Californians now dreamin' in Brentwood

Cost of living, seasons, schools among top draws
By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page
Ever since the days of the gold rush, California has been seen as a sort of Promised Land – the stuff of Hollywood dreams and fairy tales. But in today’s tough economy, the Golden State appears to have lost its luster for some residents.

Then and now...

Michael and Lisa Biscotto loved Rondondo Beach, Calif. when their Sara and Thomas were young. But today, they're happy in Brentwood and their Brenthaven home “We loved the big yards in this neighborhood, and we’re near the library and Crockett Park. People are friendly, and we’re very happy with the schools. And we had the most wonderful Christmas last year. The kids had never seen snow falling before, so it was pretty exciting. I feel safer and less stressed – it’s just a very different quality of life here.” LISA BISCOTTO

Meanwhile, Brentwood consistently ranks among the nation’s top places to work and live, thanks in large part to its award-winning schools and outstanding quality of life. In fact, it seems that a growing number of Californians are doing the Tennessee Waltz these days.

“We had been wanting to move for some time,” says Lisa Biscotto, who relocated with her husband and two children from the Redondo Beach area in June 2010. “Southern California is fine when you’re young and single, but you start raising kids and you do a double-take.”

Biscotto and her husband, Michael, started researching family-friendly communities with populations of less than 100,000 and immediately liked the idea of Williamson County.

“We looked at the climate, the cost of living and the schools,” she says. “We liked the idea that this area offered four distinct seasons, but no extreme weather, and we liked the fact that the Nashville Airport is so easy to get to.”

The Biscottos visited the community twice before settling on a house in Brenthaven and actually downsized and restructured their manufacturing business in order to make the move.

“We loved the big yards in this neighborhood, and we’re near the library and Crockett Park. People are friendly, and we’re very happy with the schools. And we had the most wonderful Christmas last year. The kids had never seen snow falling before, so it was pretty exciting. I feel safer and less stressed – it’s just a very different quality of life here.”

Mari Pope agrees, noting that Tennesseans “are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” The Pope family moved from Orange County’s Aliso Viejo just this summer.

“My husband works for Nissan and relocated in April, and I came with the kids in July,” explains Pope, who works for Quest Software. “We really only considered Brentwood due to the reputation of the schools.”

The family of four rented an apartment this summer while waiting for their new home to be completed in Taramore.

“We loved the neighborhood pool and amenities, and the boys are going to enjoy playing in the nice flat backyard – something we didn’t have in California. Everyone is very friendly, and I feel like people go out of their way to help.

"For example, a woman at the YMCA found out that I was new to the area and that our sons were the same age. She offered for all of us to get together for breakfast so they could meet since they would be going to the same school. I couldn’t believe it. I have moved around quite a bit, and I have never met such amazing people.”

In the case of Penny Lueckenhoff, a move to Tennessee represented an opportunity to return to her roots. Penny, her husband Bruce, and their three children relocated to Brentwood from Santa Barbara in 2004.

“I’m from Middle Tennessee, and wanted to be closer to family,” she says. “My brother was about to start a family, and I really wanted my kids to have a closer bond with their grandparents and extended family.”

“We took a big leap of faith coming here, but it’s turned out well. All in all, we’re happy we made the move and wouldn’t change a thing.” TRISH MILLER

Lueckenhoff initially liked the Green Hills area, but quickly realized that Brentwood’s schools provided the best fit for her children.

“Our oldest daughter has special needs, and in looking at Williamson County Schools it became clear that this is where we needed to be. We’ve been very happy with our decision.”

Schools were also a major consideration for Rob and Trish Miller, who moved from Sunnyvale in the Silicon Valley area in 2007.

“We were looking for a better quality of life for the kids, someplace with a good school system where the cost of living was cheaper,” says Trish Miller, who works for radio’s Mix 92.9. “I had lived in North Carolina as a kid and loved it, so I knew I wanted to go somewhere in the Southeast.”

The couple first discovered Franklin, Tenn., in a Forbes magazine story featuring the nation’s “Best Places to Live.” After researching the area, they found that “Brentwood had just what we were looking for.”

 “You get so much house for the money here,” Miller says. “Our car insurance is less than half what it was, even car registration fees are much cheaper here. I love the beautiful hills and greenery, and the fact the kids can see horses right in the middle of suburbia on their way to school – it's just lovely.”

And while Miller admits to missing the beach, she has enjoyed discovering Southern delicacies such as chess pie, banana pudding, Chick-Fil-A, and the sweet potato pancakes at Nashville’s Pancake Pantry. And of course, the Miller’s 13-year-old twins appreciate the occasional snow day.

“We took a big leap of faith coming here, but it’s turned out well. All in all, we’re happy we made the move and wouldn’t change a thing.”