green, but in town? (Knoxville, Murfreesboro: apartments, to rent, homeowners association)

[chester's]

Problem . My husband is going to work in Smyrna and would love to live in an are much like where we've visited which is Pigeon Forge-Knoxville. I agree , it' beautiful.But his job will be in Smyrna and he'd rather not commute more than 20 miles. I can't drive so walking distance conveniences are a must and we have a school age daughter so good teaching,social life for her is also of primary concern. Murfreesboro seems to be the be best choice to me. He thinks it looks too much like CA.We plan to rent for six monghs or so to be sure it the right area for us.Is there a better middle ground?

[TNLove]

Smyrna is <20 minutes on 840 from Franklin, TN. There's little traffic on 840 because it simply is a road built for the purpose to go around Nashville.

[insanesmooch]

What about M'boro does your husband think looks like CA?
Also, what all do you need to be within walking distance? And how far of a walk are you comfortable with? Maybe that will help some of us familiar with the area help you more.

[chester's]

He's seen mostly pictures of houses/neighborhoods. He seems to want a newer house in an established neighborhood where the houses aren't too close together. He has dreams of walking over to the creek and going fishing and swimming while I need to not be trapped at the house everyday(been there,done that)and can get to the things we all need. I'd be ok with just a super wal -mart if indeed it is all I hear.(groceries,pharmacy,dailies)I'd like to only walk a half mile, but a mile is fine. And of course the school must be ok. Looks like they all are in Rutherford County. I hope I narrowed it down a bit.Thank you so very much.

[insanesmooch]

Well, out there most newer homes are pretty close together. At least to me they are. And a lot of those new subdivisions have homeowners associations, which I don't really like. Yes, Super Wal-marts have just about everything you would need. It's basically a grocery store, discount store, and pharmacy rolled into one. The one in Murfreesboro that would probably be easiest to walk to would be the one on Rutherford Blvd (yep, it 2900 South Rutherford, 37127). It also has a strip mall and a couple of restaurants at it. I'm not sure what school that would put you in with. I know they are building a lot of apartments in that area because it is behind Middle Tenneessee State University. Maybe you can use that address as a base to look for homes.
There is another Super Wal-mart, but I think it would be too dangerous to walk it because of all the traffic. Also, I think there are so many businesses around it would be much more than a mile for walking to it.
I'm not too sure about where your husband would be close to fishing and swimming. I don't think there is a place where you can be close to walk to places you need to go and he can walk to places he wants to go. Maybe there is, but I can't think of it.

[chester's]

when I checked the school zoning boundaries , the address for both WalMarts put my daughter in Central Middle School. It's the only school I've heard a few negative things about. Opinions not facts.
My husband is in Smyrna right now. He says there's a new jr. high there. She might be better off with a bunch of other kids from CA.

[insanesmooch]

With the distance between the Wal-marts, it seems like there should be another middle school. I guess they just aren't keeping up with building middle schools like they are elementary and high (which doesn't make sense). Anyway, I have always had the impression that Central was a less desirable school. I have no first hand knowledge of the school. But it is a pretty old building and it is in the city, like somewhat close to the projects. Now, I wouldn't say that the projects in Murfreesboro would be like those in bigger cities, such as Nashville. They still aren't the most desirable places to be though.