Any Moms living downtown - I need advice on relocating to downtown Indy. (Butler: best neighborhoods)

[creativebunny]

Hi! I would love to hear from anyone who lives downtown, especially Moms. How is it living downtown w/young children? What has your experience been like? Do you feel safe walking and playing on the neighborhood playgrounds, etc? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?

My spouse is the last stages of interviews for a wonderful job opportunity. His office would be located smack in the center of downtown and we would prefer to live close to his work.

Our budget for renting is roughly $2,000 a month. We could go a little higher if we really loved a place... but would love to keep it at 2k or lower. The thing is we have an 18 mo. old child, and hope to try for another soon.

We live in a condo now, downtown, but I have to admit it's super posh where we live in south Florida (not trying to be snobby) so safety is just never a concern. I'm just not sure if I would feel safe in Indy but I'm open. I did attend 4 yrs of college in downtown Atlanta almost a decade ago, so I'm not completely sheltered.

I would greatly appreciate input! thanks!

[sweetana3]

I live downtown and the problem is there are few if any kids. Even the only ones in our historic neighborhood have left. Our neighbor had to do daycare so her daughter had playmates.

I would suggest a home in Meridian Kessler, Butler Tarkington, Broad Ripple, Irvington. They are all no more than 10-15 minutes from downtown and full of families. I lived in Butler Tarkington around 56th and Illinois and had a wonderful!! 10 years. We would still be there but for a corporate move. Houses in the first three will be more expensive but the neighborhoods are more high end. Irvington has some wonderful rehabbed homes but shopping is not quite as close.

With these neighborhoods, the commute is easy with a lot of routes due to flat and grid streets. Lots of walking opportunities and easy access services. I still got to my family doctor in Broad Ripple.

However, since you are renting and with your budget, it would not be an issue of finding a really nice place downtown (either condo or big new or old house). But if you want toddler playmates, think about the other areas where there will be more families.

[sweetana3]

Additional info: There are not a lot of parks for kids downtown. The Old Northside has a good small but quality one and I have seen families us it. That neighborhood is full of big rehapped Victorians. Our neighborhood, St. Joseph, has no parks or places for kids to play and there is nothing for kids but a grassy mall downtown (as far as playgrounds).

[creativebunny]

Thanks for the great info! I wouldn't mind living 10-15 minutes from the downtown, since that is still a great commute. Toddler playmates is definitely a priority!

[Indyboy16]

I would second the suggestion of Meridian Kessler. We live in M-K and there are a lot of families with young kids. There is now a great public school option, School 84, located at 57th and Central Ave. that has allowed families to stay in the neighborhood instead of fleeing to the suburbs in the search for better schools. I've traveled to many cities and I confidently can say that Meridian Kessler is one of the best neighborhoods in the Midwest, if not the country, given its walkability, locally owned retail and restaurant options, friendly neighbors, tree lined streets, parks, and historic homes.