Metro Pulse/Urban Renewal

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415 Clark St.

1,277 sq. ft.
3 bedrooms
1 bath

$79,900

Contact: Sandy Beeler, Remax

694-8100

Available housing surrounds downtown

by Matt Edens

Don't get me wrong, the sudden explosion in the number of people living downtown is a good thing. But, like any bold new experiment, unforeseen problems arise. And now, after assorted parking predicaments, neighbors nagging about noise and the unfortunate dog excrement episode, I've come to the inescapable conclusion that downtown, folks, just ain't for everyone. So what if you want hot spots like the Preservation Pub, Pasta Trio and the Tomato Head out your back door, but you'd also like a little more space between you and the neighbors? Not to mention a patch of grass for the dog to do his...well...you know...without somebody making a federal case out of it? What's a home-hunting hipster to do? Well, luckily the world doesn't end at the edge of the central business district (no matter what some loft-lizard-come-lately might say). There's plenty of neighborhoods within spitting distance of Market Square and the Old City: Fort Sanders and Fourth and Gill, of course, but there's also Old Sevier, Morningside, Parkridge, Old North Knoxville and—by no means last or least—Mechanicsville. In fact, on most nights, a big chunk of the "downtowners" holding forth over a pint at the pub actually hail from any one of these half-dozen or so 'hoods. And why not? All are as close as a five-minute drive to downtown or 10 by bike or bus (most are served by multiple bus lines, too). For the most part, they're also graced with some of the most affordable real estate around. This great little Victorian cottage, for instance, on Clark Street in Mechanicsville. Priced at $79,900 it'll set you back less than a one-bedroom unit in the Sterchi or Emporium. And, with three bedrooms and almost 1,300-sq. ft. of space, it's a good bit bigger to boot. I know what you're thinking—has to be one of those fixer-uppers, right? Actually, just the opposite. The previous owner did almost all of the heavy lifting back in the mid-to-late '90s: new roof, updated plumbing and wiring, new central heat and air, double-pane replacement windows, a new kitchen and bath—even a bunch of roses and wisteria planted in the yard. Sure, there's still some stuff you could do—refinish a floor or two, dress up the trim a bit (the house still has the original pocket doors and two fireplace mantles). But don't let that daunt you—it's Trading Spaces type stuff. Quite frankly, this is probably a good time to be buying into Mechanicsville. The HOPE VI redevelopment (you know, all those cute new houses you can see from the interstate) has transformed the west end of the neighborhood. And while Old Mechanicsville—the old historic core around Moses School and the firehouse—hasn't gotten nearly as much press as the brand-spanking new part, it has been stable for years, with lots of lovingly restored homes like this one. So go ahead; buy it. And if that guy with the goatee down at the pub gives you crap about missing out on downtown's renaissance, tell him hell no, you've got yourself a ringside seat. Literally.