moving to Memphis area (Germantown: apartment complex, homes, neighborhood)

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

I know a lot of people that live in WM, and it just seems like a poor, blue collar town that for whatever reason, isn't reaping the benefits of being next door to Memphis like Collierville, Southaven, Olive Branch, Arlington, etc seem to have done. Really not sure on why that is.

I think that's what happens when you hitch your wagon to interstate commerce, and it looks like only interstate commerce. There may be fault with their state representation as well.

[Pearlbob]

Good point.

I wonder though, why no housing developments have not been started there. The housing boom has gone NE and SE of Memphis, but just over the bridge, 5 minutes from downtown....nothing. At least nothing major like what is going on out east. I can't imagine housing would be that expensive there, no more than in MS or western TN.

[defiepilex]

There is a slight boom in Marion (just on the other side of WM) but I don't think W. Memphis is doing to much growth.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Good point.

I wonder though, why no housing developments have not been started there. The housing boom has gone NE and SE of Memphis, but just over the bridge, 5 minutes from downtown....nothing. At least nothing major like what is going on out east. I can't imagine housing would be that expensive there, no more than in MS or western TN.

One of the obvious problems is connectivity with the rest of the metro. If they were able to complete the 269 loop around the entire metro (including Ark), then that might ease the congestion, and make 55 and 40 more convenient arteries directly into the city. Down the road there have been indications that the region is planning for two more bridges in the metro, in a way that might fit that vision. That being said, there needs to be at least one more bridge into downtown, imo, but that's very unlikely to happen. I'd also like to see the 55/Crump interchange re-done so interstate go-ers don't have to exit to stay on the interstate, but instead you'd have to exit to get onto Crump or Riverside Drive. That might create a three-level interchange over there though. But I think that would ease the congestion that locals experience trying to get into either Ark or Memphis.

[strumpeace]

Also keep in mind that Arkansas has a state income tax, which, if I remember correctly, is applied to out-of-state earnings. They also have an annual personal property tax on automobiles, boats, etc. Arkansas is the 10th most-taxed state in the nation; Tennessee is one of the very least taxed states. I think that hurts Arkansas.

[Pearlbob]

Good point; there has been nonstop construction work on the bridges since...oh...at least 15 years now, literally. I've never quite understood it. The interstate construction on 55 going south was bad for a few years, but now it's wonderful...I think there are 5 lanes that go south past the old malfunction junction. Now if they can just complete the 40 west interchange out east....

I dont' know if we need another bridge coming into town...we just need to FIX the ones we have and stop all the dang construction work. The 40 bridge has 4 lanes...that's plenty.

[kimsk112]

I am not sure if I should create a new topic asking about the apartment since there seems to be many topics already about moving, so I decide to hijack acedog's thread.

I decide to try to live in an apartment at least for my first year (as soon as I know the area, I will look for the house). I come here with my wife and a friend, so I need at least 2BR.

Currently, I have two apartment complex in mind, one is

Stonebridge Crossing, Stonebridge Crossing in Cordova, TN

and

Houston Levee,
Houston Levee in Cordova, TN

Both are in Cordova and seem to be pretty close to I-40 that I would use to commute to downtown where I will work. I try to avoid Germantown Rd as Pearlbob suggested. Downtown and Mud Island should be nice, but I hope to find a house with a big yard, so I might try to get used to long commute

I plan to drive to Memphis and look around the area soon, but anyone know if area is good/safe? Someone has said in another thread that Stonebridge should be ok, but nobody mentions Houston Levee.

[strumpeace]

I don't know much about the Houston Levee apartments. I've passed by that complex several times. It's a very awkward-looking place, but that's neither here nor there.

I have a cousin who lives in an apartment complex somewhere on Houston Levee, but it's not that one. I'll check with him and see what he can tell me.

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by kimsk112

I am not sure if I should create a new topic asking about the apartment since there seems to be many topics already about moving, so I decide to hijack acedog's thread.

I decide to try to live in an apartment at least for my first year (as soon as I know the area, I will look for the house). I come here with my wife and a friend, so I need at least 2BR.

Currently, I have two apartment complex in mind, one is

Stonebridge Crossing, Stonebridge Crossing in Cordova, TN

and

Houston Levee,
Houston Levee in Cordova, TN

Both are in Cordova and seem to be pretty close to I-40 that I would use to commute to downtown where I will work. I try to avoid Germantown Rd as Pearlbob suggested. Downtown and Mud Island should be nice, but I hope to find a house with a big yard, so I might try to get used to long commute

I plan to drive to Memphis and look around the area soon, but anyone know if area is good/safe? Someone has said in another thread that Stonebridge should be ok, but nobody mentions Houston Levee.

I would look at the apartments at Schilling Farms in Collierville and any of the complexes along Wolf River Blvd. You have the advantage of superior services of Germantown or Collierville and better neighbors, though they are more expensive. The traffic isn't as bad in these areas, either.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Good point; there has been nonstop construction work on the bridges since...oh...at least 15 years now, literally. I've never quite understood it. The interstate construction on 55 going south was bad for a few years, but now it's wonderful...I think there are 5 lanes that go south past the old malfunction junction. Now if they can just complete the 40 west interchange out east....

I dont' know if we need another bridge coming into town...we just need to FIX the ones we have and stop all the dang construction work. The 40 bridge has 4 lanes...that's plenty.

Oh I think Memphis definitely needs at least one more bridge. I remember driving back from Little Rock once, there was an accident on I-40 in Arkansas right before the bridge. Holy crap, the traffic that was then diverted onto the "old" bridge (I-55) was horrendous.

The state had at one time toyed with the idea of having I-40 go north of downtown, in other words continue west at its intersection with US 51 north of downtown. I think it's a shame it was never done. Having the I-40 through traffic (particularly the tractor trailers) avoiding downtown would've been a really good idea.

Originally, I-55 and I-40 were to share the same bridge, the "New Bridge" (I-40). What is now Riverside Drive was originally supposed to have been I-55 which would then connect with I-40 there by the Pyramid. Just as locals got the state to abandon its plans to bulldoze Overton Park for I-40 through Midtown, they convinced the state not to turn prime waterfront property into a freeway. While I'm glad that I-55 wasn't built along the waterfront, it's a shame that they never figured out a way to properly integrate I-55 with the Old Bridge.