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Chaska? Yah You Bet!
Best Places to Live: Top 100 CNNMoney.com: For this year's list we focused on smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. # 8 Chaska
66 Reader Comments
Also looks like Eagen made the list at #17, Apple Valley at #24, Lakeville at #26, Eden Prairie at #40, Maple Grove at #41, Burnsville at #43 and Blaine at #93.
not going to RTFA, but if Plymouth is #1 I'm guessing the criteria included homogenization of beige housing stock, ratio of cul-de-sacs to residents, and strip malls per square mile.
I will go to Chaska!
sick
That article is from 2007. Here's the 2008 list:
Uh, "things to do?" In either Chaska or Plymouth?
watch tv, take your kids to soccer practice, sit in traffic running errands
If you live in Chaska or Plymouth and you want something to do, I think it entails driving to Minneapolis...
not going to RTFA, but if Plymouth is #1 I'm guessing the criteria included homogenization of beige housing stock, ratio of cul-de-sacs to residents, and strip malls per square mile
Actually part of the criteria was that a certain number of minorities i.e. diversity was considered. If the city did not have a quota or a certain number of minorities it was not considered. Thus, Places like Boulder Colorado ect were not included. Yes the suburbs can be less than exiting. For example I do not have to chain my grill down anymore so shitheads do not steal it out of my back yard. Oh and I have not gotten my car broken into since I move. Oh and when I am at the gas station I never look around wondering if someone is going to rob it while I am buying gas. Besides going to a bar in mpls do you really go out and play the "I am so Urbain" and part of the arts scene or do you go to a bar and play I am so cool. which is fine I like bars but I have played the mpls thing and it is over rated and quite exaggerated by the local media. I will be the first to agree that the burbs are not the end all be all either but give me a break you live in mpls a small city that has all of the problems of a very large metro. Keep pretending if it makes you feel any better. Detroit is what mpls eventually will be.
Uh, "things to do?" In either Chaska or Plymouth?
I was thinking the exact same thing...
Oh and when I am at the gas station I never look around wondering if someone is going to rob it while I am buying gas.
Huh? Where were you going for gas?
Detroit is what mpls eventually will be.
Well, we already have a moderately famous white rapper, but I think that's where the similarity ends. Nice try though.
Oh yeah, Chaska. I interviewed for a job there once. I got lost and ended up being late, which is very very bad, except that at the moment I knew I was going to be late I also knew I really didn't want to work out there. So it was okay.
I think they had one of those cute small town main street areas, though. So there's your thing to do in Chaska.
Detroit is not what Minneapolis will become, unless in the next couple of years we build up a complete economic infrastructure predicated on one industry, that industry begins a slow and painful collapse, we build a bunch of freeways out to the suburbs so everyone leaves, leaving swaths of urban prairie down Washington Avenue, then we invent Robocop and open a bunch of casinos downtown. And Doomtree starts dressing like homicidal clowns and rapping about locally-produced soda pop.
Kind of far-fetched.
Swandog, I live in Minneapolis and I have a very nice grill that we don't chain down, my car has never been broken into and I have never witnessed a gas station (or anywhere else for that matter) being robbed. As for what parts of urban culture I take part in...I do go to bars, but I also dine out often, go to most plays the Guthrie puts on, go to plays at other venues, go to festivals, see bands play, go to art galleries and take part in many other activities that can't be done in the suburbs.
Maybe you just lived in a crappy part of town. I can assure you, there are very nice and safe places to live in the city.
as a native Detroiter, I have never seen a more succinct and accurate portrait than Andy's. Thank you. You even managed to fit in an ICP reference. I owe you a Faygo.
What can I say? I'm down with the clown, and I'm down for life, yo.
Actually part of the criteria was that a certain number of minorities i.e. diversity was considered. If the city did not have a quota or a certain number of minorities it was not considered.
Wait, so last year Chaska had enough diversity to make it number one? Srsly? Hee! But really, Chaska?
Yes the suburbs can be less than exiting. For example I do not have to chain my grill down anymore so shitheads do not steal it out of my back yard. Oh and I have not gotten my car broken into since I move.
I've lived in North Minneapolis for 27 years, including in a less desirable neighborhood and we've never had our grill stolen or our cars broken into (and I don't park my car in a garage). Then again, perhaps it's because the people in my neighborhood aren't stupid enough to leave their valuables laying around in their car because they've been lulled with a false sense of security. I'm lookin' at you, Uptownians!
my grill has never been stolen, and it's made of platinum with diamond inlays.
Wait, so last year Chaska had enough diversity to make it number one? Srsly? Hee! But really, Chaska?
I think I read in the Strib that Chaska has a large hispanic population.
I've had my car broken into, but it was my fault for having a ten year old aftermarket CD player installed. But, considering that was the worst that happened to me after living for 3 years in Stevens, I can't hate on it that much.
Actually part of the criteria was that a certain number of minorities i.e. diversity was considered. If the city did not have a quota or a certain number of minorities it was not considered.
Actually! Plymouth's "racial diversity index" was 49.7, where "100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity." The "best places" average was 104.2.
I have always been under the impression that Plymouth is a pretty diverse suburb but I was surprised by Chaska.
Plymouth is extremely diverse. It has a Chipotle, Pancheros and Q-doba!!!
Then again, perhaps it's because the people in my neighborhood aren't stupid enough to leave their valuables laying around in their car because they've been lulled with a false sense of security. I'm lookin' at you, Uptownians!
that logic is similar to a woman who is rapped and they say it is how she is dressed that caused it. No one has a right to steal, but what ever if you think it is ok for someone to steal shit because you left it out have fun with that. I don't live where people think that way. They respect others property but I see that you don' think that is a value that should be considered important were you live. If it is left out someone else can have it, it is one big free stuff fest, your choice.
I've had my car broken into, but it was my fault for having a ten year old aftermarket CD player installed. But, considering that was the worst that happened to me after living for 3 years in Stevens, I can't hate on it that much.
I guess that is part of the big city, being a victim. Give it time. I lived in mpls for many years you will have shit happen to you.
I also am guessing that Bixby and Alie do not own a home. That if fine, but once you invest in a city your attitude will change. You can pretend it is safe all you want to but it is a false sense of security. Furthermore, It is about the money. If you live in a place that is perceived to be unsafe then the value of said location will be worth less. See north Mpls as an example.
I also am guessing that Bixby and Alie do not own a home. That if fine, but once you invest in a city your attitude will change.
WTF does that have to do with it? I've lived here for 8 years and I'm just as invested in my city as anyone else. I pay taxes, I shop, live, work, and play here. Just because I'm not chained to a mortgage for the next 30 years doesn't mean I don't care about my city. Take your elitist homeowner attitude and shove it up your ass.
Detroit is what mpls eventually will be. -- Why do people always say that? g_rote, let me get in on that Faygo action.
If Boulder got left off because it wasn't diverse enough and Maple Groove's diversity index was a whopping 37.0... I don't even know what to say.
It hardly seems fair to compare Madison to suburbs in larger metro areas.
I'm also disturbed by BMI data and the Skinniest list. What are you supposed to do with that information? Besides, the best scoring county (Marin County, CA) averaged a BMI of 24. #2 and on were 25 and above. 25 is "overweight."
I own a home in Minneapolis. Tell me, swandog, what is it I'm supposed to think?
that logic is similar to a woman who is rapped and they say it is how she is dressed that caused it
Yeah, it's terrible when a women is rapped, yo.
that logic is similar to a woman who is rapped and they say it is how she is dressed that caused it. No one has a right to steal, but what ever if you think it is ok for someone to steal shit because you left it out have fun with that.
Oh, and way to miss Bix's point entirely.
I think Plymouth is somewhere Nancy Botwin would live.
that logic is similar to a woman who is rapped and they say it is how she is dressed that caused it. No one has a right to steal, but what ever if you think it is ok for someone to steal shit because you left it out have fun with that. I don't live where people think that way. They respect others property but I see that you don' think that is a value that should be considered important were you live. If it is left out someone else can have it, it is one big free stuff fest, your choice.
Actually, the analogy is a woman who was walking alone down a dark alley while listening to music instead of a well-lit street, where she was aware of her surroundings and then got raped. No, she was not "asking for it" when she got raped and in no way is being raped "her fault", but the fact of the matter is that she might have been able to avoid being a victim had she been more aware of their surroundings. So, yes, I do think that the people who do the stealing and breaking into cars need to stop but we all could lessen the chance of not being victims of crime by not leaving shit in our cars.As for the rest of that paragraph, I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about.
I also am guessing that Bixby and Alie do not own a home. That if fine, but once you invest in a city your attitude will change. You can pretend it is safe all you want to but it is a false sense of security. Furthermore, It is about the money. If you live in a place that is perceived to be unsafe then the value of said location will be worth less. See north Mpls as an example.
My entire immediate family has lived in North Minneapolis since the 1960s and haven't had their home/car broken into. Um, yeah, we own the home in North Minneapolis. So...yeah...I'm not sure what your point is there.
And that sometimes Swandog begins his day with some of Nancy Botwin's product for all of the sense he makes.
Bought a place in the city, too. The houses have character in our neighborhood.
I actually find the city more like the small town I grew up in than the suburbs. Older, with a more lived in feel.
Yeah, let's bring rape into this thread, it seems like a fun and logical detour.
South MPLS feels like a small town, especially the corner business districts. We can walk to nice bakeries, hardware stores, grocery stores, bars and restaurants. I feel perfectly safe in my neighborhood, and I'd wager most residents do too. God knows where or when swandog lived in the city, but he seems happy enough, so I won't rain on his parade.
Swandog, I also own my home in the city, so it seems that your point is, well...pointless.
WTF does that have to do with it? I've lived here for 8 years and I'm just as invested in my city as anyone else. I pay taxes, I shop, live, work, and play here. Just because I'm not chained to a mortgage for the next 30 years doesn't mean I don't care about my city. Take your elitist homeowner attitude and shove it up your ass.
ah, you don't pay as much in taxes, that is the point. You can move anytime with very little effort, i.e. selling a home in a shit market. So you are not as invested. You might think you are but your not. If the value of your investment in a home is a large chuck of your investment portfolio and it goes down you lose more than someone living in an apartment that just moves to another apartment when crime goes up.
I own a home in Minneapolis. Tell me, swandog, what is it I'm supposed to think?
Think what you want. It is about the value of your investment. That is why people make such a big deal out of these lists. The question is yours to answer are you comfortable with owning a home in mpls. Can you sell it for what you paid and do you think that your home will go up in value faster than the burbs. I don't have the answer but I doubled my money in mpls and cashed out and moved. The housing market is bad everywhere, the question is where is it worse the city or the suburbs. The foreclosures rate is higher in mpls.
I take back the never had a car broken into, my mom did have her car broken into a few years ago while we were at my aunt's house in the suburbs.
So, yes, I do think that the people who do the stealing and breaking into cars need to stop but we all could lessen the chance of not being victims of crime by not leaving shit in our cars.As for the rest of that paragraph, I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about
Or you can live where people are not shit heads that think it is ok to steal and leave whatever you want in your car but your decide.
South MPLS feels like a small town, especially the corner business districts. We can walk to nice bakeries, hardware stores, grocery stores, bars and restaurants. I feel perfectly safe in my neighborhood, and I'd wager most residents do too. God knows where or when swandog lived in the city, but he seems happy enough, so I won't rain on his parade
looks great see map.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-statistics/codefor/maps/rec...
Can you sell it for what you paid and do you think that your home will go up in value faster than the burbs.
We could still sell it for more than twice would we paid.
I don't have the answer but I doubled my money in mpls and cashed out and moved. The housing market is bad everywhere, the question is where is it worse the city or the suburbs. The foreclosures rate is higher in mpls.
Here's the flaw in your argument: you're comparing "the suburbs" - an non-specific term that could cover anywhere not in Minneapolis or St. Paul that's in the 7 county metro area with a very concentrated area. I'm not denying that the foreclosure rate in N. Minneapolis is high but do you want to take a moment to explain the situation in Wright County and it's cookie cutter houses' foreclosure rate will eventually improve while Minneapolis is in dire straights. People are always going to want to live in the city. Wright County? Not so much. Yeah, home values in Edina are going to be way more than most places in Minneapolis but North Minneapolis might be better than Brooklyn Center.
ah, you don't pay as much in taxes, that is the point. You can move anytime with very little effort, i.e. selling a home in a shit market. So you are not as invested. You might think you are but your not. If the value of your investment in a home is a large chuck of your investment portfolio and it goes down you lose more than someone living in an apartment that just moves to another apartment when crime goes up.
Bullshit, do you even know how much money upfront it takes to change apartments? And if you're using your home as part of your investment portfolio in this market, then you need a new financial planner.
looks great see map
Not bad considering the population density.
That chart doesn't work for me because I live in the only area of Minneapolis where there were no crimes whatsoever apparently.
Or you can live where people are not shit heads that think it is ok to steal and leave whatever you want in your car but your decide.
As someone who has been around a lot of people who live in the suburbs and often have a lot of money, I can assure you that wealthy people in the suburbs like to steal as well. The difference is that they tend to steal for sport. So, I'm glad to hear that you live in an isolated area where it is extremely difficult to get to your car.
Also: my first reaction was "Awesome, they are making a lot of drug arrests!" Last year, I lived in Powderhorn/Phillips and my neighbors and I felt like our phone calls weren't resulting in much.
Bullshit, do you even know how much money upfront it takes to change apartments? And if you're using your home as part of your investment portfolio in this market, then you need a new financial planner
You show your age. The money it takes to move from one apartment to another is not even in the same realm as closing costs, Realtor fees, ect ect. I have made money on homes and value is value. My house is not the only part of my portfolio but it plays a role.
Also, could I please see similar maps for:
The rest of Minneapolis
1st ring suburbs?
My old man always said "Locks only keep out 'honest' people."
Can you sell it for what you paid and do you think that your home will go up in value faster than the burbs.
Don't be too sure about that suburban growth potential, sawndog. I'd wager that the city (and first tier suburbs) will recover faster from the hosing bust than the rest of the metro.
(excepting the wealthiest suburbs, since the rich, they're not like the rest of us)
You show your age.
Do me a favor, knock that shit off. It's stupid.
The money it takes to move from one apartment to another is not even in the same realm as closing costs, Realtor fees, ect ect.
It racks up pretty quick if you pack up and move every year because you don't become "invested" in the community.
I can't presently sell my house for what I owe, actually, but I know people in the suburbs in the same situation. I don't quite follow the logic that people who live in the suburbs are happier or better because they made a sounder business investment, even if it's true. If you wanted to do a cost benefit analysis, I think the difference in home values is quickly wiped out by the extra 1-2 hours on the road every day. Time is money, and gas is money.
I agree with Alie. Her age is not pertinent to the discussion.
At it's most basic, a home is a freakin domicile. Treating it like an investment is a sure-fire way to 1)not make the improvements that will make it more comfortable for you, as you will keep wondering about the ROI and 2)Neglect other forms of savings/investment as you think your house will fund your stay in assisted living.
When more than the finance/investment types start talking about a particular market segment, I smell bubble. Tech stocks, real estate, and soon oil(mind you a much smaller crash) will fall in price.
I agree, lunch.
lunch...to paraphrase Warren Buffet:
"There are three Is in every business investment cycle. The innovator is the first I. After the innovator comes the imitator. And after the imitator in the cycle comes the idiot. Which eventually makes way for an innovator again.
I grew up in Chaska. It's grown and changed a good deal since I left, but when I lived there, this is what there was to do:
Drive to Valleyfair
Go to the community center, which had a basketball gym and a small indoor waterpark
Go swimming at the "Clayhole"
Go to the little 5-screen movie theater
Drive to Eden Prairie Center
Go to the video store (this was before the big chains dominated, so you could go to McVideo, Video Vision, or Vickie Video)
Walk around the Brandondale trailer park and get into trouble
Don't be too sure about that suburban growth potential, sawndog. I'd wager that the city (and first tier suburbs) will recover faster from the hosing bust than the rest of the metro.
It will depend on more than one factor. You make a good point. The key is not to over pay up front and live their as long as you can. Their are some market factors that I took into account along with quality of life issues. Don't get me wrong, I liked living in Mpls but got sick of the bullshit. I also get sick of the justification of the coom by ahhhh crowd that thinks it is ok to have crime ruin your investment. They are the reason people move out and leave only the coom by ahhh crowd behind. I got sick of the "community" meetings that did nothing. I could cash out and afford to move so I did.
I grew up in Chaska. It's grown and changed a good deal since I left, but when I lived there, this is what there was to do:
Yowza, sounds like you made some fun out of living in Chaska. I think the key to make living in any town enjoyable and safe is to make friends with neighbors and form a community that looks out for and helps each other.
Warren's getting a fat payday with Inbev's buyout. As I recall Berkshire bought in sometime in 2006 when AB was trading at ~$40. Wish I had imitated him then... He also bought into GM at that time, but it now has half its price... I wonder what he's thinking about that.
Ha, those little Chaska-specific details are great, Yowza. I grew up in a suburb of Louisville not unlike Chaska in many respects, and that all sounds awfully familiar (except it was Video Village in our case).
coom by ahhhh mi lourd
coom by ahhhh
coom by ahhhh mi lourd
coom by ahhhh
coom by ahhhh mi lourd
coom by ahhhh
o lourd...
coom by ahhhh
It is futile to consider the first-ring suburbs as anything but "the city," save for Golden Valley, which has managed to actually have a suburban feel. Walk down a neighborhood street in Richfield or Columbia Heights, and chances are the houses are as close together as those in Longfellow and the the design very similar.
The "city vs. suburbs" argument is as old as the "Democrat vs. Republican" argument. Each manifestation has its own positives and negatives and exist to serve a sector of the population that values it.
It depends where you are in Golden Valley. You could say the same for parts of St. Louis Park or Bloomington.
It depends where you are in Golden Valley. You could say the same for parts of St. Louis Park
Example: Shelard Parkway.
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