Re: Need cleveland ideas
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:36 am
Chiming in on the JoCo v. Northland discussion - I enjoy the topography of some parts of the northland, like in Parkville and the rural area around Weston. That said, if we wanted to move to the deep suburbs, I would never in a million years choose the northland over JoCo. JoCo is imperfect, of course, but in addition to some great public schools it has retail and restaurant options that are better than up north. I also personally feel like JoCo's positioning on the street-grid south of the river makes things feel somewhat more connected to the city. Crossing the river, then most likely driving another 10-30 minutes up north to get anywhere, makes the northland feels like an entirely different metro to me--like "rural MO, in exurban form" in mindset and appearance--it feels like Springfield or something. The newer parts of JoCo are not exactly inspiring but there is at least a modicum of diversity (i.e. families from India, Asia, middle east), some good food options and amenities, and it feels more like a "big city" suburban area than the northland. Not to mention JoCo is a bit more "liberal" than Clay or Platte Cos. At this point NE JoCo is probably more like BKS/Waldo/Midtown in terms of voting and political leanings.
Also, I do not think there is any different mindset between someone who chooses to live in SoJoCo vs. the far-flung northland, in terms of their acceptance or hostility to the urban core. I think you encounter the same, anti-city (often racist) mindset up north as often as you do out south--and, likewise, I think you will find folks who enjoy the urban core even if they do not live there. 159th and Switzer is far from downtown, sure, but it doesn't feel any more disconnected from downtown than the tonier areas of the northland, with Briarcliff being the lone exception--and, frankly, while Briarcliff is relatively close to downtown as the crow flies, it still feels pretty disconnected since you have to drive over a bridge and railyards for 10-15 min before exiting the highway and then up a steep hill into the residential enclave. Driving to Parkville or Liberty feels like going out of town. Also, the northland itself is enormous and you go through vast swaths of rural land--or ugly blight--between the different areas.
We are still in BKS and plan to stay, but occasionally we are "tempted" by a house in PV, Fairway, Westwood Hills, or Old Leawood. Other than Old Briarcliff, I am not aware of anywhere in the Northland with relatively older, well-maintained housing stock on par with NE JoCo. If i wanted a large, newer McMansion on a cul-de-sac (which I do not), I would choose south JoCo over the northland 100 times out of 100. To me, the only "plus" of the northland is you might be closer to the airport--although it's notable that many areas of the northland are 20+ minutes to the airport.
Also, I do not think there is any different mindset between someone who chooses to live in SoJoCo vs. the far-flung northland, in terms of their acceptance or hostility to the urban core. I think you encounter the same, anti-city (often racist) mindset up north as often as you do out south--and, likewise, I think you will find folks who enjoy the urban core even if they do not live there. 159th and Switzer is far from downtown, sure, but it doesn't feel any more disconnected from downtown than the tonier areas of the northland, with Briarcliff being the lone exception--and, frankly, while Briarcliff is relatively close to downtown as the crow flies, it still feels pretty disconnected since you have to drive over a bridge and railyards for 10-15 min before exiting the highway and then up a steep hill into the residential enclave. Driving to Parkville or Liberty feels like going out of town. Also, the northland itself is enormous and you go through vast swaths of rural land--or ugly blight--between the different areas.
We are still in BKS and plan to stay, but occasionally we are "tempted" by a house in PV, Fairway, Westwood Hills, or Old Leawood. Other than Old Briarcliff, I am not aware of anywhere in the Northland with relatively older, well-maintained housing stock on par with NE JoCo. If i wanted a large, newer McMansion on a cul-de-sac (which I do not), I would choose south JoCo over the northland 100 times out of 100. To me, the only "plus" of the northland is you might be closer to the airport--although it's notable that many areas of the northland are 20+ minutes to the airport.