Is that 50-60 minutes each way? Adding 2 hours every school day? If so you may not have to worry about the catchment area - I'm not sure he would have time for socializing... To me that would be a deal breaker. I would not send a 9 year old on the kind of commute you are describing. Not only because of the duration but also because I would be uncomfortable about the central bus station at rush hour and the neighborhood you describe as the school's location. I am imagining numerous scenarios that would just make me too uncomfortable with a 9 year old.
I think having DH in the other school sounds like a huge plus. Between his ability to create interesting clubs and the potential for working from the inside to assure DS has the best possible situation for challenge I think it sounds like it could work well. I would go for this option.
