West Knoxville (Maryville, Farragut, Alcoa: homes, high school, living)

[shortty]

My husband and I are looking into moving to knoxville this summer where my husband will be taking a job at the UT Med Center. We have been researching realestate in the area on the MLS and the newer homes in our price range seem to be in the Powell, Karns, and Halls areas. I've read a lot of different comments about West Knoxville... are these areas considered a part of West Knox? Does anyone have any info. about these areas that you could share? What would the aprx. commute be from these areas to the med center? Any advice or info. is appreciated!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by shortty

My husband and I are looking into moving to knoxville this summer where my husband will be taking a job at the UT Med Center. We have been researching realestate in the area on the MLS and the newer homes in our price range seem to be in the Powell, Karns, and Halls areas. I've read a lot of different comments about West Knoxville... are these areas considered a part of West Knox? Does anyone have any info. about these areas that you could share? What would the aprx. commute be from these areas to the med center? Any advice or info. is appreciated!

Powell and Karns are in western Knox County but are not "West Knox" as in the West Knox / Farragut land of mcmansions. The Powell / Karns areas are growing, but they're not the $400,000 mcmansions you see in West Knox / Farragut. A new high school is being built in Hardin Valley, which is in the Powell / Karns area. Even though the new high school is to help relieve overcrowding in Farragut, it will also help relieve overcrowding in Karns. I don't believe Powell HS is overcrowded (I could be wrong).

To commute from Powell / Karns to the UT Medical Center would be somewhat of a challenge as there are no roads that directly connect the two. From Powell you'd have an easier commute since it's closest to I-75.

Halls is in northeast Knox County and is similar to Powell and Karns as far as socio-economics and housing. It's beautiful old farms that are being carved up into medium-priced housing developments.

For an easier commute to the UT Medical Center, have you considered South Knoxville?

[shortty]

Thank you so much for the response. It is a huge help! We will certainly look into south knox. I also forgot to ask about Hardin Valley... any info. about that area? How would that commute be to the UT Med. Center?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by shortty

Thank you so much for the response. It is a huge help! We will certainly look into south knox. I also forgot to ask about Hardin Valley... any info. about that area? How would that commute be to the UT Med. Center?

Hardin Valley to the UT Medical Center is quite a commute, I'd say a good half hour or so, probably a little longer in heavy traffic. OK so maybe that's not much of a commute compared to what the poor saps in Atlanta, DC, L.A., South Florida, etc., have to put up with, but around here that's considered quite a bit.

[Milo Bloom]

Originally Posted by shortty

Thank you so much for the response. It is a huge help! We will certainly look into south knox. I also forgot to ask about Hardin Valley... any info. about that area? How would that commute be to the UT Med. Center?

You'd be better off in South Knoxville or northern Blount County, around the Louisville area. That commute (straight up Alcoa Hwy) is a lot shorter, and much more direct. Avoid anywhere west of about Sequoyah Hills if you don't want to be stuck in traffic every single day. Keep in mind that I-40 thru downtown is going to be closed for the foreseeable future, greatly increasing your commute times, I'm sure.

There are a lot of new developments going on in this area, off Maryville Pike and off Topside Road, specifically. You may also want to look into Lakemoor Hills area (for waterfront living, also some newer homes) or Martha Washington Heights (for spectacular views, in places) Older homes in the latter, but nice.