Southmoreland Park area (apartment complexes, violent crime, hotels)

[magicmirror2]

Hi all. I am looking for a job in KCMO and am exploring places to live. My budget is relatively flexible, and it looks like there are some really nice apartment complexes in the Plaza area. However, I keep reading conflicting advice about safety in this area, and I can't pin down information as it looks like there is a distinction b/w West Plaza, Plaza, etc.

I found some apartments near Southmoreland Park around Cleaver and Warwick. I was curious to learn more about this area. My two priorities are safety and ease of parking. Regarding safety, what is this area like? Regarding parking, I imagine that the Plaza attracts a lot of people, so would getting a consistent parking spot on a side street be feasible?

Thanks.

[westender]

The Plaza is reasonably safe for a large city shopping district. There is some property crime, and there have been episodes of random violent crime, especially during summer weekend evenings. The Plaza does have its own security team in addition to the KCMO police department. You'll also be a few blocks away from the heart of the Plaza, so less likely to witness any troubles.

Parking should be discussed between you and your building management. Street parking can be tricky in this area as there is a large museum and a busy school (KCAI) nearby, meaning a lot of demand for street parking.

[WiseOwlSaysHoot]

The Plaza is safe. It is a big destination area, and whenever you have that many people coming through an area for shopping, jobs, hotels. living, etc.. you are bound to have some crime happen, but I definitely wouldn't call it dangerous.

Cleaver and Warwick is a few blocks from the Plaza, so it will be a little quieter. Does the apartment you are looking at not include parking? I have known some people that have lived in a few different buildings around there and it seemed like they all included parking. If not, it still shouldn't be a big problem. Parking in KC is a breeze compared other major cities. You might not get a spot directly in front of the building, but should be able to find something within a block.