Making a Quick Move (Chattanooga, East Brainerd: for sale, hair salon, apartment complex)

[ElizaNC]

Hello Everyone,

I just found out today that my employer wants me to relocate to Chattanooga by June 1. I've never been there as an adult so my knowledge of the city is limited to the research I've done on the Internet in the last several hours. I plan to rent an apartment but it is very difficult to get an idea of the quality and feel of an apartment complex from a few pictures on a computer. I was wondering if there are any current renters in the Chattanooga area who would be willing to recommend their apartment complex or give any advice as to places to avoid. I am currently living in Philadelphia, and I've already noticed that the prices in Chattanooga are significantly less than here, so I probably won't rule any place out due to price.

Since this is happening so fast I don't think I'll get more than a weekend to look at apartments and make a decision. I would like my search to be as targeted as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Elizabeth

P.S. What is traffic generally like in Chattanooga? Are commutes difficult?

[Jon F Moss]

Commutes are relative to the individuals past experiences. It would be helpful (but not necessary) to know what part of town you'll be working in. Before moving, we researched and visited several apartment complexes around town. What type of area/community/neighborhood would you be interested in? What's important to you? There are many here who will be happy to help.

[ElizaNC]

Originally Posted by TriDad

Commutes are relative to the individuals past experiences. It would be helpful (but not necessary) to know what part of town you'll be working in. Before moving, we researched and visited several apartment complexes around town. What type of area/community/neighborhood would you be interested in? What's important to you? There are many here who will be happy to help.

Thanks for the reply. I will be working in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of TN building, which I believe is on Pine St.

I am a single female, in my 30's, and I would like to live in an area where there are some other single people, and maybe even some things within walking distance -- i.e. coffee shops, a few restaurants, shops, that type of thing. But I also want to be able to park my car off the street for free and not have to deal with a great deal of urban noise (sirens, honking, etc). So if I have to sacrifice the former for the latter, I would be willing to do so.

In Philadelphia I live downtown, walk or use public transportation, and don't even have a car. I'll happily leave many aspects of this lifestyle behind. Prior to living up here, I was in the Atlanta suburbs, and the commute was a nightmare. I'm hoping Chattanooga doesn't have similar traffic issues. Originally, I'm from a small town in Western NC, not all that far from Chattanooga, so I've lived in the country, too. I'm pretty adaptable.

Mostly, I want a nice apartment, updated, modern, well-maintained, with nice neighbors and easy access to my job, to shopping, recreation, etc. I'm just not quite sure where to look.

Thanks again,
Elizabeth

[financelife]

Philadelphia is TOO different from Chattanooga. The most you might ever be in traffic is 30 minutes, and that's with an accident and depends on where you live.

Nice modern apartments can be found in East Brainerd area (Shallowford Rd, Gunbarrel Rd, East Brainerd Rd). One of the newest is Creekside Village on E Brainerd, and it was nice, gated, pool, small fitness room, alarm systems in each apartment.

East Brainerd area is the newer area of Chattanooga, and it's kinda Chatt's shopping district. Located here are the Hamilton Place mall, Erlanger Women's Hospital, numerous restaurants (like Abuelos, Carrabas, PF Chang, Bonefish Grill, Acropolis, Rain and MORE), a couple of fitness centers, many cosmetic dentists (w/ modern equip), as well as discount retailers Target and Walmart. And most of these are on the same street Gunbarrel Rd.

However, if you feel the need to walk everywhere, then downtown is for you. There are several restaurants and coolidge park. In my opinion, the best Japanese sushi restaurants in Chatt are around downtown.

[dasmarian]

I'm not a huge fan of E Brainerd (personal preference, don't like urban sprawl) but for the type of place you are looking for I might recommend you look there as well. There is lots of shopping, restaurants, etc out there, it is a big mall and typical mall sprawl. Downtown proper is nice but I don't think you'll find a lot of apartments there. Condos for sale yes, but not apartments.

The only thing is, I think there is a lot of traffic going from E Brainerd to downtown on 24, that is the primary commute route for lots of folks. It's backed up going downtown in the morning and coming back toward E Brainerd in the evening. While it might not be the traffic you are used to, it is the worst in Chattanooga.

[littleelvis]

Originally Posted by ElizaNC

Hello Everyone,

I just found out today that my employer wants me to relocate to Chattanooga by June 1. I've never been there as an adult so my knowledge of the city is limited to the research I've done on the Internet in the last several hours. I plan to rent an apartment but it is very difficult to get an idea of the quality and feel of an apartment complex from a few pictures on a computer. I was wondering if there are any current renters in the Chattanooga area who would be willing to recommend their apartment complex or give any advice as to places to avoid. I am currently living in Philadelphia, and I've already noticed that the prices in Chattanooga are significantly less than here, so I probably won't rule any place out due to price.

Since this is happening so fast I don't think I'll get more than a weekend to look at apartments and make a decision. I would like my search to be as targeted as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Elizabeth

P.S. What is traffic generally like in Chattanooga? Are commutes difficult?

Elizabeth SOOOOOOO how is it? Did you make the move? And how is it going? Good ? Bad ??

[ElizaNC]

Hi Everyone!

I thought I'd give an update on my move now that I'm finally here and have had a moment to take a breath. I've been in Chattanooga for about a month now and am getting settled in. It has definitely been a big change from Philadelphia! The move itself was crazy -- I left Philly on a Friday and started work here on Monday and I had to stop in NC on the way to pick up my car from my Mom's house!! Never again! Amazingly enough, though, my movers made it here with all my furniture and nothing got lost or broken.

I ended up in E. Brainerd. I'm living in an apartment off of Gunbarrel Rd (The Haven at Commons Park). I only had a weekend to find housing and I really wish I'd had more time, because I think I really would have loved to have found a house or condo to rent downtown, but as things worked out I had to go with the quick, obvious, and easy. But this is a nice complex with nice amenities if not a lot of character -- pretty typical of a large scale apartment complex. And it gives me an opportunity to learn the area and decide where in Chattanooga I would want to move if my company decides to keep me here long-term.

As to Chattanooga itself, well, this is a great city, isn't it?? It is incredibly friendly, even for the South. Everyone I have met has just been great, it is easy to get around, there seems to be plenty of shopping and restaurants, etc., etc. I think I will be happy here. It's also very beautiful. My only complaint so far is with the heat. Whew! I had gotten used to the Northeast, and I think that with Chattanooga being so close to the mountains I was hoping it would be about 10 degrees cooler than it is!!

The commute to downtown really isn't too bad, especially in the mornings. It kinda sucks in the evenings coming home -- things seem to back up from the ridge cut all the way to the 24/75 split, but even with that it only takes me about 30 minutes to get home, and I can live with that.

Overall, I think I'm going to be pretty happy here. I look forward to getting fully settled in, meeting people and making some friends. The hardest part about a move like this is being single and not having any family in the area, so I really don't know anyone at all. But this is such a friendly place that I have a feeling I'll have a ton of friends in no time once I put some effort into it. And this forum is a great place for information.

Thanks for all the help! I'll keep you guys posted.

P.S. If there are any ladies reading this -- I could really use some recommendations for a good hair salon. I work downtown so I don't really care if it's downtown or out in E. Brainerd, as long as it's someone who's really good with both cut and color.

[Jon F Moss]

Welcome to the Scenic City! So glad to hear that overall its been a good experience.

Hopefully everyone reading this will learn (after many of us have said over and over again) that if you're going to be working downtown, its best to look at renting something closer than E Brainerd. Downtown or North Chattanooga is ideal, but to each his own.

As for hair salons.. Check out Hair a Go Go on the Northshore. Kristen does my wife's hair and came highly recommended. She's "awesome" at color and hair.

Again, glad you made it here safe. If you want to meet some peeps from the forum, then keep an eye on the Summer/Fall Get Together thread