Are there many families in downtonw KC? (Kansas City, Union: homes, neighborhood)

[urbanmamakc]

My husband and I have 2 children (ages 1 & 3). We are thinking about moving to downtown KC in a year or so. I know the school district isn't good, but we're talking charters and private schools.

Our plan is live in a loft. My husband can walk to work and the kids and I will be close to everything. I love urban living, I love downtown, I love the thought of it. But are there any families there? Is it all young professionals?

[OneKC]

No, there's not many families. Most of the housing is either too small, or not priced well enough for a family to live in unfortunately. If you want to be close to downtown with a family, I'd recommend living in Hyde Park, or across the river in north Kansas City. Columbus Park is much more affordable, although its a bit grittier, but I think its an up and coming neighborhood.

[TabulaRasa]

So few people with families opt to stay in KCMO for the long-term if they have school aged kids because of the school situation, unfortunately. I do have a few acquaintances who chose to raise kids in the city and make enough for private schooling, but many more of the people I know with kids end up going the suburban route, ultimately. When I worked downtown, I rarely saw families there on the average day.

[northbound74]

Don't know how many families live there, but I say go for it since you're willing. Be a pioneer. It's morphed into a full-fledged neighborhood once again, and not a bad one at that.

[Okey Dokie]

Call me suburban, but where are these kids going to play?

[urbanmamakc]

West Terrace Park is the first place that comes to mind. We can always get in the car and drive to Loose Park also.

[TabulaRasa]

There are parks around City Market as well; I've gone to open air movie nights in them.

[northbound74]

North Kansas City has some really nice parks as well.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by Okey Dokie

Call me suburban, but where are these kids going to play?

There are kids that grow up all around the world in cities and turn out just fine not being exposed to suburbia...or if you want to stick with the US, look at the number of kids that grow up and are successful coming from NYC.

Side note on schools. Downtown Des Moines has a charter school that is very highly regarded. So much so, that it requires a person to put their child on the waiting list the minute they are born (to assure a spot when they turn school-age). Does KC possibly have something like this? Des Moines public schools in general are less regarded than the suburbs (which causes some problems with "flight"), but this charter school as been an extremely popular option. It is highly popular with those in the downtown workforce that have school age children (whether or not they live downtown or nearby). BTW...not many families live downtown DM for the same reasons most cities (even small one's like DM) struggle with this option -- affordable housing.

Here's a link on the downtown school (for some reason, you have to scroll a bit to find the story) : http://www.livingdowntowndesmoines.c...wn-des-moines/


Bottom-line -- is it possible KC has a nearby charter school(s) that maybe getting lost in the shuffle of this discussion? Often times I find that people on these forums don't have children, so they're not always aware of issues (like schools) that ARE a big deciding factor for those of us with kids. I hate to see people miss out on the urban experience if that is what they truly desire. That said, kids aren't guinea pigs" to be thrown into sub-par schools in the HOPES to make a difference. You really don't get a "do over" with kids.

If DM has something like this to offer, I have to believe KC does as well

[famusdarlin]

I do know of a few families who live downtown that send their children to Academie Lafayette. If I was to live downtown with my children I would look at Union Hill. I don't know if you consider that downtown, but many of the homes have yards, you are close to Crown Center, a park off Gillham, and all that downtown has to offer. I am often down that way right before rush hour and the traffic is not bad at all.