SoBro vs. Hillsboro (Germantown: apartment complex, rental, house)

[no.mad]

Hello!

New to this forum but making a big move soon to Nashville for work after many years in NYC.

Late 20s, single, foodie, active. Will be working near Vanderbilt. Will probably find a rental apartment complex to start.

Seeking (roughly in order of priority):
Walkability/hubbub: accessibility to good coffee shops, bars, restaurants, groceries, shops. I like to be able to walk around if possible, or take a short drive.
Taste: I live in a nice area in Brooklyn and hope for a similar degree of.. general ??NICE-ness? Lacking the right word here but hopefully that conveys enough. (clean, safe, wide range of establishments including high-end, pleasant neighbors)
Safety: Currently spoiled by the ability to be out and about at any time of day/night without worrying too much because of population density alone. Will be living alone.
Location: Hillsboro would obviously allow me to probably walk or bike to work but I will have a car so I'm not too concerned about this.

So, basically hoping to live in a nice area with a lot of *quality* and *safely* accessible activities.

Also kind of considering Germantown or West End?? Just less so.

Appreciate any insight!

[artemis]

Originally Posted by no.mad

Hello!

New to this forum but making a big move soon to Nashville for work after many years in NYC.

Late 20s, single, foodie, active. Will be working near Vanderbilt. Will probably find a rental apartment complex to start.

Seeking (roughly in order of priority):
Walkability/hubbub: accessibility to good coffee shops, bars, restaurants, groceries, shops. I like to be able to walk around if possible, or take a short drive.

Taste: I live in a nice area in Brooklyn and hope for a similar degree of.. general ??NICE-ness? Lacking the right word here but hopefully that conveys enough. (clean, safe, wide range of establishments including high-end, pleasant neighbors)

Safety: Currently spoiled by the ability to be out and about at any time of day/night without worrying too much because of population density alone. Will be living alone.
Location: Hillsboro would obviously allow me to probably walk or bike to work but I will have a car so I'm not too concerned about this.

So, basically hoping to live in a nice area with a lot of *quality* and *safely* accessible activities.

Also kind of considering Germantown or West End?? Just less so.

Appreciate any insight!

Hillsboro or West End would be great. Although no neighborhood is perfectly safe.

[N.Cal]

You might also consider 12 South, Melrose/8th Ave. or Demonbreun (like the Element). Germantown would work too. Or even the west side of the Gulch or SoBri (there’s a new apartment building at Division and 8th and others opening soon).

[BirdieBelle]

The grocery will be the big disappointment, in any of those neighborhoods.

I also wonder about your tolerance for preppy types, since while we do have a lot of "high end" neighbors, some are creative, music industry types and some are old South preppy types. West End and Hillsboro will have more of those. The downtown neighborhoods will have more tourists. SOOO many tourists...

You also probably will be surprised at how quickly the nicer areas here morph into not-so-nice areas. While the niceness is expanding, you don't have to go far to find sketchiness and even straight-up housing projects.

As long as you aren't trying to find a Brooklyn-in-Nashville type of place, you should be able to be satisfied in either of the areas you mentioned.

[N.Cal]

The grocery will be the big disappointment, in any of those neighborhoods.

Better not let the Whole Foods or Publix know. There’s a new Whole Foods going in on Broadway and the new Publix two blocks away and another new Publix on 8th in Melrose.

[BirdieBelle]

Originally Posted by N.Cal

Better not let the Whole Foods or Publix know. There’s a new Whole Foods going in on Broadway and the new Publix two blocks away and another new Publix on 8th in Melrose.

Yeah, yeah. So I hear.

Whole Foods is a rip-off. And walking from Hillsboro Village to Melrose? No thank you. Might as well just go to the Kroger on 21st.

It won't be anything like the markets the OP is used to. It's just a different kind of shopping.

[no.mad]

Originally Posted by N.Cal

You might also consider 12 South, Melrose/8th Ave. or Demonbreun (like the Element). Germantown would work too. Or even the west side of the Gulch or SoBri (there’s a new apartment building at Division and 8th and others opening soon).

Originally Posted by BirdieBelle

You also probably will be surprised at how quickly the nicer areas here morph into not-so-nice areas. While the niceness is expanding, you don't have to go far to find sketchiness and even straight-up housing projects.

Regarding both statements.. I have been around Germantown and felt like it was very isolated, much like BirdieBelle is describing above? I've heard it's a nice place to live but just a block or two over felt somewhat unsafe? And not too much foot traffic which I enjoy a little more of. Correct me if I'm wrong!

How is SoBro from a safety perspective? Looking at CityView or River House buildings for example.

Thanks so far!

[N.Cal]

How is SoBro from a safety perspective? Looking at CityView or River House buildings for example

A friend of mine lived up there and she loved it. Very convenient and beautiful views though you do get some noise from concerts when they have them in the Nissan stadium or in Ascend. That could be a plus or minus.

On the safety factor - I do have to say Nashville is the most dangerous place I’ve ever lived in and I don’t feel safe pretty much anytime at night no matter what neighborhood. I used to walk home by myself in San Francisco at midnight all the time and felt totally fine. I would never do that here no matter what neighborhood I lived in. I feel much safer walking around Manhattan at night when I go there for work than I do here.

When were you in Germantown last? There are 3 or 4 large new apartment buildings with restaurant/retail that have opened in the past few months. The foot traffic you’re looking for you’re going to be hard-pressed to find anywhere except downtown or parts of the Gulch.

It won't be anything like the markets the OP is used to. It's just a different kind of shopping.

No kidding. I suppose if the OP doesn’t want to schlep to the grocery store, then we do have such things as SHIPT. A fantastic service that brings your groceries right to your door.

[AKFIREMAN]

Love all of these, have been here for 7 moths and Love Germantown, Gulch, SOBRO and up the hill at City View. Yes grocers are a pain, but the deliver...also safety?? Be smart, and get a CCW permit...

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by N.Cal

On the safety factor - I do have to say Nashville is the most dangerous place I’ve ever lived in and I don’t feel safe pretty much anytime at night no matter what neighborhood. I used to walk home by myself in San Francisco at midnight all the time and felt totally fine. I would never do that here no matter what neighborhood I lived in. I feel much safer walking around Manhattan at night when I go there for work than I do here.

Really!?! I'm very surprised to hear that. You are the first person I've heard, to indicate Nashville is dangerous.

I'd be interested in hearing why you say it is unsafe.

I've lived in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Tucson, San Antonio, Atlanta, and a couple more and I'm considering a Nashville move in early 2020 myself.