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Indy vs. Columbus for Relocation

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Started 4 years ago by arenn
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arenn

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Hi, sorry for the spam, but a guy to wrote to me asking for my help in choosing between Columbus and Indy as a place to relocate. He has lived in both places and is currently in NYC. I'm far less knowledgeable on Columbus, so I offered to post his message on my blog and invite Columbus people to make their pitch. If anyone is interesting in trying to convince this guy to pick Columbus over Indy, leave him a note here:
http://theurbanophile.blogspot.com/2008/03/help-on-indy-vs-columbus-relocation.html

Posted 4 years ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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This former Indianapolis resident (of 10 years) made his escape to Columbus in 2002 and has been LOVING it ever since. Indianapolis (and Indiana for that matter) is a dying city and state - is has the highest attrition (sp?) rate in the US, losing 5% of its population every 10 years. Its also in the bottom 10% in Education. It has 20% more population than Columbus, but, despite that... comparatively, there's no art, no nightlife, few technology jobs IMHO. Columbus moved to the "services" sector a good 10 years before them and its served them well. Add the fact that there are what, 14 colleges here? - it makes for a lot more 20-30 types.
Indianapolis is a great place to live if you're married, have 2.5 kids and a dog, you're straight, live in the burbs and love "Hootie and the Blowfish", and like shop at "Pier 1" for Art...but, I found it had little to offer beyond that.
Columbus is the best kept secret in the US....
- Devo

Posted 4 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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OK, 1st off I've never been to Indianapolis and 2nd it sounds like this guy is very familiar with both. I know it has a much stronger core, because they kept theirs instead of leveling most of it for parking and places like the Canal District and Massachusetts Ave Downtown. I've heard of Broad Ripple, but aside from that it sounds like Indy's Downtown is much more solid than ours, while Columbushas more varied, vibrant neighborhoods than them. However, we will be getting a streetcar system, more bike trails and on road cycling infrastructure (getting implemented this year?) and a huge facelift for the riverfront. So it's definitely important to know what improvements are being made in both cities in the next 5 years.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Here's what I posted on his blog:
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Downtown Columbus has made a lot of progress, event since 2006 when you mentioned you last lived here.
Gay Street has probably seen the most improvement with new businesses open (Liz Lessner opened her third restaurant there last summer, and it's quite the hit):
http://www.tiptopcolumbus.com
The new Edwards Development has started at the corner of Gay & Fourth and will take over 9 blocks when finished (mostly parking lots right now):
http://www.neighborhoodlaunch.com
Broad & High is coming online right now. The LCDs have been drawing a lot of attention, but there's several new restaurants and shops getting ready to open as well:
http://www.broadandhigh.com
Not to mention the Scioto Mile project which is breaking ground in May and will completely retool the Riverfront:
http://www.sciotomile.com
We should be getting an announcement about the Streetcar line in the next month as well. All signs are pointing to YES on that:
http://downtowncolumbus.com/development/streetcar.php
CCAD just announced yesterday that they're building new student housing to go with new classroom space along Broad Street to give their campus a denser and more urban feel:
http://dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/03/03/ZONE0303.ART_ART_03-03-08_C8_GJ9G2KT.html?sid=101
The RiverSouth development is finally underway with an apartment tower breaking ground this Spring, The new Courthouse building already underway, and new parking garage structures coming this summer.
OSU just opened their Urban Art Space in the revamped Lazarus Building downtown last month:
http://arts.osu.edu/3news_events/a_news/news_winter_2008/uas_opening.html
Grange is doing a lot of new neighborhood-building construction in the Brewery District. Sort of their own miniature version of Nationwide's Arena District:
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/02/04/ZONE0204.ART_ART_02-04-08_C12_8M97NCT.html?sid=101
And while the City Center is still an eyesore, the City did manage to finally wrestle control out of the old absentee landlord's hand last summer and are moving forward with development proposals to revamped the dead mall:
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/27/city_center.html
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Oh, I almost forgot... one other new addition unique to Columbus: SKYBUS.
http://www.skybus.com
Fly around the country for dirt cheap. AWESOME.

Posted 4 years ago #
ChrisSunami
King-Lincoln District
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I can't help but notice the poor deluded Indies have been posting more vigorously on that blog than we have. Let's change that, shall we?

Posted 4 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Don't forget the sweet new community radio station WCRS! Or the new and improved bike co-op in Weinland Park!

Posted 4 years ago #
Wallis
Northside
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I'm a reformed *er* relocated New Yorker. I'd be happy to school him. I know nothing of Indianapolis, but love Columbus & am not headed back to NYC (except to visit, of course). Maybe I can do all those touristy things locals never do!

Posted 4 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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Wallis wrote I'm a reformed *er* relocated New Yorker. I'd be happy to school him. I know nothing of Indianapolis, but love Columbus & am not headed back to NYC (except to visit, of course). Maybe I can do all those touristy things locals never do!
The Statue of Liberty tour boat ride deal at sundown is definately cool.

Posted 4 years ago #
arenn

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Sorry, my blog does have way more Indy coverage than Columbus, though I try to keep up with your major developments. Hence I've got more readers in Indy. One reason I posted here was to make sure that the Columbus perspective got presented to this guy.

Posted 4 years ago #
Jonzun
Columbus, D.C., Atlanta, Raleigh, Atlanta
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Walker wrote Here's what I posted on his blog:
Grange is doing a lot of new neighborhood-building construction in the Brewery District.
Don't forget the Grange Columbus Audubon Center at the Whittier Peninsula site.
oh.audubon.org/centers/columbus.htm

Posted 4 years ago #