Moving to St. Paul Minnesota in June

Tarrant220 · 05-09-2008, 07:20 AM

Was wondering if anyone on here was from around that area at all and wouldn't mind telling me areas to avoid or to check out or even hanging out or whatever, first time I'll be living alone and in a big city so friends would be cool.

Guess I'm leaving myself open for sarcastic comments, but oh well.

TheCutlery · 05-09-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant220

Was wondering if anyone on here was from around that area at all and wouldn't mind telling me areas to avoid or to check out or even hanging out or whatever, first time I'll be living alone and in a big city so friends would be cool.

Guess I'm leaving myself open for sarcastic comments, but oh well.

It's not a big city. Nowhere near on the order of a chicago or something. Stay outta Midway. That's about all you need to know.

It's not a stressful place to live at all. It gets fucking cold here, and it gets fucking hot here, but all in all, it's not bad. Except for the occasional bridge collapse.

MrGraham · 05-09-2008, 07:42 AM

Go watch the Prairie Home Companion live!!!

That'd be the first thing I'd do

Tarrant220 · 05-09-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCutlery

It's not a big city. Nowhere near on the order of a chicago or something. Stay outta Midway. That's about all you need to know.

It's not a stressful place to live at all. It gets fucking cold here, and it gets fucking hot here, but all in all, it's not bad. Except for the occasional bridge collapse.

I currently live up in Hibbing up on the Iron Range, when you say it gets cold there I can't help but laugh.

Not sure where Midway is, I don't know a lot about the city, I'm going to be renting in like north east St. Paul, I'm told the area isn't bad, but it's semi close to one that is by people who know the area. I'm not even from this state originally, and I need to get out of the area up here because well....it sucks...and I'll be attending school down there.

Is the public transit system pretty good, I've been told it is and that I should be ok with getting around on it, but it's nice to know first hand from someone who lives there.

Cuppycake · 05-09-2008, 10:28 AM

I lived in St. Paul for 23 years before moving here to CA last summer.

Some areas of North St. Paul aren't bad, but some are. I can't comment on public transit because I never used it. Where are you going to be going to school?

Like others have said, avoid Midway area. Also avoid Frogtown and the east side if you can. St. Paul downtown is boring as can be (except for the Ordway and Xcel), Minneapolis nightlife is far better. I lived in the Highland Park area, which is really nice. Some of the better areas are Macalester-Groveland, Highland Park, Summit, some parts of Como. The west side has gotten a bit run down over the years, but it's not dangerous - just older.

Like others have said, it's a small city.

Tarrant220 · 05-09-2008, 10:52 AM

I'll be going to school over in Mendota Heights, where I'm at will be like 20minutes by bus away from school and like 10minutes from downtown St. Paul, and therefor not far from Minneapolis as well, I figured it would be a decent location to also try to find work asap upon getting down there.

I've been to the cities before, but not enough to know the areas and what they're called. Pretty much going to be trial by fire for the first month or two with learning areas and what not.

This is where I'll be at, I'm told by staying north of Phalen Blvd and east of 35E I should be ok as far as neighborhoods go. Hopefully I was told correctly.

Map of 939 Desoto St Saint Paul, MN by MapQuest

JeydaX · 05-09-2008, 11:03 AM

I lived in the Circle Pines/Lino Lakes/Lexington/Blaine area for 18 years (parents house) before moving out to Midway (pretty much the ghetto of Minnesota, still not AWFUL or anything) for school at the U last year -- by the way Midway is basically right at Snelling and University. Anywhere in north/west St. Paul is a pretty sweet place... just not Midway. I have a friend who lives on Lake Phalen, lemme tell ya. LOTS of asians over there. The place you're staying at from what I remember is a pretty decent area.

Metrotransit isn't so bad as long as you don't catch some crazy nutjobs on the 16 or anything. I can't comment on the light rail but as far as I know most people so it's pretty decent, I only used it a couple times for the Twins games and it was pretty nice.

Kindnugs · 05-09-2008, 11:11 AM

I was just there for 2 weeks. What a fucking shit hole. At least Minneapolis is close, but the only thing they have is a big mall and a nice airport.

Crime is on the rise there, and they are among the worst places to live. They are ranked up their, perhaps beating, Detroit in crime among cities.

Tarrant220 · 05-09-2008, 11:18 AM

Actually the twin cities were just voted among the safest places to live as far as big cities go in the nation, also the greenest and cleanest as well.

JeydaX · 05-09-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kindnugs

I was just there for 2 weeks. What a fucking shit hole. At least Minneapolis is close, but the only thing they have is a big mall and a nice airport.

Crime is on the rise there, and they are among the worst places to live. They are ranked up their, perhaps beating, Detroit in crime among cities.

Remove head from ass please, we have one of the highest qualities of life in the U.S.

Excellent health care and great education. We are no where NEAR Detroit in crime, dumbass. We are in the 30-40s rank (higher = worse) for violent crimes per 100,000 people.

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2007 — Infoplease.com

Kindnugs · 05-09-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant220

Actually the twin cities were just voted among the safest places to live as far as big cities go in the nation, also the greenest and cleanest as well.

When I was staying in the marriott across from the Mall of America I was watching the PBS station their. They had a 1 hour show on how the twin cities has gone to shit and had all sorts of graphs, interviews etc. to back it.

Unless that PBS show was 10 years old, I am not sure how you can say that and I saw what I saw.

Tarrant220 · 05-09-2008, 11:24 AM

I say that due to Forbes rankings and other materials I've read, as well as information released by state agencies.

And I grew up in Flint Michigan, a city with less then 80,000/90,000 people and ranked 3rd in 2007 for most dangerous cities to live in, only being beat out by St. Louis and Detroit. I've been to St. Paul enough to know that it can't come close to touching Flint.

TheCutlery · 05-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrant220

I'll be going to school over in Mendota Heights, where I'm at will be like 20minutes by bus away from school and like 10minutes from downtown St. Paul, and therefor not far from Minneapolis as well, I figured it would be a decent location to also try to find work asap upon getting down there.

I've been to the cities before, but not enough to know the areas and what they're called. Pretty much going to be trial by fire for the first month or two with learning areas and what not.

This is where I'll be at, I'm told by staying north of Phalen Blvd and east of 35E I should be ok as far as neighborhoods go. Hopefully I was told correctly.

Map of 939 Desoto St Saint Paul, MN by MapQuest

Eh, that ain't where I wouldda picked to live, but I'll be honest, I don't spend that much time over there. near Arcade is kind of a craphole, but it does depend on the exact neighborhood. If you've got friends close, then their opinion is probably better than mine.

If you're going to be going to school in Mendota heights, I'd try to get a south suburb place...Inver Grove, West Saint Paul, South Saint Paul are all closer and much better neighborhoods.

I don't think you're gonna have much luck with the bus system getting to Mendota Heights. Can't say for certain, but Phalen to Mendota ain't a real heavy traveled route. Probably gonna need a car.

And yeah, I assumed you were out from out of state. Obviously we don't need to discuss Hibbing weather in relation to here then

Quote:

When I was staying in the marriott across from the Mall of America I was watching the PBS station their. They had a 1 hour show on how the twin cities has gone to shit and had all sorts of graphs, interviews etc. to back it.

Unless that PBS show was 10 years old, I am not sure how you can say that and I saw what I saw.

Yeah, totally trust TV over people who live here. There's nothing wrong with the TC area as far as quality of life, crime and general disarray goes. You want me to make some graphs and interview some fucks? That make it more legit for ya?

JeydaX · 05-09-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kindnugs

When I was staying in the marriott across from the Mall of America I was watching the PBS station their. They had a 1 hour show on how the twin cities has gone to shit and had all sorts of graphs, interviews etc. to back it.

Unless that PBS show was 10 years old, I am not sure how you can say that and I saw what I saw.

Go get some facts, tool.

OMFG GUYS THIS ONE TIME I SAW A TV SHOW WHILE I WAS STAYING IN A HOTEL AT THIS ONE PLACE ACROSS FROM SOME TRAIN TRACKS AND THEY SAID THAT ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS ARE GETTING ALONG THEY HAD ALL THESE CRAZY GRAPHS AND CHARTS AND SHIT, IT MUST BE TRUE BECAUSE I SAW IT ONE TIME K?

Good troll, though.

@OP: You should try to find a place in Eagan, if you still can. That's closer to Mendota Heights and is a really nice area.

Kindnugs · 05-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Well from the driving around and with talking to a coworker the twin cities used to be a hot bed for technology. This being in the 90's I think I remember him saying. A ton of tech companies have left and I saw a bunch of empty buildings which used to be computer companies. Also noticing restuarants that had been burned down, but never rebuilt.

After seeing the sites and driving around, I went to 5 hospitals around the twin cities, I didn't see anything that would of told me otherwise from what I saw on that show. Perhaps the suburbs are nice and safe which the show reported, but the central population of down town areas were not that nice.

It was still cold as hell and rather ugly.

05-09-2008, 07:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tarrant220 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 434 +9 Internets	Moving to St. Paul Minnesota in June Was wondering if anyone on here was from around that area at all and wouldn't mind telling me areas to avoid or to check out or even hanging out or whatever, first time I'll be living alone and in a big city so friends would be cool. Guess I'm leaving myself open for sarcastic comments, but oh well.

05-09-2008, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cuppycake Plugged In Like Neo Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,082	I lived in St. Paul for 23 years before moving here to CA last summer. Some areas of North St. Paul aren't bad, but some are. I can't comment on public transit because I never used it. Where are you going to be going to school? Like others have said, avoid Midway area. Also avoid Frogtown and the east side if you can. St. Paul downtown is boring as can be (except for the Ordway and Xcel), Minneapolis nightlife is far better. I lived in the Highland Park area, which is really nice. Some of the better areas are Macalester-Groveland, Highland Park, Summit, some parts of Como. The west side has gotten a bit run down over the years, but it's not dangerous - just older. Like others have said, it's a small city. __________________ Metaplace - Nothing I say here represents my employer, legalblahdiddyblah.

05-09-2008, 11:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tarrant220 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 434 +9 Internets	I say that due to Forbes rankings and other materials I've read, as well as information released by state agencies. And I grew up in Flint Michigan, a city with less then 80,000/90,000 people and ranked 3rd in 2007 for most dangerous cities to live in, only being beat out by St. Louis and Detroit. I've been to St. Paul enough to know that it can't come close to touching Flint. Last edited by Tarrant220 : 05-09-2008 at 11:26 AM.

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05-09-2008, 07:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
MrGraham Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 922 +1 Internets	Go watch the Prairie Home Companion live!!! That'd be the first thing I'd do

05-09-2008, 10:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tarrant220 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 434 +9 Internets	I'll be going to school over in Mendota Heights, where I'm at will be like 20minutes by bus away from school and like 10minutes from downtown St. Paul, and therefor not far from Minneapolis as well, I figured it would be a decent location to also try to find work asap upon getting down there. I've been to the cities before, but not enough to know the areas and what they're called. Pretty much going to be trial by fire for the first month or two with learning areas and what not. This is where I'll be at, I'm told by staying north of Phalen Blvd and east of 35E I should be ok as far as neighborhoods go. Hopefully I was told correctly. Map of 939 Desoto St Saint Paul, MN by MapQuest

05-09-2008, 11:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kindnugs Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 446 -10 Internets	I was just there for 2 weeks. What a fucking shit hole. At least Minneapolis is close, but the only thing they have is a big mall and a nice airport. Crime is on the rise there, and they are among the worst places to live. They are ranked up their, perhaps beating, Detroit in crime among cities.

05-09-2008, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tarrant220 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 434 +9 Internets	Actually the twin cities were just voted among the safest places to live as far as big cities go in the nation, also the greenest and cleanest as well.

05-09-2008, 11:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
Kindnugs Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 446 -10 Internets	Well from the driving around and with talking to a coworker the twin cities used to be a hot bed for technology. This being in the 90's I think I remember him saying. A ton of tech companies have left and I saw a bunch of empty buildings which used to be computer companies. Also noticing restuarants that had been burned down, but never rebuilt. After seeing the sites and driving around, I went to 5 hospitals around the twin cities, I didn't see anything that would of told me otherwise from what I saw on that show. Perhaps the suburbs are nice and safe which the show reported, but the central population of down town areas were not that nice. It was still cold as hell and rather ugly.