$277,495Average Value$199Average Price per Sq Ft16Homes For Sale
A storm that altered Forest Lake’s character
Forest Lake was once a historic neighborhood true to its name: unique older homes paired with a thick canopy of trees and a lake. But that changed on April 27, 2011, when an EF4 tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa, killing 39 people and causing more than $2 billion of damage. The storm delivered a direct hit to the east side of the neighborhood, changing the character of the landscape — and the residents. “It’s beautiful now, but it was beautiful in a different way before the tornado,” says Linda Parsons, president of the Forest Lake Homeowners Association and a professor at the University of Alabama who has lived in the neighborhood since 2007. “We lost 5,000 to 8,000 trees,” Parsons says. “There were a fair number of older residents who basically said, ‘We’ll just sell.’ This became an empty canvas, and everyone had a different picture of what they wanted painted on that canvas.” In the wake of the tornado, the neighborhood’s central location and proximity to the University of Alabama made it especially appealing for new student housing and short-term rentals, but full-time residents are slowly becoming the neighborhood’s focus once more.
Enjoy the lake lifestyle in Forest Lake.
Get to know the beauty and the wildlife in Forest Lake
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Rebuilt homes and newer student dwellings
While much of the eastern half of Forest Lake was affected by the tornado, many of the west side’s older homes survived, some dating from as early as the 1920s. Selling from the mid-$100,000s to around $300,000, these cottages and national-style homes sit along gridded streets with small yards. But areas that saw more storm damage have gone through a more drastic shift in character. Some homeowners chose to rebuild, with many of the new lake-facing homes featuring farmhouse or French Country styles that can hit the market between $500,000 and $600,000. However, new developments also moved into some of the vacant land, with short-term-rental and student-focused builds. Investment properties can run the gamut from between $100,000 and $300,000 for a smaller house, to north of $1 million for a newly built duplex. New condos have also been built near Midtown Village, ranging from the mid-$200,000s to about $300,000. Despite the student housing, the neighborhood remains quiet and peaceful, and permanent residents have started moving back in. “Whether they’re undergrad or graduates, most students are delightful neighbors,” Parsons says. “You’ll notice a lot more cars parked, or there’s more likely to be a Saturday afternoon gathering, whereas over the summer it’s quieter.” Non-students call it home, too. “We’ve had some retirees move in here recently, so I would say it’s maybe 50-50,” Parsons says.
Take a stroll and enjoy your day in Forest Lake.
Admire this french country style home in Forest Lake,
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Shopping at Midtown Village
Forest Lake residents can easily get their morning coffee or a bite to eat within the neighborhood. Located along McFarland Boulevard on the east side of the area, Tuscaloosa Midtown Village has plenty of dining and retail options. “I usually walk over to Midtown to get coffee at Panera each morning,” Parsons says. “I can walk across the street to get to Starbucks if I want, but that can be a little challenging.” Midtown also features popular eateries such as Fuku Ramen, which offers a number of classic takes on the noodle dish. Across McFarland, University Mall features over 60 retail outlets, including Bath and Body Works and Foot Locker. Fast food flanks 15th Street, including spots like Cook Out and McAlister’s Deli. Just off 15th Street, locals can head to the Druid City Brewing Company Taproom for its beer and vintage video games in an industrial setting. For groceries, residents often visit the nearby Fresh Market along McFarland Boulevard.
Shop and dine at Midtown Village in Forest Lake.
Find a new bike at Trek Bicycle in Forest Lake.
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Rolling with the Tide in Tuscaloosa
While Forest Lake has seen plenty of change in the last 15 years, residents work to keep community spirit alive with neighborhood festivities and holiday celebrations. “There’s an island to the side of the lake, and we had a tree on it that was destroyed by the tornado,” Parsons says. “We put another there, but it didn’t do well since the soil’s not right. So we put a string of lights that’s shaped like a Christmas tree. We light it up on Thanksgiving weekend and turn it off January 1.” But in Tuscaloosa, fall Saturdays are the main holidays, as over 100,000 fans pack Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium to cheer for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, an 18-time national champion. Traffic picks up across the city, and Forest Lake is in the center of the gridlock with the stadium just a mile from the neighborhood. Aside from football, locals attend the Kentuck Festival of the Arts each fall. Held each October in Northport for its first 52 years, the festival is moving across the street from the neighborhood to Snow Hinton Park for the first time in 2024. The festival showcases nearly 300 artists as well as food, drinks and live music.
Visit the University of Alabama near Forest Lake.
Find a new jersey at Alumni Hall in Forest Lake.
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Scenic views of Forest Lake
Forest Lake's centerpiece is its namesake body of water, which is privately owned by the 29 homes surrounding it. Those with access often have piers for small watercraft like canoes, though they are more likely to use them to sit out and enjoy the scenic views. Residents are often found taking a morning walk around the lake and saying hello to neighbors. Parents can take their kids across Hackberry Lane to Monnish Park, which includes walking paths, a picnic pavilion and a playground.
Discover lake living in the middle of the city in Forest Lake.
Catch a fish from your backyard in Forest Lake.
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Education in Tuscaloosa City Schools
Forest Lake children are zoned to Tuscaloosa City Schools, starting at University Place Elementary School, which received a C-plus rating from Niche. They then attend Westlawn Middle School, graded a C-minus, and C-rated Central High School, which offers the International Baccalaureate program for its students. But many families in Forest Lake send their kids to private schools, including the nearby A-minus-rated Holy Spirit Catholic School, which offers prekindergarten through 12th grade. The University of Alabama, the state’s flagship university, abuts the neighborhood and enrolls nearly 40,000 students.
West Lawn Middle School enjoys teaching kids in Tuscaloosa.
Kids love to learn at Central High School.
Holy Spirit Catholic School encourages a positive classroom environment.
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Central to Tuscaloosa employers like Mercedes-Benz
With its central location in Tuscaloosa, Forest Lake offers easy commutes to area employers. Many residents work or attend classes at the University of Alabama, which they can walk to down 2nd Avenue, less than 2 miles away. “As a professor, I don’t walk to school on a normal day, because if I’m dressed for work it’s just a little bit far, but on a football gameday, I never move my car,” Parsons says. Interstate 20 sits a little over 2 miles away from Forest Lake, leading 15 miles east to the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant that employs over 6,000 people. Birmingham is just under a 60-mile drive from the neighborhood, and the city’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is the nearest major airport, featuring flights to over 20 destinations including hubs like Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Forest Lake
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Forest Lake Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Forest Lake, Tuscaloosa sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Forest Lake, Tuscaloosa over the last 12 months is $257,450, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
