Which area(s) of Greater Lexington are best to live in?

[blossom4792]

I don't know the Andover area very well, but I agree that in that price range you want either zip 40503 or 40514. Last time I checked, maybe 1 month ago, there was a sex offender a couple of doors away from a house I almost bought in 40514 (a neighborhood considered prestigious) and a few others in the zip. None in 40513.

[lexingtony]

I have lived all over Lexington in the 19 years I've lived here. Richmond Road corridor, Nicholasville Road, Hamburg.....but I've lived on Chinoe Road for the last 4 years and I have to say that this is, BY FAR, my favorite neighborhood I've lived in. The people are generally friendly, the houses actually have some character, and it just feels SAFE. I have no problem going for a jog down Chinoe after dusk, or walking up to Chinoe Center for a cool Tropical Smoothie (yum)!

As far as I'm concerned, you just can't beat Chinoe.

[LEXpert]

I use to live in Gainesway. I drove down Chinoe everyday taking my kids to Maxwell. It is a really pretty area. My wife still goes to the Kroger on Chinoe.

Kind of off topic here, but I remember driving down Chinoe about 10 years ago when a guy in a truck fell asleep at the wheel and drove his truck into a house. It was about the 3rd house on the left as you cross Alumni heading towards Richmond Rd. He swerved into my lane a little, so I looked in my rear view mirror and watched him go off the road in a giant burst of dirt/dust. The truck flipped on its side. I never will forget the look on the owner's face when he opened his front door and there I am with about 20 other people standing around a red truck on its side.

[InLondon]

I prefer the Chinoe Road area, but also like Hamburg. The best places to live in Lexington however are where all the horse farms exist outside the city.

[tx2ky]

Originally Posted by lexingtony

I have lived all over Lexington in the 19 years I've lived here. Richmond Road corridor, Nicholasville Road, Hamburg.....but I've lived on Chinoe Road for the last 4 years and I have to say that this is, BY FAR, my favorite neighborhood I've lived in. The people are generally friendly, the houses actually have some character, and it just feels SAFE. I have no problem going for a jog down Chinoe after dusk, or walking up to Chinoe Center for a cool Tropical Smoothie (yum)!

As far as I'm concerned, you just can't beat Chinoe.

When you say "Chinoe Road" where exactly are you talking about....Chinoe road and what other street? Is there a name to the neighborhood? What part of Lexington is that? I'm obviously not familiar with Lexington yet, but I'll be moving there in about 10 mon and I'm starting to reasearch where to live...and it sounds great from how yall desribe it! THanks!

[blossom4792]

That's a good question. I was going to ask for clarification as well. Most addresses on Chinoe are in "Chevy Chase" but some sections are in Landsdowne-Merrick. I guess some parts are also in Ashland Park (there is one house for sale in the 200s noted in Ashland Park). In all cases, they are in zip 40502 inside New Circle close to the university, etc.

[ttyl1979]

I don't really care for the Chinoe area, I feel the homes are all so old and Chinoe Center Safe? we'll I have had a different experience and I also do not care for the Kroger on Euclid. With that said I don't believe the homes in the 40502 are worth the "I live here" that so many Lexington people make it about, I don't like the older homes so I would have to say... Hamburg and Andover are my favorite...A close second would be Beaumont or Clays Mill.

And I know very well that there are a lot of people who love the Ashland and Chinoe areas, just not me..that's all. I like to drive thru the areas and see the beautiful houses, but I would never want to live in one of them....

But that is what makes us all different...right?

[lexingtongal]

Chinoe from Richmond Rd to Fontaine, on the right, is considered Ashland Park. From there to Lakeside on the right is Chevy Chase. On the left side from Richmond Rd is Shriner's Neighborhood. I am not sure how far that goes and but at some point it becomes Lakeside. The area on the right becomes part of Shadeland.
Personally I love the area, especially Ashland Park. It isn't being able to say where you live but the livability of the area that makes it so special. It's one of the few parts of town that is very walkable. The homes have a lot of character.

[lexingtony]

Originally Posted by tx2ky

When you say "Chinoe Road" where exactly are you talking about....Chinoe road and what other street? Is there a name to the neighborhood? What part of Lexington is that? I'm obviously not familiar with Lexington yet, but I'll be moving there in about 10 mon and I'm starting to reasearch where to live...and it sounds great from how yall desribe it! THanks!

Chinoe Road is very long and extends from Richmond Road all the way to Armstrong Mill (although at some point it changes names to Greentree Road before it reaches Armstrong Mill, around Gainesway). My specific area intersects near Alumni Drive, which is fairly close to the Chinoe Center.

As Stephanie points out, the homes are "older", but generally very well taken care of, and the homes in this area tend to appreciate in value at a somewhat higher rate (some might even say "over priced"). Personally speaking, I live in this area because I do believe it's safe and I prefer the style of houses and love this neighborhood; not for some "I live here" prestige factor that was implied. I've never had any problems with the Chinoe Center being unsafe -- as mentioned earlier, I'll frequently jog up to the center, even at night. It has a grocery, a fine dining restaurant, a couple of casual restaurants, a pie shop, dry cleaner, liquor store, video rental store, hair salon...really, almost everything you need.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. Some folks prefer the newer vinyl village subdivisions and others prefer the older, more established neighborhoods. Neither is right or wrong, just depends on which you like better.

Good luck with your search for your new home -- wherever you settle, I'm sure you're going to love Lexington!

[LEXpert]

Chinoe changes to Greentree when you pass under New Circle. The Zip also changes to 40517.

We never had any problem with Chinoe Shopping Center when we lived in Gainesway. If you like chinese food, Jin Jin is the BEST.

A funny story about Chinoe. When I was in high school I got into a big argument with a girl because I called it Chinoe Road. She said it wasn't "Road" it was "Way". She was thinking that because she didn't understand that it is pronounced Shen-o-way. I told her if that was the case than it would be "Shen-o-way-way."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. This gives me a new idea for a thread.