Yankees looking to make a good choice in Lexington (Richmond: fit in, rental)

[Samps]

Hello!

There were some threads that were similar to what I will ask, but we all feel unique don't we? We (me, wife and 3 lil girls) are coming to town this weekend the 14, 15 and 16th of Feb to look at homes. We have heard of some areas to avoid (NE side of LEX). We have heard of some desirable areas (Glendover, Chevy Chase). Yet, we feel we know very little about where to try and move to. We are also debating living in G'town or Nicholasville vs living in Lexington. I have answered the requested questions below, but the things that are high on our list are good schools (elementary), community/neighbors, safety, a YMCA, a great LBS (local bike shop), an artsy/cool coffee shop, 4 BR, 2BA 2500 sq ft, 2CAR. We have some showings set up with local folks to look at homes, but the best way to get to know an area and where we want to live is to reach out to the locals. So here I am and am hoping some Lexington folks will take the time to take our hand and enlighten us as to some of the ways of the city and what would be best for our family. Thanks in advance for the opinions, knowledge and sharing.

Where you are working
-From home

How much you are willing to spend on housing
-$1100-$1600

If you have kids: Private school or public school?
-Public; 3rd grader and Kindergartner

What type of neighborhood environment you are looking for: small town feeling? small city excitement? suburbia delight?
-Any of these.

Community amenities important to you
-YMCA, Pre-school, Library, Public Pool, Parks, Bicycle Racing team, a strong sense of community and quality neighbors with children

Pie or cake?
-German Chocolate Cake

[Wing Feathers]

Originally Posted by Samps

We are also debating living in G'town or Nicholasville vs living in Lexington.

You will find more home for the money in Nicholasville, but you will have to drive further to get home. The trade-off is up to you.

Originally Posted by Samps

an artsy/cool coffee shop

There are only two decent ones that I know of: Common Grounds, and Main/Maple (in Nicholasville). Common Grounds is hard to get to (no parking) and is tailored to the college crowd. Main/Maple has similar parking woes, but usually has a better strata of socioeconomic patrons. Other than that, Lexington has a severe deficit of places such as this - presumably because most families stay home.

Originally Posted by Samps

We have heard of some areas to avoid (NE side of LEX).

Absolutely.

My favorite parts of town are the West/South sides. Not too crowded, not too run down, not too close to the Interstate... and quick access to backroads when you need to get out & see the countryside

Best wishes!

[LEXpert]

Are you renting or buying? You mentioned $1100 to $1600, but I am not sure if you mean for rent or for a mortgage.

[timelesschild]

Chevy Chase, Ashland Park, or Glendover. Definitely. You want the elementary schools Cassidy or Glendover, and Morton Middle School.

Re. swim team - there is a public pool with a good swim team at Woodland Park. If you prefer a country club team, go for Spindletop or Lansdowne. If you want a really outstanding year-round team, there is one called Wildcat Aquatics. Also two of the YMCAs have year-round swim team. There is a good YMCA out Harrodsburg Road in the Beaumont area (just outside New Circle Road). There's another, older Y downtown on High Street (doesn't have swim team). Two good bike shops are downtown on Maxwell Street. Go check out the whole general area around Woodland Park - I think you will be very pleased.

A cool/artsy coffee shop that hasn't been mentioned yet is called Third Street Stuff.

For your budget and square footage requirements, I think you will get more in Glendover. Just make sure about your elementary school. What is really nice about Glendover:
1. convenient location!!!! Close to downtown, hospitals, good schools, grocery stores, bike paths, university and community college.
2. green space - the arboretum is in your backyard, and there are additional parks close by.
3. very very nice neighborhood with well-educated population
4. Lansdowne Country Club
5. Very decent solid houses with big yards

For a preschool, look at Centenary Methodist Church, Fayette Co-Op, St. Michael's, and Good Shepherd.

Ask more - there's more that I'm sure I'm forgetting.

[Samps]

Originally Posted by LEXpert

Are you renting or buying? You mentioned $1100 to $1600, but I am not sure if you mean for rent or for a mortgage.

With the uncertainty as to if we have truly hit the bottom of the drop in housing prices and in this market/financial crisis we are going to lease with an option to buy for at least 2 years. We want to lease a home that we will want to buy so we are not moving again in two years.

[Samps]

timelesschild and drinkme:

Excellent information. We thank you. I love the coffee shop names and specifics with regards to neighborhoods, shopping, schools, Y's, etc...

Can anyone comment, other than you get more house for the money, on the living environment or feel of living in a smaller suburb of LEX (G'town or Nicholasville) vs being in Lexington proper? To be blunt, a friend, who I should qualify is very pro LEX, liberal, educated, a professor and anti-burb suggested that these two burbs, while larger and close enough to the city that you wouldn't think there would be much of this going on, had a small-town redneck element that he encouraged me to avoid.

Now my Father was born in Kentucky and I lived in Memphis, TN for the first 12 years of my life, so I can handle some redneck and almost embrace it. But, what is not so cool is the racism, sexism, 'if you ain't from around here you ain't one of us' crap that can accompany any rural area. I am hoping some of you can shed some light on this isssue for us.

For what it is worth, I have found LEX to very friendly, educated and progressive.

The more house for the money is attractive in the outlying areas, but not at the expense of being surrounded by a constant reminder that you are comprimising your beliefs and values by living in an area that doesn't jive with the fundamental ideas of equality, open mindedness, live and let live, etc...

We are really excited at he prospect of becoming a member of your community.

Thanks so much for the comments, insight and sharing.

[ghghx]

'if you ain't from around here you ain't one of us'

I can only tell you our experience.

If we had it to do all over again, we would have moved to Lexington rather than to a smaller town half an hour away (one that is often highly ranked in the "best small town" lists). We stuck it out five years, trying to fit in, trying to keep a low profile. In spite of us trying to keep a lid on where we moved from, we got the "you ain't from here" nearly every day.

[lexingtongal]

I think you will find better schools in Lex than the other towns you mentioned. If you look at Glendover area just be aware that only a few streets go on to Henry Clay from Morton. We have friends that live in that area that are now looking to move into 40502 (my preferred area) so that their son can continue in high school with all of his friends from middle school.
Believe it or not the Chevy Chase Starbucks has a very interesting, regular crowd and doesn't feel "chain" like.
The downtown library is great.
You might also look at the Lakeview area. Large yards and homes, close enough to downtown, still within New Circle Rd (you avoid a lot of traffic with this), Cassidy, Morton, Henry Clay district but a better price than Ashland Park or Chevy Chase.

[InLondon]

Ashland Park, Chevy Chase would be a good area, as others have mentioned. It can be expensive though. Or for newer developments, there's the Hamburg area on the SE side of town or the Beaumont Centre area on the SW side. Or Chilesburg, Walnut Creek, or Stuart Hall neighborhoods off Richmond Rd.

[blossom4792]

Hi, I'd recommend Lexington proper - and everyone has sent you to some great locations - but those are really pricey areas! It's difficult for me to translate your rental budget into housing price levels, but Chevy Chase, Ashland Park, etc. (40502) are very expensive. Now, Glendover (40502) is possible as well as Hollywood (40502) and Landsdowne. I'd also look in places like Stonewall (40503) and maybe Beaumont (40513) which has a great YMCA; Beaumont is $, but see what you find there; there is an area over there that might be considered part of Palomar (Fort Harrods?) that would fit your criteria.