Lexington - Pensacola Park, Seven Parks, Arcadia Park (Nicholasville, Harrodsburg: cul-de-sac, apartment complexes)

[nlschr0]

Since several people on here have mentioned trying to find good school districts in central Lexington for around $200k, I thought I would add these neighborhoods as a suggestion. They are all located off of Nicholasville Rd, just south of campus, and I think all three are in the Glendover El/Morton Middle/LaFayette High district. Certainly not as upscale as Chevy Chase, but also without the higher price tags

Benefits - Glendover and Morton for less expensive than other areas; older, charming homes with tree-lined streets; many family-friendly streets; convenient to campus and downtown; some nice park/greenspace areas.

Negatives - Traffic (!!) from Nicholasville Rd (and often no alternative back-routes to avoid it); some homes close to active railroad track west of Nicholasville Rd; some areas have pockets of larger numbers of college students and the issues that accompany it, including "campus crime" spillovers (and this increases greatly as you move into the other neighborhoods that are north of Waller Ave).

The streets in the area can vary a lot, especially in Pensacola Park. There are some very nice homes in the area, too, up to around $300,000. Some streets are very well-kept, while a few (like Suburban Ct) have a mix of beautifully renovated bungalows and some homes that are not as well-maintained.

Anyway, if you really want to be inside of New Circle, in a great district, for around $200k or less, this might be one of your best bets. Just keep in mind that there are a few negatives there, too.

[cynthia007]

Please tell me what you think about the Tahoma Terrace/Shady Lane/Shadeland areas. Do you think there are college kids, fraternities, sororities around that area? Thanks!

[nlschr0]

Hi Cynthia!

I don't think that you will have any issues with college students in those areas. Shady Ln/Tahoma Terrace are quiet, higher-end streets with well-maintained single-family homes.

Shadeland has some apts and condos for rent around the Turkeyfoot Circle area, but even those areas aren't really full of students. There are some students but it is a pretty quiet area, with more families and young single professionals or grad students. Outside of the apts and condos, Shadeland offers a lot of single-family, well-maintained homes.

For the most part, these areas are too expensive for college students, and not conducive to a social college scene, so I woudn't worry about any of the areas that you've mentioned.

[cynthia007]

Thanks! Good to know. We love college students and college towns(why we love the area) but enjoy peace and quiet too.

[gimme it]

What's Brookhaven like?

[nlschr0]

I'm not as familiar with Brookhaven, but it does seem like a quiet, mature neighborhood. I think most of the housing stock is from the 60's-70's, with some ranches, split levels, etc. Malabu Dr, as you get towards Tates Creek Rd and Lansdowne area, has a few more rentals, apartments, and duplexes. Personally, I find the entire stretches of Malabu, Zandale, and Lowry roads to be too busy for a residential street, since a lot of people use them to cut between Nicholasville Rd and Tates Creek. Your best bet is to seek out the quiet cul-de-sacs and side streets throughout the area.

Brookhaven lacks the higher prestige of Glendover, but also is a little more affordable. All of the areas have older homes and large, mature trees. Zandale probably is the most affordable, with somewhat of a blue-collar reputation, then Brookhaven, then Glendover.

[gimme it]

That's the kind of information that is so helpful. Thanks.

[nlschr0]

Originally Posted by cynthia007

Thanks! Good to know. We love college students and college towns(why we love the area) but enjoy peace and quiet too.

That makes sense! The areas where you will find the most students:

1) north of Waller Ave between S.Broadway(aka Harrodsburg) and S Limestone (aka Nicholasville) up to the downtown area
2) Between campus and downtown along Euclid, Maxwell and High Sts, out to about Woodland Ave, although the entire length of Euclid and the surrounding blocks are pretty student-filled.
3) Parts of the Hollywood neighborhood, although as you get towards Cooper Dr the houses turn more expensive and mostly single family
4) Parts of the Rosemont Garden and Pensacola areas

That doesn't mean that there aren't nice, single-family houses in these areas, just that you will be dealing with a pretty high mix of college students and the accompanying slum landlords, parking issues, petty crime, late night parties, etc. Of course, you also get the benefit of great hole-in-the-wall eateries, late night burrito stands, music venues, etc!

There are also plenty of students in the suburban apartment complexes, but much less of the social scene that you'll find along Maxwell or Woodland.