Jeffersonville

While it might exhibit a more quaint setting than its big city neighbor, downtown Jeffersonville offers its residents ample reasons to hardly ever need to cross the Ohio River. Downtown Jeffersonville boasts a string of locally owned boutiques and restaurants, many of which operate within brick buildings no more than a few stories tall. The shops include community staples like Schimpff’s Confectionery, a family-owned candy store that first opened in the 1890s. Adding to the area’s distinct appeal over the past several years is the NoCo — North of Court Avenue — Arts and Cultural District just north of Court Avenue. In addition to serving as a place for artists to showcase their work, the district intends to serve as a local meetup point with events featuring live music and food trucks. The district stands out with fixtures like a prominent water tank painted with swimming eye characters and the Depot, a space comprised of repurposed and artistically painted shipping containers. Completing the attractions here is the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, a former railroad truss bridge that connects Jeffersonville and neighbor Louisville. “We have a pedestrian bridge, which brings in thousands of people over to southern Indiana, where we have nice restaurants and a downtown you can walk to,” says Jeffersonville City Council member Bill Burns, who’s also the broker owner of Re/Max First. “With the shops and restaurants we have, we get the best of both worlds. We can go to the big city in Louisville, but Jeffersonville is also a nice place to live, where you can enjoy a little slower pace of life.” Spring Street in particular features several restaurants and shops operating behind vintage storefronts, as well outdoor seating spaces and planters along the edge of the roadway. Visitors to this part of the city can shop for items like locally crafted soaps at the L.O.S. Vibes Market and then walk over next door for some craft brews and choices like cornbread pudding and shrimp and grits at the Red Yeti, which easily stands out with its red yeti sculpture right by the entrance. More diverse fare can be enjoyed across the street at the Kabuki Hibachi & Ramen. Another community favorite farther up Spring is TOWN. A Neighborhood Pub, which serves Italian fare crossed with some Louisiana flair. For groceries, there’s a Kroger located a few miles drive north of downtown. Before residents get on the pedestrian bridge, they can admire some of the installations in the 10-acre Big 4 Station Park. They include some monolithic structures, a step waterfall and a large gabled-roof pavilion. The park is also a destination for those seeking local artisan foods and goods, as the Jeffersonville Farmers Market takes place there from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday. The pedestrian bridge itself can be as much of an attraction at night as it is during day thanks to an LED system that illuminates the landmark in colorful schemes after sunset. The colors can even be personalized upon requests. In addition to providing a view of both the Jeffersonville and Louisville downtowns, the bridge will satisfy joggers and walkers looking to cover some distance as the structure itself — when not counting the ramps — is about a half-mile. Those looking to play some pickup basketball, take a dance workout class or get a workout on a machine can stop by the Nachand Fieldhouse several nights a week. Those looking to get on the water can access and launch their boats from the public Jeffersonville Fisherman’s Wharf right on the southern end of downtown. One of downtown Jeffersonville’s notable pockets is the historic Rose Hill neighborhood, which was established near the turn of the 19th century. The architecture includes several classic Craftsman bungalows, as well other distinct styles like shotgun, Italianate and second empire, the latter of which houses the Market Street Inn Bed & Breakfast. Bungalows and shotguns are not uncommon in other parts of the community, but are joined by other styles that include Queen Annes and four squares. Much of these closely placed houses are either close to or over a century old. Price points can go from under $150,000 for a bungalow to nearly $500,000 for a Queen Anne, but there are some that go beyond that range. Some properties with Italian features can run roughly between $600,000 and $800,000. Schools serving the area include Franklin Square Elementary School, Parkview Middle School and Jeffersonville High School, all of which respectfully received grades of C-plus, B-minus and B from ratings site Niche. Franklin Square, the district’s newest school, is the first elementary institution in the division to adopt Project Lead the Way, an academic initiative based on STEM. The elementary school has also struck a partnership with the Arts and Cultural District to incorporate STEAM learning. Downtown residents looking for some free live music will find it in Warder Park along Spring Street, where there’s a Friday night concert series during the summer. The bands play in the park’s gazebo. More small shows are also being planned for the Depot. Riverstage Park along the river is also an ideal spot to view the July 4 fireworks show. While many certainly enjoy the ease of the Big Four bridge, those looking to travel more quickly to Louisville have some options. That includes Interstate 65, which runs along downtown Jeffersonville’s western bounds and goes over the Ohio River to connect the city to its Kentucky neighbor. There are also several TARC bus stops along Court Avenue. The Louisville International Airport is an approximately 8-mile drive south of downtown Jeffersonville. While residents aren’t too far from the UofL Health institutions across the river, there is a medical facility in the Norton Clark Hospital just north of downtown Jeffersonville.

Set in between the Lewis and Clark and the Abraham Lincoln bridges along the Ohio River, the quiet neighborhood of Oak Park is well named. Filled with old-growth oak trees towering over homes, and with parks sprinkled throughout, it’s a residential community that workers can come home to at the end of the day. “It’s an easy commute to the bridges that can take you to Kentucky,” says Samantha Hernandez, Realtor and Team Lead of HDZ Group with RE/MAX First. This is great for folks who want to hold onto their Hoosier heritage but take advantage of the jobs in and around Louisville. The added bonus of living along the Ohio River means that those who want to spend their time on the water don’t have far to go, with public put-in spots as well as homes featuring private docks. “Duffy’s Landing is a public boat ramp where people can get into the Ohio River, you can walk there from anywhere in the neighborhood,” Hernandez notes. Oak Park is boating-friendly, making the most of the location right on the river. Boaters, set skiers, anglers, kayakers and so many more make their way to the shores in good weather. Some folks throw a picnic lunch together and take in the activity from the picnic tables overlooking the river. Plenty of residents keep their toys in their driveway – “There’s no HOA there, it’s pretty relaxed, folks there want to have boats and store them on their property.” Numerous parks dot the side streets of Oak Park, each with different amenities. Throckmorton Park has a small play area and a pair of tennis courts, while Sylvan Park features a basketball court alongside a lily-covered pond, as well as a play area and open green space. Befittingly, Forest Park is towered over by hundred-foot-tall oak trees, sheltering picnic tables and a modern play area. Residents can head just outside of the neighborhood to the Jeffersonville Aquatic Center, the community’s public swimming pool and a public summer gathering spot. “It’s an established neighborhood,” says Hernandez, “Homes there retain value well.” She notes that many of the homes were built in the mid-to-late twentieth century, mostly in the 50s and 60s. This means the trees shade the typical architecture of the period – split-levels and bi-levels with hints of traditional, Colonial-revival and Federal design, as well as sprawling ranch-style homes for single-story living. Mild updates are common in older homes, and every property features off-street parking as well as spacious yards for picnics and play. The majority of homes sell for between $175,000 and $325,000, with newer builds fetching up to $500,000. Turnover here is quick, as homes sell in less than half the national average time on the market. “The elementary school is in the middle of the neighborhood, which is really nice and convenient,” Hernandez points out. Quite a few students can walk the wide sidewalks to Riverside Elementary School, which is rated a B-minus by Niche. Parkview Middle School, home to grades six through eight, also receives a B-minus, while Jeffersonville High School earns a B grade. Jeffersonville’s theatre program is highly regarded, with seven shows having been performed at the International Thespian Festival, with one even progressing to the Fringe Festival in Scotland. Sacred Heart Catholic School, just outside the neighborhood, offers Catholic schooling for kindergarten through eighth grade. As the neighborhood is almost purely residential, residents have to make a drive to get to dining and shops. “You have to go up to 10th street, that’s where they have a bunch of new restaurants, a Kroger, Starbucks, retail,” says Hernandez. Many of these are national franchises and chains, but she says there are a few locally owned gems, like Kabuki Hibachi and Ramen, where they serve traditional Japanese fare, or Star Sushi, where sushi is the star. A few small, local niche shops bring some fun to the party like Madhouse of Bricks, where they stock Legos new and old, and Horner Novelty Co, a mom-and-pop party store with supplies, decorations and everything else needed to get the fun started. Oak Park offers some walkability within the neighborhood, and the calm, shaded streets lend themselves to biking, but residents need a car to get around. Sitting directly between Route 65 and Route 265, residents have options for crossing into Louisville. Route 65 is the best option for residents grabbing a flight out of the region, as it goes directly to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, a 12-mile drive that usually takes around 30 minutes. Emergency services for the neighborhood aren’t as far off, roughly 5 miles away at Norton Clark Hospital in downtown Jeff. Hernandez mentions that the neighborhood does a National Night Out every year, bringing food trucks and more to a local park. Beyond that, many residents head to downtown Jeff for the weekly Jeffersonville Farmers Market that runs from June through October, free concerts at Warder Park, and seasonal events like the 4th of July Parade and the annual Holiday Open House that highlights small, local businesses. Of course, the week-long festivities of the Kentucky Derby Festival, just across the river, are a yearly highlight.