Areas for a Young Couple (St. Louis, Chesterfield: transplants, apartment, lease)

[alaurasaur]

My boyfriend and I are (hopefully) moving to St. Louis in late March/early April. We're gonna be working in Chesterfield, but I think we'd rather live in the city proper. We're looking to rent either a house or apartment (~$750-$800/month tops). We're 24 and 26, and would like a laid-back walkable neighborhood that's got a bit of character to it. Places like Central West End, Tower Grove South, and Clayton are the names that keep popping up. Are there any other places we should be checking into? Also, what's the commute generally like going from the city out to Chesterfield?

Thanks in advance!

[STLviaMSP]

Clayton is pretty sleepy after work hours, but has its charms. If you want the full neighborhood experience, Tower Grove S/E, Benton Park, LaFayette Square, Shaw, FPSE or Cherokee Street (both iffy in the past but dramatically and quickly improving), CWE, DT, Dogtown, Wydown Skinker, Skinker-Debaliviere, U-City near the Loop are all solid picks. It's pretty hard to totally miss anywhere in the central corridor. Can't speak to how they relate to Chesterfield, except there will be a commute to a place that is the polar opposite of city living. If the opportunity comes up, find a way to work inside 170.

[zach_33]

Sounds like a fun adventure, but the commute could get old. With that in mind, I would probably focus my search on just a few walkable areas not terribly far from I-64 for easy access to Chesterfield. Forest Park Southeast mentioned above would be a quick trip to 64 via Kingshighway; There are pockets of blight, but the restaurants and shops along Manchester Rd are undeniably improving. The nicest part is just north of Manchester, between Kingshighway and Tower Grove. Further west along Manchester is Maplewood, which is an inner ring suburb, but it has a nice downtown (also along Manchester) between Roseland Terrace and Big Bend. 12 years ago when I was being shown that area, I thought it looked kinda trashy, but the downtown is one of the best in the metro now, especially for eclectic people your age. You might also look at Skinker Debaliviere - the area right around the Forest Park Metrolink stop seems to be a mecca for young professional transplants, as well as working class people who are there because it is a transportation hub - not as many shopping amenities unless you go 1.5 east to the CWE, but still a great, walkable area. And then University City near the Loop, also I concur would be good.

Given what's gonna be available for $800 to rent, I'd try to rent something as close to the corner of Sutton and Manchester as possible, in the heart of downtown Maplewood. That'd just be my personal preference given the commuting and dollar constraints.

[alaurasaur]

Awesome, thanks so much for the information, guys. We're gonna be heading up there in a month or so to check it out a little more, and this will help so much!

[silibran]

I like Maplewood too. But it is a long trek to Chesterfield from there. A little closer would be Kirkwood which has a small town atmosphere. I doubt there is a lot of night life, but there are some neighborhood restaurants and the downtown is walkable. I like Kirkwood, myself. Not sure if it is affordable for you though.

[Fishtacos]

If desperate, get a short term lease close to work to get settled. The strategy for this is to use your weekends to explore where you'd like to live while having an easy low stress commute at first.

Considering your ages and preferred locations, you would not want to be in Chesterfield for long in terms of living.

You will have somewhat of a commute regardless of where you wind up.

The above poster mentioned Kirkwood, which is an inner rung suburb, family, Mayberry, etc...but it does have a walkable downtown area with several bars and restaurants. It does get a population of young adults living there as well as bar hopping there.

The family crowd is early, but will crowd the restaurants until no later than 7pm weeknights. It becomes a young adult area later on after that. This area is in no way ideal, but is better in comparison to surrounding suburban alternatives. So Kirkwood does have your charm, laid back, walkable, etc...boxes checked.

If it were me, live close to work in a short term lease and use your free time to explore where you like. Your original ideas were on the right track.

[Brickmama]

Take a look at downtown. Maybe be more difficult to find a place within your price range but its a great place to live and a straight shot to Chesterfield. Look at some of the lofts located in century old factories along Washington Ave and surrounding Old Post Office square. A lot of bars, restaurants, grocery store, and sporting events.