Best Neighborhoods to live...in Chatt. ?!

[caryc]

I am wondering what Yall think are the 'best' 3 or so neighborhoods in Chattanooga are? My criteria for best/good to me being:

*Affordable
*Walkable (and proximity to necessary stores: gro's & beer)
*Cool folks/neighbors (you know: NO Texans, haw haw)

My GF & I are thinking about renting something(houses only,don't 'do' apts.), for 6ish months close to downtown, then possibly buying.She is a small(ish) town girl & has never lived in a city(and fell in love with the downtown area,she'll be going back to school @ UTChatt).
I love the city too,but also love the country!

We were there a week & didn't have time to scope out too many 'hoods'...We did like St. Elmo,Missionary Ridge & North Chatt.

[Babs]

North Chatt.

[Jay]

I live in Harrison. It's about half an hour from downtown, but the area is nice and friendly.

[Justin Thyme]

As much as it gets made fun of in this forum Red Bank actually meets all of your criteria. So does East Ridge. There are cool folks living in both places but you'll find a few Texans in both places also. The key is to find the right neighborhood in either area where the cool/Texan ratio is to your liking.

[Warkitty]

North Chatt for the win, especially if you get a place close to Greenlife. Alternately St. Elmo would work, close to BiLo so you're good.

[caryc]

Dec 18, 2009 10:57:19 GMT -5 Justin Thyme said:

As much as it gets made fun of in this forum Red Bank actually meets all of your criteria. So does East Ridge. There are cool folks living in both places but you'll find a few Texans in both places also. The key is to find the right neighborhood in either area where the cool/Texan ratio is to your liking.

I saw Red Bankistan somewhere on here,thought that was funny.
I wish for no Texans,heh heh!

[caryc]

Dec 18, 2009 11:00:57 GMT -5 Warkitty said:

North Chatt for the win, especially if you get a place close to Greenlife. Alternately St. Elmo would work, close to BiLo so you're good.

I was 'impressed' with the Bi-Lo there,they used to be trashy stores. In Austin HEB is king(great selection & prices).
Greenlife was good too,although their bread selection was too small & high-priced(plus I couldn't get 'baby' out the dang natural girly-stuff area,she couldn't get me out of beer or bulk sections!)

[Justin Thyme]

Red Bank is an older community. It's where I grew up so I have a special fondness for it. It isn't as hip as N. Chattanooga but it may be more affordable. I know several cool people that live there. I'm working hard on getting back there myself.

[rstewart]

For you I'd suggest Orchard Knob or Eastlake.

[caryc]

Another thing I found really cool about Chatt. is that it is Not all built up,esp in the mountains to the west.In Austin all the yups et al move into the hills for the view.Now all they see is houses& buildings everywhere.
I was 'surprised' to see such 'restraint' in the lack of dwellings on that side of town!

[Justin Thyme]

Dec 18, 2009 11:38:17 GMT -5 rstewart said:

For you I'd suggest Orchard Knob or Eastlake.

There are actually parts of Eastlake that I would have no problem living in. I'm even thinking of a few blocks around Orchard Knob that I would live. Get more decent people to move into these areas who have not been brainwashed into believing there is something wrong with ratting on scum and you are going to force the scum out. Fix the broken windows and you fix the neighborhood.

[caryc]

Dec 18, 2009 11:38:17 GMT -5 rstewart said:

For you I'd suggest Orchard Knob or Eastlake.

As long as you stay in Cleveland, anywhere in Chatt would be cool!

[rstewart]

There is one good thing about Orchard Knob, it's centrally located to all 3 of the major hospitals in Chattanooga including the only Level 1 trama center in the area, Erlanger.

[el Gusano]

Sounds like Highland Park might be up your alley.

[goomba]

Alton park would be good for ya, or maybe 4th ave near 23rd st....

[Police Moderator]

Lakesite.

[LimitedRecourse]

If you can afford it, Downtown is the happenin' place...maybe a town home off Main Street. Lots of artists have moved their homes and studios into that area.

[mikeydokey]

I vote you stay right where you're at, probably Brainerd, or East Brainerd?

[caryc]

Dec 19, 2009 1:26:20 GMT -5 mikeydokey said:

I vote you stay right where you're at, probably Brainerd, or East Brainerd?

mikey, "Won't you be my neighbor?!"

[RuneDeer]

Another vote for Orchard Knob/Highland Park/Glenwood. It's easy for a white person to drive through and think "You're kidding, right?" but most of the people who live there don't appreciate it being called a ghetto and are working with non-profits to organize and form neighborhood associations. Just drive a few blocks into an area that ISN'T organized yet and you'll see an enormous difference. As long as you're not moving there with an eye toward being a house-flipper or an absentee landlord, you will be warmly welcomed and invited to participate. Yes, there is crime. But from what I've read, it's all over this city (this country, this world...), not just in some neighborhoods.

-Rune (Churchville resident, 2010 secretary, and non-homicide victim)

[Tsavodiner]

Dec 20, 2009 18:03:15 GMT -5 RuneDeer said:

Another vote for Orchard Knob/Highland Park/Glenwood. It's easy for a white person to drive through and think "You're kidding, right?" but most of the people who live there don't appreciate it being called a ghetto and are working with non-profits to organize and form neighborhood associations. Just drive a few blocks into an area that ISN'T organized yet and you'll see an enormous difference. As long as you're not moving there with an eye toward being a house-flipper or an absentee landlord, you will be warmly welcomed and invited to participate. Yes, there is crime. But from what I've read, it's all over this city (this country, this world...), not just in some neighborhoods.

-Rune (Churchville resident, 2010 secretary, and non-homicide victim)

YOU'RE WELCOME, since I didin't get SQUAT from any of you for the 9 years total and the one life sacrificed for your paradise.
Judith can KMA also.
AND Sally.
AND Louise.
AND Gary.

Hell, let's just edit: Folks like those of Highland Park make me proud you'll be on the hook for a public-guaranteed-defined-benefits-pension with automatic annual increases NOT adjusted for inflation.
Yeah, you're so much smarter than us; keep the checks coming

[Tsavodiner]

Dec 20, 2009 11:07:37 GMT -5 caryc said:

Dec 19, 2009 1:26:20 GMT -5 mikeydokey said:

I vote you stay right where you're at, probably Brainerd, or East Brainerd?

mikey, "Won't you be my neighbor?!"

Only long enough to raise your rent.

[caryc]

Dec 20, 2009 18:03:15 GMT -5 RuneDeer said:

Another vote for Orchard Knob/Highland Park/Glenwood. It's easy for a white person to drive through and think "You're kidding, right?" but most of the people who live there don't appreciate it being called a ghetto and are working with non-profits to organize and form neighborhood associations. Just drive a few blocks into an area that ISN'T organized yet and you'll see an enormous difference. As long as you're not moving there with an eye toward being a house-flipper or an absentee landlord, you will be warmly welcomed and invited to participate. Yes, there is crime. But from what I've read, it's all over this city (this country, this world...), not just in some neighborhoods.

-Rune (Churchville resident, 2010 secretary, and non-homicide victim)

Chatt does have above average crime stats from what I've seen.Mostly assault/s & burglary.I find the assault figures odd(4 x the national avg.).I got the stats from the Chatt.TimesFreepress online real estate classifieds,which have these 'drop-down boxes' for each specific neighborhood.

I cannot believe yall's real estate prices!I am drooling...lots of fixer-uppers(I'm a handy-man,somewhat,haw haw).You can't buy a shack with an outhouse in Austin for less than an arm,Two legs & a kidney!
Red Bank wins the award for ugly houses.

[adamhk]

You should really investigate the Southside area. It includes Cowart Place, Fort Negley and Jefferson Heights. The boundaries are basically from Main Street to 20th and Broad to Central.

There are a lot of great restaurants and bars (Terminal) within walking distance and Main Street is getting a full service grocery store, including deli and bakery, in the summer of 2010. A Wine Store is also coming.

You can also get a $10,000 buyers incentive on new houses in Jefferson Heights.

I'd recommend checking out these links for more info:

chattarati.com/neighborhoods/southside/
www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_164428.asp
southsidechattanooga.org/

[LimitedRecourse]

"Red Bank wins the award for ugly houses."

That matches their winning the award for ugly people...

[Warkitty]

"Red Bank wins the award for ugly houses."That matches their winning the award for ugly people...

I resemble that remark.

[okz]

I'm fond of East Ridge, You can get a lot of house for your money and close to Downtown, Hamilton Place. Being so close to the state line I can be in Atlanta pretty quick.

[caryc]

Dec 21, 2009 15:54:52 GMT -5 Warkitty said:

"Red Bank wins the award for ugly houses."That matches their winning the award for ugly people...

I resemble that remark.

Re: Red Bank,the houses for sale in Chatt. Times classifieds are ugly...so I shouldn't have judged RB just on those.Will drive around more when I gets there in late Feb.

[caryc]

Dec 21, 2009 10:59:23 GMT -5 adamhk said:

You should really investigate the Southside area. It includes Cowart Place, Fort Negley and Jefferson Heights. The boundaries are basically from Main Street to 20th and Broad to Central.

There are a lot of great restaurants and bars (Terminal) within walking distance and Main Street is getting a full service grocery store, including deli and bakery, in the summer of 2010. A Wine Store is also coming.

You can also get a $10,000 buyers incentive on new houses in Jefferson Heights.

I'd recommend checking out these links for more info:

chattarati.com/neighborhoods/southside/
www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_164428.asp
southsidechattanooga.org/

Thanks Adam,gonna check the links out later.

[Warkitty]

I was referring to the "ugly people award" thing. Taste in houses is entirely up to the buyer.