So we’ve already taken a look at what moving downtown is all about, and we’ve looked into the myth that downtown is ‘expensive.’  With this installment of the series let’s take a look at the idea that if you have kids you must move to the suburbs.

I wish I knew where this idea originated, because I think it’s funny.  When you head out to the burbs they’ve turned into the land of privacy fences and minivans.  For some reason–perhaps it’s what we were “sold” by the folks marketing the suburbs in previous decades, but people really think that you must move to the burbs when you have kids.

Having kids?  Must haves today are:

• Minivan
• Fenced in back yard
• House in suburbs
• Patience

Ok, patience is a joke–sort of!  Seriously though, I don’t understand any of these.  When I was a kid I used to ride around in the space on the floor between the front seats and the back!  People a little older than me would ride around in the space above the back seats next to the rear window.  I know that was unsafe, and I wouldn’t recommend that at all today–but where’d the minivan come from?  Why do people really think that you must have a minivan today?  My wife has said many times that we’ll need to get an SUV (the anti-minivan minivan) when we have kids so we have a big enough car?  WHAT?  When I was a kid we had a Ford Escort!

Let’s put the minivan myth at the hands of the marketers.  They’ve done such a great job selling the idea that kids=minivan that people actually believe that it’s something you must have.  It’s amazing.

So why do I bring up the minivan?  Because I think the kids = house in the burbs is the same thing.  It’s been sold and sold to us so often that we just believe it.  It’s like an unquestioned fact–but it’s not a fact.

How many children have grown up in New York City?  Those kids have probably grown up deprived, and have missed out because they weren’t in the burbs right?  Where do you think that nasty accent comes from?!

I grew up in a house that was 988 square feet.  We had 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.  We had a basement, but we didn’t use it.  We were great, 3 boys and 1 mom.  We made it just fine, in fact we enjoyed where we lived a lot.  The lot itself wasn’t great so we didn’t play outside, we would leave if we wanted to get out.

Which brings me to my point.  988 square feet downtown will run right around $200,000, give or take a little.  With the right design, you could have nearly the same layout that I grew up with.  Entertainment would be cheap, have you ever taken kids to an elevator?  Your yard might be a few blocks away, but Gateway Park and Gray’s Lake are much better than what your own yard could ever be.

Are you worried about schools?  Downtown Des Moines boasts what has to be the best school in Des Moines.  Seriously.  The waiting list is 5 years!  One developer I talked to told me when they found out his wife was pregnant they put their baby (didn’t know if it was a boy or girl yet) on the waiting list.  She started school this year, after her 5 year wait.  The school is so good that parents from the burbs bring their kids downtown for school, rather than keep them in the “superior” schools that ring the city.

Places to eat?  Tons.  Library?  Walking distance.  Cultural things for the kids?  Art Center, Science Center/IMAX Theater, Historical Building, Capitol and many many more.  Fun?  Walk to see baseball, basketball, hockey, Nollen Plaza, bike trails, and so, so much more.  And it’s all within walking distance–many times you can use the skywalks so the weather doesn’t matter.

And speaking of skywalks, where else can you take your kids to run in the rain?

The idea that you can’t live downtown with kids is crazy.  The city is set up perfectly for them!  Get the right unit, and the fight floor plan and you’re set.  Best school, most fun, all the best things to do–and because you live downtown you can walk to all of them!

And I promise, your kids will love it!

Keep your eyes out for our next part to this series, coming this week!