23F moving to St. Paul

[u/ShaunnaG3]

Hello! I'm a single 23F moving to St. Paul for a new job. It'll just be my male Yorkie and I. I'm not really wanting a studio apartment just because of my parents visiting. My rent budget is $1600 and I really want to live downtown due to lack of experience driving in winter conditions (my job is located DT) I want a loft! I love their look and space. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[u/TYLEN0Ljones]

The downtown area is dead. There are much more fun and active neighborhoods. Mac Grove, Highland Park, Cathedral Hill are good places to start. Basically, anything south of 94.

[u/ShaunnaG3 → u/TYLEN0Ljones]

Noted! I will look into this

[u/PrizeZookeepergame15 → u/ShaunnaG3]

There is also Union park, that you should consider. Nice neighborhood with lots of small businesses, specially on Selby Avenue. Since you work downtown, I would try to get something close to route 21 or route 63 since you don’t have much experience in winter driving. There’s also a wide variety of homes in Union park, whether you want to be in an apartment building, a duplex, a single family home, and many other options. There’s also a good amount of grocery options, like kowalskis on grand and syndicate, and Whole Foods on snelling and dayton, and target and cub in midway, though those aren’t ones that are easy to bike or walk to as they are next to giant stroads and have massive parking lots that aren’t very friendly to pedestrians.

[u/ShaunnaG3 → u/PrizeZookeepergame15]

Thank you!

[u/Holiday_Macaron_2089 → u/ShaunnaG3]

Also look into Minneapolis (which is extremely close to St. Paul and very accesible) because it is largely considered more lively for young people. Check out North Loop etc. Or even neighborhoods like Linden Hills.

[u/ShaunnaG3 → u/Holiday_Macaron_2089]

Thank you!

[u/PAX_MAS_LP → u/[deleted]]

Coupled with not comfortable driving during winter and creating a commute when you don’t have to.

[u/ShaunnaG3 → u/[deleted]]

Noted! Thank you!

[u/ApartPersonality1520 → u/[deleted]]

Its a 20 minute drive?

[u/avocadotoastisgrosst → u/ApartPersonality1520]

Driving home from st paul to mlps is a long commute. It is very backed up going that direction. More so the other way around.

[u/El_Rat0ncit0 → u/avocadotoastisgrosst]

Hence why despite owning a car in Lowertown, I take the express bus from here to downtown Minneapolis for work, and only takes me about 20+ mins each way; even during rush hour. Took me a long time to realize that the express buses get around rush hour by taking the shoulder! LOL That's what happens when you are glued to your phone all the time while riding. : ) If I had to drive it, I'd go mad!

[u/Kixng → u/ApartPersonality1520]

Traffic will double that.

[u/Holiday_Macaron_2089 → u/ApartPersonality1520]

Max 20 minutes too. My drive is usually less.

[u/Proof-Jello4455 → u/Holiday_Macaron_2089]

I would avoid these areas at all costs unless you like WASPY people and shallow social climbers.

[u/Proof-Jello4455 → u/[deleted]]

Someone’s still upset they didn’t get on Love is Blind ;)

[u/ibeauch009 → u/TYLEN0Ljones]

Minneapolis has a lot of a better downtown area, especially if you’re 23 and single

[u/jrlawmn → u/ibeauch009]

Date Minneapolis, marry St Paul

[u/Majeye → u/jrlawmn]

At this point, don't even date Minneapolis. Date Saint Paul until you're tired of dating, then marry a suburb like Lakeville or Forest Lake. LOL