Family + Schools + Waterfront + Proximity = ? (Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo: home, neighborhoods, school districts)

[chicagoclone]

So here it goes...another "i'm moving to GR" thread. My apologies upfront.

Family is considering a move to the GR area. My job allows me to either work from home or fly out of a decent size airport, which GR is. I'm familiar with western MI as I went to school down the road and there are such a wide range of different towns it is hard to narrow it down. Here's my criteria in order of importance. Budget is around 400K.

+Schools (2 Kids, 11 and 87. one kid is in the gifted program, one kid is special needs)
+Waterfront / Wooded (We've lived in residential suburbia our whole lives. Time to change)
Family friendly (year round community with lots of kids)
Proximity to airport (let's call it an hour...it's how long it takes me to get to my current airport)
Pace = slower than chicago
House (not too important as long as the above are met)


GR area seemed like a natural fit. Much of my family is in Chicago and GR is easy to access.

I'm looking for towns / school districts that I can include in my search.

So far I've looked at Rockford and Portage. Any others that you think might be good fits? Any other place in the state that you feel may be work looking into?

[beachmouse]

The school districts kind of Northeast of GR rather blend together, and there are a number of inland lakes at varying price points in that area that are zoned for the generally good Northview and Forest Hills schools as well as the Rockford district ones.

Note the school district boundaries don't necessarily follow city or township boundaries and in a few cases can even jump county lines.

[mjlo]

I'd focus in on the lakes area of Rockford. (ie Cannon Twp. Lake Bella Vista/Meyers Lake/Silver Lake area) With your budget you have a lot of options for housing.

I'd also look into Grand Haven/ Spring Lake/ Ferrysburg, lots of good housing stock with unique charms and close to all kinds of water and nature. Grand Haven is a summer resort/tourist town so it gets twice as busy in the summer.

[Republic of Michigan]

Why don't you focus on the southern most suburbs of GR so you can be closer to your family in Chicago whenever you want to go there? Grand Haven and Holland are some ideas.

[tuebor]

Consider the Muskegon area. Muskegon County Airport offers flights to Chicago, and you are still within an hour's drive of the GR airport too. MKG airport is located in Norton Shores. Norton Shores is safe, affordable, family-friendly, and offers good schools (Mona Shores district), plenty of shopping, beaches on Lake Michigan and Mona lake, and a wooded state park (P.J. Hoffmaster).

Things to Do « Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

[michigan83]

Originally Posted by mjlo

I'd focus in on the lakes area of Rockford. (ie Cannon Twp. Lake Bella Vista/Meyers Lake/Silver Lake area) With your budget you have a lot of options for housing.

I'd also look into Grand Haven/ Spring Lake/ Ferrysburg, lots of good housing stock with unique charms and close to all kinds of water and nature. Grand Haven is a summer resort/tourist town so it gets twice as busy in the summer.

I 2nd this. Rockford is the best area near GR for waterfront+wooded+affordable. South and west of GR is lacking in those categories, and natural beauty in general (until you hit Lake Michigan, of course).

[chicagoclone]

excellent feedback. exactly what I needed. thank you.

[beachmouse]

There are a good number of inland lakes between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, but, IMO the schools in Wayland, Hastings, etc. aren't as good as what you get in the NE of Grand Rapids area, and I think the Kent Intermediate School District has more resources for special needs kids than a rural ISD would.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by chicagoclone

So here it goes...another "i'm moving to GR" thread. My apologies upfront.

Family is considering a move to the GR area. My job allows me to either work from home or fly out of a decent size airport, which GR is. I'm familiar with western MI as I went to school down the road and there are such a wide range of different towns it is hard to narrow it down. Here's my criteria in order of importance. Budget is around 400K.

+Schools (2 Kids, 11 and 87. one kid is in the gifted program, one kid is special needs)
+Waterfront / Wooded (We've lived in residential suburbia our whole lives. Time to change)
Family friendly (year round community with lots of kids)
Proximity to airport (let's call it an hour...it's how long it takes me to get to my current airport)
Pace = slower than chicago
House (not too important as long as the above are met)


GR area seemed like a natural fit. Much of my family is in Chicago and GR is easy to access.

I'm looking for towns / school districts that I can include in my search.

So far I've looked at Rockford and Portage. Any others that you think might be good fits? Any other place in the state that you feel may be work looking into?

When you say "waterfront/wooded" do you mean both? or either?

And how big of a waterfront do you prefer? There are quite a few newer neighborhoods in Byron Center and Hudsonville on water/lakes/ponds. You'd have to keep your eye out for a resale.

[teachbeach]

East Grand Rapids and Rose Lake might fit your needs.