West St. Paul (Mendota Heights, St. Anthony, Lexington: houses, neighborhoods, school districts) - Minneapolis - St. Paul - Minnesota (MN) -Twin Cities - City-Data Forum

Kndrik · 01-18-2007, 12:24 PM

I was wondering about some your impressions about the West St. Paul neighborhood. We visited St. Paul last year, but we didn't venture into that part of town. We mainly checked out the Cathedral Hill and Summit area. My wife and I now realize that we may not be able to afford that area, so we are looking elsewhere. We are both working professionals and will have a 6 month old by the time we get there. School districts aren't a big concern, being that we will probably be moving again in 3 to 4 years. Is West St. Paul safe and family friendly? Does it have a more suburban or more urban feel? Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ben Around · 01-18-2007, 12:50 PM

Hi Kndrik--"west" is a confusing term here in St. Paul. First, there is the suburb called West St. Paul. It is due south of St. Paul. It's a typical blue collar 50s type suburb. The there's the West Side neighborhood of the city. It is due south of downtown (but on the "west" side of the Mississippi River) and north of West St. Paul. It's very old and very diverse. There are some huge old restored homes up on the bluffs, some old early-20th century neighborhoods with tree lined streets, and also some public housing. It contains the Twin Cities' oldest Mexican neighborhood (great restaurants), and lots of lower income blacks and SE Asians have moved in in recent years. Then there's the West End neighborhood, which is a very old part off town. Formerly blue collar Euro ethnic, it it changing to lower income, non-white in places. Then there are the western (true west, occording to the compass) neighborhoods of the city: Highland, Mac-Groveland, Merriam Park and St. Anthony Park. Their housing ranges from small 50s houses to elegant mansions, to Leave-It-To Beaver neighborhoods. These are arguably the most stable neighborhoods in the city, but also the most expensive, with the exception of Cathedral Hill, Crocus Hill and Summit Ave.

Kndrik · 01-18-2007, 01:00 PM

I was asking about the suburb West St. Paul. However I wouldn't mind answers to my questions concerning the West Side neighborhood of St. Paul. You're right, it is confusing.

golfgal · 01-18-2007, 04:20 PM

I graduated from Sibley High School and most of West St. Paul is NOT blue collar, in fact it is a pretty expensive suburb, many million + homes. The area north of say Butler Ave is pretty blue collar but still nice, smaller bungalow style homes. My BIL lives on the West Side of St. Paul in one of those huge refurbished homes and I don't like visiting them, their neighborhood isn't safe. They are looking to move to the Summit area and we still can't figure out why the live where they do???

Anyway, the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights schools are very good and it would be a community where you could stay for a long time if you like. The location to everything is great too. If you can find something in your price range in West St. Paul, south of Butler Ave, you are going to be fine.

Ben Around · 01-19-2007, 12:05 PM

[quote=golfgal;286941]I graduated from Sibley High School and most of West St. Paul is NOT blue collar, in fact it is a pretty expensive suburb, many million + homes.

Expensive suburb, million dollar homes in West St. Paul?? golfgal, are we talking abouit the same place? He asked about WSP, not Mendota Heights or IGH! Maybe you consider those suburbs part of WSP?

golfgal · 01-19-2007, 12:17 PM

[quote=Ben Around;289150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfgal

I graduated from Sibley High School and most of West St. Paul is NOT blue collar, in fact it is a pretty expensive suburb, many million + homes.

Expensive suburb, million dollar homes in West St. Paul?? golfgal, are we talking abouit the same place? He asked about WSP, not Mendota Heights or IGH! Maybe you consider those suburbs part of WSP?

West St. Paul starts at Hwy 110 and encompasses much of the area around Sibley High School south to about Lexington. Mendota Heights starts on the other side of 110. Sibley High School is a West St. Paul address as are the $500,000+ homes all around. Like I said, the West St. Paul you are thinking of is from Butler Ave to Annapolis Ave where the west side of St. Paul starts. Drive around that area and you will see what I am talking about. Anything south of about Butler and the homes are going to start in the $300,000 range for the most part.

Ben Around · 01-21-2007, 01:20 PM

"West St. Paul starts at Hwy 110 and encompasses much of the area around Sibley High School south to about Lexington. Mendota Heights starts on the other side of 110. Sibley High School is a West St. Paul address as are the $500,000+ homes all around. Like I said, the West St. Paul you are thinking of is from Butler Ave to Annapolis Ave where the west side of St. Paul starts. Drive around that area and you will see what I am talking about. Anything south of about Butler and the homes are going to start in the $300,000 range for the most part."

OK, I see where you are coming from, golfgal. I thought Kndrk was asking about West St. Paul proper, not the general area. WSP proper is bounded by Delaware, Annapolis, Hwy 52 and Hwy 110. The area you are talking about encompasses much of Mendota Hights and all of Lilydale (2 upscale suburbs). Take a look at the West St Paul page at city-data.com and compare average home value, % with bachelors degree, income etc. with Mendota Heights and Lilydale. Quite a contrast!

As I said, when people use the term "West" in conjunction with St. Paul, it gets really confusing!

golfgal · 01-21-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Around

"West St. Paul starts at Hwy 110 and encompasses much of the area around Sibley High School south to about Lexington. Mendota Heights starts on the other side of 110. Sibley High School is a West St. Paul address as are the $500,000+ homes all around. Like I said, the West St. Paul you are thinking of is from Butler Ave to Annapolis Ave where the west side of St. Paul starts. Drive around that area and you will see what I am talking about. Anything south of about Butler and the homes are going to start in the $300,000 range for the most part."

OK, I see where you are coming from, golfgal. I thought Kndrk was asking about West St. Paul proper, not the general area. WSP proper is bounded by Delaware, Annapolis, Hwy 52 and Hwy 110. The area you are talking about encompasses much of Mendota Hights and all of Lilydale (2 upscale suburbs). Take a look at the West St Paul page at city-data.com and compare average home value, % with bachelors degree, income etc. with Mendota Heights and Lilydale. Quite a contrast!

As I said, when people use the term "West" in conjunction with St. Paul, it gets really confusing!

Like I said, drive around the area. I lived there for several years, I know what I am talking about. Dodd is the western boundry, not Delaware. Lillydale is along Highway 13. A small portion of Mendota (not Mendota Heights is also there) but Mendota Heights proper is on the other side of Hwy 110. Go look at the city limit signs. Again, the area around Sibley High School, along Deleware/Dodd/Marie is VERY upscale part of West St. Paul, some of these areas are more middle to upper middle class areas as well but the real blue collar neighborhoods are from about Butler to Annapolis.

Ben Around · 01-22-2007, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfgal

Like I said, drive around the area. I lived there for several years, I know what I am talking about. Dodd is the western boundry, not Delaware. Lillydale is along Highway 13. A small portion of Mendota (not Mendota Heights is also there) but Mendota Heights proper is on the other side of Hwy 110. Go look at the city limit signs. Again, the area around Sibley High School, along Deleware/Dodd/Marie is VERY upscale part of West St. Paul, some of these areas are more middle to upper middle class areas as well but the real blue collar neighborhoods are from about Butler to Annapolis.

Could the boundaries have changed or is this website wrong? Go to the main page of this site, click on MN, click on West St. Paul, then scroll down to the street map and click on "draw city boundaries". That's where I got my info. I live acrooss the river, but used to come to WSP a lot before we got a Menards in the city (and I don't eat as much White Castle as I used to!) The boundaries at city-data.com define what I always thought of as WSP.

golfgal · 01-22-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Around

Could the boundaries have changed or is this website wrong? Go to the main page of this site, click on MN, click on West St. Paul, then scroll down to the street map and click on "draw city boundaries". That's where I got my info. I live acrooss the river, but used to come to WSP a lot before we got a Menards in the city (and I don't eat as much White Castle as I used to!) The boundaries at city-data.com define what I always thought of as WSP.

No, those boundaries are about right. 149 is Dodd Road and where it turns and runs parallel to 110 is Annapolis. Like I said, drive around there, most of the houses south of Butler Ave are not blue collar type houses. Drive along Delaware Ave and there are several million+ dollar homes just on Delaware alone. Drive behind Menards sometime and look at some of the houses over in that area off Marie, etc. Yes, the houses right near Robert street aren't all that nice but go a couple blocks away and you will be amazed at what you see.