Oak Ridge Transfer (Knoxville, Bristol, Kingston: for sale, apartment complex, rentals)

[102507]

Hi everyone! I have lurked some for the past month as we were recently alerted that we might be transferred. This came out of nowhere so I have been in a state of shock and not had the courage to post. It's now official and the move will take place at the end of May. Our goal is to return to Missouri at the end of my husband's project in two years. B/c of this I am going to attempt to make the 8 hour commute every week or two and change my work schedule to only 4 days a week. Anyway, with all of that being said we still think it's best for my husband to rent like we are there w/him all the time since it could happen if the distance is to hard. I've read a lot of mixed reviews about OR. It seems like w/any area around Knoxville the people who live there love it and those who don't, don't. I'm trying to find pros and cons of the area. If you don't recommend living there, why? Where do you suggest living so there isn't a long commute? We have a 15 month old son. We currently live in a suburb of St. Louis. We want to keep rent around $700 since it will be in addition to our house payment and if I do end up moving I will be staying home w/our son <loss of my income>. We want to be in a safe area - I've read quite a bit about drugs in OR and I'm trying to figure out if this is a...this is awful, but skanky town or if it (like everywhere) has it's bad areas. Thanks for reading this and for leaving feedback!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by 102507

Hi everyone! I have lurked some for the past month as we were recently alerted that we might be transferred. This came out of nowhere so I have been in a state of shock and not had the courage to post. It's now official and the move will take place at the end of May. Our goal is to return to Missouri at the end of my husband's project in two years. B/c of this I am going to attempt to make the 8 hour commute every week or two and change my work schedule to only 4 days a week. Anyway, with all of that being said we still think it's best for my husband to rent like we are there w/him all the time since it could happen if the distance is to hard. I've read a lot of mixed reviews about OR. It seems like w/any area around Knoxville the people who live there love it and those who don't, don't. I'm trying to find pros and cons of the area. If you don't recommend living there, why? Where do you suggest living so there isn't a long commute? We have a 15 month old son. We currently live in a suburb of St. Louis. We want to keep rent around $700 since it will be in addition to our house payment and if I do end up moving I will be staying home w/our son <loss of my income>. We want to be in a safe area - I've read quite a bit about drugs in OR and I'm trying to figure out if this is a...this is awful, but skanky town or if it (like everywhere) has it's bad areas. Thanks for reading this and for leaving feedback!

Is your husband with SAIC? Because I know they are moving people here. If you are with SAIC, you could live in the Bristol Park Apartment complex, he could walk to work (SAIC is right behind the complex), and you could have the car during the day. He could even walk across the grass and come home for lunch, it's that close. I'm mentioning this because the savings on gasoline alone means you could probably afford a nicer apartment.

[aquarijen]

Originally Posted by 102507

It seems like w/any area around Knoxville the people who live there love it and those who don't, don't. I'm trying to find pros and cons of the area. If you don't recommend living there, why? Where do you suggest living so there isn't a long commute? We have a 15 month old son. We currently live in a suburb of St. Louis. We want to keep rent around $700 since it will be in addition to our house payment and if I do end up moving I will be staying home w/our son <loss of my income>. We want to be in a safe area - I've read quite a bit about drugs in OR and I'm trying to figure out if this is a...this is awful, but skanky town or if it (like everywhere) has it's bad areas. Thanks for reading this and for leaving feedback!

I don't live in OR. I work in OR. I think it is a fine place to live if you take the finer things from it, get involved in your community, etc. Like any town, there are bad areas. There are a lot of older residents and the nightlife leaves much to be desired (IMO), but there is a rowing club, great churches, stuff for the kids to do, a good feed store for your pets - pretty much everything you need. All my doctors are in OR even though I live in Knoxville. The schools are the BEST, bar none. There is a symphony. There is a playhouse. There is waterfront. There is a fantastic bagel shop and pizza place and soup place.
That said, don't expect a pretty downtown area, really. Restaurant selection is sparse. But you are just down the road from West Knoxville and Turkey Creek, so shopportunities abound there (about 20 minutes away). You are also close to nature in other directions outside of OR. It is not a "skanky town", though I guess I can see how one might get that impression driving through if one did not stop to look a little closer. A lot of researchers and scientists live in OR. A lot of "reglar folk" and retirees do too.

[Hishiad]

Not a bad place to live at all. I'd suggest living a bit west in Oliver Springs/Norwood it's -maybe- 10 minutes from the main center of Oak Ridge, but it gives you a better community atmosphere a bit "safer" feeling at least than within the city a lower price on possible house rentals.

but OR isn't bad for 700 bucks you'll find nice places for sure. My brother rents from a fairly good (review wise) apartment complex and he's in the low 600s on cost.

Good luck either way!

[WetNoses]

I basically "grew up" in Oak Ridge since I went through the Oak Ridge school system from K through 12th grade, even though my home was in Kingston. My parents actually drove me to school each day and paid the out of county tuition because they thought it was very worthwhile for me to be in the Oak Ridge School System, which is really bar-none in the East Tennessee area. Oak Ridge can really barely be considered a "city". It is a great community with excellent schools, a diverse population compared to most TN towns (because of so many science related jobs), many recreation opportunities, and many nice neighborhoods. You should have a large selection of rentable houses in the $700 range. Left over from the "Secret City" days of Oak Ridge there are lots of neighborhoods with affordable houses. Of course there are neighborhoods you would not want to live in, but I think you could say that for anywhere. Plus, you have the convenience of a large selection of popular stores, restaurants, and movie theaters only 20 minutes away in Turkey Creek. No worries - this is definitely not a "skanky town". In fact, I would consider it one of the more progressive communities in the area. There is a strong community feel, but also the acceptance of newcomers. I see no reason for you to consider any where else other than Oak Ridge in your situation.

[Hishiad]

Oak Ridge has by far my favorite movie theater that I've been in. It's not the nicest theater by any means, BUT what it lacks in class it more than makes up for with pricing.


Turkey creek you can watch a movie for the adult maintee at like 7.50


At Tinseltown in Oak Ridge the adult maintee is 5 dollars!! :-O so you can buy 4 tickets for the price it'd take to buy 3 in Turkey Creek.


Also Melton Hill Lake is beautiful and they have their yearly rowing competitions there (awesome fun) it's swarming with colleges during this time. Really a lot of good places to eat try the Flatwater Grill off the Lake and also you must eat at El Cantarito's! I have some friends that live there and if you're not the type who wants a bit of space between you and you're neighbor and you don't require a huge piece of land...then yeah you'll find some very nice housing just not much yard.


If you were looking for buying I'd even recommend an area just east towards knoxville called Karns. Mainly because their housing market is geared towards the young family and you'll see more newer built homes.


But OR is solid overall fairly good work market too for any math/science related folks close to Knoxville beautiful lake great little finds too like their Civic Center with an indoor pool...or the Oak Ridge Pool near the high school. You will like it!

[102507]

Thanks for all of the feedback. We will be coming in a few weeks to look at OR and surrounding areas. The whole thing is very overwhelming. Of course all anyone we talk to has to say is that they are nervous that things really haven't been cleaned up in OR even though the govt. says it's ok. I of course have read about quite a bit of crime but other than that a great area. I'm assuming they offset each other. LauraC, he's not w/SAIC (sp?) but if he had been that would have been handy.

It sounds like we need to look in OR, Karns, Oliver Springs, and Norwood. Is this correct?

Are there any neighboring towns that we shouldn't waste our time with?

Are there are any other neighboring towns worth looking into.

Aquarijen, may I ask what town you are in and whether you rent or own?

[aquarijen]

Sure - I own and I work in Oak Ridge. I lived in the Cedar Bluff area of West Knox for over 3 years, but I've felt I made the wrong choice - not that it isn't beautiful or my house isn't spacious, but rather, it is too spacious. My house was too much upkeep and I would rather live in the city closer to downtown and UT and the commute doesn't bother me, so I just moved to South Knoxville (accross the river, off of Chapman Highway) into a small bungalow. I prefer a more artsy existence - less suburban. I like living in a blue collar neighborhood better than my previous large house on an acre. Much less to clean (or will be as soon as I sell the other house).

[102507]

Originally Posted by aquarijen

Sure - I own and I work in Oak Ridge. I lived in the Cedar Bluff area of West Knox for over 3 years, but I've felt I made the wrong choice - not that it isn't beautiful or my house isn't spacious, but rather, it is too spacious. .

I'm kind of confused. Are you saying you wish you weren't living in OR or Cedar Bluff or both? If I understood right you left CB for OR and have since left OR for South Knox!? What area are you in now and what's the commute. Like I mentioned, we are trying to look at several areas. What is your current commute time from South Knox?

It would be strange if we ended up looking at your home that's for sale!

[102507]

Thanks for all of the feedback I have been given. It sounds like we will be making our first house hunting trip w/in the next two weeks. Any suggestions on where we should stay? In OR or somewhere in W Knox? Any particular hotels? We will get two four day trips and it sounds like we should consider Powell, Halls, Fountain City, Carter, Strawberry Plains, Karns, Oliver Springs, Cedar Bluff, Norwood, Turkey Creek, and Kingston from the research I've done on the board. Would you cross any of these off or if we get limited on time are there a couple that are must visit locations? We will be taking our laptop w/us so I can hop on here and bug everyone with questions if any come up while we are in the area.

Relocators are lucky that this board has so many regulars with such great insite. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!