Young couple moving from Michigan to Minneapolis-St. Paul (Maplewood: apartments, rental)

[Sulli2485]

Hello everyone, my girlfriend and I are moving to the MSP area in the coming months for work. We are late 20's and while she is originally from Michigan I am from NYC. Was hoping for some suggestions on communities and places that we should focus our search efforts on. She will be working in Maplewood and I will be working in downtown St. Paul. We are looking for an area that has a nice, diverse social scene (think lots of great restaurants, bars, and shops) and is a convenient drive to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ideally we are looking to rent and would prefer modern rental communities or buildings. Would also like an area that has other young couples and families. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciates. Thanks in advance!

[xandrex]

You could look for places in Lowertown in St. Paul. You could walk to work and your girlfriend would have an easy commute. The area has a lot of people moving it. It's up-and-coming with a new transit hub (the renovated Union Depot), has a farmer's market, will be a terminus for the Green Line light rail (at the Union Depot, linking DT St. Paul to DT Minneapolis), the future Saints ballpark, bars and restaurants, etc.

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by xandrex

You could look for places in Lowertown in St. Paul. You could walk to work and your girlfriend would have an easy commute. The area has a lot of people moving it. It's up-and-coming with a new transit hub (the renovated Union Depot), has a farmer's market, will be a terminus for the Green Line light rail (at the Union Depot, linking DT St. Paul to DT Minneapolis), the future Saints ballpark, bars and restaurants, etc.

I would second Lowertown. There are a lot of areas in Minneapolis with more nightlife and bustle (Uptown, Warehouse District, etc.) but you will be a lot farther from your work. You're not going to have as many entertainment and dining options in LT, but its improving rapidly and in the next year or two you'll be able to hop on the light rail to DT Minneapolis. It's also cheaper, at least for now.

[Mplsite]

If you need to be close to work then I'll 2nd, err, 3rd Lowertown. If I were to live in St Paul that would be the place. Keep in mind there is a frequent direct express bus route between the downtowns of St Paul and Mpls. In that case you could live carless and carfree in North Loop or Loring Park where you'd be closer to much, much more aside from work. And in just over a year there will be regular light rail service between the two.

[ManBearPig1]

4th Lowertown. Your girlfriend will want to be on the eastern side of the metro if she's commuting to Maplewood and I agree with what was said above.

[Sulli2485]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Any thoughts/advice on Summit University area or some of the aprrments down by the river?

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by Sulli2485

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Any thoughts/advice on Summit University area or some of the aprrments down by the river?

I think you're referring to the upper landing area (Riverview Apts?). I almost mentioned those previously as you mentioned wanting a modern building.

The area down along the river is separated from the rest of the uppertown neighborhood by a bluff, but there is plenty of dining and shopping up along W. 7th St. It would still be walking or biking distance from downtown, and Shepard/Warner Rd. lets you bypass a lot of downtown freeway traffic going to Maplewood. Lots of green space and walking/biking trails along the river. There is a greater springtime flood risk being so close to the river but I don't think the area by the apartments is a problem. Others may know about where flooding is most likely.

Summit-U is a big area, but I think you're referring to the Cathedral Hill and Selby-Dale areas along Selby Ave between the St. Paul Cathedral and Dale St.. This area has a lot of dining and some shops as well. It's an old victorian neighborhood, but there are a few newer apts. and condos mixed in along Selby. It's a little further from downtown, but not much - especially the end nearer the cathedral.