Advantages to living in the city?

[MissCrabette]

I didn't want to take up any more of Jenn/Shakti's time by asking her a million questions about living in KC so I thought I'd post here since this is more of a general question anyway.

What are the advantages of living in the city rather than just outside in the suburbs? I grew up living in the "city" if you can call it that, but I was never more than 30 minutes of walking away from anything I needed. Now I live in the suburbs and I like it a lot. I value the sense of security I get from living here. Now I don't want to automatically dismiss living in the city and continue living a certain way just because I'm familiar with it.

I know lots of folks talk about being close to entertainment, shopping, restaurants, things like that. OK, sounds good, no? So I decided to take a look at a list of things taking place in KC right now (http://www.kcactive.com/happenings.html) and map them. It turns out that most things would be at least 3 miles away from a particular apartment complex. Now maybe I'm lazy, but I don't see myself walking 3 miles to various events all the time. Museums are nice and within walking distance, but do people really go to museums every single day? I could just as easily drive there on the weekends. As for shopping, we used to shop more or less every day in Romania where we had stores up and down the street (And everywhere, really. You can't turn around without running into a convenience store.). Here? We shop once a week and we need a car for that. Lastly, restaurants are nice and all, but we try to eat at home as much as possible.

The one advantage I see to it is not necessarily a result of city living itself as it is just of proximity to the hospital. I'd get to keep the car and save on gas and wear and tear. But at what cost? Is it worth my peace of mind? Is it worth paying more for a one bedroom apartment in the city than for a two bedroom apartment in the suburbs? Is a 20-25 minute commute all that bad? I guess I'm used to it by now.

As an amusing aside, I called one of the apartment complexes yesterday and the girl on the phone was justifying their higher prices by calling the place "luxury" and listing amenities such as washer and dryer (OK, I'll give them that), dishwasher, and garbage disposal. Really? Dishwashers and garbage disposals are now luxury amenities? Sure, I lived without them on Saba, but I'd like to think they're pretty much standard around here, especially in a large city. Do I sound spoiled?

Anyway, what am I missing? What would I be enjoying by living in the city? Am I just having a knee-jerk reaction and dismissing the city altogether? I'd like to have an open mind, but I'd like to get all the benefits of the city plus the safety of the suburbs.

[Flynn]

I think the main reason we lived where we did (city suburb 5 miles or less from where DH trained) was how little time DH had out of the hospital in training.

We didn't want him to spend it on the highway in traffic getting to the burbs.

Had we lived in the burbs during training, his driving time per day would have gone up in some cases by hours, not minutes.


I loved living in the city other than the housing costs and living in a cute but tiny house (lack of space).

Just my two cents.

Cristina -

I haven't minded answering your questions at all.

I've found Kansas to be a bit different than other places I've lived. EVERYTHING is spread out. EVERYTHING. The complex you're looking at in the suburbs is actually incredibly close to other stuff. I am 8 miles from my nearest Target, 6 from Wal-Mart, and 1.5 from the nearest grocery store (which opened just over a year ago).

If you go with the "city" locations you're looking at, you will be closer to museums, shopping (high end and funky), and interesting restaurants. But there are the safety issues, traffic issues (really screwy traffic patterns up there -- I'm not entirely sure A's commute would be significantly less), PARKING .... oh wow .... check in to the parking. In the suburbs you will have almost all chain restaurants (so we just drive to interesting ones, but a lot of people out here won't / don't bother). Crime is lower, yes, but still occurs. A false sense of security won't help anyone.

[SuzySunshine]

In KC I wouldn't live in the city. KC, MO and KS are VERY patchy for safe places that I would want to be when DH wasn't home or coming home late.

[ladymoreta]

EVERYTHING is spread out. EVERYTHING.

This was also true for living in downtown Dallas. The convenience is not for errands and "everyday" entertainment. What I loved about living in the middle of the city was the commute. Even if I had a long way to drive to work, I was going the opposite way from the majority of drivers, so it wasn't as stressful. And DH's commute was almost nonexistent. About 5 minutes drive (although I insisted he drive to school/work because it wasn't a safe neighborhood). It was also nice because, since everything was so spread out, almost everywhere took the same amount of time to drive to, so planning was easy.

[MissCrabette]

No, I know you didn't mind. It's just that the more I learn, the more questions I have. Plus there's this city vs. suburbs thing that I wanted to get some input on.

I know what you mean about a false sense of security, but I get the feeling that different crimes happen in the city as opposed to the suburbs. I heard (from you, the girl I was telling you about, apartment reviews) of people being held up at gunpoint in the city. I could be wrong, but I don't think I came across that kind of thing in the burbs. Yeah, they have robberies, people break into cars and steal things. I could do without my possessions as I'll have insurance. Not sure how I'd react to being held up.

The city apartment I was considering has a common garage and private garages (for a fee, of course). He'd be walking to the hospital, as it's even a shorter walk than from the cheap place by KCAI and none of the shady park business. But I must say the price tag is somewhat hard to swallow when I could get a HUGE two bedroom apartment ($925-$950 for 1338 sq. ft.) at the place you drove by for LESS than a one bedroom in the city ($1005 for a one bedroom with 863 sq. ft.).

I'd be home alone a lot (now with taking classes online and later working from home), so the city kind of scares me a bit and I don't see any benefit to it other than the really short "commute".

Frankly, I wouldn't walk TO that hospital from anywhere other than THE plaza. The actual Plaza, where I was shopping. Not an apartment that is close enough to extend to the "Plaza" neighborhood. The way Cheri described it is right. "Safe" turns to "Dangerous" in a blink of an eye (or a few blocks) which is silly in itself, b/c the criminals have feet, too.

[MissCrabette]

See, I'm more of the school of thought that, like you said, criminals have feet. If you wouldn't walk to the hospital from 2 blocks NW, I wouldn't feel comfortable walking to it from the Plaza proper either. You still end up in the same place. I'd have to agree that neighborhoods do change from block to block, so that's what I'm most concerned about. I mean it doesn't LOOK bad, but what do I know? I've never been there. I'm only relying on the opinions of a few people and the reviews I've read online.

I can't imagine that my friend would put herself and her baby in danger, but the proximity to the hospital probably plays a big role in their decision to live close by. I'm also surprised because she's very frugal and I don't see her spending that kind of money without good reason. :shrug: That and Jenn's preference for the city life made me question myself.

[oceanchild]

I really like living in the city. We are in old suburbs now, and I definitely like it less.

I may have a skewed sense of safety (in fact, I almost certainly do), but in 4 years in the middle of LA and 4 years in the middle of DC, I can count on one hand the number of times I've felt unsafe. And the only time I've ever had my car broken into was in the driveway in my parents' suburban master-planned community.

I like commuting by public transit or bicycle. I don't like driving, and I don't like parking. I like knowing that if I go out drinking with my friends, I don't have to worry about driving home safely. (This is a seriously annoying part of happy hour here - either DH or I has to be able to drive home!)

But it's a personal preference thing. If you like suburban living, I've no reason to talk you out of it.

[alison]

Cristina -- I think all of your concerns are legitimate ones. I think it depends greatly on the city/town in question. Seattle is comprised of neighborhoods, with a community feel to them. The downtown core is dead, because people primarily stick to their own hood or go to another hood's restaurant. By car. Public transportation is all but useless there.

Chicago is slightly different, because locals actually go downtown to shop or hang out. And people walk more. And public transportation isn't useless.

I prefer living in a big city for a multitude of reasons. As for the crime angle, you might get mugged in the city, but I honestly think the big stuff happens in the burbs.

I feel less secure where I am right now, because of the lack of sidewalks and people actually walking. I cannot tell you how many times I've almost gotten hit by a car and/or honked at, because I'm trying to walk across a street on a green light, and it prevents someone from making a turn.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you and what your needs are! Isn't that what it's all about in the end?

[MissCrabette]

Julia, I worked on K Street in DC and lived in Arlington for part of that time and I can't say I ever felt unsafe. I walked and took the metro everywhere. I stuck to the NW area as much as I could, but there were always people everywhere. I get the feeling that Kansas City doesn't have quite the same vibe as DC. Of course, I could be wrong.

[DCJenn]

I think if you're young and don't have kids, there are likely to be a lot more 'things' to do within a city.

Here's why I have always loved living in the city- and remember I'm talking about a generally 'safe' neighborhood in DC and freaking Mayberry in the middle of San Antonio- I know my neighbors far better in the city than I ever did in the 'burbs. In the 'burbs people drive, pull in their two car garages and never exit their homes again that day. We can and do walk every where. My neighborhood is 'changing' in that it's rare but we still occasionally hear gunshots. I don't know that I would walk around my street at 3am but I don't know that anyone needs to be out walking at 3am in the first place.

We're foodies and our 'hobby' is trying out different restaurants and also being regulars at our favorites. That's our fun on a Friday night- meet all of the neighbors at The Friendly Spot where the kids can run around and we can chat over beer and food. In DC it was hanging out at Catina Marina with the neighbors and all of our dogs.

I never go to museums. I should, they're all right there- but I don't. I do like to go see live music and shows though and I can walk.

We have always lived close enough to the various hospitals that Rick can bike to work. He bikes through some neighborhoods where the ladies of the evening are returning from work when he's going in at 5am. He says he's not been threatened or scared. In fact, when he was hit by the car it was by a nice church-going lady pulling out of the church parking lot in front of the ER at the Air Force Hospital.

I go to the gym downtown most of the time and I can walk there. (same was true in DC) I take the dogs for walks throughout the city- and honestly, the scariest thing about that is that San Antonio has a ridiculously huge stray animal problem and we've had some mystery dogs approach. Of course, dogs happen in the 'burbs too!

We don't have a downtown grocery store in SA (we did in DC) and that's kind of a pain but we do have corner stores that have the milk/bread/egg/cheese/beer categories. I just plan out my list and go to the one that is in the near-downtown. It works out because the gym I belong to has a facility right there, too.

I can walk to the Central library or take the trolley bus, I can walk on the riverwalk all the way to the northern part of the park system where the zoo is, and I can walk to the movie theater and all of the downtown restaurants.

If I would get off my lazy arse, I could ride my bike to work at either location because the one that is the furthest away is only 4.5 miles.

The #1 reason why I like living downtown is that there a larger variety of people because there's a huge variety of housing stock. There are mansions and efficiency condos on the same block. I find cities to ben energizing in the same way that many people find them draining.

As for safety in the suburbs, the crime is there, it just wears a white collar. They're not heroin addicts, they're oxycontin addicts. They're not robbing a liquor store, they're embezzeling from their company.

Jenn

[Vanquisher]

I think Jenn's city living experience is a complete anomaly. I have never seen a downtown neighborhood quite like hers.

I don't know what would be best for you, and I don't know anything about KC. I hope you end up loving wherever you live though!

[Pollyanna]

I think Jenn's city living experience is a complete anomaly. I have never seen a downtown neighborhood quite like hers.

I don't know what would be best for you, and I don't know anything about KC. I hope you end up loving wherever you live though!

Ditto.

For what it's worth, I'd vote for the 'burbs.

[oceanchild]

Julia, I worked on K Street in DC and lived in Arlington for part of that time and I can't say I ever felt unsafe. I walked and took the metro everywhere. I stuck to the NW area as much as I could, but there were always people everywhere. I get the feeling that Kansas City doesn't have quite the same vibe as DC. Of course, I could be wrong.

Yeah, I've never been to Kansas City. In DC, we lived in NW, but just barely. We were right by the convention center.