Most ecletic areas of Knoxville? (crime, high school, landlord)

[Beretta]

Ok, I have read all of your posts and also your husbands (Hi ookla!) and you are gonna fall over but I am gonna say it anyway. I think that you all should look into either Greenville, SC or Asheville, NC. I am not confident that you are going to find happiness here in Knoxville; similar to your experience in Chattanooga. I don't want to run you off but dog parks are not our strong point here and Knox is somewhat similar to Chatty.

Ok, running off to hide before I am found and burned at the proverbial Knoxville stake.

[xtine]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

I think that you all should look into either Greenville, SC or Asheville, NC. I am not confident that you are going to find happiness here in Knoxville; similar to your experience in Chattanooga. I don't want to run you off but dog parks are not our strong point here and Knox is somewhat similar to Chatty.

Ok, running off to hide before I am found and burned at the proverbial Knoxville stake.

They are considerations as well. (Well, we already nixed Asheville.) I would really like to stay in TN if at all possible. Plus if I can find work in what I do, it makes all the difference.

[creeksitter]

Nah, I disagree, I think Xtine will find Knox more suitable than Chatt. At heart we are a working class town and comfortable that way. I think of Chattanooga as a city of strivers, the super rich and the despondant. Not well balanced like Knoxville.

There is a good music scene - from what I hear. I am usually in bed by 11, so what would I know? There's more excentric art. Come up for first friday and see how the art scene suits you. It ain't New York but I don't have to tell you that.

The schools may be a disappointment but they are good enough that the average kid goes to public school. You may need to plan on putting some extra oomph into the education. Because of schools you may wind up living in a different neighborhood than your friends.

We may not treat our animals to your satisfaction either. That may be an opportunity to work on tolerance.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

Nah, I disagree, I think Xtine will find Knox more suitable than Chatt. At heart we are a working class town and comfortable that way. I think of Chattanooga as a city of strivers, the super rich and the despondant. Not well balanced like Knoxville.

There is a good music scene - from what I hear. I am usually in bed by 11, so what would I know? There's more excentric art. Come up for first friday and see how the art scene suits you. It ain't New York but I don't have to tell you that.

The schools may be a disappointment but they are good enough that the average kid goes to public school. You may need to plan on putting some extra oomph into the education. Because of schools you may wind up living in a different neighborhood than your friends.

We may not treat our animals to your satisfaction either. That may be an opportunity to work on tolerance.

That's a very good description of Knoxville. Other than a few tony streets in Sequoyah Hills and along Westland, Knoxville is pretty much a very middle-of-the-road, very unpretentious kind of place. We have our McMansions, of course, but Knoxville is full of surprisingly well-kept urban neighborhoods that aren't flashy or boastful, certainly not trendy or hip.

And hiknapster paints a beautiful picture of Fountain City, and I agree 100% with what she has to say. It's a wonderful, affordable, attractive, funky, and--dare I say--eclectic neighborhood where people from all walks of life and backgrounds live, work, and play. They loooove their schools, they love their park, they love their duck pond, their art center, their library, their home-grown restaurants.

And what the heck, here are some pics of Fountain City that I took last year:

Fountain City Art Center:



Fountain City Park (next to the art center):




"Downtown" Fountain City (across from the art center):



Fountain City Library:



Fountain City Lake and fountain, built in 1890 (I didn't take this pic, I found it at Google Images):



Fountain City Elementary School:



Sterchi Elementary is in hiknapster's neighborhood and is also excellent, but I don't have any pics of it. It's a small school, and the neighborhood is fanatical over its support of that school.

Here's Gresham Middle School (built in 1931) in the heart of Fountain City:



Fountain City street scenes:





And some other pics of Fountain City I found at Google Images:



http://www.knoxvillebusiness.com/images/pratts2.jpg (broken link)

[xtine]

Thanks so much. The pictures are beautiful. I love the sign that says "not a casino"!
The information has been a tremendous help. And people have certainly been nicer here than on the Chatt thread. I take that back. Most were nice, some were down right nasty.
Thanks again! Looks like Knox is in the lead.

[Kitties of Domination]

I think north Knoxville is what you want (Im including Fountain City), but especially Lincoln Park and Whittle Springs areas. 4th and Gill and North Hills are also good suggestions if you are renting, but pricier to buy. I am a local musician and know several heavily tattooed couples that have bought houses and raised families in this area. Quite a few rockabilly types, tattoo artists, hipsters, etc live side by side with African American families, graduate students, and traditional southern blue collar families. Saint Tattoo is in the area and is one of the city's most well known parlors. Urban Bar in the Old City and the Longbranch on Cumberland may have vibes you'd like if you go out for a beer from time to time. Catch a show at the Pilot Light or Barley's. Take the kids to the duck pond in Fountain City. You may want to join Knoxville's roller derby league, The Hard Knox Roller Girls. Chattanooga is a nice city and is much further along in redevelopment than Knoxville. But a recent poster remarked that it was a bit too "sterile" for their tastes. Knoxville has more grit but also has more soul (IMO). Come up and check it out. You can decide for yourself whether its what you're seeking.

[xtine]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

I think north Knoxville is what you want (Im including Fountain City), but especially Lincoln Park and Whittle Springs areas. 4th and Gill and North Hills are also good suggestions if you are renting, but pricier to buy. I am a local musician and know several heavily tattooed couples that have bought houses and raised families in this area. Quite a few rockabilly types, tattoo artists, hipsters, etc live side by side with African American families, graduate students, and traditional southern blue collar families. Saint Tattoo is in the area and is one of the city's most well known parlors. Urban Bar in the Old City and the Longbranch on Cumberland may have vibes you'd like if you go out for a beer from time to time. Catch a show at the Pilot Light or Barley's. Take the kids to the duck pond in Fountain City. You may want to join Knoxville's roller derby league, The Hard Knox Roller Girls. Chattanooga is a nice city and is much further along in redevelopment than Knoxville. But a recent poster remarked that it was a bit too "sterile" for their tastes. Knoxville has more grit but also has more soul (IMO). Come up and check it out. You can decide for yourself whether its what you're seeking.

I certainly plan on making a trip up there ASAP! Thanks!
As far as roller derby goes, people tried to get to get into that in Tampa. People might assume I am a bad ass and kind of scary at first glance. But I am really kittenesque in demeanor. Plus, I bruise too easily and like my teeth where they are.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

I think north Knoxville is what you want (Im including Fountain City), but especially Lincoln Park and Whittle Springs areas. 4th and Gill and North Hills are also good suggestions if you are renting, but pricier to buy. I am a local musician and know several heavily tattooed couples that have bought houses and raised families in this area. Quite a few rockabilly types, tattoo artists, hipsters, etc live side by side with African American families, graduate students, and traditional southern blue collar families. Saint Tattoo is in the area and is one of the city's most well known parlors. Urban Bar in the Old City and the Longbranch on Cumberland may have vibes you'd like if you go out for a beer from time to time. Catch a show at the Pilot Light or Barley's. Take the kids to the duck pond in Fountain City. You may want to join Knoxville's roller derby league, The Hard Knox Roller Girls. Chattanooga is a nice city and is much further along in redevelopment than Knoxville. But a recent poster remarked that it was a bit too "sterile" for their tastes. Knoxville has more grit but also has more soul (IMO). Come up and check it out. You can decide for yourself whether its what you're seeking.

What a great post!

I live in the Whittle Springs - Old North area, and I love it. My neighbors are black, white, Hispanic, gay, straight, graduate students, factory workers, teachers, retirees, and who knows what else. Kids play in the street, the ice cream truck comes around every night, we all get along. There are small homes, some old, some new, apartments, a great elementary school, a couple of churches, a Mexican grocery store, a fantastic bbq place, and we're within walking distance of a nice park and library.

[gtice]

For the kind of property you are interested in North Knoxville will best suit your needs. Filled with Historic homes and areas like old north Knox and 4th and Gill. Very close to downtown with a neighbor hood air.

[xtine]

Originally Posted by gtice

For the kind of property you are interested in North Knoxville will best suit your needs. Filled with Historic homes and areas like old north Knox and 4th and Gill. Very close to downtown with a neighbor hood air.

Thank you!