Looking for Artsy, Historical, Riverfront community (Knoxville, Chattanooga: rentals, house, unemployment)

[Topo]

Hi, I am single and a baby boomer looking to find a city with lots of bookstores, coffeeshops, resteraunts and a historical city preferably with a riverfront........I love to ride my bike, and walk as much as I can. Not really into the mtn biking thing. Also, love diversity in a city! Lots of culture, college area and pretty reasonable cost of living!
Anywhere fit that? Tennessee or elsewhere that anyone knows of?

[hiknapster]

You have just described...Chattanooga!

Stunning, revitalized riverfront! Want art? The Hunter Art Museum sits on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee river. The art community is up there, also. University of Tennessee is there, also.

Chattanooga is one of the biggest success stories of the decade.

Google "Chattanooga" and prepare to be stunned.

[Putty]

You are the second person to tell me that, what is the weather like there? What about property values, and cost of living?

[insanesmooch]

When I read the post, my first thought was Chatanooga too. Some of the other bigger cities of TN are trying to do something with their riverfronts, but Chatanooga has already done so. I haven't been there for a few years, but it is nice.

[hiknapster]

You definitely need to go back. Chattanooga was declared the filthiest city in the country by Walter Cronkite in 1969. It is now one of the most beautiful. It serves as a city model and other mayors visit to see what to do.

Quite frankly, I do not know why it is not actively discussed in this forum. Perhaps it is because no one from there has a hidden agenda.

The only reason that we didn't move there is because there were not any auto mechanic jobs advertised at the time, and we had to make a fast decision. We had vacationed there. I had done extensive research.

Chattanooga just has an incredible vibe. What a city!

[sillygal]

How bad is the crime? I have read it was pretty bad! Or are they cleaning that up also.......?

[SPLIT]

hiknapster: Great positive comments. You need a higher reputation. Not really political, but guess that revival is one reason Bob Corker only Rep to get elected last week to Senate. We enjoy weekend stuff there.

[hiknapster]

Could you be coherent?

[jkmewright]

Originally Posted by sillygal

How bad is the crime? I have read it was pretty bad! Or are they cleaning that up also.......?

Depends on where you live in the 'nooga. There are certain areas I refuse to go into at night but I think that no matter where you were from, Manchester or Mars you would recognize these places. I lived in a suburb of Chattanooga all of my life and moved "across the river" into a more populated area. My whole family was shocked and worried! Well, the neighborhood is great and my neighbors are family oriented and close. We do have some rentals that I could do without but I think you get the picture. So what you hear is not always what you see. Do some research and find someone who can help you. Some of the worst areas in town are being rejuvenated and people are doing everything but selling their first born to get into them.

[jkmewright]

Originally Posted by Putty

You are the second person to tell me that, what is the weather like there? What about property values, and cost of living?

As far as the weather, depends on what you like. HOT and humid in the summer. COLD in the winter w/rare "sticking" snows in the valley. Go to weather.com and put in zip 37411. There is a place for average temps further down the page. We average highs around 90 and lows around 30. Property values are still holding and house flippers are going crazy. Cost of living is also relative. Average phone 45 cable 55 internet 25 gas 2.15. Natural gas spiked last winter to over $2 a therm but is $1.30-1.50. Electric is .07 per KWH.

I had family move here from Oregon and when they asked "How far away is XYZ?" The answer is always "15 minutes" We are centrally located. 1-1.5 hrs to Nashville, Knoxville, or Atlanta.

It's a beautiful town w/perks! Rivers, mountains, and lots of tourists so we have some great eateries and places to entertain friends.

The down side. It always takes me a minute for this one. Certain areas have some traffic issues. But anyone coming from a larger city would laugh at this. There are some seedier areas as all towns have. Also, unemployment ranges 3-7% but I hear lots of people complaining about finding jobs. I haven't found this to be true. If you really need a job, you can find one IMHO. We do have an increasing issue w/drugs but mostly in the outlying areas where they are grown/manufactured and not so much in Hamilton County.