Place to live Memphis (Germantown, Collierville: renters, crime, houses)

[booma]

Hi guys, i know there are a lot of threads relating to this. This is a little more specific though.

I will , when we eventually arrive be working in a place of E Holmes Rd, just down from E Shelby Drive, south of Hickory Ridge/ South Riverdale.

Just north of what seems to be the state line. Looking on the map there seems to be a huge amount of homes in the area.

Whats it like? I dont yet drive, so somewhere near work to start is ideal until i drive, or is it better to head for German town and walk/commute/ bike/taxi or what ever?

Thank you again

[ladybug35]

I don't think it's the worst area you could probably live in, but it's also probably not the best. I've only seen that particular part from the interstate, but I have been down around Graceland and Brooks Road at night and...it's not happy. I don't think you'd need to live all the way in Germantown (move to Midtown, it's fun and way closer!) but I'm not sure you would want to live down there. Check out the crime tracker that MPD has (just google Memphis Crime Tracker) and see how bad it is.

By the way, I wouldn't recommend biking in most of the areas I've been in down there. No bike lane, people are terrible drivers. The buses take longer than walking would half the time. Get a driver's license ASAP...it's the only way to get around here!

[Tigertate]

Do you have to live in Memphis proper? If not you may want to check out the North Mississippi suburbs like Southaven, Olive Branch, Hernando, etc. All of these suburbs are in Desoto County. Your commute to work would be very short. I grew up in the South Riverdale area and it was very nice when I was there (1990 - 2001). The area started getting a little worse near the time my family moved away to the Collierville reserve area. There was no major crime or anything, but you could definitely tell that the socioeconomic condition of the area was changing a little. There were more renters moving in, etc. The change really started to take effect when the City of Memphis annexed much of the area. The area where my parents use to live was never annexed, even to this day. They lived in the neighborhood that is to the south of Holmes Rd., between Riverdale and Ross Rd., north of the MS state line. Even though this area was not annexed many people moved south to Desoto County and East to Collierville and unincorporated Shelby County. When everyone moved away the renters came in droves. All renters are not bad, but having too many in an area will drive down property value and change the area. My parent’s old neighborhood is still pretty nice and safe, but buying property there would be a bad investment. If I was in your situation I would probably chose the MS suburbs if I wanted a short commute.

[Pearlbob]

Not a good area of town, I wouldn't be caught dead walking in that area after dark (pun intended).

No it's not the worst area, but you definitely should not walk or bike to work there. Nor would you be able to from Germantown, quite a hike! Memphis isn't a walking/biking city like that unfortunately. Everyone owns cars, and we use them at all costs. When it's 100 degrees with 99% humidity, you'll find out why.

I agre with the above person - get a driver's license ASAP!

[ColliervilleMom]

My husband works in that exact area, and I agree with the others, get a driver's license asap. No safe way to walk or bike in that area at all. Lots of busy intersections, warehouses, railroad track and crossings.

It's not a bad commute from Olive Branch, but still, you'd need the car.

[booma]

Things are never easy lol.

Its so very confusing for us.. We are used to things right on your door step and ten minutes away lol and its all very pedestrian friendly.

Hm, if wee lived the spitting distance away in the next state then i will have to research an whole other load of state taxes etc and not bennafit from tennessees which seem quite good.

Thanks for the input giuys.

Licence asap i guess still i will prob end up in the worst area quite accidently!

[ladybug35]

Welcome to American Urban Sprawl.

I would definitely try to stay in Tennessee...mainly because I'm just not a fan of Mississippi, but also because of taxes, etc.

And that is a really easy area to drive to from many areas of Memphis. Downtown, Midtown, East Memphis...all of these are places you could drive from without getting on 240 (otherwise known, to me, as the highway of eternal idiocy). Some places in Midtown and Downtown would be a little more like what you are used to I think...I can walk to lots of places, and bike to some too. But that's a long way away, and you won't want to not use the air conditioning in August. Trust.

[ColliervilleMom]

It's a 20 minute drive from Collierville, even less than that if you look by Carriage Crossing, there are some nice places there.

[booma]

Thank you =)

I can imagine i shall have to have a portable little air-con head set! lol

I just wish we had an idea about the place our selves lol.

Oh well i will be a quick steep learning curve i guess.

[rockadoodle]

Memphis is very much a "car" city. It doesn't take too awfully long to get anywhere, but you do usually need a car. Germantown has lots of bike lanes, but it wouldn't help you for working in the Holmes/Riverdale/Shelby Drive area. Too far to bike. You'd have to drive to work, for sure.

The problem with biking around Memphis proper is that so many people drive like crap. You have to be really really careful.

The thing about the greater Memphis area is: the further east you go, the larger/wider the streets tend to be. Driving seems to be easier out east on those big streets. In other words, people have room to go around you if they get impatient. It might be easier to adapt to U.S. driving out there.

As for homes, I'd recommend you go with Collierville, as others have suggested. As I'm sure you've read, though, Collierville is a suburb. More small townish -- working, middle class families and the like. Great if you just want to chill and have a calm family life, mall shop, etc. If you're looking for more of a nightlife scene/bars, you might want to look at Midtown/Downtown. I'd hate to have to commute from Midtown all the way out to Holmes/Hickory Hill for work, though.

N. Mississippi is not bad, but they do have a little different tax structure.