Uptown

Uptown features a healthy mixture of singles and married people with children. They're educated, upwardly mobile, and have good jobs and considerable spending power. There are some retirees here as well, though they don't comprise the majority of residents. Uptown's a good place to live if you want diversity, too. Those who are of working age tend to live here because it's not very far from the office. During the day you see lots of foot traffic, as people walk back and forth, from home to the office, and vise-versa. During the evening, the residents come out to take a stroll, go for a jog, or walk the dog around the block.

Demographically speaking, the people who live in Uptown are relatively young. They live here because they want to be close to downtown, but also want a safe and quiet neighborhood to call home. That's one of Uptown's biggest appeals. It's close to everything, but offers clean streets and a safe surrounding. This is the largest of all the downtown neighborhoods, covering more than 100 square blocks, and it's easy for young people to find a place here that combines comfort with convenience.

There aren't a lot bars and restaurants to be found in Uptown, I'm afraid. It's primarily laid out as a residential district, with specific units set aside for businesses to occupy. One exception is the J & J Bar and Grill, on Thomas Street. But not to worry. That's one of the main reasons people settle in Uptown. Restaurants bring late-night traffic, noise, and a whole host of other inconveniences. The truth of the matter is that there are scores of establishments just beyond Uptown's perimeter. Head over to the Pinch and hang out a T.J. Mulligan's, or go downtown and eat at dozens of places, then go late-night clubbing down along South Main. When you're done for the night, come on back to your own quiet neighborhood.

Renters in Uptown can expect to pay anywhere from $650 to $1400 a month, depending on what they're looking for. That may strike you as steep, but you'll have to pay way more than that to live out East, and you won't even get to enjoy all the perks that come with living downtown. Rent's a little cheaper in Midtown, but some of the neighborhoods there are sketchy, and it's hard to figure what's safe and what isn't if you're new to town. The rent may strike you as being a little high here, but remember you always get what you pay for. And in this case, you're paying a little extra to live in a cool neighborhood that's both safe and convenient. In my opinion, it's a steal.

There's plenty of parking space in Uptown, though you may not even need a car. A good many uptown residents live just a stone's throw from the office, and they save on gas by commuting on foot. Most of the apartment buildings in Uptown have thier own parking lots, so there's no need to worry about curbside parking, though there's a good bit of that as well.  Just make sure you don't park where you're not supposed to. The cops are notorious for driving around Uptown and doling out citations. And try not to park curbside at night, either, unless you're in a well-lighted place. The last thing you want to do is to encourage the occassional thief or vandal to target your ride.

Uptown's also a good place to live if you want to use public transportation. The Memphis Area Transit Authority's downtown terminal is just down the way in the Pinch District, within easy walking distance. You can catch the trolley and transfer to the bus line, which will take you just about anywhere you need to go in Memphis.

There are currently more than 500 apartment and townhouse rental units in Uptown. It's much easier to find rental units here than it is in some other downtown areas, such as the Pinch or South Main. Keep in mind that you're going to have to spend between $600 and $1400 a month, depending on the size and location of the place.  

There are several major apartment developments to choose from. Uptown Square on North Lauderdale is popular because it features a variety of attractive floor plans, free wireless internet service, a swimming pool, and even a small gym.  There's also Greenlaw Place, which is primarily a townhouse development. It's popular too, though it doesn't offer the same kind of amenities. Then there's the metropolitan, which is a combination of townhouses and apartments. It features a variety of conveniences and floor plan, but no free wi-fi, swimming pool, or gym.

Uptown is homes to lots of young singles and married couples, some with small children, so you can expect to find lots of pets in the neighborhood. When it comes to finding a pet-friendly landlord, though, you may have to do some sweet-talking. It's probably a little easier to get away with having a pet in a townhouse than having one in an apartment complex, since there are concerns that loud animals may bother the neighbors. As with any other community, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pet ownership. Every landlord is different. But you may be able to make a pet deposit or work out some other kind of arrangement, since Uptown is generally a pet-friendly kind of place.

Uptown is a example of the new infill urban planning trend and, as such, it features a number of small parks and playgrounds that are easily accessed by foot. These are intended primarily for use by parents and small children, though it's not uncommon to see dogwalkers or bicyclists dropping in for a quick visit either. As far as major entertainment or recreational sites go, though, you'll have to wander outside of the Uptown neighborhood to find those. But not to worry. You don't have to go very far. Mud Island is just across Riverside Drive, for instance, and if you go half a mile south you've suddenly got all of downtown at your disposal, including Beale Street, South Main, the Orpheum, and everything else. Between May and October, be sure to check out the Farmer's Market at Central Station Pavilion, to find fresh produce and hear live music.

Uptown is generally a safe neighborhoods, and there are very few trouble spots to worry about. There's not a lot of crime in the area, because the police department has increased its presence all over downtown in the past few years. That's not to say there isn't the odd break-in every now and again but, generally speaking, you're fairly safe in Uptown. There's an active neighborhood watch group in the area, and the neighbors make an effort to get to know one another, so they can know who's supposed to be there and who is not. One word of advice: If you're going to be walking outside of the Uptown area late at night, take at least one other person with you and take a taxi or a trolley back to the neighborhood if you happen to be out after ten o'clock or so. While downtown is still relatively safe, it ain't exactly Kansas, if you know what I mean.

Uptown was designed with the idea that small stores would eventually come in and serve the community's needs. That, at least, is what the developers had in mind. But those businesses have yet to materialize. That's not to say they'll never make their way Uptown, but it'll probably take a while - now that the economy has slowed down. For the most part, though, it's really not a problem. Uptown is really a convenient location, anyway, and there are plenty of banks and even small grocery shops all over downtown anyway. There's even a couple of gyms downtown, too, the most notable one being the YMCA on Madison, just across the way from the Downtown Elementary School.

If you're looking for a full-size grocery store, however, that really is more of an issue for people living Uptown. There's Miss Cordelia's Grocery in Harbortown, but it's small and overpriced, though it does stay open 'til 10. For a full-sized grocery, you're going to have to hop in the car or take the bus to Midtown, where the grocery stores are also less than perfect. Schnuck's is inconvenient and expensive, while Kroger and Piggly Wiggly are more affordable but are in sketchy neighborhoods. No reason to get too upset, though. It's a hassle that every Memphian has learned to put up with.

Plenty of children live Uptown, and the neighborhood association is good about keeping it relatively kid-friendly. There are a scattering of parks and playgrounds for them to use, and there are also planned picnics, festivals and other events. In past years, there have been fall pumpkin-carving contests for kids as well as assorted Christmas events. Mud Island is not very far away, either, and children are almost always up for spending a summer's day playing in the water there. Memphis also has one of the best zoos in the country and, even though it isn't downtown, it's still pretty close, and a year-round pass is only $75.00 for a family of four. Can't beat that, I'm afraid.

Schools, however, are another matter altogether. Children have access to Downtown Elementary as well as a few others, including Caldwell, Guthrie, and Gordon. Downtown Elementary has a decent reputation, but these other schools get mixed reviews at best. When selecting a school for your child, remember to visit them all and try to assess the quality of the learning environment for yourself. It's especially important to do this in Memphis, where the quality of public education has an abysmal reputation.

Students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades attend Humes Middle School, located on North Manassas. Humes has a fairly solid academic reputation, as well, with roughly 90 percent of its students at proficiency level in both Math and Reading. Class sizes are fairly small, too, with about 17 students per teacher. In Memphis, it could be worse.

Uptown residents also have access to two public schools, Manassas and Northside High. The former places a heavy emphasis on the performing arts, such as music and theatre, and parents are generally happy with it. The latter, however, generally recieves substandard ratings and is often the subject of unfavorable newscasts. Avoid it at all cost, if you can. In 2005, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it would be building an $8 million high-tech Uptown High School, but that institution has yet to materialize.

If none of those options are to your liking, you should know that there are also lots of parochial and private schools operating in Memphis. Mud Island has its own Montessori School, for instance, but most of the quality institutions are in Midtown or out East. There are some good optional programs in Memphis, as well, but you're going to do some serious driving if you're planning on sending your kids to Grahamwood or Whitestation. If you want the best that money can buy, you'll be glad to know that Memphis has some seriously exclusive private schools, such as MUS and the Hutchinson School, that serve as feeders into the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities.