Curious about the Farragut area (Knoxville, Oak Ridge: apartments, loft, houses)

[gimme it]

Is it mostly described as suburban sprawl or are there older, charming neighborhoods and walkable downtowns? I ask because it seems the schools are a big draw. Thanks.

[ThatTNGuy]

There's a good deal of suburban sprawl, but there are also some nice older neighborhoods to choose from if that's what you like. It's hard to characterize it as all one thing or all another thing, but right now you will certainly find lots of construction for new subdivisions, etc.

As far as downtown, I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but when you say "walkable" I think I've got a general idea. There's a lot of room for walking and plenty of parks/other nature areas to choose from, but you'll also find retail stores and other similar businesses (Turkey Creek, for example, is a big retail outlet nearby). I'm pretty sure there are plans in the pipeline to enhance/renovate downtown, and I believe they're looking to make it more walkable (assuming I'm imagining something similar to what you had in mind).

[JMT]

Originally Posted by gimme it

Is it mostly described as suburban sprawl or are there older, charming neighborhoods and walkable downtowns? I ask because it seems the schools are a big draw. Thanks.

Farragut is indeed a suburb and very sprawly. There is no downtown Farragut, no historical districts. It wasn't made a town until 1980. There are some older neighborhoods, however (meaning Brady Bunch era) and a few farmhouses left over from when West Knox County was very rural and before the old farms were carved up into McMansion neighborhoods. And as ThatTNGuy said, there are some parks in Farragut that are walkable.

If you want an older, charming neighborhood with a walkable downtown that's NOT Knoxville, check out Maryville, Clinton, Kingston, or Norris. Of those, Maryville arguably has the best schools.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by gimme it

Is it mostly described as suburban sprawl or are there older, charming neighborhoods and walkable downtowns? I ask because it seems the schools are a big draw. Thanks.

We left the Farragut schools and went into Maryville City Schools. We could have stayed and been fine there in Farragut but we have been more than pleased with the MC Schools. I think Farragut was "the" school system 15-20 years ago but like anything else, has undergone change over the years. Of your descriptions above I would go with suburban sprawl.

[ThatTNGuy]

I've also heard lots of good things about Maryville's schools - some relatives live out that way and I like what I've seen. They know their way around a football field, too.

You can look through some of my previous posts, gimme it, for my impression of the Farragut school system. I graduated in '07 and had a great experience as a transfer student (moved during my junior year).

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by ThatTNGuy

I've also heard lots of good things about Maryville's schools - some relatives live out that way and I like what I've seen. They know their way around a football field, too.

You can look through some of my previous posts, gimme it, for my impression of the Farragut school system. I graduated in '07 and had a great experience as a transfer student (moved during my junior year).

One of my sons is the same age as you (graduated last year) and started first grade at Farragut Primary. You graduated with many of his friends I am sure. There are some great parents in Farragut.

[ThatTNGuy]

I bet I did! The people I met had a big part in shaping my experience, so I'm very greatful that I met all of them.

[Servpro Will]

Gimme, the schools in Farragut are still quite good, however there are some exceptional school systems in and around the Knoxville area that are making great strides to separate themselves from other programs. Specifically, Maryville as others mentioned and the Oak Ridge program has grown tremendously. Also, the new Hardin Valley Academy promises to be top notch.

There is a downtown Farragut project in the work, scheduled to start in about 6 months. I attended a conference a few weeks ago discussing this matter, and the plans for this project are quite ambitious. There will be loft apartments, boutique shops, an ampitheatre, a playhouse for acting performances, and quite a bit more that will add some attraction to the area. It will be in close proximity to Turkey Creek, which will make the West Side of Farragut a very desirable part of town. Below is a link that has pertinent information about the downtown Farragut project.
Welcome to Downtown Farragut

There are greenways throughout Farragut that do allow for fairly easy walking, and the downtown project plans to tie into the greenway trails, so that specific neighborhood greenway trails would have safe walkway access to the area.

As far as neighborhoods, there are some older neighborhoods with charm such as Fox Den, Village Green, Concord Hills. Also, there are newer construction neighborhoods abound, so there is really a good mix. Hope that helps.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by William Sold

Gimme, the schools in Farragut are still quite good, however there are some exceptional school systems in and around the Knoxville area that are making great strides to separate themselves from other programs. Specifically, Maryville as others mentioned and the Oak Ridge program has grown tremendously. Also, the new Hardin Valley Academy promises to be top notch.

There is a downtown Farragut project in the work, scheduled to start in about 6 months. I attended a conference a few weeks ago discussing this matter, and the plans for this project are quite ambitious. There will be loft apartments, boutique shops, an ampitheatre, a playhouse for acting performances, and quite a bit more that will add some attraction to the area. It will be in close proximity to Turkey Creek, which will make the West Side of Farragut a very desirable part of town. Below is a link that has pertinent information about the downtown Farragut project.
Welcome to Downtown Farragut

There are greenways throughout Farragut that do allow for fairly easy walking, and the downtown project plans to tie into the greenway trails, so that specific neighborhood greenway trails would have safe walkway access to the area.

As far as neighborhoods, there are some older neighborhoods with charm such as Fox Den, Village Green, Concord Hills. Also, there are newer construction neighborhoods abound, so there is really a good mix. Hope that helps.

I love those plans for "downtown Farragut"! I was living in Smyrna, Georgia when Smyrna did the same thing: created a new downtown out of nothing. It worked, too. I really hope it works in Farragut.