Wilder Park

I am looking for any feedback on the Wilder Park neighborhood....anyone live there? near there? Any thoughts, opinions, feedback about the area would be greatly appreciated! thanks

[Robin Garr]

I am looking for any feedback on the Wilder Park neighborhood....anyone live there? near there? Any thoughts, opinions, feedback about the area would be greatly appreciated! thanks

It's not one of the trendier neighborhoods, Heather ... mostly white, blue-collar, small houses, inner South End not far from Churchill Downs and Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Sort of like Germantown before gentrification, maybe?

Thanks Robin! We found a house that we love in the neighborhood, but it definitely was not an area we had considered before. It's only about 2-3 miles from G'Town - but it sure seems farther. I just wish I could find someone who lives there to tell me a bit more about it. Pros, cons, anything.....

[Robin Garr]

Thanks Robin! We found a house that we love in the neighborhood, but it definitely was not an area we had considered before. It's only about 2-3 miles from G'Town - but it sure seems farther. I just wish I could find someone who lives there to tell me a bit more about it. Pros, cons, anything.....

Heather, I wish I had better info. I know there are some real estate agents on the forum, and maybe some of them can jump in with more.

My guess would be that it's not an "unsafe" neighborhood but that to the extent you're a foodie who likes to hang out in the specialty food stores and restaurant rows, you'd find yourself driving over to the eastern side of the city a lot. I know when I lived in Old Louisville for a while back in the '80s, the big downside for me was that I was always having to drive out to Bardstown Road to dine, and over to St. Matthews for Lotsa Pasta and places like that.

The neighborhood to the north of Churchill Downs, not too far west of Wilder Park, is partly Hispanic, which I don't see as a problem, but I've heard some describe that part of the city as "sketchy."

I'd proceed with some caution and try to find a real-estate person or two who'll give you a candid evaluation. Maybe also contact the LMPD community affairs section and see what they have to say about crime in the area?

Heather, talk to Gary Jany

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/louisville/wilderpark/

He can give you the lowdown, we live in Beechmont which is just south of there and it's a great neighborhood, with U of L just to the north there is a lot of activity going on in Wilder Park and some redevelopment, you can also check out the links on our blog http://beechmontky.wordpress.com/ look at the links for Metro crime watch on the right side for mapping and stats.

GG.
Beechmont Neighborhood Association
We think of Norton Commons as Beechmont Lite !

[Robin Garr]

we live in Beechmont which is just south of there and it's a great neighborhood,

Beechmont really IS a great neighborhood! And a somewhat undiscovered jewel. My only issue there would be the same as I mentioned about Old Louisville in the 1980s - if you're a foodie and restaurant-goer, you're kind of isolated from most of the shops and stores and would either have to change your habits (Asian, anyone?) or spend a little extra time driving to the Highlands, Crescent Hill and St. Matthews for provisions.

How does that part of it work out for you guys, Gary?

Thank you so much Gary! I really appreciate it and my husband and I will look at those sites tonight.

Actually, we spend less time driving to ValuMarket, Sante Fe Grill, Vietnam Kitchen, and Annies. It's also lots closer to all of downtown and a lot of other places, it takes a whole 20 minutes to get to Frankfort Ave, which is about 1/2 hour quicker than when I lived in Pewee Valley. It's about 15-20 minutes to get to Mall St. Matthews via the Watterson.
Oh yeah, I can walk, run or bike to most of the neighborhood and I'm a block from Southern Parkway which means we can walk, run or bike in some of the best terrain in the city not to mention proximity to the largest Olmsted park.
The library is a block away and one of the most active in the city.
My neighbors are doctors, lawyers, nurses, electricians, retired and active police and firefighters and a myriad of other folks from people working the backside of the Downs to bankers and U of L professors. We have a very active neighborhood association with lots of festivals and a working, friendly and practical farmer's market.
I live in a 108 year old Queen Anne on a 75 by 300 foot lot with old trees and a nice paved alley.
Please don't tell anyone this story or we will be over run with yuppies from the Highlands.

[Robin Garr]

I live in a 108 year old Queen Anne on a 75 by 300 foot lot with old trees and a nice paved alley.
Please don't tell anyone this story or we will be over run with yuppies from the Highlands.

Your secret is safe with me ... actually, although I've been an East End (Highlands) kid most of my life, we lived in Beechmont for several years when I was a teen-ager. It's a great neighborhood, it really is. Still, as an adult "foodie," I was marked by my Old Louisville experience and now stay as close to Frankfort Avenue as I can.