Thinking of moving to Lexington- What is it like? (Lexington-Fayette: housing, rent)

[jbuhl]

Originally Posted by easydoesit

Zoe -


There is a good sized gay population that seems to be born out of Lexington's proximity to small towns where gays are trying to escape from for a more open lifestyle. Traffic is surprising bad for a city of its size. The city and surrounding area's population has far exceeded what the infrastructure can handle. It's a lot of stop and go traffic and the times at which it starts seems to creep up every year.
?

The gay population in Lexington is an interesting socio phenom and I think your observation is accurate. I have a gay friend who lived in the closet for years in my small homophobic hometown. He finally moved to Lexington and now leads an open happy life. Kudos to Lexington.

Unfortunately Lexington has totally dropped the transportation ball. They have relied to heavily on accommodating the automobile and have neglected mass transportation, pedestrians and bicycles. They have also let development run rampant resulting in ugly sprawl. I saw the other day where a delegation of city council types were out visiting a western city that has invested heavily in human powered infrastructure so maybe they are finally getting it together.

Kentucky is a beautiful state but narrow minds drag her down.

jb

[easydoesit]

Originally Posted by jbuhl

The gay population in Lexington is an interesting socio phenom and I think your observation is accurate. I have a gay friend who lived in the closet for years in my small homophobic hometown. He finally moved to Lexington and now leads an open happy life. Kudos to Lexington.

Unfortunately Lexington has totally dropped the transportation ball. They have relied to heavily on accommodating the automobile and have neglected mass transportation, pedestrians and bicycles. They have also let development run rampant resulting in ugly sprawl. I saw the other day where a delegation of city council types were out visiting a western city that has invested heavily in human powered infrastructure so maybe they are finally getting it together.

Kentucky is a beautiful state but narrow minds drag her down.

jb

Agree. They are trying some things -- bike lanes. But building out so far has indeed hurt 'em. I wish they would have torn down and rebuilt existing real estate rather than building further out. Some areas around campus and downtown were severely neglected and could have been used various projects -- some have been or are being redone now. Gonna be REAL interesting to see what they do with that huge eye sore once known as Lexington Mall --ghost town.

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by Zoe51

Hi again!
Shillito had some very bad reviews on the web and some good ones too, so I need to check it out further. I did find a list of apartments and wonder if anyone is familiar with these apartments:

Southwest Lexington Apartments
1585-1662 Alexandria Drive
Lexington, KY 40504

AAA does not put out a map on Lexington so I don't have one yet. Is this in a decent area? Is it near the areas you suggested? Thanks.

I have found that the web comments sometimes have to be taken with a grain of salt. There were terrible reviews posted about the apartments we're staying in temporarily, and they are beautiful. I think whacko, obsessed people post those reviews

[Zoe51]

Yes, going online can be a way of "getting back" at a landlord if someone has a grudge. So I try and do a lot of checking to get a fair picture of a place.

[joehen1]

i grew up in lexington and moved to louisville, most of my family and friends live in/around lexington.
Points
- new circle is for the birds lights on the north and traffic all the way around. if you have to live in lexington the masterson station homes are nice but close enough together to hear your neighbors through the walls!.
- live in versailles or out richmond road. even georgetown is nice.
- i hated lexington for the politics (old mayor pam is worthless and new one is better)
- they (LFUCG) do not know howto run a city.

[Cprompt]

Hello,

I just wanted to add a few comments about Lexington.

Not sure about anything liberal here...this is a solid conservative place...they have the creation Museum in Kentucky!

I too am from the Virginia Beach area. I moved from there about 4 years ago. Lexington is quite an interesting place. Definitely a small town feel with people that wish that Lexington was smaller or larger.

You'll find that Lexington really has some nice places, however there are some ugly parts of Lexington that I really don't approve of. I really miss the Virginia Beach Area So very much...I think the one thing that I miss the most is the diversity of people that we had in VahBeach.

I think the Lack of diversity is a negative factor of this area, however nobody can help that part. People can be friendly to you..but only if they know you. You will find out that Kentucky is full of people that have family that has been here for eternity...everyone knows each other from smaller towns. (where Lexington is the "big city"). I'm really happy that they got rid of their "it's that friendly" license plate...i never felt the "friendliness" that i did find in 757.

Someone mentioned traffic is terrible, and it is...Lexington has probably the worst infrastructure that I've ever seen. For one thing...there isn't a freeway that cuts thru the city, so you're forced to take local roads, and 2ndary streets to navigate the town. You know those things called clover leaves in 757/VA? They are completely non-existent here...Everything comes to a diamond stop...what SHOULD take 5mins...takes so much of your time. You'll soon find out the problem with roads...and how Lexington is truly an overgrown town.

I can really go on and on about how much i dislike Lexington, however I'll save everyone including myself from also being bashed as well. The only thing that keeps me here is a good career that helps my skill set of my career...that could possibly land me somewhere else.

The thing that Keeps my sanity in Lexington???..are the places to eat here. There are numerous places to eat in this area. Hole in the wall places that are hard to find can be wonderful places to sit and enjoy. A great array of ethnic food that even surpasses that of the 757area has to offer. My favourites are Thai, Mediterranean, Japanese, and even a cute French Cafe+bakery.

If you have anything to ask or compare with 757...please ask.

[Zoe51]

I'm dure Lexington isn't the only town whose infrastructure hasn't caught up with it's growth. The "conservatism" worries me, too many bad memories of being forced to participate in someone ele's religion when growing up in Virginia. When checking out places to go, some areas were just a no go for the fundamentalists, and not all of them in the south.
Thanks for the tips on the eateries, one of the luxuries I enjoy. It will be fun exploring.

[Cprompt]

Originally Posted by Zoe51

I'm dure Lexington isn't the only town whose infrastructure hasn't caught up with it's growth. The "conservatism" worries me, too many bad memories of being forced to participate in someone ele's religion when growing up in Virginia. When checking out places to go, some areas were just a no go for the fundamentalists, and not all of them in the south.
Thanks for the tips on the eateries, one of the luxuries I enjoy. It will be fun exploring.

Of course Lexington isn't...and it's surely not only in the south...it's just a heads up on what to expect.

When it comes to infrastructure...i wonder where all my tax money goes...I really feel that it isn't the roads here! I feel it went into the horse industry instead...hahaha...YEAH KY I SAID IT.

Even tho' VaBeach can be viewed as "church central"..(e.g. regent university)...i never got the impression that I did here in KY about how religious/conservative a place can be! Again, I feel that it has to do with the diversity factor that KY lacks. 757 had diversity stirring all the time...with people coming in and out of the military bases, and large super companies that stir international business. I guarantee that you will run into people that won't hesitate to feel prejudice or even express their feelings about something that's different from what they know...i have first hand experience!

[bluegrassgirl]

Zoe51 - Thanks for sharing those reviews. Perhaps the complaints about management are true? I did not ask either of the people that I know. However, I did stop there a couple nights ago when I was walking to take a break - extreme heat going on here! I sat outside and talked to my two friends that live there - one single girl, one with three teenage daughters and found out the one with kids has her mother living in another apt there. I did kinda watch the residents when we sat outside and talked. Seems like quite a mix of folks.... UK students, older persons (like my friend's mom), to families. I was by there last Friday evening and the pool consisted of a mom with three boys. The pool is small. I was in the club house a few years ago and it was VERY nice and also VERY cheap to rent for get togethers. The parking does not seem in abundance... especially if you have a lot of visitors. Again, I would think location would be a huge plus for Shillito... mall, park, grocery, etc. all within 2-5 minutes.

Keep us posted on your journey.

[whoabuck]

Hey, Y'all

I haven't been on here in awhile, so I missed the whole christian/religion-crime smack-down. What a shame... I think Easy handled it pretty well, and frankly it's an argument I'm tired of having with religious fundamentalists of any ilk. Meanwhile, here we come, and there goes the neighborhood!

Anyway...back to Lexington. I'll be living outside of Fayette Co (much to ol' Tomocox's relief, I'm sure), but commuting in every day. Ideally, I'd like to park and ride (bus or bike) once I get within a reasonable distance. I did notice on the Bluegrass bike riders' website Bluegrass Cycling Club - Lexington, Kentuckythat there seems to be a large number of unsafe roads for bicyclists in the city. Are they being conservative, or would I be risking life and limb every time I go out? Are drivers openly hostile to bike riders (as they can be here - throwing trash as they drive by, bumping, blasting horns, etc.)? The city website BIKE -- PLANNING -- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Governmentsuggests that creating bike paths is a priority. Is there any truth to it? (We had a similar proposal here about, oh, 10 years ago...nothing has been done, in spite of receiving federal money for the project.) Will a regular commuter bike fit onto the bus racks?

Great input on this thread. I'm pretty excited about moving up there. (but Virginia Beach sounds nice, too.)