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Old 11-17-2012, 06:02 AM
 
Location: Elgin, SC
240 posts, read 342,831 times
Reputation: 74

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My husband is considering a transfer to a new plant for his company. He works for Mars so the new plant is in Topeka but there is also a plant in Kansas City where a transfer could also be possible. I am wanting to know if anyone knows what area the Topeka plant is in? With this info can you suggest places to live that are within a 20- 30 min commute for him to work but will also allow us to be in close proximity to shopping, recreation and family friendly entertainment. I also want GOOD schools since we have 3 children (9,7,3). My boys play baseball so that is a big thing for us. My daughter is just beginning dance. I would love to be close to parks also. It would be great to be closer to KC. For some background on us we live in Columbia, SC and have been here for 7 years now. I am from Ca and hubby is from Charleston, SC. I must say I don't love Columbia as it's not as family friendly as people believe and very much still separated. Any help is greatly appreciated. This will be our last move and we will raise our family where we go.
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Old 11-17-2012, 11:55 AM
 
Location: Boilermaker Territory
26,399 posts, read 46,333,932 times
Reputation: 19509
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccoutofsc View Post
My husband is considering a transfer to a new plant for his company. He works for Mars so the new plant is in Topeka but there is also a plant in Kansas City where a transfer could also be possible. I am wanting to know if anyone knows what area the Topeka plant is in? With this info can you suggest places to live that are within a 20- 30 min commute for him to work but will also allow us to be in close proximity to shopping, recreation and family friendly entertainment. I also want GOOD schools since we have 3 children (9,7,3). My boys play baseball so that is a big thing for us. My daughter is just beginning dance. I would love to be close to parks also. It would be great to be closer to KC. For some background on us we live in Columbia, SC and have been here for 7 years now. I am from Ca and hubby is from Charleston, SC. I must say I don't love Columbia as it's not as family friendly as people believe and very much still separated. Any help is greatly appreciated. This will be our last move and we will raise our family where we go.
Look at the west side of Lawrence (Free State High School) area. The schools there are excellent and Lawrence is home to the University of Kansas. Education is emphasized in the community. The west side is more suburban in character and is on the end of town that is further from the university so few college kids in that area. The houses might cost a bit more in Lawrence than Topeka but you do get what you pay for.
Drive time is 20 minutes to Topeka via a toll road or 30 minutes on the back roads.
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Old 11-17-2012, 12:04 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC area
11,108 posts, read 23,757,360 times
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Topeka kind of sucks, but if you want to stay within 30 minutes, you can't really live in KC. Everything in Topeka is within 30 minutes as it's not a very big city. Having said that, the nicer, parts of Topeka are the west side. That's where most of the newer suburban growth is and I'm sure along with that would be the better schools and higher income demographics.

I don't know where the plant is in KC, but KC is a major metro and commute times will vary depending on where the plant is. Most heavy industry like that is in the Fairfax district of KCK or the east bottoms of KCMO, but it could also be in any of the light industrial warehouse districts that are all over the metro.

KC would give you far more suburban areas to choose from in both MO and KS. If the plant in KC is near the central industrial districts then I would look at the Northland (Clay and Platte County), very nice suburban areas within 15-20 minutes commutes. If it's in south KCMO or Lenexa or something then Johnson County or Lee's Summit would be the best option. If it's in the east bottoms than you might look at Liberty or Blue Springs.

I would try for KC vs Topeka. So much more to do, nicer and more comprehensive suburbs etc. If your kids are into baseball, they will be in KC all the time anyway for tournaments. Metro KC is full of very high quality little league facilities and leagues.
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Old 11-17-2012, 12:40 PM
 
Location: NW Arkansas
1,201 posts, read 1,919,723 times
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If you don't mind the slightly higher cost of living, a more "liberal" atmosphere and lots of college students, Lawrence is a pretty nice place to live and raise a family. It has low crime, but plenty of shopping and things to do plus good schools. Nice parks and recreation too.

The commute to Topeka is really easy, even if you drive the back road. I drove that commute for a year. It's scenic and not stressful at all. Also, if you live in Lawrence, you're just a short trip to KC for recreation, shopping, health care or whatever. But you won't have to deal with the traffic and hustle of KC on a daily basis. The best of both worlds, imho.
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Old 11-17-2012, 01:56 PM
 
Location: Kansas City North
6,801 posts, read 11,448,371 times
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Some Googling revealed that the Topeka plant will be "south of Forbes Field, across from Heartland Park" and the Mars operation in Kansas City is actually a Nutro Dog Food Plant located at 1315 N. Chouteau in the East Bottoms.

I agree with the western part of Lawrence as a good choice. The commute to Topeka is not bad, I did it for over 2 years (Highway 40).
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Old 11-17-2012, 05:42 PM
 
Location: Boilermaker Territory
26,399 posts, read 46,333,932 times
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Lawrence has great schools and that is what makes it a more desirable place to live in. Many people commute to Topeka or KC metro and live in Lawrence.
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Old 11-18-2012, 08:31 AM
Status: "108 N/A" (set 29 days ago)
 
12,909 posts, read 13,586,976 times
Reputation: 9629
There is also Wabaunsee County, Auburn and Burlingame. They have become bedroom communities to Topeka. Some of the Home prices in Wabaunsee have been rising . The schools would be quite a bit better than in Topeka. Auburn is ranked in around 25 and I would think the other are in the top 3rd. Most of the growth in Topeka is near Wannamaker Road to the west it is a road that runs from north and south to 40 and 335.
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Old 11-20-2012, 11:23 AM
 
Location: Elgin, SC
240 posts, read 342,831 times
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Thank you all for your suggestion. It seems that everyone says Lawrence but is that the only place you would suggest. I would like to have a couple of places to choose from.
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Old 11-20-2012, 11:25 AM
 
Location: Elgin, SC
240 posts, read 342,831 times
Reputation: 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by Okey Dokie View Post
Some Googling revealed that the Topeka plant will be "south of Forbes Field, across from Heartland Park" and the Mars operation in Kansas City is actually a Nutro Dog Food Plant located at 1315 N. Chouteau in the East Bottoms.

I agree with the western part of Lawrence as a good choice. The commute to Topeka is not bad, I did it for over 2 years (Highway 40).
Yes the plant in KC is a Nutro plant and since he already works on the dog food side it's also an option. We are trying to decide between the two and checking our options between the two places.
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Old 11-20-2012, 01:14 PM
Status: "108 N/A" (set 29 days ago)
 
12,909 posts, read 13,586,976 times
Reputation: 9629
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccoutofsc View Post
Thank you all for your suggestion. It seems that everyone says Lawrence but is that the only place you would suggest. I would like to have a couple of places to choose from.
Personally I don't care for Lawrence, My kids all went to school or lived there and they said its only a cool place for small town Kansas kids. (I concur) They couldn't (or can't) wait to leave. They would rather live in LA, New York or Chicago and be around some real diversity and liberals. I won't put your self through any more commuting aggravation than its worth. I would find a nice neighborhood and school in Topeka and you can visit Lawrence or Kansas city on your free time or every day if you please.
schooldigger.com is a website I would use to look for the best schools in the city, then look at the neighborhoods around those schools.
Topeka does have its share of crime but Lawrence is known for being the place were riff raff from KC and Topeka meet up.

Last edited by thriftylefty; 11-20-2012 at 01:25 PM..
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