midtown rental house--neighborhood? (Memphis: rentals, buying, college)

[marktwain]

First, let me thank forumites for previous help! Your answers have been very helpful and I appreciate your willingness to volunteer what you know about Memphis. My family and I are very excited about moving there this summer.

My question concerns a rental house we are considering. It's on Washington Ave, near Cooper, south of Overton Park. Any comments about this area--including the name of the neighborhood would be great. Thanks again.

[Pearlbob]

The area has a lot of rentals, so the neighborhood may not be as well taken care of as others may be. But, it's a safe enough area and walkable to lots of things (Overton Park, the zoo, art museum, golfing, restaurants/bars....) I'm not sure if that area has a name, other than people simply calling it the Overton Park/Square area.

[theartsy1]

Hi there. This area is really hit or miss. I would venture to say more of a miss. What sort of neighborhood atmosphere are you looking for?

[marktwain]

Thanks, theartsy1 and Pearlbob.

I would like a reasonably safe and quiet neighborhood. I will be teaching at Rhodes, so walking or biking distance would be nice. A year of renting would probably be a good idea for us so we can try to understand Midtown and whether we want to buy a house there. I get that Midtown can change in quality from block to block so don't want to commit to a house before getting a handle on the various blocks.

[Pearlbob]

That area by Overton would be an easy bike ride to Rhodes - you could actually ride straight through the park everyday, which would be pretty. Rhodes is on the other side of the zoo from those apts on Washington.

[HannieMarie]

I believe that area is nice. My husband also teaches at Rhodes College and we know a number of faculty and their families, including ourselves, who live in midtown. A couple of our close friends and their toddler live a few blocks south of where you are describing, on Monroe, and they love it. They are currently renting but are considering buying the property. Midtown is great.