West View - Knoxville, TN

A part of the West Knoxville area, West View lies to the north of the more prominent Sequoyah Hills area. The development of Middlebrook Pike to the south and Western Avenue to the north has brought renewed growth to the area in the form of many businesses.

Close to the West View area, on Kingston Pike you can find the Confederate Memorial Hall, a Tuscany style Confederate home that offers guided tours to the public. Also in the area sits the Crescent Bend House & Garden, which acts as a museum housing the antique furniture and silver collection of the Toms Foundations, as well as having a 3-acre formal Italian garden, all open to the public.

Many restaurants sit along the periphery of the West View neighborhood, including along Western Avenue to the north and Sutherland Avenue to the south, beyond Interstate 40. Granny Bea’s Southern Cookin’ sits near the juncture of Western Avenue and Clifton Road and features down-home country cooking, such as the perfect chicken and dumplings, a side of sweet potato casserole and coleslaw.

Lovers of Southern family cooking should also pay a visit to Tracy’s Restaurant. Serving a variety of soul food dishes, including okra, pinto beans and corn bread, you can find the perfect food to warm your heart at this homey restaurant.

Savelli’s Italian Restaurant sits to the south of West View on Sutherland Avenue. This little Italian place features a full menu of some of the best and most wholesome food available. Whether you want lasagna, chicken alfredo or lobster ravioli, you should have no trouble finding something that satisfies your taste buds.

For nightlife, take a trip up the street to The International. This live music venue serves the West Knoxville area by hosting a great mix of music, including a variety of punk, experimental and alternative rock.

You can travel around West View by motor vehicle, bus, walking or riding a bike. You can also utilize the Uber taxi service though your mobile device. Connect with the Uber servers, and before you know it, you should arrive at your destination.

A very walkable neighborhood, West View’s many sidewalks facilitate foot traffic throughout the area. Bike riding also provides a viable mode of transportation, or residents can take advantage of the more-than-adequate Knoxville area transit buses. For drivers, the main roads in the neighborhood have four lanes of vehicle traffic.

While you can find no public parking in the West View neighborhood, nearby downtown Knoxville hosts a slew of public parking areas at a reasonable price. The area’s proximity to both Interstates 40 and 75 makes travel easy throughout the region. Whether needing to quickly reach the other side of town or travel farther afield, this is easily done from the West View area, including the outlying Blount county area and through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the perfect getaway from the stress of the work week.

West View has a few parks within or on its borders. The first, West View Park, has open spaces, a playground and a paved loop around the park. Malcolm-Martin Park features both a ball field and an adjacent pool. The park also has adequate shelters, multiple playgrounds and a basketball court. Both of these parks are pet-friendly as long as pets remain on a leash, though the ball field at Malcolm-Martin Park does not allow pets.

When looking for area events, the nearby World’s Fair Park plays host to a number of annual events in the Knoxville area, including the July 4th fireworks display. Market Square in downtown Knoxville holds a concert series during the summer months, and the nearby waterfront is the location of the Boomsday celebration held every year around Labor Day.

Overall, the West View neighborhood, like the rest of the Knoxville area, remains very resident-friendly when it comes to rent and cost of living. The cost-of-living index for the region sits lower than the state average, with rent for a one-bedroom apartment running a little over $700.

Transportation on the KAT Bus costs about $1.50 for a single-ride pass. You can opt for a 20-ride pass for roughly $25. If you plan on riding the bus for most of the day, a one-day pass costs $4.

Journeying out to the local bar and buying a beer costs around $3 to $4. With many establishments to pick from, finding one should not be a problem. Gas, lower than the national average by about 6.6 percent, makes those weekend trips to the mountains easier on the wallet.

Shopping in West View is focused mainly around Western Avenue and Middlebrook Pike. West Haven Center provides one such shopping area and is home to Elliott’s Boots and other useful stores. In the middle of the West View neighborhood, you can find Everything Iced Cupcakes & More. This retailer specializes in cakes, cupcakes and other baked goods. Take a turn onto Sutherland Avenue and visit Case Antiques, an auction house that specializes in fine art and antique furniture items from all over the state of Tennessee and Southern estates within the local area.

For smaller items, the Middlebrook Market & Deli is the perfect place to stop for sandwiches or a quick snack, in addition to beverages and other items. A nearby Kroger, toward the downtown area, gives residents a place to do a majority of their grocery shopping. If you seek fresh produce, then check out the Market Square Farmer's Market for a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.