Is Lauderdale Courts safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Lauderdale Courts as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Lauderdale Courts
“Go with care. While Lauderdale Courts holds significant musical history as Elvis Presley's teenage home, the surrounding Uptown and North Memphis corridor contends with above-average rates of violent and property crime. Plan visits during daylight hours specifically targeted at the historic site, secure your vehicle, and avoid exploring adjacent blocks on foot after dark.”
Memphis Police Department regularly focuses patrols along the adjacent Danny Thomas Boulevard corridor due to regional auto theft and property crime concerns.
About the area
Originally built as a 1930s New Deal public housing complex, Lauderdale Courts has been revitalized and renamed Uptown Square, offering mixed-income residential housing with manicured central courtyards. It attracts music enthusiasts drawn to Elvis Presley's preserved teenage apartment while sitting at the border of Downtown and North Memphis.
- Historic Housing
- Music Heritage
- Urban Transition
- Mixed-Income
Walking and biking in Lauderdale Courts
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Explore Bike Share docks are located nearby around St. Jude and the Pinch District, providing connections toward the Wolf River Greenway and Riverfront paths.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Culturally significant Elvis Presley heritage site with preserved Apartment 328 available for tours
- Revitalized New Deal-era colonial revival brick architecture with maintained green courtyards
- Immediate proximity to Downtown Memphis, the Medical District, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Cons
- Elevated violent and property crime rates compared to state and national averages
- Surrounding 38105 Census tract has poverty rates exceeding 35% with lower median household incomes
- Limited commercial density, dining, and retail immediately inside the residential parcel
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately frequent along Danny Thomas Boulevard and North 2nd Street due to transit stops and proximity to downtown emergency shelters.
What Lauderdale Courts is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm with standard commuter and transit activity, making it suitable for scheduled daytime site visits.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderate foot traffic and residential activity; generally safe for targeted tourism around the leasing office and historical points.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic drops off quickly, and lingering outside the complex grounds requires elevated situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Not recommended for walking due to reduced visibility and an increased likelihood of opportunistic property or violent crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) provides bus service via routes 11, 36, and 40 along Danny Thomas and A.W. Willis, and the Main Street Trolley is roughly five blocks west.
Free residential and visitor surface parking is available inside the complex, and free curbside street parking is generally plentiful on Lauderdale and Alabama Avenues.
Things to do in Lauderdale Courts
- Take a guided tour of Elvis Presley's preserved teenage home in Apartment 328
- Stroll through the historic brick courtyards of the restored Uptown Square complex
- Explore the nearby Pinch District and historic Greenlaw neighborhood landmarks
Local favorites
- Alcenia's · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.7★ (1650)Famed destination for scratch-made soul food, fried chicken, and warm Southern hospitality just south on Main Street.
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (2800)Historic, award-winning Memphis pit barbecue joint renowned for smoked sausage, ribs, and Cornish hen.
- Ferraro's Pizzeria & Pub · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (460)Casual neighborhood spot serving classic pies, wings, and draft beers just blocks away on North Main.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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