Where in the Kansas City area can I find movies, restaurants, groceries, banks, etc. within walking distance?We're moving from the downtown Springfield area which, while much smaller than KC, contains all the above and more. (Springfield Cardinals, Theater Productions, Park Concerts, etc.) It is truly like having large-city amenities right in the heart of town. Our family in KC is what's most important to us... |
Country Club Plaza area or Westport area.
I think I'd look at downtown Independence area. Housing is actually pretty cheap (both rentals and owned houses), has everything you describe, very historic area (President Truman, a lot of the major trails, like santa fe trail, oregan trail, california trail, passed through the area, but be sure your looking around the square area. There are a couple mass retail (malls, etc) that are all fairly close too (not walking distance but who wants to live close to a mall).
River Market is probably OK.
Plaza is also good, but rents in the area are some of the highest in the city as well as retail prices, but doesn't have the snooty feel of Zona Rosa.
Zona Rosa might fit the bill but tends to be snooty, overpaid people and that area has one of the highest sales tax rates in the state (just short of 12%).
Westport was mentioned but I'd be against that, its an area thats heavily laid out with bars and other drinking establishments, is so busy on Friday and Saturday nights that you can't get around, and has a large history of problems, mainly related to drunks beating each other up. The area makes the news at least two or three times a week.
You might want to look up North of the river in the Zona Rosa area, good schools and things are fairly close. Also, Brookside is a great area, the school district is not that great, but there are plenty of private schools in the area. Prairie Village is a great suburb on the Kansas side, GREAT schools, bike friendly, you can certainly find houses near (within walking distance) shopping and schools, and it is a few minutes drive time from downtown.
If schools aren't a concern for you, around the Plaza and Westport area are great places to live and many amenities within walking distance. I loved living in the Westport/Plaza area but when we had kids, we realized the school district is just not that great, which is really unfortunate for the kids who live there, and the people with families who want to.
Good Luck!
KC is a driving town, but I think that the Westport area should fill most of your requests. Then again you could move to Lawrence, KS and commute to the city.College towns tend to be more friendly towards pedestrians.
Westport is pretty good, it does have most of that stuff, but your best option is the River Market. Its the best walking neighborhood in the city.
