Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Arlington vs. Lakeland vs. Germantown vs. Collierville
Hi Everyone!! I posted a thread not too long ago about moving to Germantown or Collierville from New Jersey. As I stated before my husband just accepted an offer to work in Arlington right outside Arlington Town Center. Some people suggested we just move to Arlington instead of Germantown or Collierville because of the proximity. My question is are these neighborhood comparable in terms of safety and overall niceness? What about Lakeland, Cordova Oakland and Atoka? Again, I am really naive about this area. I have no clue about any of the towns around this area. How do all of these areas compare to each other? And any other areas which are close that I am unaware of? We will be starting a family in the next year or so, but I am not too concerned because by the time our children would reach school age, (could be 5-6 years) we will know the area better and relocate or do private school (and since I am a stay at home I can drive them anywhere for private school). We view our first place a more of a way to get our feet wet in Tennessee and make sure we want to stay long term. Once we decide we want to stay long term we will seek out where we want to purchase a house. For now we will either rent an apartment or a house. Though we would prefer renting a house. Our renting budget maxs out at $1,800 a month, though would really like to stay below our max so we can have a savings plan. You can see my other thread to get more information on me or view my profile.
Arlington = northeast of Memphis, furthest out, safe, good schools, near access to mall shopping (Wolfchase)
Nearby access to foofoo private schools - no idea
Access to pro & college sports/arena entertainment - @ 30-45 min drive
Feel - small town short hop to big city
Lakeland = northeast edge of Memphis, safe, good schools, close access to mall shopping (Wolfchase)
Nearby access to foofoo private schools - not too far
Access to pro & college sports/arena entertainment - @ 25-40 min drive
Feel - small town runs into big city
Germantown = directly east of Memphis, nearest to Memphis "central corridor," safe, excellent schools, near access to mall shopping (Wolfchase, Oak Court, Collierville)
Nearby access to foofoo private schools - multiple
Access to pro & college sports/arena entertainment - @ 20-35 min drive
Feel - upscale suburb runs into big city with horse pastures scattered
Collierville = east/southeast of Memphis, safe, excellent schools, close access to mall shopping
Nearby access to foofoo private schools - not too far
Access to pro & college sports/arena entertainment - @ 30-45 min drive
Feel - big suburb short hop to big city with much upscale
All are incorporated = own city govt separate from Memphis
Airport noise = low in all
Train noise = minor in G'town & C'ville
Foofoo factor champ = G'town
Out o' the city feel champ = Arlington
OMG chain stores to the max access = Lakeland
Nightclub nearby = as far as I know, all fail
New houses champ = Collierville/Arlington
Older houses champ = Germantown
Property taxes champ = Lakeland (?)
Need 5 Guys Burger RIGHT NOW = G'town/Lakeland
BBQ jonesing = Are you kidding? All, intravenous if necessary.
Hippie food access & over priced delicious noms winnar = G'town (shut up, humor intended/Whole Foods & Fresh Market)
Hospital access = all good, slight edge to Germantown for now
In-bound I-40: AM = hair ripper, PM = not too bad 90% of time
In-bound 385: AM = hair ripper, PM = crawls a lot
Out-bound I-40: AM = 70 MPH, PM = not too bad
Out-bound 385: AM = 60 MPH + most days, PM = not too bad
Germantown to Bartlett: AM = 20 min, PM = 30+ min
Bartlett to Germantown: AM = 30+ min, PM = 20+ min
Wild card (future holds much promise) = 385 Collierville-Arlington connection, construction ongoing.
Okay, really it all depends on what you want. I don't think you'd hate any of the four as a first place to rent, then look around to buy.
Can you please elaborate about the area where champion hills at stonebridge apartments are? I called and found out that this apartment complex might be fine but right across the road is a hell hole and terrible traffic. It's located on state road 64, at exit 18 on I-40. Also I looked at the framington gates apartment in Germantown close to the baptist rehabilitation center on poplar avenue. They are cheap but open access to everyone. Do you know anything about them? We have 3 years old toddler and looking for reasonable but safe area to live but we can't decide yet where to live.
The Champion Hills are right near Hwy 64 & I-40...definitely going to be busy traffic-wise. Traffic will probably only get worse in the future, since so many people are moving into the area east of there. I've never been in those apartments, so I can't comment on quality. I can't really give much info on Lakeland apartments in general. In that NE region of town I've been in the Lincoln at Wolfchase -- very nice. Technically they're in Cordova (Memphis city limits), but they seem pretty safe (gated).
Farmington Gates...I personally love the location. You could walk to a lot of stuff in Germantown. The quality is kinda _meh_ though. Those apartments have been lived in and then some. Worn carpet & counters, painted paneling (pet peeve), & dated appliances. Wouldn't want one facing Poplar Ave. due to traffic. Honestly, I was underwhelmed last time I looked over one that was supposedly ready for move-in. If you don't mind a place that's kinda worn & not very up-to-date, it's okay. Nice pool. There aren't a lot of apt complexes in G'town though, and the others are more expensive for the space you get (for this area). If you need to get in the school zone, take it. Find a better place when the lease is up.
If school zone won't matter for a year or two, I highly recommend the Fairfax Manor Townhouses. They're in East Memphis, just a 5 min drive from Farmington Gates, right off Poplar at Massey. My husband and I lived there for 7 years. Only moved to buy a house. They don't really have fabbo new style features either, but they are gated and the folks who run the place are awesome. The guy who cleans them before move-in is meticulous. You get a lot of square footage for price. The neighborhood is great, pretty much any shopping or service you could want is nearby. 3-4 minute drive gets you to different little parks in Germantown, more than one with a playground. Only drawback is the train. Search for Fairfax here at city-data to find my other posts about it.
rockadoodle, Great posts, very insightful! Love the stereotyping. Made me laugh! If we move to Arlington or Lakeland will I have to drive more than 15 minutes to find a store that sells organic produce? I know Whole Foods. which we use for produce now, but I am not sure if there are other grocery stores out there that have a decent organic section. Also, for more insight about us, we don't do bars or night clubs ever. We like to occasionally go out to eat, but we have no problem driving a bit to do it, since it is so seldom. Also, we love going to parks and walking around. We also enjoy canoeing and/or kayaking. Outdoor activities are always nice, but we generally drive at least 10-30 minutes to reach some of these things now, so if it is the same it will be no big deal. As far as where we like shopping, my husband likes Banana Republic, J Crew, Express and Macy's. As for me, I like the same with addition to White House Black Market, Guess, Cache, Chico's, H&M, Forever 21, Lord & Taylor, Nordstroms and Ulta. While I know I may not find all of these, but can you tell me if I can some? Thanks!!
rockadoodle, Great posts, very insightful! Love the stereotyping. Made me laugh! If we move to Arlington or Lakeland will I have to drive more than 15 minutes to find a store that sells organic produce? I know Whole Foods. which we use for produce now, but I am not sure if there are other grocery stores out there that have a decent organic section. Also, for more insight about us, we don't do bars or night clubs ever. We like to occasionally go out to eat, but we have no problem driving a bit to do it, since it is so seldom. Also, we love going to parks and walking around. We also enjoy canoeing and/or kayaking. Outdoor activities are always nice, but we generally drive at least 10-30 minutes to reach some of these things now, so if it is the same it will be no big deal. As far as where we like shopping, my husband likes Banana Republic, J Crew, Express and Macy's. As for me, I like the same with addition to White House Black Market, Guess, Cache, Chico's, H&M, Forever 21, Lord & Taylor, Nordstroms and Ulta. While I know I may not find all of these, but can you tell me if I can some? Thanks!!
Rockadoodle- your posts are great, honest, detail and funny!!
Starletblonde-- Arlington/Lakeland share the same zip code they are kinda one in the same, both very nice, VERY low crime and quiet(in some places you will hear the train). Whole foods stores are in Bartlett, which depending on where in Arlington could take 15-20min From Lakeland maybe 5 minutes less time. But if you want closer shopping, you'd be better off looking into G'town or C'ville. From Arlington/Lakeland you can get to Wolfchase Mall in 15min. C'ville has it's own mall, with multiple stores.
Champion Hills has Arlington address and they are nice on the inside, management is nice and being gated adds to the area as well. Rockadoodle is correct traffic is rough, but it can be delt with, as there is a light if you go out the side. Also being right there on Hwy 64, gives you easy access to a lot more as far as shopping, eating, etc. You'd be on the verge of bartlett, about 10min from Oakland, as well as Arlington town square.
Now if you are looking into renting houses, these 4 areas aren't going to cut any slack, they are not cheap. You will be able to stay in your budget, and maybe be a little less, but you won't be saving much.
Good Luck and Welcome to the area!!
Excellent funny post Rock. Spot on. I guess Lakeland might be your best bet. You should be able to find everything you need in any direction. You're closer to I-40 but then again, you're close to Arlington, Eads etc.
• I drive the speed limit as much as possible...let's just say I don't fiddle-fart around driving. I go around slower folks and get the heck on with it. I don't want to spend my life catching every red light on the way around town. If you don't mind taking your time, you'll likely be at the top of time ranges I state.
• Poplar Ave. is the _the_ main East-West street through the city. When people say "the Poplar corridor," they are referring to a main business artery that goes from downtown at the Miss. River all the way out of the metro to the east of Collierville. If you ever get lost in Memphis, if you can find Poplar, you aren't really lost. Hwy 72 = Poplar Ave.
• Germantown Rd and Germantown Pkwy are the same road, from Germantown to Bartlett. It's the main North-South artery on the eastern side of the city.
• If you continue on I-40 past the I-240 loop without taking an exit, it turns into Sam Cooper Blvd. This is the easiest way to get into Midtown from out east, IMHO. Poplar is the slow way to go. Walnut Grove is also a good way to get there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Starletblonde
rockadoodle, Great posts, very insightful! Love the stereotyping. Made me laugh! If we move to Arlington or Lakeland will I have to drive more than 15 minutes to find a store that sells organic produce? I know Whole Foods. which we use for produce now, but I am not sure if there are other grocery stores out there that have a decent organic section.
I'm honestly not sure about the Arlington/Lakeland area as far as organic goes since it's not something I look for specifically. However, here's a list of grocery stores that I know a bit about:
Kroger - our main grocery chain for the region (they're everywhere) - some organic
Target - national chain - some organic, I think
Whole Foods - national chain - probably carry more organic than others
Fresh Market - higher priced but great food - some organic, maybe more than Kroger
Aldi - national chain - own brand, low prices - dunno about organic
Easy Way - local chain (little orange building) - dunno about organic but fresh produce and local baked goods and honey
Costco - national chain - dunno about organic
There are other grocery stores in the area and there may be small shops specific to Lakeland/Arlington that carry organic. Maybe someone else can fill in that info.
There's a Whole Foods near a Fresh Market and Easy Way in East Memphis, maybe 3 min apart, so you could hit both in a trip. About a 15-20 min drive from Lakeland, depending on rush hour/time of day. You'd get onto I-40 at Lakeland, take the I-240 south exit that probably says "to Jackson, MS," take the Poplar Ave. West exit, pass a few red lights. Fresh Market would be a turn south on White Station, on the right before Park Ave. Whole Foods would be stay on Poplar past White Station a little, on the right before Mendenhall/Mt.Moriah. For Easy Way you'd take a left at Mendenhall/Mt. Moriah, it's the screaming orange building on the left.
Also, for more insight about us, we don't do bars or night clubs ever. We like to occasionally go out to eat, but we have no problem driving a bit to do it, since it is so seldom. Also, we love going to parks and walking around. We also enjoy canoeing and/or kayaking. Outdoor activities are always nice, but we generally drive at least 10-30 minutes to reach some of these things now, so if it is the same it will be no big deal.
Memphis has one freak feature that most out-of-town people don't know about because they get wrapped up in hearing about the crime and general ARGH about Memphis: we have a ginormous park/farm smack in the middle of the metro area...Shelby Farms. If you pull up a map of Memphis, find I-40, Germantown Rd. exit, follow Gtown Rd. south to Trinity/Raleigh LaGrange/Walnut Grove. That's the northeast region of the park. Gtown Rd is the eastern border, the Wolf River is the southern border, and it sort of trails off on the West around the eastern I-240 loop. It's fantastic. You can fish, canoe/kayak (Wolf River), picnic, bike, run, walk, etc. The Agricenter is a large facility there that has events all year round, including a Fair. There's a corn maze at Halloween, and there's a big light show at Christmas. There's also usually a 4th of July shindig. There's grazing critters and actual farming, too. And of course you can find outdoor activities galore outside the metro. We have plenty of rivers, lakes, and campgrounds in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Hunting fishing, and camping, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Starletblonde
As far as where we like shopping, my husband likes Banana Republic, J Crew, Express and Macy's. As for me, I like the same with addition to White House Black Market, Guess, Cache, Chico's, H&M, Forever 21, Lord & Taylor, Nordstroms and Ulta. While I know I may not find all of these, but can you tell me if I can some? Thanks!!
We've got pretty much all those stores as far as I know. There's a couple of Ulta locations in the city, one on Gtown Pkwy not far from Wolfchase, actually. Here's some lists that might help:
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Arlington vs. Lakeland vs. Germantown vs. Collierville
