Possible move to Knoxville/Oak Ridge area. Question about area to move to.

[boopie2001]

Hello Mommas!
I may be moving to the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area very soon due to a possible job transfer. I am trying to narrow down the areas we should be looking at. We are an African-American family with two very young children. I am looking for an area with some ethnic diversity and is pretty good for families with young children. I would also like an area that has a few cultural activities for the family to do. I've heard that Fountain City is great place to raise a family. Would you find that to be true? I am into somewhat natural or "green" living and I am trying to find a place were I can easily find at least a few people like myself. Do you know of any other recommended areas? Also, can someone give me a few names of realtors who deal with rental homes. I appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

[wyovol]

Fountain City is a nice place. It isn't too far from downtown which has quite a few cultural things going on.

Old North Knoxville and the 4th & Gill area are becoming more family friendly. They are "re-gentryfying" . The latter is closer to the local food co-op and downtown. I know several people who live there and are more "natural" minded than many in Knoxville.

As far as realtors go -- Realty Management, Inc. handles a lot of properties. http://www.realtymgnt.com/

Coldwell Banker Wallace &Wallace also have a rental side of things. http://www.cbww.com/rental/

[hapersmion]

We live in the Cedar Bluff area. It's very suburban, but friendly. We have a couple of playgrounds in walking distance, and the library is nice.

I couldn't tell you which areas are diverse, really - I guess it's hard to tell when I don't see anyone except the people on my own street. As for culture, there is a lot to be found in Knoxville itself. Oak Ridge is pretty good about it, too, I believe, I have a friend up there.

My midwife lives just north of Fountain City. It's an older area of town, from what I can tell driving through. They have a nice playground in the middle of town.

I haven't had much luck meeting up with other naturally-minded moms near me, but I know there is a Holistic Moms group that meets every second Tuesday in the library just down the road. I just haven't managed to get there yet. I also know there's a really good LLL group in Oak Ridge.

[LaffNowCryLater]

We live in Oak Ridge and like it. It is a small city (one highschool) and I had a bit of culture shock when moving here coming from Virginia Beach but I am used to it now.

It is mostly white (like most of E. TN) but my dh is AA and has not had a problem. My 3 kids are biracial and they have very diverse classrooms (HUGE biracial population here among the kids).

We have a lot of Asians and Hispanic people too (and some great Mexican restaurants).

[Carita]

Of course I think it should depend also on where exactly your job is, but as far as cultural activites go, being near downtown is definitely what you are looking for. I love where I am in S. Knoxville, but not too many crunchies, and not too much diversity (though that is changing). I think something in North Knoxville, off Broadway is probably the way to go. I am not sure what school districts are best in that area, but I know several "green" people out that way - we have BWing and CDing/natural parenting meet-ups with our toddlers.

[mariannecanada]

I live in the Fairmont-Emoriland Park area, right outside of Fountain City off Broadway. I like it because it is so convenient to downtown. We go to the Farmer's Market, shop at the food co-op, and it's a great neighborhood for walking with a big park and a library branch.

[bigislandmama]

Originally Posted by mariannecanada

I live in the Fairmont-Emoriland Park area, right outside of Fountain City off Broadway. I like it because it is so convenient to downtown. We go to the Farmer's Market, shop at the food co-op, and it's a great neighborhood for walking with a big park and a library branch.

My aunt lives in the Fairmont-Emoriland area and I have to agree that this would be a great place to check out. It is close to just about anything you would want and the neighborhood is beautiful. I love the style of the houses in this area too.

[KoalaMommy]

We live in west knoxville in a large neighborhood called Farmington. Whenever I hear people complain about the lack of diversity in west knoxville, I laugh. Just amongst my neighbors there are 2 African American families, a Filipino family, a mixed race couple and the people who owned our house before us were Latino.

We also have great school zoning. Bluegrass elementary is walking distance and is the school the superintendent of schools chose to send his kids to. And the middle and high schools are also among the better in the city.

There are also 2 non/selective/delayed vax friendly peds within a mile.

There's a house across the street for sale

Fountain city has some nice things about it. My SIL lives there, but unless you choose exactly right, you can be zoned for pretty lousy schools. It also doesn't have a great "neighborhood" feeling to it, mostly through streets and no sidewalks. And getting organic groceries is an issue too, the stores there don't carry much if any.

Also, if the job were going to be in Oak Ridge, Fountain City is a hike. On the other hand, if the job's downtown, Fountain city is quite close. The school you want is Shannondale in Fountain City.

[boopie2001]

Thanks everyone for the info. I really appreciate it!. Hey NaffNowCrylater, I lived in Va Beach/Norfolk area for almost for quite a while!

[Carita]

oh, and if you need a realtor - my realtor was AWESOME... like totally awesome. I was living out of state and came down to look at houses and she spent the whole weekend with us. A friend of mine used her too and she can't stop raving as well and is closing on a house next week. Great deal on a foreclosure - $59K, they pay closing 2 bdrm house...nice neighborhood.

http://www.cindyholt.com/