help for midtown relocation (Memphis, Cleveland: apartment complexes, rental, crime rates)

[midtownbound]

Ok, here goes. As my name implies I am looking to buy a home in midtown, I've always loved the older homes and the jazzy nightlife. I have lived in memphis my whole life "28 yrs"( right outside of bartlett) So basically in suburbia my whole life, I have always downed memphis and swore Id get out, but then I realized that there is a whole area of memphis.....the real memphis...that I have not even yet experienced. I am looking at a couple of homes in the evergreen district....off watson, garland, and mcneil. these are the only homes that are in my price range that I also like. I know the boundaries of the district are poplar by south, cleveland by west, and N parkway by north. These streets are definitely on the border on the west. I did some research on crimemapper and in the past 30 days there have been 26 burglaries in a half mile radius , half coming by way of residential. And yes since i live in memphis i realize that a half a mile can b 2 totally different worlds. So my question comes back to all of the experienced midtowners, how nice is this specific area of evergreen in your opinion? Not only where its been in the past, but also where its going in the future with all of this midtown renovation?

[Pearlbob]

Good for you, first of all. Get out of those suburbs and into Midtown!!

I understand your point about those "west" areas of Evergreen. Are the places old or new? They have torn down a lot of older, worn down homes in that area and built new homes that "look" old. Not that it matters, but there has been a "growth" so to speak in that area.

I live in midtown, in Central Gardens. I have crimemapped my area, and like you've seen, it shows a lot of break-ins. However, that doesn't phase me. The crimes aren't in MY area....if you really look, they are usually in some shady apartment complexes or rental areas that for some reason continue to exist in midtown. The area of Evergreen you are talking about, yes, is NEAR some shady areas. However, I know people who live/lived over there and they loved it and had no problems. If you are scared, get a good security alarm, some bars on the windows, or a big dog. The dog probably works better than the others

I have read about a big revitalization in the works for that area, around Cleveland/Poplar, along Poplar towards the Home Depot on Avalon. A new Target, Ikea, Crate and Barrel (Target for certain). Now, just because the land has been purchased doesn't mean it's 100% going to happen. I have hope though. That area along Cleveland is gross, frankly, and I really hope they tear the crud down and rebuild new things.

Even then, along Cleveland is the rebuid Jehovah's Witnesses church in the old movie theater (I'm sure I'm butchering the spelling), there is an Easy Way, a new flower shop, the post office, and a couple gay bars - not that that means anything, but it's mid-upper class males that go to these particular places, not shady people. Saigon Le, Lobster King are a couple great restaurants.

That Cleveland corridor isn't "dangerous" I don't think, it's just a lot of very poor people. Thus, crimes like car or home break ins, people stealing stuff off your property. Just be wise. If you find a home you like, honestly, go hang out there for several days/nights in a row. As crazy as it sounds, just sit in your car, go walk around (with a few others for safety just in case)...see who lives around there. Drive thru really late at night to see what's up. See who else is wandering around. See if anything weird is going on. Heck, even go knock on the neighbor's doors and ask questions.

Another cheaper area is Cooper Young, of course, for the same reasons (nearby shady areas). Of course, there you have the dang train though

[Pearlbob]

Also, if you want, you can post the specific address and I can drive by and give an opinion (either post or private message). I drive down Cleveland at least twice a day. Now, don't take my opinion at 100%, but I've lived in midtown for a while and I can usually spot out something that looks "iffy" in a neighborhood.

[strumpeace]

My friend had a gun held to his head a few months ago in the Volentine-Evergreen neighborhood in broad daylight. His car and wallet were taken. Fortunately, he walked away unharmed.

[Pearlbob]

For what it's worth, Vollentine is a little further north.

You can't avoid crime. Just have to be careful. I've never been in fear of my life in or near my home. Could it happen? I'm sure it can. But the good outweighs the bad, for me, in midtown.

[midtownbound]

thank you for both insights!

[slgtweety]

Evergreen also extends to a block south of Poplar. I happen to live on one of three streets that overlap into this southern area, on Stonewall. My husband and I bought our house their with the intention of staying and raising a child. Our neighbors are great. Yes, the apartment complexes to the west were a problem at first but they have been closed and we have real hope that something great is going to go in there. The more pride you have in your neighborhood, the better it will be.

[anchorage2004]

I am sooooooooooooooo glad to hear someone say something positive about living in Memphis. I am moving there & am not afraid. I have visited this past may & Nov and your news is nothing. I live in the Tampa/St. Pete, FL area & they kill someone EVERY day in St. Pete....They run over people & don't stop.....Crime is all over the US, including the meth labs in the country...

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by anchorage2004

I am sooooooooooooooo glad to hear someone say something positive about living in Memphis. I am moving there & am not afraid. I have visited this past may & Nov and your news is nothing. I live in the Tampa/St. Pete, FL area & they kill someone EVERY day in St. Pete....They run over people & don't stop.....Crime is all over the US, including
the meth labs in the country...

I'm afraid you're in for a rude awakening as Tampa-St. Pete's violent crime rank is 39 while Memphis is #1. 2006 Metro Area Violent Crime Rates

Our murder rank is #6 while Tampa-St Pete's murder rank is #126.5 2006 Metro Area Homicide Rates

[Pearlbob]

I've been to Tampa and Florida a ton of times, and I've never thought of it as being anything like Memphis. Granted, I was not hanging out in bad neighborhoods while there, but still.....driving around a lot and watching the news, it didn't seem very comparable.

I'm glad to hear you are excited about Memphis, but I don't want you to be fooled....as mentioned, Memphis has much more crime than Tampa.