Any Kansas City Polkies out there?

thsmith

A friend of mine is moving to KC.

What's audio scene like?

What's living in KC like?

any places to consider living on the Mo side?

He will be working in overland park.

Thanks

tonyb

Used to live there like 30 years ago. Overland park is a nice area, plenty of shopping. The MO side, in the city limits can get dicey. Best out in the burbs, traffic flows pretty good anyway. Lee's Summit was a nice burb back then, don't know about now. Gates and Sons for BBQ on Troost st on the MO side is pretty good. Then again, KC is loaded with good BBQ.

KC is no different than any other bigger city though I wouldn't consider it that big. A bit layed back, with a good night life scene downtown. You have to seek out the good joints, sometimes it's just an unmarked door along a walkway by Crown Center, ask the locals, very friendly. Cost of living is cheaper, especially housing. Nice place KC, I'm sure your friend will enjoy it.

thsmith

Thanks Tony, any Polkies still living in KC?

Gadabout

Tracy,

I have a buddy of mine living in the area. He's really not into audio, but I can give him a call for the best places to live on the Mo. side of things. Also, he pretty much knows whats going on in the city he is one of the bar managers for a couple places in the power and light district.

Since Kansas is part of my territory, I can tell that Kansas City has lots to do know matter what your preferences might be. Want me to give him a call?

Scott

thsmith

Scott, that would be awesome. He is hearing it is best or safer to live on the KS vs the MO side. He is interested in the MO side since MO does not have state income tax?

Thanks Scott for any intell is helpful from a local.

Gadabout

I'll have some more information in a few minutes.

Yes, it is cheaper to live in MO. They do have a state income tax, but all the tax rates are lower than what he is used too. State sales tax is around 4.5% or so, it consistently has some of the lowest gas prices, The property values are also lower in MO. whiche means easier to get into an house and lower property taxes.

If he has the $'s Overland Park is a great place to live. Good schools and probably one of the lowest crime rates of the surrounding cities. Good freeway access from Overland Park, no matter which way your headed.

More to come.....

Scott

Gadabout

Just talked to my friend ....

He said for Missouri he would recommend Parkville, especially if he is going be buying a house.
http://parkvillemo.gov/

He also mentioned that Liberty was a pretty decent place to live, but it would increase his drive time. One guideline to follow when looking at Missouri was to stay North of the River.

For Kansas, he recommended Overland Park, Olathe & Lenexa. He has heard Shawnee is nice, but none of his friends live there. If he doesn't mind a little bit longer commute, Lawrence, KS is nice if you like the vibe of a college town. (I agree with all of the towns he mentions on the KS side, all nice communities.)

Hope that helps a bit,
Scott

thsmith

Scott, thank you and your friend for the intell. I will pass it along to my friend.

Really appriciate it.

adb3da

I live on the east side of the state, in St. Louis, but I think Kansas City would be a nice place to live. Not sure how much he's looking to spend on a house, but there are some nice areas south of Country Club Plaza and north of I-435. Anything within a mile or so of the state line (on either side) is pretty nice. I'm going off memory so I could be forgetting about some areas to avoid, but I think most of that area is very nice.

bruss

i live 10 mins south of overland park on the kansas side. higher taxes better schools on the ks side IMO. It really just depends on how close to downtown he wants to be. There are great areas on both side of the line. I have lived in Olathe, Gardner, Overland Park, and Shawnee Mission. My preference is to comute to downtown and live away from it. gardner ks is blowing up. great schools and very well managed area.

I think desoto has some good incentives to build right now.

thsmith

Thanks Bruss. There is just him and his wife, no kiddos to worry about School. Are the taxes that much difference live in MO vs KS ?

bruss

just depends on where you live. I dont think its a drastic difference. Im sure its researchable.

Liberty/ North of the river is a long **** drive to OP everyday. Olathe KS, Lenexa KS, Gardner KS, Leawood KS, Prairie Village KS, South KC MO, Stanley KS, Stilwell KS, Martin City MO are all close to the Overland Park area. Prairie Village is really cool.

Louisburg KS, Spring Hill, KS(MY City) Lee SUmmit MO are an additinal 10-20 min commute.

thsmith

Thanks again Bruss

Gadabout

Liberty/ North of the river is a long **** drive to OP everyday.

Yeah I figured it would be 30+ minutes (mo traffic or accidents) to Overland Park and wasn't going to mention it as choice, but then folks in North Texas are used to spending time on the road. Hell, it's not that uncommon for me to drive 40 minutes for good chinese ;-).

Scott

DMara

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-26/google-fiber-in-kansas-city-makes-hollywood-nervous

dkg999

I've been working for a company in Olathe KS for over a year. I'm in KC for 2 to 3 weeks out of every month. It's one of my favorite metro areas, down-to-earth people, lots of things going on, easy to get around. The KS side is definetely the nicer side with lots of business expansion, great schools, better roads and infrastructure. On the MO side you need to watch out for the towns with the 1% income tax (in addition to state/federal income taxes). When I move down there I would probably look at somewhere in the north I435 corridor, with preference to the areas where Google has partnered with the city(s) to put in high bandwidth fiber optic internet.

I've been a little disappointed with the audio aspect, however I will admit I haven't really explored it heavily. Vintage Stock has a pretty good used CD/LP/Movies selection. The Half Priced Books stores that I visit on the KS side are usually well stocked with used CD's and LP's. Vinyl Renesaince has two stores and they have recently really expanded into higher end audio and HT. If you're up for a drive Acoustic Sounds is a day trip.

jaritta

I work for a High end dealer, It is 2 hours west of kc. We carry Dali, Denon, blackdiamond, Audionote and Manley labs.... Plus several dacs turntables headphones. In Manhattan KS.....and not a complete day trip

bruss

salina?

dkg999

bruss wrote: »

salina?

Salina is where Acoustic Sounds is at. I have client(s) in the Manhatten area, so will have to check that out.

jaritta

It is called Leisure Time AV Design, we also carry kef, jolida, plus some botique brands calles studio electric and lennahan audio. I want to take a tour of the plant in salina, from what i have heard from my boss it is amazing. One of the largest record pressing plants in all of the U.S.

thsmith

Good stuff guys, thank you

bruss

ive been to a strip club in Salina while on a pheasant hunting trip and it was less than amazing. nightmarish even