Kalamazoo (Flint, Portage, Forest Hills: apartment complexes, to rent, house)

Tricia819 · 07-15-2008, 02:59 PM

My husband is up for a promotion, but it entails a move to Kalamazoo. Currently we're living in Flint, so it definately can't be any worse, but can anyone give me some insider info on what Kalamazoo is like?

cardwellave · 07-15-2008, 03:21 PM

A lot nicer than Flint! There are lots of new opportunities in Kzoo. The west side of the state looks a lot brighter than the east side right now. Kalamazoo is much nicer the Flint, safer all around, and only a short drive from beautiful Lake Michigan. I would take it.

Bydand · 07-15-2008, 06:06 PM

Second the remark the K-Zoo is better than Flint.

wagonproject · 07-15-2008, 10:51 PM

Well being only 20, I really haven't been to a lot of places in Michigan. I like Kalamazoo for what it is, though I am trying to move just to live in a more fast pace city. It has a lot to offer and is certainly a nice place to live. Any certain place your looking at in Kalamazoo or surrounding? Where does your husband work?

suydam · 07-16-2008, 05:32 AM

I attended college in Kalamazoo and then got a job for about 8 years after that.
I loved living there.

What specifically are you looking to hear about the area?

Tricia819 · 07-16-2008, 08:08 AM

The position he's up for is a store manager for Verizon in Portage. I definately want to live in Kalamazoo, with 3 kids I cannot afford to pass up the Kalamazoo promise. I'm also a teacher and I like being close to WMU (trying to get my master's degree). Although the whole market in Michigan sucks, at least Kalamazoo is building new schools, so maybe I'll have a better chance of finding a job. We're probably going to have to rent for a little while until we find a house. What are the best areas for families? The apartment complexes that fit our needs are: Woodstone, Candlewyck, Canturbury, Campus Court (anyone know why this place is so cheap? Is it for student's only? It doesn't say.), Forest Hills, and Centre Street.

mofromcheboygankalamazoo · 07-16-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricia819

The position he's up for is a store manager for Verizon in Portage. I definately want to live in Kalamazoo, with 3 kids I cannot afford to pass up the Kalamazoo promise. I'm also a teacher and I like being close to WMU (trying to get my master's degree). Although the whole market in Michigan sucks, at least Kalamazoo is building new schools, so maybe I'll have a better chance of finding a job. We're probably going to have to rent for a little while until we find a house. What are the best areas for families? The apartment complexes that fit our needs are: Woodstone, Candlewyck, Canturbury, Campus Court (anyone know why this place is so cheap? Is it for student's only? It doesn't say.), Forest Hills, and Centre Street.

i lived at forest hills for two years and it was very very nice-many different families that lived there-it was affordable...my second year there when i was a "super senior" at western i had annoying sophomore students who lived next door that partied too much but a few phone calls later and they stopped (phone calls to the cops and to the landlords-i know you think i am mean!)...forest hills and candlewyck are pretty close to each other-you are not far from Arcadia Elementary school which i tutored at for four years-it is a GREAT elementary school-i just looked at their website and pretty much every teacher has been there forever!!
I also would recommend looking into the magnet schools as they are fantastic!!!!

alwaystraveling25 · 07-16-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricia819

The position he's up for is a store manager for Verizon in Portage. I definately want to live in Kalamazoo, with 3 kids I cannot afford to pass up the Kalamazoo promise. I'm also a teacher and I like being close to WMU (trying to get my master's degree). Although the whole market in Michigan sucks, at least Kalamazoo is building new schools, so maybe I'll have a better chance of finding a job. We're probably going to have to rent for a little while until we find a house. What are the best areas for families? The apartment complexes that fit our needs are: Woodstone, Candlewyck, Canturbury, Campus Court (anyone know why this place is so cheap? Is it for student's only? It doesn't say.), Forest Hills, and Centre Street.

I lived in Candlewyck for a year while an undegrad at WMU, and it was a total dump. We really got what we paid for.

First of all, when I moved in, the entire aparrtment (each room) had a distinct odor of cat urine and reeked of cigarette smoke. There were red marks and several cigarette burns in one of the bedrooms, and none of this was replaced.

The apartments themselves are old and dated and have NO updated amenities. The fridge and dishwasher were old as well, and when the dishwasher was leaking and went out on us, it took several calls to get maintainence to even come out.

If your budget is EXTREMELY tight and you have to live there, it is not a scary place to live, but it is very dumpy considering the amount of apartments that are available in the kalamazoo/portage area.

wagonproject · 07-16-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaystraveling25

I lived in Candlewyck for a year while an undegrad at WMU, and it was a total dump. We really got what we paid for.

First of all, when I moved in, the entire aparrtment (each room) had a distinct odor of cat urine and reeked of cigarette smoke. There were red marks and several cigarette burns in one of the bedrooms, and none of this was replaced.

The apartments themselves are old and dated and have NO updated amenities. The fridge and dishwasher were old as well, and when the dishwasher was leaking and went out on us, it took several calls to get maintainence to even come out.

If your budget is EXTREMELY tight and you have to live there, it is not a scary place to live, but it is very dumpy considering the amount of apartments that are available in the kalamazoo/portage area.

Well I have to kind of disagree with you. My sister whos in college got an apartment there at the beginning of this year. Yes they are not brand new by any means, they are old But they are under new management who are really nice/helpful. She said they get new carpet in each apartment when someone new moves in. You can paint walls as along as you put them in primer when you move out. She also has a fireplace. I would say its a nice place (but again stuff is older). But yes I do agree there are many more possibilities/options out there.

Canterbury House Apartments are very nice. I have a friend who lives in one. I am not sure how management is though. But the complex is close to WMU and by West Main (where theres a lot of resturants, etc). Also a short drive to portage. It is also fairly new.

If the Campus Court one is called Campus Court at Knollwood then yes its going to be full of college kids, its within walking distance to WMU and surround by more college apartments/housing. It just went through a huge renovation.

Centre Street apartments are in Portage (or at least the ones I know of) so Im not sure if that works with the promise.

Forest Hills is close to WMU, but I don't know much about it (but I see someone posted who lived there)

The others I don't know about.

If you want more pictures or anything, let me know. Im always out, so its not a big deal.

Tricia819 · 07-16-2008, 01:30 PM

Yes, I was referring to Campus Court at Knollwood. I don't think you're mean for calling the cops/landlord I would have done the same thing. I would expect being so close to the campus you would have kids partying. However, is it a big problem? Does Kzoo have a noise ordanance?

It's been awhile since I've shopped for apartments. I wish we could move straight into a house since rent is just as much (if not more) than a house payment.