Knoxvillian moving to Memphis, Wants REAL scoop on Safety concerns (Knoxville: apartments, condo)

[KnoxBoy23]

Hello Everyone,
I'm a 23 year old male moving to Memphis from Knoxville to go to Law School. Myself and my family are both concerned about the general safety of the city, especially the downtown area where I'll be spending most of my time. Now I know there is crime everywhere, I've experienced my share while at Univ. of Tenn-Knoxville. I just want to live somewhere that I'm not constantly worried about getting my door kicked in and my car broken into. I have researched and it's hard to find real perspectives on this issue. (All those Apartment websites mention nothing about CRIME or BREAK-INS.) Any advice and information will be greatly appreciated.

BTW, The Law School is on North Front Street in Downtown, I'd love to live in walking distance of it. Although, I'm considering Mud Island, Blair Towers, and the Exchange Building. (It seems to be the closest to the school) Any suggestions??

[one opinion]

Some have the idea that crime is rampant all over Memphis; this is not the case as there are several nice areas. While I am not familiar with blair towers or the exchange building in particular, downtown is safe and I wouldn't be concerned about safety in the area that is within walking distance to the law school. That being said, if you are overly concerned, I would stick with mud island for the first year; it is a bit more secluded.

[KnoxBoy23]

Thank you for your reply.. I wouldn't say I'm overly concerned. I'd just like to have the convenience of walking to school and back as opposed to driving. Do you have any personal recommendations for specific housing in either the downtown or midtown area?

[KnoxBoy23]

Just called about The Bristol on Union and they have a waitlist unfortunately.

[DubbleT]

Can't speak to the housing situation since I don't know anything about Memphis apartments.

But as far as safety concerns go,
my son went to UTK from Memphis and I was more concerned about him walking late at night from the parking garage on White Ave to his dorm, than I was about him running around most areas of Memphis.
Car break ins seem to happen just about everywhere unfortunately, but the rest of your concerns are fairly easy to avoid just by staying out of the rougher areas of the city and be aware of your surroundings.

[REPBOY]

I'm downtown nearly daily and frequently walking all over the place from near the Pyramid to South Main. I see law students walking to U of M Law School every day (what a cool facility BTW) and never see any threat or evidence of crime, only ocassional contact with a Panhandler who, after he knows you're there every day and won't fall for his made up story will leave you alone. My wife has worked in the same area as U of M for 8 years, parked on the street and never had a problem. I know families who have lived in The Shrine Building, one for ten years and loves the Downtown vibe. This is a condo bldg., but near some of the apts. you mentioned. I'm not personally aware of the apt. availability and cost in this neighborhood, but it's a liveable community.

[Anongmous]

to the OP

you want the "REAL SCOOP" ?? I would suggest that you consult official crime statistics and their locations of crime in Memphis MSA as Provided by LAW ENFORCEMENT, i.e. the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Office and FBI STATS about crime in Memphis

Information on web sites might be helpful in some respects, but you emphasized " REAL Sccop", and no poster on this site or many others are in a postion officially...we all simply state our own opinions shaped by our own experiences..which may differ widely.

My experience and subsequent opinion about crime in the Memphis area, is that it exceeds anywhere else that I have lived or live....hands down. Yes, I have been a victim of several crimes, burgulary, B&E occupied dwelling, B&E unoccupied dwelling (rental property), B&E automibile (in my own driveway), Auto theft (three), robbery at gunpoint, vandalism (numerous times), property theft, etc, etc....

One person's experience is not indicative of another's however...but, if someone tells you that Memphis MSA is a 'safe environment' or a 'safe city', they are patently lying to you. The statistics don't bear that out....not from law enforcement agencies.....and crime is NOT confined to so-called 'bad areas' either...not anymore...I live in the suburbs, work and travel all over.

[Tigertate]

Memphis Crime Tracker - crime.commercialappeal.com


Above is a link to the Memphis crime tracker from the main local paper (The Commercial Appeal). You are able to go back over a month to see all crime reported in a specific area. This will give you a feel for the crime in the area and where the highest concentration of crime occurs.


Ohh and Anongmous, you are one unlucky person. It seems hard to believe that someone who lives in the burbs would have that many run ins with crime. I have been here for over 20 years and have never been a victim of crime. I assume that you must work in a field that requires you to visit some bad parts of town.

[wheew]

Downtown is a very safe part of town compared to the rest of the city. Crimemaps aren't the best way of looking at crime in a city because a lot doesn't get reported, but it is worth a look. Pay close attention to the types of crimes that are the most common.

I've lived in memphis for 5 years, and most of the crimes I've witnessed through my friends or myself have been break-ins. Usually the cars have been unlocked, but a few times windows have been broken (ipods or wallets were always in clear sight in those cases).
I had my house broken into twice in cooper-young when everyone left for christmas and the house was empty for 2-3 weeks. I think you should be fine in an apartment building though.
Violent crime rates are high in Memphis, but keep in mind that a lot of that is drug and gang related, and not random violent attacks.

[Pearlbob]

Downtown Memphis where the Law School is located has the least crime in the entire city, based on its zip code. Mud Island would be a great option to live on (don't mind the floods ) and Exchange might be okay. I would never live in Blair Tower, it's in a pretty bad area right next to the hospitals, if I am remembering correctly. The area is undergoing a change and they are demolishing the slums and trying to rebuild along Poplar, but it's not close to downtown (couldn't walk) and again, not a good area in my opinion.