Area west of Central Ave and east of railroad (Knoxville: best neighborhoods, movers)

[ajwwong]

Does anyone have any opinions about the area west of Central Ave and east of the railroad? Say, around Worth or Branner streets? I'm going to be a graduate student at UT and I'm thinking about buying in the area. It seems inexpensive, but I don't want to get into trouble going somewhere unsafe, or where the train is going to wake me up every night.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by ajwwong

Does anyone have any opinions about the area west of Central Ave and east of the railroad? Say, around Worth or Branner streets? I'm going to be a graduate student at UT and I'm thinking about buying in the area. It seems inexpensive, but I don't want to get into trouble going somewhere unsafe, or where the train is going to wake me up every night.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Avoid anything along Central.

Tell us your price range and what you're looking for, maybe we can help you find something in a safer part of town.

[creeksitter]

Before you automatically dismiss Central St, I'd suggest you contact councilman Bob Becker, who lives 1 block off central on Columbia. Or candidate Ray Abbas who's 1 1/2 block away on Anderson. Lets see, if Abbas gets elected then 22% of the movers and shakers will be residents of the area. JMT, have you driven down Scott or Oklahoma ave lately? I'm surprised you're willing to paint an entire area with such a broad brush.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

Before you automatically dismiss Central St, I'd suggest you contact councilman Bob Becker, who lives 1 block off central on Columbia. Or candidate Ray Abbas who's 1 1/2 block away on Anderson. Lets see, if Abbas gets elected then 22% of the movers and shakers will be residents of the area. JMT, have you driven down Scott or Oklahoma ave lately? I'm surprised you're willing to paint an entire area with such a broad brush.

Yes I've driven down those streets. I love Scott especially.

Maybe I misread the OP, but it doesn't sound like the OP is going to be staying around Knoxville for long, just long enough for grad school. If someone were looking for a long-term investment I'd definitely recommend that neighborhood. But considering it's almost surrounded by some sketchy neighborhoods I don't know if it would be worth the short-term investment.

But to answer the OP's specific question: I would without question avoid the area west of Central and east of the RR tracks.

[creeksitter]

Is there any specific crime you know about? It strikes me as no different than any other working class neighborhood. Maybe living in a working class neighborhood with similar looking homes and a minimal amount of crime has lulled me into complacency.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

Is there any specific crime you know about? It strikes me as no different than any other working class neighborhood. Maybe living in a working class neighborhood with similar looking homes and a minimal amount of crime has lulled me into complacency.

No, I don't know of any specific crime in that neighborhood.

Living in a lower middle class neighborhood doesn't bother me at all; I live in a very working class neighborhood, too, just a couple of miles east of the OP's neighborhood. But I would not want to live immediately adjacent to some pretty run-down industrial buildings next to busy railroad tracks, which is what the OP's neighborhood is like. And it's awfully close to some really blighted areas just on the other side of I-275.

On the other hand, the OP's neighborhood is close to a couple of great burger joints there on Central, and the gas station on Woodland at I-275 is usually one of the cheapest in town.

Still, if I have time tomorrow I'll run by the OP's neighborhood with my camera and take some pics. It might not be as gritty as I remember.

[VolDude]

I personally feel like south Knoxville is the best place to live and buy, for students. It has the best combo of affordability, proximity to campus and downtown, and (perceived) lower crime. Look in the 37920 zip code. Lots of 100k and below homes in nice working class neighborhoods.

Basically there is project housing located somewhat near that area of Central, so that explains the rap.

I'd also suggest the Westcliff (sp?) Condos just outside Sequoyah Hills, which is considered one of the best neighborhoods in town. There's a great park nearby and it's about 10-15 min to your local UT parking garage. Units range from 80-100 I believe.

Post any other listing you find and we'll all be happy to give our opinions, but keep in mind that one person's bad area is another's ideal one.

[ajwwong]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and thanks especially to creeksitter (who has helped me on and off these boards) for being such a cool human being.

Big decisions... but I think VolDude put it best when he wrote "one person's bad area is another's ideal one."

Gratitude to you all.

[hiknapster]

What street, specifically?

[creeksitter]

I'm sure you can find some photos of rundown homes in the neighborhood, JMT, no doubt about it.

I don't see the proximity to the projects as being an issue because the interstate is such a barrier. Remember Sequyah hills is even closer to some very modest (even run down in some instances) areas off Sutherland and that doesn't affect property values.

The industrial proximity is real, but the house AJW is considering is on a very residential street.

Disclaimer: I own property in the area and I think it has potential as Happy Hollow develops. As for the time frame, that's anyone's guess. BTW, I didn't steer AJW there he found it on his own.