I think this is generally the case with most small, private colleges. This will only be exacerbated if we see a significant economic downturn. It will become even harder to get folks to pay the higher tuition for the "small college experience."
Best Places To Live Near DSM?
- Thread starter throwittoblythe
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I think this is generally the case with most small, private colleges. This will only be exacerbated if we see a significant economic downturn. It will become even harder to get folks to pay the higher tuition for the "small college experience."
I would recommend Windsor Hieghts as well, lots of conveniences, centered between WDM and the old part of Urbandale, with community band and movie nights in the park and a dog park space too. Houses are going to be probably a little younger than you'd prefer though. But the town is worth looking into:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7119-Sunset-Ter-Windsor-Heights-IA-50324/848645_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7119-Sunset-Ter-Windsor-Heights-IA-50324/848645_zpid/
I've been in Indianola for roughly 20 years, and I like it a lot. Big enough to have some options for restaurants and entertainment, but still pretty quiet. With the Highway 5 bypass, you can get pretty much anywhere in the metro in a half hour or less.
People do maintain lawns, but the cop thing that was posted (coach was washing car) was what I tried to addressed. On the other hand, there are some lawns next block north that have more dandelions than grass. I think they have an ordinance that refers to lawns getting overgrown, but i am not familiar with the details. I was referring to the Sunday thing, and since I am not a regular at church, I do enjoy getting out on Sunday morning and doing some yard work, but nothing that would produce noise that could be heard beyond my immediate neighbors in the summer, just out of community respect. In the winter, it is ideal time to go out to HYVEE and surprise my wife with a cysmiley creation for the dinner table; as few people are there, most have been dragged to church by one spouse or the other, which is fine. Most, who know me, know I am not a regular at church, but other than an occasional mention years ago that I ought to choose one, never heard a negative word about it. My wife's congregation even prayed for me when I had my heart attack, and I went to her church the SUnday after I got home and thanked them for their concern. Also got hugs from the high school teacher and kids at there performance I was working with at the time as a volunteer.
To BWRhasnoac:
yep, its a free country, you can be respectful of others or you can s**t on them; up to you. I got some hugs for being respectful of the effort the kids I was working with; when I made the effort to do what I said I was going to do; even tho I had the heart thing the previous week. All's well; that was 6 years ago!
I will jump in on the Pella Sunday conversation. In the early and mid-80's there was nothing open in Pella, nothing. At some point, Wal-Mart, when it was out by Happy Joe's, when it was out by Precision Pulley, and a gas station on the square were the only things open. Eventually fast food and all other gas stations followed.
Mowing on Sunday was very frowned upon by the community and was seldom done, although I don't think there was ever an official ordinance against it.
You are right though, it is way easier to assimilate there now as a non-native and/or Dutch resident than it has ever been.
It's a nice town that hides its trash well, has good food and some decent people if you know where to look.
I've heard the "personal service industry" is really suffering right now. I hope you're holding up okay.
Ames is the right distance, there are homes built in the 1890-1930. The Historic Old town district and south of campus are some real neat older homes. Too vibrant? Good schools, too.
Had my weekly Bridge game with my 85 year old Pella buddy tonight.. She said if you come to town, she'll take you out to eat and tell you all about Pella since she has lived here all her life except when she was at ISU (class of 58, Pi PHI). She's quite a character LOL. So if you get this way, let me know and I'll put you in touch. Her late husband used to be CEO of Vermeer so she knows all the Pella secrets. LOL.
No matter where you move to (unless you grew up there), you have the potential for it to be a little tough as an outsider. IMO the chances are greater in small communities.
We moved here in 2018. We heard many times, and for many years, from others in our community that Pella was an uppity community and unwelcoming. "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much". We love the community. People have been extremely welcoming. Our neighbors are great. We do not have school age children, though have always heard great things about the public and private schools. The people/community overall takes pride in itself and it shows.
That said, there are areas in and around the community with HOAs or covenants. It depends what you're willing to deal with. Some HOAs restrict parking campers or boats in your driveway, determine the yard mowing rules, don't allow your garbage cans to be stored outside your home or won't allow a fence around your property (unless you have a pool). Not all HOAs here are the same and not all areas have them. We live in a a subdivision outside of city limits that does not have an HOA and the covenant expired quite a few years ago.
I think most of those Home Owners Associations are in the newer developments. We do not have one where we live near downtown, but as I indicated earlier, we do respect some traditions, but not because we are legally bound, or signed any agreement to own our house. Plus we have no fees other than taxes, which for an Iowa small community, are probably above average, but I have no data to compare, just guessing.
