Moving from LA to Memphis - Best area for me? (Germantown: rent, crime)

[eurocali]

Great! Thanks for the list!

I read more things about the various Memphis neighborhoods today and now I am actually leaning towards Midtown. Looks like this is the more diverse area of town, and the houses look really nice too. It also looks like there is a Montessori school. Any feedback on Midtown? Any areas of Midtown to avoid?

[lisake]

Originally Posted by eurocali

One thing I forgot to ask about: what are the good hospitals in Memphis? I am particularly interested in finding a good neurologist. I will also need a primary care physician and a pediatrician for my son. Here in LA, we chose doctors who are all part of the UCLA medical group. Can we find something similar in Memphis?

We have a wonderful medical center and one of the best pediatric hospitals--Le Bonheur Medical Center--in the Southeast (not that you need it, but great hospitals tend to draw great doctors, in this case, pediatricians). Are you looking for a pediatric neurologist? You'll want to check with your insurance as far as providers and hospitals. In this area, insurance companies are usually affiliated with either Baptist or Methodist, meaning you're covered at one but not the other. Le Bonheur is affiliated with Methodist Hospitals, but I believe most insurance companies cover treatment at LeBonheur.

[lisake]

Originally Posted by eurocali

Great! Thanks for the list!

I read more things about the various Memphis neighborhoods today and now I am actually leaning towards Midtown. Looks like this is the more diverse area of town, and the houses look really nice too. It also looks like there is a Montessori school. Any feedback on Midtown? Any areas of Midtown to avoid?

PearlBob is the Midtown expert, but as a displaced Midtowner living in East Memphis, I have to say I love the area. My husband has been wanting to move back there for years, but I thought it a bad idea once we had children. However, in the last few years, there has been an influx of families into Midtown, or perhaps all those young people who already lived there just had kids and decided not to move away. Whatever the case, Midtown has become a more family friendly place, and it's always been known for its diversity. Attractions in or near Midtown include the Memphis Zoo, the Children's Museum of Memphis and Overton Park. There's a wonderful family friendly music series at our revamped Overton Park Shell (now the Levitt Shell) and monthly Rock n Romps (kid friendly backyard concerts) in the summertime.

Honestly, I haven't heard anything about either Montessori School in Midtown, which surprises me because I often hear people rant and rave about Lamplighter and Mud Island's Montessori school. I have heard wonderful things about Idlewild Elementary (optional public school) in Midtown, and The Commercial Appeal ran a nice article a while back about their principal and parental involvement: Idlewild is a starfor city schools : News : Memphis Commercial Appeal

Here are a few more links:
Levitt Shell: Levitt Shell
Rock N Romp: Memphis Rock-n-Romp
CMOM: Childrens Museum of Memphis
Memphis Zoo: The Memphis Zoo - Home

You do have to be careful when selecting a neighborhood, as things can change from one block to the next, but I think you can find just the right home for you and your family in Midtown. You'll also be going against traffic on commutes to and from work, vs. Cordova where you'll fight rush-hour traffic headed to and from East Memphis.

Good luck.

[Pearlbob]

Midtown is very ecclectic. As with any historic area of a major city, you are going to find a wide variety of homes built up to 100+ years ago - huge mansions, and shotgun houses. While there are some iffy areas to avoid in midtown, it houses several national historic districts - Central Gardens, Annesdale, Idlewild, Evergreen, Snowden...

Midtown has old, wealthy Memphis families, young college students, artsy people, gay, lesbian, alternative, old, young, families, empty nesters...you name it. There are lots of great restaurants, bars, and shops, but most of the area is residential with tree lined streets.

You definitely need to do research and get the opinion of locals before moving to midtown, as neighborhoods can vary street by street in terms of safety. A few blocks can mean the difference between very expensive large homes and run down buildings.

You can check out centralgardens.org for info on that district, and I'm sure Evergreen has a website too. I highly recommend midtown, especially to people coming from large cities who are probably used to "city life." Midtown has a fair share of crime, but mainly because it's in the city and there are simply more bums and petty thieves walking around. Obviously, you're not going to find bums 20 miles away in a suburb!

[Pearlbob]

Googling midtown memphis houses, I found these examples. Also check out this page at CentralGardens.org to see photos of the houses that were on last year's Home Tour - one of the biggest home and gardens tours in Memphis. Home & Garden Tours - Central Gardens

[JoeCartpath]

I don't think any of those pictured are going to rent for $1500 or less...

[Pearlbob]

Hahahaha, I know! This is all I could find, I tried googling "Memphis shotgun houses" but, well, you know....that pulled up an entirely different scene.

Originally Posted by JoeCartpath

I don't think any of those pictured are going to rent for $1500 or less...

[DubbleT]

Never heard of this site before, but it seems to show a pretty good cross section of what you might find in midtown.
Houses - Apartments for Rent Memphis

[lisake]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Never heard of this site before, but it seems to show a pretty good cross section of what you might find in midtown.
Houses - Apartments for Rent Memphis

Good link, DubbleT. It included this example of a Midtown home for rent that sounds perfect for OP.

House for Rent: 931 Blythe, Memphis, TN 38104 | Powered by vFlyer

It's $1,200 for a 2BR, 2BA home in a good neighborhood (it gets a little shaky a few blocks east or north). This is an updated Midtown home with modern amenities. It's a great area for walking and biking and has a nice yard for your child.

This is just meant to give you an idea of what you might find to suit your family and budget. Like PearlBob said in another post, many of the best Midtown rental homes do not advertise (it's expensive and a hassle to field all those calls). Instead, you should drive around the neighborhoods you like and keep and eye out for "For Rent" signs in the front yard. It's how I found two of the great Midtown places I rented a while back.

As you get closer to your move date, I'm sure you'll find someone here who'll scope out some places for you.

[eurocali]

Originally Posted by lisake

Are you looking for a pediatric neurologist?

I am actually looking for an adult neurologist, but it looks like there are plenty of good hospitals, so I should be fine.

Thank you so much for all the good information, pictures and links about Midtown. I still can't believe what you can get for less than $1500 I am still torn between the "safe" appeal of the suburbs and the diversity /authenticity of Midtown. If I didn't have a child, I would definitely move to Midtown. At the same time, I want my kid to be safe, but I also don't want him to grow up in a bubble (culturally and ethnically speaking).

What strikes me so far is how welcoming and helpful everyone on this forum is. I hope all Memphians are like you!