Relocating (about apartment recommendation and individual STATE income tax position) (Louisville: low income, apartments) - Kentucky (KY) -Jefferson County - City-Data Forum

oldfisher · 07-30-2008, 09:00 AM

Good morning everyone! I will start my new job in Downtown Louisville in early September. Although I have only spent a weekend in Louisville before the interview, I love this city! Also, I am amazed by the fact that people are so friendly and supportive in this forum.

After accepting the offer, two questions pop up in my mind:

1) Where to live?

I would like to live closer to my office and love to get myself into American culture faster. I am an Asian who came from Hong Kong about three years ago.
Some of my choices are:
a) Old Louisville (the area around Central Park sounds nice, how about the area around Shelby park?)
b) Highland (don’t like the part surrounded by three cemeteries, but the part closer to Cherokee Park would be fine)
c) The area bounded by I-71, Zorn Ave and Frankfort Ave (this area is my favorite, one of the reasons seems to be its proximity to the City of Louisville Soccer Park. I love playing and watching soccer. I just wonder if this park is open to public or is it a stadium for some local teams.)
d) Downtown (I think the only drawback is higher rent.)
e) New Albany, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, IN (not sure how bad the traffic on the bridges is. Heard from you guys that I-64 is not that bad, I-65 is worse. How about the 2nd St bridge?)
f) Any more recommendations?

2) Individual STATE income tax position

This is actually a question related to where I live. What are the tax position differences between living in KY part versus IN part of Louisville?
As I know, if I live in IN, I need to pay the IN state income tax and a lower rate of Jefferson County tax (city tax) but can get tax credit in IN for the City tax, so the net effect would be paying the IN state income tax. It is a flat rate of 3.4%. If I live in KY, I need to pay the KY state income tax and a higher rate of city tax. KY tax rate for me is 6%. The city tax is 2.XX% and in total I will be paying 8.XX%. It seems that my income tax burden is heavier if I choose to live in KY part of Louisville. Did I miss anything? I am a single renter and don’t have a lot of deductions. Property tax is not my concern yet.

Thanks a lot for reading my post and I am really looking forward to your suggestions and my new life in Louisville!!!

censusdata · 07-30-2008, 11:31 AM

I hate to down Old Louisville, but the crime here is pretty bad. I've lived here 3 years and have had my car broken into 3 times and there are several murders and shootings per year. I have had enough and am moving out of here by the end of the month. (I am a U of L student & will be moving on campus)

I would HIGHLY recommend the Original Highlands, which is only 1.5 miles from Downtown. I never had any crime problems there at all and there is a wide range of housing options, everything from cheap studio apartments to large single family homes. You can live on a very quite street yet walk to the bustling Baxter Ave in 2 minutes.

Original Highlands, Louisville - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Clifton/ Clifton Heights area (this is the Brownsboro Rd, Frankfort Ave area you mentioned) is very safe and nice. There are a lot of futbol fields along River Road, although they are mostly used for children. I do occasionally see Hispanics playing futbol there. River Road is really an incredible place to be in the middle of a city.

Off Topic · 07-30-2008, 01:38 PM

The Highlands and the Clifton area are good suggestions, no doubt. Very diverse and accepting.

You know, I keep saying that if I were a young professional, I'd take a serious look at living downtown if I worked downtown.

And welcome to Louisville!!

Peter1948 · 07-31-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Off Topic

The Highlands and the Clifton area are good suggestions, no doubt. Very diverse and accepting.

You know, I keep saying that if I were a young professional, I'd take a serious look at living downtown if I worked downtown.

And welcome to Louisville!!

I certainly agree. It is the up and coming area if you get in now. Trust me, I have seen downtowns in the transformation stage, especially in Portland, OR, and this is what is happening downtown Louisville. It is only a matter of time. Either way, I think you will be happiest inside the area roughly bounded by I-264 on the south and east and I-65 on the west, with the exeception that downtown is nice up until about 9th street (west of I-65).

oldfisher · 07-31-2008, 03:26 PM

Thanks all of you for your great suggestions!
Rationally I think that experiencing three car burglaries in three years does mean something negative, but emotionally I am still attracted by the Victorian Neighborhoods around Central Park. I still haven't made up my mind whether I should give up the idea of living in Old Louisville yet.
Downtown of course is a nice option for me. I love the apartment at the intersection of S 3rd St and W Chestnut St but I think I can only afford a studio there.

censusdata · 07-31-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfisher

Thanks all of you for your great suggestions!
Rationally I think that experiencing three car burglaries in three years does mean something negative, but emotionally I am still attracted by the Victorian Neighborhoods around Central Park. I still haven't made up my mind whether I should give up the idea of living in Old Louisville yet.
Downtown of course is a nice option for me. I love the apartment at the intersection of S 3rd St and W Chestnut St but I think I can only afford a studio there.

If you could find an apartment in Old Louisville with on site parking behind the house you would negate the car break in issue. There are a few nice places on St James Court that have such parking, not sure if it cost more on your rent.

cobolt · 07-31-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by censusdata

If you could find an apartment in Old Louisville with on site parking behind the house you would negate the car break in issue. There are a few nice places on St James Court that have such parking, not sure if it cost more on your rent.

What's stopping a car break in if you have on site parking behind a house? I'm not sure I understand. Wouldn't the car still be accessible to someone? Or are you just saying that a hoodlum doesn't want to take the time to bother breaking into something that might be out of the way? Just asking for clarification.

kingcopper · 07-31-2008, 07:30 PM

Oldfisher, I own a nice small complex on Glenmary Avenue in the Cherokee Triangle. Anyway, I've got a unit coming up AND there is a soccer field that is fenced in around back; 100 feet away. If interested, say it and I'll leave you contact info.

Peter1948 · 07-31-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobolt

What's stopping a car break in if you have on site parking behind a house? I'm not sure I understand. Wouldn't the car still be accessible to someone? Or are you just saying that a hoodlum doesn't want to take the time to bother breaking into something that might be out of the way? Just asking for clarification.

Censusdata exaggerates the amount of car break ins in Old Louisville. There is a problem yes, but I would be surprised if there are many people who have had their car broken into three times. He must just have bad luck!

censusdata · 08-01-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stx12499

Censusdata exaggerates the amount of car break ins in Old Louisville. There is a problem yes, but I would be surprised if there are many people who have had their car broken into three times. He must just have bad luck!

I wish I was exagerating, but the half block from 4th Street where I typically park will have two car break ins a month. This is largely because low income people heavily use Hill Street to walk from the West End to the bus lines in OL

I have have never see broken window glass walking btw 4th and St James Court or any other alley in OL, probably b/c the alleys like the foottraffic that Hill St has.