Moving to MN and working Robbinsdale (Brooklyn Park, Plymouth: crime, townhouses, neighborhood)

[Libby111]

Hello Twin Cities!

My cousin has accepted a job in Robbinsdale and will move from Denver. She’s a single mom with two kids and her number one priority is to feel safe. (She narrowly escaped a car jacking last year.) She would like to minimize her drive time and is moving with limited funds. She’s been looking at houses (or townhouses) online and found a few in Crystal and New Hope. Prices are pretty low there. I live in western WI near the Twin Cities, so I’m not very familiar with the northern side. People I know say to avoid the following (based on her criteria): Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope and Fridley. I’ve suggested the following: Blaine, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Ramsey, Anoka, Circle Pines, Roseville, Spring Lake Park, Mounds View. She’s concerned I’m pointing her in a direction that means terrible commutes. Please share any insight about safety and commute times. I’m sorry if I offended anyone by implying their community is unsafe.

[MnMomma]

There are some very nice parts of New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Fridley, and the Brooklyns.

Sounds like your cousin is an adult and can judge a neighborhood and smart to know that a commute isn't worth it.

[dnkw]

The major highway in that area, 394, is bumper to bumper. I would suggest staying very close to her employer so she can avoid the need to use that artery.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by MnMomma

There are some very nice parts of New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Fridley, and the Brooklyns.

Agreed. Plymouth and Golden Valley are also nice and are nearby but probably more expensive. Robbinsdale is north of 394. Anywhere in the NW suburbs and not too far north of 694 or west of 494 will be a reasonable commute. Ramsey seems too far to me, while others like Mounds View and Circle Pines are too far east.

[wamer27]

I’d say Plymouth or Maple Grove if she can afford it. Northern Brooklyn Park is nice, I know a multi millionaire who is part owner of a giant local law firm who lives there.

[Kebinminn]

I've lived in Robbinsdale for over 20 years and have raised my family here. I don't feel unsafe at all. My only crime complaint about Robbinsdale is that if I forget to lock my car someone will rifle through it. It gets old. If she has a garage that will take care of that. Robbinsdale is filled with families and the parks are a hot spot. I love the neighborhood by the lake. It is a great place for a kid to grow up. My bigger concern for her in Robbinsdale is I don't love the district and sent my family to another.

In New Hope I like the area off south of Bass Lake and west of Winnetka. The area West of 100 and north of 36th and south of Bass Lake is good too.

Golden Valley is great. The area by Theo Wirth is lovely. She could live in the Meadowbrook school attendance area and get into Hopkins schools which, IMO, are better, and still have a great commute going north on 100 especially if she lived on the east side of that attendance area. That would be my top suggestion if schools are an issue. If not Robbinsdale north in the area of Crystal Lake and those areas of Crystal and New Hope that I mentioned above would be excellent places to start.

I agree with avoiding a 394 commute but she could come in on highway 9 from Crystal, New Hope or Plymouth. Highway 55 and north on 100 wouldn't be bad. Any of those would suck during winter though because all commutes suck during winter. Your suggestions overall do give her bad commutes.

[Libby111]

This great feedback and much appreciated.