Difference between Knoxville and West Knoxville? (Oak Ridge, Farragut: apartments, rent, low crime)

[Pearl14256]

Hello Beautiful People I'm looking to move to Knoxville with my new hubby and am interested in knowing the difference between Knoxville and West Knoxville. Is one a better area, or more shopping/restaurants? I have been to Kville in general several times as I have family there and in Oak Ridge but am now looking to actually move there so I would love to get the scoop better.

We want to get an apartment for the time being, can anyone recommend any of these: Papermill Square, Tiffany Square, Woodlands West, Steeplechase?

(Looking for 1BR or 2BR, under $650 with easy access to shopping/restaurants/etc.) Thanks for your help

[Pearl14256]

Come on people, 60 views and no posts? :-) Help me out :-)

[anothertntony]

Knoxville has grown almost exclusively west over the past couple of decades. It's hard for me to tell anymore what West Knoxville really means -- it could mean anything from just west of UT (Sequoyah Hills, Bearden) all the way out to Farragut.

It's easier to clarify looking at a map. Search for Knoxville, TN on maps.google.com. The portion labeled Knoxville is downtown, around the 275 / 40 junction. Note that 640 was originally meant to bypass Knoxville, so you can see what was considered Knoxville when it was built.

Kingston Pike and 40 run roughly parallel and are the major thoroughfares. The portion west of downtown and east of the 640 / 40 merger is roughly what was considered West Knoxville in the past (with most neighborhoods connected to Kingston Pike). West Knoxville kept moving west and now basically goes to the Pellissippi Parkway (i.e., 140 or 162). You will probably have to zoom out a couple of times to even see that. As you can see, by distance, West Knoxville is much bigger than Knoxville proper.

In general, the more affluent areas (with better schools, more shopping, low crime) are consistent with whatever happens to be the western frontier of expansion at the time. Farragut is very affluent and West Knoxville is basically merging into Farragut. There are still many affluent neighborhoods closer to downtown though, with Sequoyah Hills being one example.

The current shopping rage is Turkey Creek near Lovell Rd in (extreme) West Knoxville. However, there are restaurants and shopping pretty much along the entire Kingston Pike corridor from Farragut to downtown Knoxville. You can see West Town Mall on Kingston Pike about halfway between Farragut and downtown, for example.

[oldmanbob]

Hey Pearl, congrats on your new marriage and sorry, been busy and just now saw your post. All the places you listed, are about equal and you would just need to visit to see which appeals to you the most. As the one poster stated, West Knoxville starts somewhere around the Papermill area, and plenty of food choices all over. Turkey Creek is the newest and flooded with shoppers. Good luck and anywhere you choose, will be just fine.

[hondaguy83]

650 a month can get you pretty much anywhere in Knox including West Knox...If you have to be near shopping and resturants then West Knox is it pretty much between West Town,Turkey Creek and the Shops at Deane Hill...Steeplechase isn't worth looking at trust me...They may look nice,But the people that stay there can be shady and sketchy at best...(example..An ex UT basketball player and a few other people got caught selling drugs and robbing people there awhile back.....I'd look into Sunchase off Cedar Bluff...There pretty nice with alot of outdoor and indoor amenties,Like an indoor pool,outdoors sand volleyball court,etc...All within 10-15 mins of both West town and Turkey Creek...You should be able to get a 2 br there for around 600...1 br i know you can

[airen123]

Think of Knoxville like this: Parallel to 40-it starts out with Farragut, Turkey Creek, Cedar Bluff (I think of this as the TRUE West Knoxville). Then Gallagher View, West Town area is Downtown West area (I know this is confusing), then Papermill, UT Campus, and then Downtown area (starts East Knoxville....
Be careful what apartments you select off Gleason Rd , there are little pockets of "shady" areas there. I would go by and actually check for barb-wire and in general the feeling of the complex before you choose...

I agree, Sunchase off Cedar Bluff is nice...

[Pearl14256]

Just checked out Sunchase on rent.com, it looks great! If anyone has any other recommendations, please let me know! :-)

[anothertntony]

Originally Posted by airen123

Be careful what apartments you select off Gleason Rd , there are little pockets of "shady" areas there.

Where are the shady parts off of Gleason Rd? I had always thought that was a nice area, although I only ever drove by.

[Pearl14256]

Originally Posted by oldmanbob

Hey Pearl, congrats on your new marriage and sorry, been busy and just now saw your post. All the places you listed, are about equal and you would just need to visit to see which appeals to you the most. As the one poster stated, West Knoxville starts somewhere around the Papermill area, and plenty of food choices all over. Turkey Creek is the newest and flooded with shoppers. Good luck and anywhere you choose, will be just fine.

Thank you, just got my marriage certificate in the mail today! (Got married in St. Thomas, USVI)

[Pearl14256]

Also, does anyone know if there is a company like ZipCar in Kville? I know that ZipCar is in Nashville - it's a company that is like a mutual share ride type of thing where you can rent a car for a couple of hours; designed to be used for people that live mostly car free.

Also, is Kville a good city to live car free in? If so, where is the best place to live?