Needing suggestions for neighborhoods or suburbs (Minneapolis, Bloomington: high crime, house, safe neighborhoods)

[uptown_urbanist]

I didn't mean to imply that you were a snob; nothing in your posts suggested that you were. I apologize if I sent that impression. (I thought GG's references to Richfield's "blue-collar vibe" as being a negative came off as snobby, and I was referring to that. Perhaps she didn't mean it to come across that way and I over-reacted. I personally like that Richfield is pretty low-key; it's the kind of place where you can shake hands with the mayor at the local festivals, and where people don't judge you based on your job.)

[HughBetcha]

Fair enough, thank you for that apology....accepted and hand-shake offered. As a specific point of reference, try viewing Google Street view for 1820 24th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin. While this isn't my house, I live less than 1 block from here. My take on living here after 11 years, terrific neighbors (sometimes a bit too nosy for my liking), mostly low crime (some exceptions) but houses here are all too small and often too close to each other. Hope these types of specifics help.

[Beenhere4ever]

I've lived in the Twin Cities for 40 years. Never in Richfield. But in 40 years, I've gone through almost every part of the city. I wouldnt agree with any generalization. There are parts that are very, very nice. There are parts that verge on slummy without being a slum. So many business amenities very close. Smack up against the airport. As close to downtown Minneapolis as you can get without actually living IN Minneapolis. Seems to me that Eagan, Bloomington, and Richfield would be close contenders. Just have to take time to look at a few neighborhoods. I think if the airport is important, equal time should be given to each of these communities that surround the airport.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

I've lived in Eagan. If you end up moving there just don't expect to be in an area where you'll be able to take pleasant walks to a local coffee shop or cafe. It's a modern car-dependent suburb and as a result, it isn't walkable by any reasonable person's standards.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy

I've lived in Eagan. If you end up moving there just don't expect to be in an area where you'll be able to take pleasant walks to a local coffee shop or cafe. It's a modern car-dependent suburb and as a result, it isn't walkable by any reasonable person's standards.

[QuietBlue]

Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy

I've lived in Eagan. If you end up moving there just don't expect to be in an area where you'll be able to take pleasant walks to a local coffee shop or cafe. It's a modern car-dependent suburb and as a result, it isn't walkable by any reasonable person's standards.

Considering that I live in Eagan and I have done that, I'm going to have to take issue with your assertion. It depends where you live.

[HughBetcha]

Thanks for your input all. Tomorrow is the day that (after work) my wife and I will drive up and do our exploring on Saturday. Our list of places will include (in no particular order): Eagan, Apple Valley, Richfield, Edina, Stillwater, White Bear Lake and Roseville. As expected not every option here gives us everything on our list, but we think (from what we're read and heard) that each offers enough possible things from the list to make them worth visiting. Thanks to all for your suggestions.

[Pisces69]

Street parking is great. For one thing, street parking is convenient, and it effectively reduces the width of the road resulting in slower traffic. A lot of the suburbs prohibit street parking during the night. Since nobody parks on the streets then, cars fly down them (due to the wider effective width), and residents complain about speed. People tend to drive the geography of the road, not the speed limit. So restricting overnight parking is just dumbassery there. Oh and get this...in the suburbs if you have guests park overnight, you have to call the police and tell them that! (Otherwise the police will ticket the cars!) What a joke.

A lot of Bloomington and Richfield is pretty ugly looking. I don't know why this is the case. Only some parts have sidewalks, and they're pretty spread out anyway so it's unlikely you'll walk or use transit. You can get relatively inexpensive property there though.

Also there is misconception about the cities being noisy and all that B.S. Our neighborhood in Mpls has less traffic and noise than many suburbs I've lived in, thanks to the street grid system, yet people persist this bogus myth that Sububs = Quiet and City = Loud. We also have plenty of room for guests to park when we have parties, and no need to shuffle cars around.

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Right

Read the OP......

If Richfield is a dump as you said, then who should live there?

[uptown_urbanist]

I don't know if the OP wants to take public transportation or not, but in defense of Richfield, the public transit is actually not too bad; there's a high-frequency route that runs every 10 or 15 minutes up 66th, for example, which would actually make a really easy way to get to the airport. Some parts of Richfield have far better bus service than my current neighborhood in Minneapolis. Parts of Bloomington have decent service, too.