Germantown->Mudd Island (Memphis, Lakeland: apartment complex, lease, countertops)

[Utkgrad126]

Hey! So I've been living in Memphis for about a year now, not quite. I currently live in a rather pricey apartment complex in Germantown. It's within my budget but I think I can get more bang for my buck in a different area. Also, I'm a 24 year old female young professional so I'd rather live in an area with a younger population. Germantown is fabulous for families, but I wanna be closer to the action.

Here's my dilemma, I've researched and toured a couple apartments in Mud Island and I love them. Walkability is great, I'm active and love jogging so I can imagine my self going on runs by the Mississippi! And it's a short commute to downtown where a lot of my friends live and restaurants and nightlife. But it's so far from my work. I work in Lakeland, and my drive from Germantown is about 30 minutes, and to be honest I never mind it, not much traffic. But I know from Mud Island it will even be further. Is it worth it? Or should I look into Cordova? I'm also planning to tour the South Bluffs Apartments since I've heard good things.

I just feel like while I'm young (and single) I should live in a livelier area.

Thoughts?

[Jardine8]

The apartments on Mud Island basically start at $800+ per month and the newest ones can easily top $1,000 per month, so I am not sure that would be cheaper or better bang for your buck than an apartment in the suburbs.

There are some nice ones on Mud Island and I seriously considered them when I moved to Memphis earlier this month. I looked at South Bluffs as well. If I remember correctly, their 1 bedroom apartments run $950 and are perfectly fine. The kitchen has granite countertops (a rarity in Memphis apartments but the living room was a bit smaller than I wanted, so I ended up passing on South Bluffs. It is an attractive, growing area, though. I ended up signing a lease at a Midtown apartment complex and have been happy thus far. I imagine a commute from any of those places to Lakeland wouldn't be much fun, though.

[eastmemphisguy]

You have to decide what your preference is. There's no right or wrong answer here. But keep in mind, I-40 runs right through Downtown near Mud Island, right out to Lakeland. I doubt your commute would be more than 30 minutes, even with a bit of traffic.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

^plus assuming they work 1st shift, they would be going the opposite direction of rush hour traffic.

[JoeCartpath]

I don't think you'd find Cordova much different than G'town as far as the family vs young single people thing is concerned.

[CristenS]

I think the drive from Gtown to Lakeland vs the drive from the island to Lakeland would be almost the same, time-wise. From the island you can go north on 51 then connect over to 240 at the top and take that around. There would be significantly fewer cars going that way, vs out east where you are now.

[SethyDuck]

NO. Your commute will be HELL until summer of 2017. If you go 40 or sam cooper....ugh just no.

[jabogitlu]

Germantown or the island to Lakeland seems about the same. North 240 is seriously light on the traffic, compared to Germantown Parkway or Poplar Ave or whatever you use out in Germantown.

Sounds like you wanna live in Midtown, but it's woefully underserviced with interstate/highway options - would be a lot longer commute out to your workplace.