Tyner-Greenwood - Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga has gone through major ups and downs during the 20th century but has managed to come out on top despite every hurdle. Though the region was once plagued with bad air quality and a population decrease due to deindustrialization, modern day Chattanoogans now live in one of the country's most environmentally friendly cities. Industry continues to boom thanks to the construction of the Volkswagen assembly plant just east of Tyner-Greenwood. Interestingly, while Chattanooga was going through a bust period during the 1980s, Tyner-Greenwood continued to see major residential development.

The museum and arts scene in Chattanooga is impressive. Popular places to visit include the Tennessee Aquarium, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the River Gallery. The city also hosts lively events and festivals throughout the year. Riverbend Festival, a nine-day event, takes place on the 21st Century Waterfront and features over 100 bands covering all genres of music.

Some restaurants are close to the heart of Tyner-Greenwood along Shallowford Road, Gunbarrel Road and Bonny Oaks Drive. Fast-food and well-known establishments fill these busy streets, but a few great local restaurants have sprung up in-between the popular chains.

The City Cafe Diner sits to the east of Tyner-Greenwood on Lee Highway. This classic 1950s-style haunt prepares old-school favorites, such as triple-decker sandwiches, bacon cheeseburgers and tuna salad melts. City Cafe Diner serves breakfast all day long and dishes out some of the best homemade desserts in town. If you like to dine late at night, you're in luck – this place stays open 24 hours a day.

Head to the Lunch Box Deli on Shallowford Road for lunch, and dine inside or take your food back to work with you. Local businesses and employees come here for tasty and affordable soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches. Favorites include the pastrami Reuben and the Buffalo chicken wrap, and the Greek pasta salad makes the perfect side.

Southeast of the neighborhood, along Lee Highway, lies one of Chattanooga's most popular Thai restaurants, Rain Thai Bistro. Rain Thai serves up authentic Thai dishes and sushi rolls in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. Perfect for a date night or casual meal, this place knocks your socks off with its fresh spring rolls, spicy basil noodles and red curry. Menu items come in a variety of spice levels, so be sure to specify your preference to the waitstaff.

Those looking to grab an evening drink have many options just south of Tyner-Greenwood. Hamilton Place Boulevard, Gunbarrel Road and Shallowford Road have numerous bars, including Smokey Bones Bar and Fire Grill, Big River Grille and Brewing Works and Bar Louie. The Pin Strikes bowling alley on Perimeter Place provides visitors with a festive bowling experience. The city of Chattanooga also houses a decent number of clubs and music venues. These include Raw Dance Club Live Music Bar and Grill and Track 29.

The majority of Tyner-Greenwood residents drive a car or carpool to work. Commuters heading downtown follow Tennessee Route 153 to Interstate 24, and most commutes average around 20 minutes. Parking is free along the residential streets in Tyner-Greenwood.

Less than one percent of the Tyner-Greenwood population utilizes the Chattanooga Area Regional Transit Authority public transportation system. Taxis do operate in Tyner-Greenwood, but Uber does not provide service in most areas of the community.

Chattanooga's Parks and Recreation Department operates over 4,800 acres of public park space for your enjoyment. Tyner-Greenwood has a handful of popular parks, including the Tyner-East Brainerd Park. This park covers 22 acres, features eight ball fields and entrance is free. Along with the other neighborhood parks in Chattanooga, East Brainerd welcomes dogs.

Just north of Tyner-Greenwood lies the Booker T. Washington State Park. Here, families enjoy the multiple picnic pavilions, the Olympic-sized pool, fishing access and 5 miles of walking trails. Mountain bikers come to this state park for the challenging 6-mile biking trail. General entrance into this park is free, but fees do apply if you're camping or renting any of the park's facilities.

Many festivals occur in Chattanooga parks, though none happen within Tyner-Greenwood. The Southern Brewing Festival calls Riverfront Park home every August. This event brings together over 100 breweries and the hottest bands for two days of fun in the sunshine. Those interested in purchasing tickets should check the online website for pre-sale specials and VIP rates.

The cost of living in Tyner-Greenwood does not fall very far from the city average of Chattanooga. The entire area maintains a cost of living that averages 9 percent less than the national average. Renters should expect to pay slightly more in Tyner-Greenwood. Residents, on average, pay $688 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Transportation costs in this neighborhood mirror the rest of Chattanooga. Bus riders using Chattanooga Area Regional Transit Authority pay $1.50 for a one-way fare and $50 for an unlimited monthly pass, Gas prices lie approximately 10 percent below the national average, and bar patrons should expect to pay between $4 and $5 for a pint of beer at local establishments.

Shopping options in Tyner-Greenwood are fairly limited to casual apparel retailers, grocery markets and car dealerships, so head outside of the neighborhood to find a broad selection of smaller speciality shops and upscale retailers. Most shopping occurs along Shallowford Road, Bonny Oaks Drive and Lee Highway.

Reflections Gallery and Framing sells locally made artwork and provides framing services. This family-operated business holds monthly sales and special exhibits of popular artwork. Expect a warm smile and friendly service when walking through the front door. Those interested in taking a stained-glass workshop should call ahead to find out the class schedule.

Literature lovers flock to McKay Used Books on Lee Highway for affordable books, DVDs and music. The book selection covers most genres, and McKay offers a generous buy-back program. Frequent visits to McKay can result in one-of-a-kind finds for your collection.

Locals have many grocery store options along Lee Highway just south of Tyner-Greenwood. Markets such as Save-A-Lot and Food City are next to ethnic stores and smaller convenience marts. Follow Lee Highway south past Tennessee Route 153 to reach Sam's Club warehouse for bulk merchandise. The Chattanooga Farmers Market downtown at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center opens seasonally on Saturday mornings beginning in April.