Looking for a Minneapolis suburb <Special circumstances> (St. Paul: for sale, daycares)

[mn55110]

Minneapolis and St. Paul have one of the largest GLBT populations in the United States. I've read and heard, but cannot verify, that as a percentage of total population, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have a higher percentage of their total population whom are GLBT than San Francisco.

Much of the GLBT population have hisorically lived in south Minneapolis near Hennepin Ave and Lake Street also near Loring Park at the edge of downtown. You'll now find GLBT throughout South Minneapolis, the Southwestern Suburbs and the trendy neighborhoods in St. Paul.

Golden Valley is widely known as being the suburb with the highest GLBT population in the Twin Cities, in fact a few years ago the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper did a very nice feature article on the number of GLBT couples purchasing homes and moving to Golden Valley which happens to also have one of the highest Jewish populations as well. I know that after the May ,2011 tornado in north Minneapolis, city leaders were trying to duplicate the success in adjacent Golden Valley by attempting to recruit GLBT couples to purchase abandoned homes on Minneapolis' north side fix them up and move in. The Minneapolis Jewish Community has spread out from St. Louis Park and Golden Valley west towards Minnetonka Hopkins and Plymouth. One of the Jewish congregations is seriously looking at building a Synogogue in Maple Grove due to the growing population

All the heavily Jewish neighborhoods in both the inner cities along with all the Jewish suburbs are also very GLBT friendly. The Minneapolis Jewish Community Center is along Cedar Lake Road in the suburb of St. Louis Park

The St. Paul Jewish Community does not get the attention the Minneapolis Jewish community receives because the city of St. Paul is smaller. St. Paul's Jewish Community is centered in the Southwest corner of the city, in the Highland Park neighborhood along Ford Parkway. Temple Aaron on West River Parkway, Cecil's Deli on Cleveland Avenue south and the St. Paul Jewish Community Center on St. Paul Avenue are some of the many pillar's of St. Paul's Jewish Community which has now expanded south across the Mississippi River into the the suburbs of Mendota Heights and Eagan.

I know Mendota Heights has some Synogogue's and Temple's however I do not believe Eagan has any yet even though the Jewish population has expanded out to Eagan and to a lesser extent Apple Valley.

Both the Minneapolis J.C.C. and the St. Paul J.C.C. will have a wealth of resources for you. Best of Luck

[NewOrleanianLA1]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I would look for something on the St. Paul side of the cities. That is a long commute. You could probably find something for around the same price with a 10 minute commute.

I have done my share of commuting 20 miles from northern suburb all the way to Downtown New Orleans in 30 minutes.

Why would it be any different in the Twin Cities if I commute from Hopkins to Downtown St. Paul? Is it because of more heavy traffic congestion all year long with weather conditions during winters?

How much does winter really slow down commute? How long does it take to go one mile with bad road conditions? Just curious.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by NewOrleanianLA1

I have done my share of commuting 20 miles from northern suburb all the way to Downtown New Orleans in 30 .

Why would it be any different in the Twin Cities if I commute from Hopkins to Downtown St. Paul? Is it because of more heavy traffic congestion all year long with weather conditions during winters?

How much does winter really slow down commute? How long does it take to go one mile with bad road conditions? Just curious.

Winter weather generally isn't the issue ... the issue is the fact that you're going through Minneapolis (one of the main cities), which might result in a slowdown. Of course, there are several different routes to choose from including 169 to 494 and back up, or 169 to 395 to 94, or whatever.

That said, I remember one blizzard when it took me over three hours to get from NWA Building C at 34th and 494 by the airport to my parents' house near Highway 7 and 494. Roughly 18 miles. Good times.

That only happened once, tho. And the trip during the Halloween Blizzard wasn't so bad.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by NewOrleanianLA1

I have done my share of commuting 20 miles from northern suburb all the way to Downtown New Orleans in 30 minutes.

Why would it be any different in the Twin Cities if I commute from Hopkins to Downtown St. Paul? Is it because of more heavy traffic congestion all year long with weather conditions during winters?

How much does winter really slow down commute? How long does it take to go one mile with bad road conditions? Just curious.

Honestly, winter isn't the issue as much as road construction. You might run into a handful of days in the winter where your commute will be extra long because of snow but somewhere along your route there WILL be road construction all summer long. It's just unnecessary to have a commute like that if you are moving to the area.

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by NewOrleanianLA1

I have done my share of commuting 20 miles from northern suburb all the way to Downtown New Orleans in 30 minutes.

Why would it be any different in the Twin Cities if I commute from Hopkins to Downtown St. Paul?

It wouldn't be much different but honestly there's nothing in Hopkins that makes is so great that you should live 20 miles away from work. If you can find a reform temple in the eastern suburbs I think all of your other needs can be filled by a home closer to work.

[NewOrleanianLA1]

Originally Posted by pete6032

It wouldn't be much different but honestly there's nothing in Hopkins that makes is so great that you should live 20 miles away from work. If you can find a reform temple in the eastern suburbs I think all of your other needs can be filled by a home closer to work.

Thanks for your suggestion and others above!

It turns out that I found affordable rentals in both Roseville and Woodbury. They are much closer to Downtown St. Paul.

I have heard of the saying about Minnesota, "There are two seasons: Winter and Road Construction." LOL

I almost forgot about that so I'm glad I remember. Hopkins is definitely out of the picture!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by NewOrleanianLA1

Thanks for your suggestion and others above!

It turns out that I found affordable rentals in both Roseville and Woodbury. They are much closer to Downtown St. Paul.

I have heard of the saying about Minnesota, "There are two seasons: Winter and Road Construction." LOL

I almost forgot about that so I'm glad I remember. Hopkins is definitely out of the picture!

I think you will be much happier with a 10 minute commute . Woodbury and Roseville are better options for getting into Downtown St. Paul. Eagan would be another option to consider if you can find an affordable rental there. Burnsville also has several apartments right by their transit station with express bus service into St. Paul and Minneapolis so another option to look into.

[NewOrleanianLA1]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I think you will be much happier with a 10 minute commute . Woodbury and Roseville are better options for getting into Downtown St. Paul. Eagan would be another option to consider if you can find an affordable rental there. Burnsville also has several apartments right by their transit station with express bus service into St. Paul and Minneapolis so another option to look into.

Thanks for suggesting Burnsville!

I am pretty much set on my list of St. Paul suburbs below:

White Bear Lake
Vadnais Heights
Little Canada
Roseville
Woodbury
Mendota Heights
Eagan

All of them are no more than 12 miles away from Downtown St. Paul so my commute will be doable.

Any comment about any of the suburbs?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by NewOrleanianLA1

Thanks for suggesting Burnsville!

I am pretty much set on my list of St. Paul suburbs below:

White Bear Lake
Vadnais Heights
Little Canada
Roseville
Woodbury
Mendota Heights
Eagan

All of them are no more than 12 miles away from Downtown St. Paul so my commute will be doable.

Any comment about any of the suburbs?

You won't have any issues in any of those suburbs. Mendota Heights has a pretty sizable Jewish population so that might be nice, however, it's probably your most expensive option too. Rentals will probably be easiest to find in Eagan and Woodbury/Oakdale area.

[grngrl]

Think all those areas are great that have been suggested for the posters question. But I've got to wonder about the "good schools" issue for her? Been looking on School Digger and Great Schools, and Neighborhood Scout. And I am having a hard time finding "good" public schools in the more gay/lesbian family friendly neighborhoods. It's like you cant get them together?(some really low scores in fact) Or they are not real safe. Any ideas? Do you have to send your child to a private school if you live in the GoldenValley, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, Richfield, St Paul etc areas??.. I come up with Edina, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Farmington, Minnetonka, Woodbury, Cottage Grove as some of the best for schools and safe. But those dont have many lgbt families either. Got solutions for safe, gay friendly, good schools suburbs?