I’ve looked at the other posts about people moving to Madison but I figure I’d start a new thread given I have different
“criteria” for where I want to live.
I will be starting work at St. Mary’s Hospital and in a clinic, probably on the North-East end of Madison. My significant other will probably land a job in downtown for one of the accounting firms in the area.
My question is this. Where can I live where I can bike commute (or walk) to St. Mary’s and to the airport area, be close to downtown, AND have easy access out of town for a training rides. (i.e. no traffic or stop-n-go for no more than 15 minutes.)
Where I live now, I live out of state, I can drive to work in 7 minutes (2 stop lights) and I’m already on a main bike route out of town. I also live off a running path so I am wicked spoiled. The grocery store is a 5 min drive.
I was thinking somewhere in the the neighborhood near the capitol would be nice, since I know the IM bike course seemed relatively easy to get out of town on (maybe because it was race day…)
I don’t know why, but I also have an obsession about living near a grocery store, preferably walking distance. It doesn’t have to be a fancy-schmancy (sp?) organic market or anything, but someplace I can buy eggs, milk, bananas, cereal, bread, and toilet paper.
I have no kids, so I am not too concerned about school districts, but a public track would be nice. I am likely to rent since we are thinking about keep our current home.
Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks much!
First off, welcome! Madison is a cool, cool, cool place to live. Downtown is a good place to start, there is a wide range of options for living space. Finding a place on the west side of the Capitol square will make for an easy commute to St Mary’s (on Park street, right?).
In the summertime, there is an awesome farmer’s market on the square, where I do ALL my shopping for that time of year. Living downtown is nice because you can get almost anything on foot, even in the winter. Biking wise, you can hop on the trail and be out of town and in the middle of some killer hills in 5 minutes.
5 minutes, killer hills, what are you smoking?? oh, wait, it is Madison. From the isthmus hills are a good 15 miles out.
OP, it is probably going to be about 7 miles between your 2 job locations. Probably not going to walk that, run could be. The Arb is right next to St. Marys, and it is a good route out of town for cycling and many, many runners use it as well. Just west of the capitol is capital center foods, and east on Willy st is the co-op. Farmers market is good, albeit pricey. State st is, well, State st. So, depending on which work location you want to be closet to, just east or west of the capitol would be good, and there are plenty of rentals around. Parking thst close to teh capitol can be an issue, and a lot of places charge extra for it as they can rent the spaces out to downtown workers.
Just out side of Madison to the west is some of the most amazing rural area cycling that I have ever done. This is the home of the IM Wisco bike course. Quiet contry roads that wind and turn and go up and down, seem to go on forever.
You have to be careful though out there in farm country - that brown stuff spraying up off the road as you ride along, may not be mud!!
I live on the near west side - has everything you are looking for. I bike to UW Hospital, Meriter and St. Mary’s year round (all less than 2 miles). The most common way out of town is Seminnole Highway - very easy and hooks up with the arb. Trader Joe’s is walkable. The Southwest madison “bike” trail runs a block from my house. There are A LOT of cyclists, triathletes and runners in the neighborhood. And, there are a lot of sweet (little) houses for sale.
PM me if you want to talk about it - I would be more than happy to discuss living in Madison with you. It is great, but there are some things that make it easier or harder than others.
You cannot go wrong for bike commuting / working / enjoying local stores anywhere within 1-2 miles of the Capitol. Renting directly downtown can be a bit pricy as it is the center for college housing (and parking), but there are a good number of newer condo towers to also make a good choice. Bike paths abound, but will be a bit lacking as you head out towards the NE corner of town (Northport Drive or East Washington Ave). Otherwise, anything south or west is very quick on the SE bike path.
Getting out of town only takes 15 minutes from the Arboretum out Seminole, or out the towards Goodland Park on other paths. And running is nice on the Arboretum loop, a 10K distance that can be made longer with the trails running through the woods.
There are also a good many houses to rent currently. If you look in the Vilas neighborhood (between Edgewood College and the UW football stadium), this neighborhood comes complete with 100 year old Victorian-style houses. A bit further are pre-WW2 cottage style homes (a bit smaller), out another 1/2 mile is the Westmorland neighborhood, and past Midvale Blvd is post WW2 smaller ranchland, complete with a good housing stock of homes in the 1200-2000 sq. ft. size. All these neighborhoods are quickly reached, again, by the SW bike path and Arboretum loop (goes right by St. Mary’s and Meritor hospitals).
East of the Capitol is the Willy St. neighborhood, another great source of Victorian houses with plenty of rental 2-flats (and a bit more parking).
All the above listed neighborhoods have good groceries, coffee shops, and BIKE STORES close at hand. Plus, Cronometro is on Willy St. (I’m partial to the place).
And now that winter has gone away, you’ll enjoy the place.
Congrats. You’ll like it here… except for the winters, unless you’re one of THOSE people. In which case, seek therapy. Seriously though, the west side has more/better access to popular training routes, and there are commuter paths through town into the downtown area. The east side also has access to commuter paths, but fewer options to get outside of the city. Since you sound like a downtowner, I’d recommend checking out the near west side, south/southwest of campus. Start here if you’re unfamiliar with the various neighborhoods: http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/profile/nw.html
Congrats! I hear it’s nice in the summer but it’s been insanely, hurtful, painful cold every time I’ve been. Can someone post some summer photos to make me feel better?
There are a lot of folks with the mentality that the east side offers lesser riding. This is not true. There are a great many roads on the east, northeast, southeast, south that are excellent for riding. They are not difficult to get to, and generally have less traffic, as the west side gets most of that.
^ True that. There is still good riding, just more bound by the interstate and major highways. I’m an east-sider myself. Prefer the blue-collardness of it to the west side.
^ True that. There is still good riding, just more bound by the interstate and major highways. I’m an east-sider myself. Prefer the blue-collardness of it to the west side.
Uh-oh! Sider alert! Didn’t you read that Brenda lost the election? Moderation is en vogue.
And, yes, good roads abound out each exit from Madison. It is just that when going West we’ve got more hills and locals willing to take gun shots at you to keep it exciting! Nothing Like A Good Sprint!
Yeah, there are highways, but there are highways to the west as well. The interstate is a non issue, as there are so many roads that it is nothing more than an overpass or underpass without any traffic control devices.
I’ve lived campus area, near west area, southtown area, Monona and now just slightly east of Monona. I really liked Monona, especially from the perspective of raising my kids. That doesn’t impact the OP though.
^ True that. There is still good riding, just more bound by the interstate and major highways. I’m an east-sider myself. Prefer the blue-collardness of it to the west side.
Uh-oh! Sider alert! Didn’t you read that Brenda lost the election? Moderation is en vogue.
And, yes, good roads abound out each exit from Madison. It is just that when going West we’ve got more hills and locals willing to take gun shots at you to keep it exciting! Nothing Like A Good Sprint!
I live on the North side near Warner Park and Lake Mendota. The cycling on this side of town is fantastic and far less traffic than the West side of town. I am close to good restaurants and the running is good too- I often do my track workouts at the East High “old school” dirt track. I am still close to downtown and have easy access to the West side of town via highway M. I swim at MATC which offers a good masters swimming program and coach Jerry is fantastic.
M
Just wanted to thank everyone who helped me with this topic. I recently visited Madison for my GF’s successful job interview and for house hunting. We found a very nice apartment off Monroe behind Victor’s Cafe with a direct view of Lake Wingra. Walk out or back door and you’re in Wingra Park. Very nice. It’s a huge place and much cheaper than a comparable apartment in Burlington, VT.
Maybe I’ll see some of you slowtwitchers out there!
