Kansas City Anyone?

Here's all I got on Independence & Blue Springs - generally I only run into those cities on my way to St. Louis on I-70. I haven't heard anything bad about them, housing prices seem to be reasonable, both cities seem to allow you to have a more 'country' feel if that's what you're looking for. Both school districts seem to be solid, especially when compared to KCMO but that's not really saying much. You can get to downtown KC within 20 mins (as long as traffic is good that is). If your husband is driving into the KC or heading over to the Kansas side for work, then traffic is on your side if he's traveling on I-35.  If he has to take 435/470 through the Grandview Triangle, it's a nightmare during rush hour.

Blue Springs is having some economic difficulties - the mall basically died a couple of years ago but Wal-Mart is looking to build a SuperCenter on the site, so if you like Wally World, there you go. On a sidenote, two of the gymnasts from this year's Olympic team (Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool) train in Blue Springs so it must be doing something right. Independence is a growing and thriving city, seems to be a lot of activity in the area, new developments and whatnot.

Hope this helps. Peruse the city websites, check out the newspapers. I'll ask my friends at work who I know live in the area for their thoughts. Good luck to you.

Tanisha

Thanks Tanisha. WE find out SO SOON if this is happening, and I'm getting a bit ahead of myself... but I wouldn't be myself if I didn't do that. Right now I'm leaning towards independence based solely on realtor sites there, their newspaper, and the city's official website (which is brilliant)... it looks really good. Plus more options for apartments while we're looking for a hosue etc.... the research continues of course!

I just read postings concerning someone moving to Kansas City.  Is this Missouri, or Kansas?  There is a big difference between the 2 cities, trust me!  Lived here and in surrounding areas since 1976, and the Missouri side has always been known as the "dirty side" of the 2 cities, which are definitely not, nor have they ever been, considered one city divided.  Also, it sounds as though some of the mentioned places are just a hop and skip away from either city, which is not true!  It is a distance of almost 4.5 hrs. from KC to St. Louis!  The "loop" is confusing, to say the least.
Tornado season has been exceptionally bad the last 2 yrs., with much in property loss, and several lives lost.  To whoever is considering the move, I am not trying to discourage you in any way, but believe me, it is not what you have been reading so far!

Hiya!

We may be moving to the Kansas City area.
His job would be in Kansas City, Kansas.
We'd like to live in  Missouri however, basically half way (or at least close to half way) between his job and my brother in Warrensburg.
They say they are a good hour away from Kansas City, Missouri...
so we're looking right now at Independence Missouri.
Seems like it is about 30-45 minutes from his job, and about 45-60 minutes from my brother...

So what do you think about Independence? And Blue Springs?

It is important for me to be in Missouri close to my brother (but not so far away from his job that is is a pain to drive) because his job would have him away several nights a week and I'll want my brother & his wife easily accessible (with a kid in tow).

Any comments or advice or opinions about the area would be really helpful!  

Independence is the birthplace of Harry Truman and Ginger Rogers.

Sorry, that's the extent of my knowledge there.  I'm sure I've been there, but can't recall too much.  IMO, though, you really can't go wrong with Missouri.  Some places are better than others, but it's such a great place to live.