Memphis or Nashville? (Jackson, Bartlett, Germantown: rent, crime, brokers)

[mswebb06]

Hello everyone I have a very interesting situation on my hand. I have been offered a job transfer to either Memphis or Nashville area my compensation package will be the same down to the penny regardless of which city I chose.

We are a young middle to late 20's couple with no children, however we will start planning a family soon. We do not do the "bar scene" anymore, we enjoy the mall, going to movies, ballgames,musuems, and out to eat. We currently live in a sub-division and I am not totally against sd's, however we would like to find a place with a large enough yard for everyone to play in if desired. Our price range is 250-400K. I will post this on both boards. What are some great areas in Memphis to raise a family?

[ThaShadow]

In Memphis itself there aren't many great area's some of the better ones in Shelby county are Collierville,Bartlett,and Arlington. If you don't mind a bit of a commute you can go to Olive Branch and some parts of Southaven(better than Memphis for sure) you will also get more house for your money in this area but its about a 30 min + commute depending on what part of Memphis you work.

[Pearlbob]

There are great areas for families all over Memphis and the suburbs...just have to know where to look, as they are dotted here and there inside the city limits. Otherwise, Collierville, Germantown are great, Bartlett is good too.

However, if you were picking overall, which is the better city in which to raise kids...Nashville wins, hands down. Memphis is fun for younger folk especially, lots of good bars and restaurants. But there is a ton of crime all over, which doesn't exist all over in Nashville like it does here. Memphis is very poor, very uneducated, very urban, predominantly african-american...a very urban city. I've heard it compared to Detroit a lot (although much hotter!!)

[chuck1229]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

There are great areas for families all over Memphis and the suburbs...just have to know where to look, as they are dotted here and there inside the city limits. Otherwise, Collierville, Germantown are great, Bartlett is good too.

However, if you were picking overall, which is the better city in which to raise kids...Nashville wins, hands down. Memphis is fun for younger folk especially, lots of good bars and restaurants. But there is a ton of crime all over, which doesn't exist all over in Nashville like it does here. Memphis is very poor, very uneducated, very urban, predominantly african-american...a very urban city. I've heard it compared to Detroit a lot (although much hotter!!)

Not sure if I would go that far and compare it to Detroit. The unfortunate thing about this area is the county gets a bad name from the city of Memphis. I get into the burbs of Nashville and some are pretty nice, others not. I know they have better high school sports teams there. I just think the burbs there are very conjested. Just my two cents on this comparison.

Of course they have pro hockey and football, and we have the Grizzlies.

[Pearlbob]

Haha, and the Grizzlies are not a pro team

I don't know, I've lived in Memphis a long time, and I've been to Nashville a ton on vacation, have friends there. They seem nothing alike to me. don't get me wrong...I'm fine in Memphis as I am now. But if I had kids in school, and I had to move and my only choices were Mem or Nash...I'd pick Nash.

It just depends on what you deem most important to you in a hometown.

[chuck1229]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Haha, and the Grizzlies are not a pro team

I don't know, I've lived in Memphis a long time, and I've been to Nashville a ton on vacation, have friends there. They seem nothing alike to me. don't get me wrong...I'm fine in Memphis as I am now. But if I had kids in school, and I had to move and my only choices were Mem or Nash...I'd pick Nash.

It just depends on what you deem most important to you in a hometown.

Right on the Griz. Jerry West was right, the Grizzlies would never loose 4 straight in the playoffs again.

I just find I65 and I24 in Nashville very busy roads, not to say I-240 is that great either, but Memphis has work arounds traffic wise and I did not find too many around Nashville, no matter where you go you need one of the Interstates. I am sure the locals know the bypasses.

But we got the Pyramid???????

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Haha, and the Grizzlies are not a pro team

Neither are the Preds .

And, frankly, after how they treated us, neither are the Oilers, to me. Oops, I mean "Titans." Blech.

Go Redbirds. Only not-for-profit professional franchise in the state. And Grizz since they won the award for sports philanthropy last year. And the Tigers b/c they are kicking serious butt.

[kcnative]

Originally Posted by Kabluey

And, frankly, after how they treated us, neither are the Oilers, to me. Oops, I mean "Titans." Blech.

What did you expect? No one supported them in Memphis. The place averaged like 12k ppl/game. That's ludicrous.

[Pearlbob]

I don't think the Titans were ever going to stay in Memphis. the plan was always to build the stadium in Nashville, they were just waiting it out here. So, why bother going to support a team that doesn't want to be in your city? Memphis was against Nashville to get the team, and they chose Nashville.

[Kabluey]

Here's the deal, without getting into too many of the pre-80s details,

Rozelle promised Memphis power-brokers they would be next on the expansion list if they sold out exhibition games. They did so. Tags comes in and doesn't honor this agreement. Expansion race on, Memphis has a powerful ownership group, tries to get state funding for a worthy stadium. Tennessee legislature in Nashville refuses. Memphis has to haggle change for moderate improvements. That wasn't even enough to compete with Jacksonville's improvements. Jacksonville gets the franchise. Eventually, two other candidates receive relocation franchises (St. Louis and Baltimore). Houston looks for a new home, and engages in an exclusive negotiating deal with Nashville (so they couldn't negotiate with Memphis or even Houston). They need a new stadium. Tennessee legislature in Nashville gives them the necessary funds, over the vigorous objection of W. Tenn. legislators with above-moderate memories of the prior rejection and evident double-standard.

I quote the rest from a poster from another thread; this pretty much reflects my memory of the Oilers' ignominious and disrespectful tenure in Memphis: "Since it will take a few years for the stadium to be ready, Nashville officials and the Oilers negotiate with Memphis officials for the Liberty Bowl to temporarily host the team for up to 2 seasons. Terms of the agreement included:

a) All team operations including the players will move to Nashville; Memphis will be expected to pay for all travel expenses incurred during the season for all home games (if memory serves, Memphis refused this condition). The team does everything operationally in Nashville, including practice, ensuring no ancillary benefits to Memphis during the two years.

b) The team would pay rent to the Liberty Bowl for it's use (this was eventually subsidized by the government, ergo--your tax dollars). The final rent amount was so low that it ensured that it was no better than a break-even deal for the Liberty Bowl.

c) The 2nd year was optional, although it was assumed early on that the team leaving early was unrealistic. The team was not expected to be in Memphis longer than 2 years.

Other items Memphis negotiated for were rejected, including playing some preseason and at least one home game at the Liberty Bowl once the move to Nashville was complete."

The team did no outreach in Memphis. They failed to ingratiate themselves to the community, which is their DUTY. They earned any antipathy they receive from Memphis. The franchise, that is, not Nashville. I have no problem with the Preds except the fact that I just don't get hockey. They earned that franchise fair and square and have a pretty cool logo to boot. The legislature, yeah, I got huge problems with them.

It was NEVER Memphis vs. Nashville in Bud Adams' decision. Memphis was never given an opportunity to compete. AGain, interestingly enough, neither was Houston!

Sorry to hijack this thread and turn it into a OIlers/Titans venting session, but I just wanted to address certain remarks about alleged failures of Memphis (the evident failure being the failure to bend over for a carpetbagging team, kowtow to them unconditionally, and give Adams keys to the tax coffers for two years). No other city would've accepted the Oilers' conditions gratefully; not Nashville, not Cleveland, not Chicago, no one.

As for Memphis v. Nashville, they are cities with different atmospheres, with pros and cons. Experience each for yourself. Don't buy the second-hand accounts. Be your own judge. I know many people who love living in Detroit. Good for 'em.