Input on north metro suburbs (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park: houses, neighborhoods, good schools)

[Justabitoff]

My husband and I are looking to make the move to the North Metro and wanted some input from folks who live there. We are trying to decide between a few different cities, we see houses in our price ranges in all of them. Based on commutes, we're looking at northern Plymouth, Maple Grove, Champlin, northern Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids. Maybe Blaine (although that's a smidge too far for where I work). Just want to get a sense of what people like / don't like about living in these areas, anything we might want to consider about areas, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, etc.

TIA!

[Citykid3785]

To me, Plymouth and Maple Grove are head and shoulders above the rest. Coon rapids is mildly ghetto, and while northern BP is actually nice, it's still associated with southern BP, which is considered one of the black sheep suburbs of the metro. Champlin is nice, but small and quiet, not really known for much. Blaine is more blue collar, and highway 65 is kind of an annoying eyesore.

Maple Grove and Plymouth are similar, upper middle class suburbs with good schools and lots of retail. They just have a nicer feel in my opininon.

Do consider that highways 94, 10, 65, and 169 all get "up north" cabin traffic on summer weekends, which can make commuting a hassle vs some other sectors of the metro.

[Justabitoff]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

To me, Plymouth and Maple Grove are head and shoulders above the rest. Coon rapids is mildly ghetto, and while northern BP is actually nice, it's still associated with southern BP, which is considered one of the black sheep suburbs of the metro. Champlin is nice, but small and quiet, not really known for much. Blaine is more blue collar, and highway 65 is kind of an annoying eyesore.

Maple Grove and Plymouth are similar, upper middle class suburbs with good schools and lots of retail. They just have a nicer feel in my opininon.

Do consider that highways 94, 10, 65, and 169 all get "up north" cabin traffic on summer weekends, which can make commuting a hassle vs some other sectors of the metro.

And which one do you live in? I was asking for opinions of people who live in the areas. Not just people who visit or have driven through (which I have done and is easy to do). But that doesn’t give me a sense of what it’s like to actually live in there.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by Justabitoff

And which one do you live in? I was asking for opinions of people who live in the areas. Not just people who visit or have driven through (which I have done and is easy to do). But that doesn’t give me a sense of what it’s like to actually live in there.

Nevermind. I change my recommendation to coon rapids or Brooklyn Park......

[Justabitoff]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Nevermind. I change my recommendation to coon rapids or Brooklyn Park......

Wait, so I call you out on not actually reading my post and you get mad at me? Huh. How about that.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by Justabitoff

Wait, so I call you out on not actually reading my post and you get mad at me? Huh. How about that.

Well, I think that's the point. Sensing you might not get too many responses from people who actually live in those cities, I DID read your post and thought I might try and be helpful and supplement others responses with my own opinion. And rather than be thankful, you called me out and seemed upset that I would even try to help. Maybe your response wasn't intended to read rudely, but that's sure how it came across.

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Well, I think that's the point. Sensing you might not get too many responses from people who actually live in those cities, I DID read your post and thought I might try and be helpful and supplement others responses with my own opinion. And rather than be thankful, you called me out and seemed upset that I would even try to help. Maybe your response wasn't intended to read rudely, but that's sure how it came across.

Seemed plenty rude to me, too. Maybe they need to go out a little further......say, New York for instance.... with that kind of attitude.

Let 'em fend for themselves.

[Googol]

I think the OP created this thread ... then put on her/his 'boxing-gloves' in readiness for the responses

[Justabitoff]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Well, I think that's the point. Sensing you might not get too many responses from people who actually live in those cities, I DID read your post and thought I might try and be helpful and supplement others responses with my own opinion. And rather than be thankful, you called me out and seemed upset that I would even try to help. Maybe your response wasn't intended to read rudely, but that's sure how it came across.

I've lived in Minneapolis for 4 years and I have been on this forum for a little bit longer than that, and so I have read all the observations about various towns but when I searched I could not find many posts from people who lived in the north metro, mostly observations from others who live elsewhere, and so I thought I might inquire directly. I have been in and around the north metro for work, shopping, and to visit family (who also happen to live in "ghetto" Coon Rapids). But I've never lived there so I wanted the locals' perspective. I tried to prevent myself from receiving input from people who are basically just like me, only seeing the area from a distance and reiterating generalities that I've read about. The thing is, I agree with absolutely everything you said! It's exactly the same conclusions I came to, but I don't live there. I wanted to hear from people who do which is why i phrased my question the way I did.

I was not looking for a fight, I was not looking for an argument, and perhaps I should have ignored the fact you don't live in the north metro. But I tried to be really explicit in my request and it was disappointing and frustrating that my very first response was from someone who lives, according to your profile, in the south metro. It might have read as rudeness, and I certainly apologize if that was unintentionally conveyed.

[bfrabel]

OK. I live in Maple Grove, kind of near the Elm Creek Park. I like to tell people that I live in the "old" part of town on the bad side of the train tracks. My house was built in 1980, which actually is pretty old for Maple Grove (which I think is humorous compared to other cities that are filled with 100 year old homes).

I like it here. It's a quiet neighborhood with decent schools, and it's nice to have lots of options to get home from "the cities". I'm close to Hwys 610/252, 169, and I-94. In many suburbs you might only have one main route to get to and from your home, and if it's backed up it can become a major headache.

You also asked for stuff that people don't like, so I would say for me I don't completely understand the main part of Maple Grove where all of the stores and stuff are (Arbor Lakes). It is nice to be near all of that stuff, but I've never understood how all of those restaurants and stores and that outdoor lifestyle mall thing can survive. It can be confusing to drive around in that area. Lots of ways to get into parking lots, but only one way to get out can be frustrating if you don't know how it works. Personally I try to stay out of that area for the most part.

Well, you asked for opinions from someone who lives in one of your cities, so there you go.