River Oaks

Those north of the railroad tracks are in River Oaks.  They tend to be successful professionals and retirees.  There are some young families though it is not that noticeable.  Yards are pristine.  The roads are full of late-model foreign cars.  Those south of the railroad tracks live in Kirby or Balmoral.  There are a lot of retirees, but just as many families with children.  There are not a lot of singles in any area.

This area contains a lot of great restaurants, several of which are upscale chains.  The landscape is also dotted with fast food and quick-casual restaurants.  Most of these establishments are located either on Poplar Avenue or Ridgeway Road.  Since this area of town is the link between East Memphis and Germantown, an upscale suburb, it is full of restaurants.  The only bars one will find are those located inside of the restaurants.  The singles scene is almost non-existent in this area of town since it is full of retirees, older professionals and families.  Still, the area is just 15-20 minutes from both Midtown and Downtown, both of which have a very active bar and club scene.

The quality of life here is excellent due to the availability of restaurants and services, the proximity of good schools (both public and private) and the short driving distance to all areas of Memphis.  Rentals are a bit hard to find in this area of town, but are worth the effort.  The newer apartment complexes tend to be on the edges of this area to the north and the southeast.  Rental houses can be found, particuarly in Kirby and Balmoral.  Some renters are willing to accept older apartment units and homes in exchange for the good location. A one-bedroom apartment generally starts in the $500-600/month range. Three bedrooms start around $800.  House rentals vary greatly depending upon size and location.

Traffic can be a bit thick at rush hour, but it is such a short drive to East Memphis, Germantown or the interstate system that it quickly passes.  A car is mandatory.  Parking is not an issue due to the expansive parking lots.

Rentals here run the gamut from older apartment communities (with limited amenities) and older rental homes to a few newer apartment homes.  You can pretty much find whatever you want, but you may need to look a bit.  Keep looking, or get your name on a waiting list if necessary, because the convenience may well be worth it.

Most rental units will allow pets (especially small pets) as long as a pet deposit is made.  If you have a large dog, it might be best to find a rental home that comes with a fenced in yard.  It is a nice area to walk leashed pets. Most neighborhoods do have sidewalks and many have nice canopies of trees over them.  Shelby Farms, the area's largest urban park, is located about 5 minutes away.

Opera Memphis is located about five minutes away while the Germantown Performing Arts Centre is less than 10 minutes from here. Easy access to East Memphis means that the theatre and art galleries are just minutes away.  For outdoor recreation, Shelby Farms is your best bet.  Several other smaller parks are located within 10 minutes in either direction though.

Humphreys and Walnut Grove, Poplar and Kirby, and Park and Ridgeway are good areas to live for renters. The nicest homes are located in the Shady Grove and Sweetbriar area of town.  Several upscale zero-lot line developments are in the Humphreys (also known as Wolf River Boulevard) and Shady Grove area.

Banks, grocery stores, dry cleaners, gas stations and any other service you might need are as close as the nearest corner.  There is a large 24-our fitness facility near the corner of Park and Ridgeway, one of the most popular gyms in town.  There are also lots of churches in the area, representing dozens of denominations.

There are a couple of good public schools in the Kirby/Balmoral area, but this is a hotbed of tony private schools. Most notable among these are Memphis University School (an all-boys school), Hutchison School (all-girls), Christian Brothers High School (all boys), Lausanne Collegiate School (mixed), Briarcrest Christian School (mixed - although it has moved most of its campus further east), and the Bornblum Solomon Schechter School.  Many parents move into this area to be close to these schools.  All have busy athletic calendars.