to see the surrounding area. Any particular streets or areas of the towns I mentioned that I should check out so I get a good feel for them? Exit numbers or streets to start from would be GREATLY appreciated!

Jason

[quijote]

You probably won't get this before you leave, but just in case....

Originally Posted by Further North

Hey everyone,

I’m considering a job in the Sheboygan area right now and I have some questions about the area. I grew up in the Upper Peninsula so I’m no stranger to small town living and the pace of life, lack of entertainment (besides beer ), lack of stores, etc. None of that really bothers me. I’d be 3.5 hours from home, and be able to get out in the woods again etc, and enjoy a much more relaxed pace of life. I do have a couple of questions and concerns though:

- Someone mentioned the rising gang and drug problems. Without any ill racist intention to single out any particular nationality, what group does this tend to be? Has theft gone up because of this? I’m living in Chicago now in neighborhood with some moderate gang activity now, so I’m not deeply concerned about this, just wanna be aware of it.

The rising gang and drug problems there are generally attributed to the Hispanics (generally people of Mexican descent) that have settled in Sheboygan. However, it seems that many Caucasians also have been responsible for a spike in crime; meth seems to be a factor there.

But having said all of that, the crime in Sheboygan is still quite low.

- I’ve read people mention the following nearby towns in other threads: Sheboygan Falls, Howard’s Grove, Oostburg, Kohler, Lake Elkhart, and Plymouth. Of these, which would you rank the best to live in? ANYTHING is probably shorter commute wise then what I’m accustomed to in Chicago so don’t consider that to be a significant factor to me.

I don't know all of these places very well, but Kohler is quite nice. It's a kind of upscale "company town," with Kohler, Co. and the Kohler-affiliated resorts/retail dominating the jobscape. Sheboygan itself has some very nice neighborhoods, so don't rule it out.

If you want to be closer to Milwaukee, you could live in Port Washington, which is a cute lakeside city about 30 miles south of Sheboygan.

- In regards to the preceding question, which would you recommend for nightlife, recreation (biking trails or beaches especially), weight lifting gyms, restaurants, and convenience? I’m honestly VERY anti-big box, so I’d consciously AVOID Walmart to go the local hardware store and grocery store. After a 4 year hiatus from small town living I returned to the Upper Peninsula for a summer and found myself quite content to go to small local businesses vs. the Big Box retailers. However, it doesn’t hurt to be close to a Home Depot, Best Buy, etc. so long as they haven’t blighted the town’s small businesses. I’d say of those factors, some nightlife and a gym to work out at rank pretty high.

Sheboygan actually has a rather nice little downtown, so I wouldn't rule it out as a place to live and play. The heart of the area is South 8th Street--there are quite a few nice restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Near that area is the museum, which I really like--it features very innovative contemporary and craft art. There are also other streets with activity nearby, including a "bar row" near 8th. It isn't a huge array of options, to be sure, but it's more vibrant than some may think. The lakefront is also very nice, and lends itself to bicycling and other outdoor pursuits. There are several parks and forests nearby, and within just a couple hours drive you have all of the amenities of Milwaukee as well as many wonderful natural areas such as the Horicon Marsh.

And yes, Sheboygan does have its big boxes, mostly along Hwy 43. But the city itself is remarkably authentic--the downtown is quite suitable, and north Sheboygan has kind of a funky 1950s feel to it.

- How scarce are single women? I’m 27, and I ain’t gettin’ any younger! One of the reasons I was EAGER to leave the Upper Peninsula when I did was the fact that there were real slim pickin’s for women. Most people had this, “I better real this one in and keep ‘em” attitude about marriage and got married early. By age 25 you were a full blown spinster! I’m at the age where settling down is starting to cross my mind so I wanna make sure single people exist, and they’re not just carrying baggage from their first divorces!

Cannot help you with this, but a gay (male) friend of mine lives in Sheboygan, and he has had to expand his dating range well outside of the city. He's been there for several years, and pretty much knows all of the gay men at this point. You'll have many more options as you look for compatible, hetero women, but you may find the pickins a bit too slim after a while.

- Are there any nearby colleges? I’ll probably consider some continuing education in the future, and college towns tend to be a little more lively as well.

There's Lakeland College just a few miles west of Sheboygan, but it doesn't really have much of an impact on the city. The U of Wisconsin has a two-year campus in Sheboygan; its impact also is limited, but there are enough students to sustain a bar culture near downtown.

- How is the rent and cost of housing? I don’t know that I’d be prepared to buy at anytime soon since I’m more concerned about eliminating debt at this point in my life, but I may consider it at some point. It’s possible that I may seek employment with Kohler someday down the road (I’m not applying to them right now however), and if that were to happen I’d probably buy. I WOULD like to find a duplex or town home to rent at this time, most likely with a roommate though. I just want more space and a garage. I’m probably willing to spend up to $800 a month for that.

I don't know anything specific about this, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could find something you like in your price range. Sheboygan is not really a high demand area.

- I’m going to Sheboygan this Friday for an interview, and my plan is to go on a long “joy ride” to see the surrounding area. Any particular streets or areas of the towns I mentioned that I should check out so I get a good feel for them? Exit numbers or streets to start from would be GREATLY appreciated!

Jason

I'm not good with exit numbers, etc. but be sure to walk around South 8th and vicinity, including the museum and shopping district. Also be sure to go to the lakefront, including perhaps the new developments close to the Sheboygan River. You might find it pleasant to drive along Lakeside Drive, starting from Indiana Ave. (south of the river) and heading south. If you like the grittier side of city life, drive up Calumet Dr., which goes from the center of town toward the northwest. Sheboygan is famous for bratwurst, so look for the Charcoal Inn (two locations--one downtown and the other off of Calumet) or Jumes (downtown). There are many other old-time kinds of places. For something more upscale, Stefano's on 8th has some of the best Italian in Wisconsin. There's also a good, casual restaurant just across the street from it, with a small food market attached to it.

Another must-see in the area is Kohler. Erie Avenue (in Sheboygan) turns into Kohler Memorial Drive, as you head westbound (this is also rte 23). Keep heading west, and follow the signs taking you to Kohler. You can tour the Kohler factory, and you can visit the American Club resort. There's also a shopping district with nice, upscale stores.... and there's an outdoor mall nearby with some interesting restaurants, shops, and a gourmet food store.

If you have a car and some time, try looking at Port Washington down the road.

[Further North]

Quijote,

Thank you so much for your very thorough response! I'm getting a bit closer to making a decission on this job in the upcoming weeks. I will be back on Friday for my 2nd interview to meet with the VP of the company. I imagine, and I hope, that a job offer will follow soon after.

I didn't get a chance to see much of the city on my first trip, but I did drive around the lakefront area a bit. I'll try and do that more when I return. I ate at Il Rivorto afterwards, and it was probably the BEST pizza I've EVER eaten! It had mozarella and Ricota on it that was flown in from Italy. I think I'm going to have to eat at Stefano's this time.

I've been looking online at apartments, and sadly I've yet to see a listing outside of Sheboygan. I suppose this is to be expected though, as I don't imagine there are many places to rent in towns as small as some of the surrounding ones like Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan Falls, or Plymouth. I did want to consider those areas too, but it looks like it's not in the cards for me.

I did do have a few follow up questions for you,and anyone else reading:

As I mentioned, I'm aware of the drug and gang problems, but not too phased by them. I would however like to know what parts of town are "bad". Can you tell me what general areas of town are shady? Particular streets would be VERY helpful too, as I'm gonna be looking at apartments this weekend.

What road is all the "Big Box" and recent development on? Just wanna see what's in the area.

You mentioned new developments near the river, any certain street I should drive down to see these?

[caleefe]

Further North,

There really aren't too many bad spots around town. I would avoid renting an apartment in an area from 9th St. to 14th St., between Erie and Michigan. That is only a 10 square block area that is kind of dumpy, and probably has more drug activity than other areas.

The big boxes are all situated near the Highway 28 exit on I-43. There is a Target, a Wal-Mart, and Home Depot. Plus, the usual hanger-ons that surround these businesses...the Chili's, Perkins, Starbucks, a couple of hotels, etc.

Development near the north side of the river: go south on sixth street, and there is a row of what used to be fishing shanties that have been turned into restaurants and botiques. Not too far from where you had that great pizza.
Across the river from there is a new development, Blue Harbor, that also has some small retail establishments nearby. 5 years ago that whole peninsula was just an empty field.

[quijote]

Hi Further North,

I'm glad a real Sheboyganite has chimed in with info; I've only visited a few times, so don't have a firm hold on everything Sheboygan.

I took a quick look at Move.com, REALTOR.com - Real Estate Listings & Homes For Sale, and a couple of others, and there seem to be good-looking apartment opportunities all over the city. However, the newer developments I was thinking of are, as caleefe points out, on the two sides of the mouth of the Sheboygan River. It seems that there are new apts. and condos in that zone--Pennsylvania Ave., River Rd., Pier St. The shops and restaurants that caleefe mentioned are quite nice--I went to the Duke of Devon, an English-style pub/restaurant, and enjoyed it. Overall, Sheboygan strikes me as a very liveable city--kind of small, but lots of options for its size.

[caleefe]

It is no coincidence that Duke of Devon is owned by the same people who own and run the Trattoria Stefano, and the Il Ritrovo across the street. All great places to eat. I have to say, Sheboygan (and Sheboygan County) is not lacking for really nice, interesting restaurants.

And, like quijote said, there is a lot of newer condo development in the near downtown area that is worth looking into. If you only want to rent, then you also have a lot of choices. From your vanilla apartment complexes, to a floor in an older turn-of-the-century house. Look on the east side near the lake for the latter.

[Further North]

Thanks Caleefe. It looks as if I'll be able to see 5 or 6 apartments this weekend, so that should give me a good start anyway. I'm going to be picky and aim for a 2 bdrm with a garage if I can, in other words, something I'd pay an upwards for $1,400 or more for in Chicago! That in itself may start to sway my decission towards Sheboygan. We'll see what happens Friday....

[caleefe]

Hey there, Further North...
Let's have an update on your trip.

[Further North]

Well, the salary offer wasn't too impressive. I'm going to be talking to the Chicago Company tonight hopefully, and seeing what they are willing to pay. My gut feeling now is I'd rather take the Chicago job since it is the better career opportunity. On the bright side though, I have this Sheboygan job to fall back on if the other doesn't happen. A safety net is a wonderful thing....

[quijote]

Well? Chicago or Sheboygan or....? That's quite a choice; I hope the higher pay in Chicago will offset higher cost of living....