About E Knoxville (Kingsport, Lexington, Dandridge: relocate, property taxes, rent)

[jabogitlu]

I'm always astounded at how rude people are in stores and restaurants when I venture into West Knox. In my experience they're much more rude than people in Florida or California! My latest adventure was a few weeks ago at the Mexican Embassy restaurant in Turkey Creek (yes, egads -- I went in that scary place!). We came in, gave our name to the host, and sat down to wait (we were the only ones waiting, but evidently there wasn't an open table).

This other couple comes in, breezes past us and the host and decides evidently to seat themselves -- in OUR table! When this was very kindly explained to them by the host, they immediately became very pissed off -- evidently they thought that because the tables were near the bar, that it was open seating a la bar stools! I've NEVER been in a restaurant like that!

Anyway, they left and I'm sure that the wait staff was glad to see them go. Good grief, you know they were not Knoxville natives!

[mbmouse]

Hmmmm.
This is an interesting thread. I am wondering if the same thing is happening in West Knox that happened in some more metro areas of Fl. Folks move or native to there are nice but as more folks move in,the crowding effect happens and the anger and rudeness sets in with it? I bet there is a study out there somewhere that was done about places that build up so fast and the attitudes towards neighbors before and after the sprawl?? JMT and LauraC, you guys are so good at finding all these reports and studies, think you can find anything of the like that might explain all the negativity of West Knox verses East Knox?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I'm always astounded at how rude people are in stores and restaurants when I venture into West Knox. In my experience they're much more rude than people in Florida or California! My latest adventure was a few weeks ago at the Mexican Embassy restaurant in Turkey Creek (yes, egads -- I went in that scary place!). We came in, gave our name to the host, and sat down to wait (we were the only ones waiting, but evidently there wasn't an open table).

This other couple comes in, breezes past us and the host and decides evidently to seat themselves -- in OUR table! When this was very kindly explained to them by the host, they immediately became very pissed off -- evidently they thought that because the tables were near the bar, that it was open seating a la bar stools! I've NEVER been in a restaurant like that!

Anyway, they left and I'm sure that the wait staff was glad to see them go. Good grief, you know they were not Knoxville natives!

That's outrageous! I wouldn't be surprised if those people moved to Knoxville from Florida...

And mbmouse, I'll see if I can find some sort of study like you suggested, but I'm not sure if such a study exists. But I'll tell you what, that would be an excellent topic for a cultural anthropology or psychology student at U.T.

Hiknapster and I love the Fountain City restaurant called Litton's. It's an institution here in North Knoxville. Several years ago they opened a location out in West Knox. It didn't last too long. I heard they shuttered their West Knox location for the same reasons: people in West Knox had different demands than the easy-going folk of North Knox. SAD.

[inave]

Um, I just have to ask..how do you know "this other couple" was from West Knox?

[jabogitlu]

Ha! -- Called me on that one. I don't. But the fact still remains that this sort of thing typifies West Knox for me.

[frankealey]

My wife and I are really excited. We went up there on Dec. 9th and stayed up there until we found a house.

I am from Philly and met my wife in Cocoa Beach. We havev lived here for the first 15 mo. of marraige.

We just had our first. A healthy baby boy. Immediately, we decided we had to move. This is no place to raise a family.

The "dirty south" ... everyone walking around the malls with gold teeth and a fake limp. More crack than a plumber adn no sense of community. People come and go with the seasons.

we wanted stability, structure and community. We found it in Maynardville. A small city about 20 north of Knoxville. 20 minutes to the hospital and a booming market.

I am in real estate investment feild and work from home. We have done well over the past 2 years and with the foreclosure boom, things are looking up.

More about Maynardville: The people are the nicest people we have ever met. As soon as we walked into a small deli on 33, we were met with cordial and freindly faces. When we mentioned that we had just boiught a house there, half of the work staff came out to greet us and welcome us to the "family."

They stressed that everyone knows everyone else, and that they all watch after one anothers kids. Yet each person has their own affairs and should be kept private.

WOW!!! Is this how society was meant to be? .....

Also, the housing boom is coming this way. I pulled my comps and did a market analysis for the Knoxville area.

The city has spread west pretty well and fast. Over to Lenoir City, which is 25 minutes east. For me, it is over populated and has too much big business. The housing boom is in full swing there and it is too late to find your dream home on 1/2 acre with a great veiw for under 200.

Halls is the section just south of Maynardville and has also seen a recent boom. Major supermarkets and other major chains have purchased property in Maynartdville. this tells us of the market research they have done. Believe me, when these BIG chains plan on opening stores, that's a lot of money going in.

The house i just bought for 149,900 on half acre with panoramic mountain veiws. It is a colonial stlye with hardwoods and tile. this is a brand new home built to suit
and beautiful land.

Anyway, enough of me talking. We thank GOD for this opportunity and for guiding us and calling us to such a wonderful are.

BACK to the BASICS

[equescool]

For East Knox COUNTY - which is very different than East Knoxville CITY - check out Whelahan Farms subdivision [under $200,000] off Babely Rd off Washington Park. All this was farmland and is quite lovely. Well built homes and good values. You can also find homes in Powell, TN, very reasonably.

I have lived in Seymour, TN, which is south of Knoxville - between Knoxville and Gatlinburg - since 1987. We love it here. You can get more home for the dollar here than in west Knoxville. West is preppy, and most of the realtor's will direct you there. I moved from there in 1972 when a pine forest I loved was leveled for a shopping center. Turkey Creek is built on a place that was a marsh land for birds and wildlife, and there was much controversy about it.

Lots of people are moving here from all parts of the country, and it will change the area, but the beauty is palpable and the people are good. I believe that good people meet good people. Knoxville has been my home for 62 years, and I love it here. My favorite places to live are Seymour, Maryville, Alcoa, and Townsend - all depending on what you want. There are other places, too, like Rogersville, TN, that are beautiful and more remote.

Don't let the realtors show you only WEST Knoxville~!!!

[paulsmom1999]

I grew up in E. Knoxville. When I was in grade school (70's) someone broke into our house while we were in the YARD. My house was located RIGHT OUTSIDE Holston Hills.

So I wouldn't want to live in East Knoxville again. I moved from my house because I was afraid at night.

But East Knox COUNTY? Out in the country? Heck yeah! East Knoxville? Heck NO! Too close to the inner city and the crime. 10 min down the road from Holston Hills is where it starts to get BAD (prostitution, etc., out on Magnolia Avenue).

THAT IS WHY I LIVE IN MARYVILLE NOW! LOL!

[oldmanbob]

Congrats and get ready for a much better place to live. The Carter and Straw Plains area, is booming with several new subd and the exit has grown with many good resturants and plus, you would only be about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Sullivan county. You can use the city-data.com site, and find all the information about area, crime, income, and schools. I currently live west, and no its not better because of the wealth, thats been a common rumor for years, its the people , that make it better.

[ThatTNGuy]

Originally Posted by JMT

And frankly, I'd rather have my kids go to a school like Carter or Gibbs or Halls or Powell where they're around kids from all walks of life and all socio-economic backgrounds.

I'm not quite sure how to take this one. I understand (and agree with) the idea that exposure to all walks of life is a valuable asset for functioning in the real world, but you act as if kids from West Knoxville are incapable of (or, at least, not as good at) interacting with diverse groups of people. I think it's somewhat presumptuous to think that we (West Knoxville kids) can't be around/don't get along with "all socio-economic backgrounds."

Of course, maybe I'm misinterpreting what you've said. I definitely do not intend to sound disrespectful, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I guess the thought that a professor at my university prefers students from certain high schools is a bit unsettling to me.

As an aside, I'm surprised at the general dislike for West Knoxville that I've seen in this thread. Some of it may be true on occasion, but all of the talk about "mcmansions" and rude folks in this area of town is pretty disdainful.