The Oldham County Showcase (Louisville, Lyndon: houses, income, job)

[tomocox]

I have been accused of being the Oldham County Fanatic on this forum. Well, I don't think I am so much of an Oldham County fanatic as I am a Kentucky fanatic and it just happens that Oldham County has so much to offer. From superior public education, to excellent medical services, great churches, clubs, and communities, to what was Showcased Friday and Saturday (Mar 7 & 8) even in the face of a tremendous late winter blizzard, members of the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce bravely navigated slippery roads to display many of the products and services available in the county.

I am proud to be a member of the Oldham County business community and both the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce and the Prospect Area Chamber of Commerce. The dedication of mostly local business owners and employees in the face of such weather adversity deserves lots of applause.

[censusdata]

$4 gas is going to stop suburban growth in its tracks, not to mention America;s changing demographics. Racial minorities, which prefer urban locations verse suburban ones, now make up HALF of children in the US under age 5

[tomocox]

Census... you may be right, but that reply is most likely incorrect. You are proving with each of your responses that anyone can make a case for their argument using selective data. Your data is so wrong about minorities simply because most of the new minorities are Hispanic and at least in Kentucky the rural areas are growing due to the their influx. While construction may slow, food is going up and farmers need Hispanic workers...

Short term, Oldham and other suburban counties will take a hit, but your response to my praise of 90 local businesses for their brave commitments truly missed the point.

[Helen12]

You seem knowledgeable about Oldham County. I will be moving to KY and was interested in that county. Do you recommend certain subdivision? I know Hillcrest has a good reputation, however I find it very crowded. Also what do you think about the Hunters ridge? Do you prefer Goshen school or Harmony? How is the commute in the morning to the Downtown? Do you prefer to take the river road or the hwy? I saw nice new houses in the Glenoks and Moser Farm, but the commute seems very difficult in the morning.
Thanks

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by Helen12

You seem knowledgeable about Oldham County. I will be moving to KY and was interested in that county. Do you recommend certain subdivision? I know Hillcrest has a good reputation, however I find it very crowded. Also what do you think about the Hunters ridge? Do you prefer Goshen school or Harmony? How is the commute in the morning to the Downtown? Do you prefer to take the river road or the hwy? I saw nice new houses in the Glenoks and Moser Farm, but the commute seems very difficult in the morning.
Thanks

It is a nice hike into downtown...about 30-45 minutes most mornings from those areas. It is 27 miles from downtown to LaGrange. I-71 is the fastest but gets quite backed up at rush hour at 8 AM and 5 PM. Louisville rush hour is light compared to most major cities though. Tom praises Oldhaml...and it is nice...but there is no real need to live there. Jefferson County has everything you could want and then some. The only reason I see to live in Oldham is more land, and perhaps, as Tom says, the average public schools are better. Although, as I have reiterated, by far all of the BEST schools are in Louisville. Its just the schools run a wider spectrum in the city between bad and good.

[Helen12]

Actually, I am interested in the Prospect area, I need to commute to the Louisville Downtown and heard good things about the Oldham county school specially Goshen and Harmony schools.
Thanks

[tomocox]

You seem knowledgeable about Oldham County. I will be moving to KY and was interested in that county. Do you recommend certain subdivision? I know Hillcrest has a good reputation, however I find it very crowded. Also what do you think about the Hunters ridge? Do you prefer Goshen school or Harmony? How is the commute in the morning to the Downtown? Do you prefer to take the river road or the hwy? I saw nice new houses in the Glenoks and Moser Farm, but the commute seems very difficult in the morning.
Thanks

Helen, there are lots of great subdivisions with great homes across a total range of market values. If you can ride TARC to your job, Oldham County is actually a much better value than any other area of the Louisville Metropolitan Statisical Area (MSA).

Right now and with the opening of school in 2008, I can assure you of which school your child will attend. Just last week, the Oldham County School Board approved its 2008-09 school assignment plan. This plan will be effective at least until the construction of a new building at Liberty Elementary scheduled to begin in 2009 with plans to open for 2010-11 school year at which time only 300 or so children will be reassigned. If you buy in the JCPS district, nothing is firm until the new plan ordered by the Supreme Court is accepted.

Now, back to your OP, there are several excellent subdivisions that can be recommended which are served by Harmony, Goshen, or Liberty Elementaries. All which are considered top 15 schools in Kentucky. Harmony and Goshen arguably number in the nation's top public elementary schools with Liberty's only need being for the new structure. Of those you mentioned, Glenoaks and Moser Farms (be careful as both have Jefferson and Oldham County homes on the same streets) are actually very reasonable for accessing I-71 at I-265. Briar Hill is served by Kenwood Station Elementary and it is led by one of the best principals I have ever met. Remember, ALL OLDHAM COUNTY schools are very academically balanced. Don't overlook the properties near exit 14 or 17 as both have 15-20 minute drive times in normal traffic. I like and live in Briar Hill which has spacious lots with homes ranging in age from zero to 30 years. Even LaGrange, which had been historically the weakest school, has made huge strides and now is almost equal to all the others.

So what next? It depends on your budget, desires, and wishes. Do you want a $150,000 house, or a $2,000,000 home? Do you like a older home with character, or do you want a new maintenance-free home with energy saving construction?

Are there other considerations such as shopping, recreation, faith, or closeness of your neighbors? Are you willing to buy a fixer-upper?

As far as which is the best commute route to downtown, I don't make that trip daily so I can't honestly give you an experience based opinion; however, for the next 9-10 months, River Road will be closed at the Harrods Creek bridge for replacement.

Lots of questions, all with answers and options. One of your options is "not Oldham County" which is a very real option if you find your needs are better served in Jefferson County.

[AngC]

We're looking to relo to Louisville this summer. We've focused on Oldham county. My husband and I both graduated from HS in JCPS and were overall happy with the experience, but the entire busing/redistricting chaos has scared us away. I attended one of the 1st magnet programs in Louisville, but don't want to have to count on our kids getting into a school of choice and/or facing a 60 min bus ride each way.

Since my husband is based at home, we don't care about a commute and we don't eat/go out often enough to need to live within walking distance to the hot spots. Honestly, avoiding the income tax levied in metro louisville is another driving force.

We're looking to spend about 350K, but not be the most expensive house in the neighborhood. <12 yo, 1/3+ acre lot size, pool/golf club community would be nice, lots of young families with school age kids, and a smaller more private overall neighborhood size. I've looked online at Glenoaks and Moser farms, Old Taylor Place, and Hunting Creek. Where else should we look?
Thanks

[tomocox]

Golf communities are in short supply for Oldham County, which leave Glenoaks as the prime subdivision on your list. There are homes around Harmony Landing CC, Kamer Place near the Oldham County CC.

I like Glenoaks and Moser Farms. Good location, easy access to I-265 and I-71. Only real issue will be the traffic effect yet to be determined by the development of Norton Commons. Be careful to check on where you actually are in both Glenoaks and Moser Farms as they both have Jefferson and Oldham County addresses.

If golf isn't too important, don't overlook Briar Hill. There are many smaller developments around too.

[censusdata]

Criminals love people like you, Tom, who abandon their neighborhoods after one break-in or robbery. Your philosophy is that if the criminals have taken over the West End, the ngive them Buechel. If they take over Buechel, them give them Lyndon also. Heck, why not just let them take over all of Jefferson County and flee to Oldham County?

Criminals hate people who stand and fight crime where it exists, which is the case in Old Louisville and Downtown.