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Where to live advice request

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Started 2 years ago by DRF
Latest reply from Snarf

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DRF

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Hi, I might go to work close to Columbus in a couple of months and am interested in researching potential areas to live. My target location is as close as possible to I-70 and from downtown center - eastward.

Ideally I'm looking for an area with things to do within walking distance, decent nightlife(late 20's early 30's)within 10 min drive, and relatively safe (hate to replace car windows)... I'm a single dude, so suburbs are out of the question.

Any advice or referrals to good websites for research appreciated.

Thanks,

DR

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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Start in the Short North / Victorian Village / Italian Village areas.

Posted 2 years ago #
BCNation
Franklin Park
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I would say Uptown Westerville, but:
a) You hate suburbs
b) Too many krazy kollege kids
c) Not much in night life (Polaris is nearby, though)

Short North/Vic Vill/Italian Village is a safe bet

I would say OTE, but:
a) Only two bars in OTE (Carabar & Yellow Brick)
b) Parts of it are safe (Bryden Rd.- OTE is very Bryden Rd.-centric), others are shit (Champion & Ohio/and ANYthing south of Bryden/Main)

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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BCNation wrote >>
I would say Uptown Westerville, but:
a) You hate suburbs
b) Too many krazy kollege kids
c) Not much in night life (Polaris is nearby, though)
Short North/Vic Vill/Italian Village is a safe bet
I would say OTE, but:
a) Only two bars in OTE (Carabar & Yellow Brick)
b) Parts of it are safe (Bryden Rd.- OTE is very Bryden Rd.-centric), others are shit (Champion & Ohio/and ANYthing south of Bryden/Main)

Part of the requirement was nightlife within a 10 minute drive, so OTE could work pretty well given the proximity to downtown, German Village and the Short North.

Posted 2 years ago #
spookygoddess78
Northland-ish
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If you want to avoid car vandalism, I would steer clear of Old Towne East. There are a few nice blocks and it is REALLY close to downtown, German Village and Short North and it is fairly inexpensive. However, the friends I have that own and/or rent in that area have all had their cars vandalized at least once during their residencies. And some of them...on more than one occasion.

Posted 2 years ago #
jinkies
Italian Village
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Grandview is a good option given what you are looking for, a lot of post-college kids in the area, plenty of bars and close to downtown and all the other nightlife in the city.

Posted 2 years ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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Bexley, hands down. Close to I-70 on the east side, quiet and safe, walkable on Main St, easy 10-minute drive to downtown/Short North nightlife.

Posted 2 years ago #
groundrules

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DRF wrote >>
potential areas to live.....Any advice

CU Pandora's box has been opened.....

Posted 2 years ago #
eg37
German Village/Schumacher Place
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I say German Village and Schumacher Place. I live right on the cusp of the two and it sounds like what you are looking for. Right by I-70 and I-71, walking neighborhood, good bars/restaurants, and it's relatively safe. As long as you don't leave anything valuable displayed in your car you should be good. Are you looking to buy or rent as that could change your search criteria.

Posted 2 years ago #
turbo ninja
Crumb Bus, Oh.
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German Village/Merion Village. Excellent access to 70, close to lots of bars and restaurants with other neighborhoods within quick reach, and you can't beat the character of some of the buildings.

Just use common sense and keep anything of perceived value (including melted candy bars, snow scrapers in July, or prescription glasses) out of view and the window-smashing should be minimized.

I suggest metro-rentals.com as a resource for available rentals in the areas.

Posted 2 years ago #
AmyJ

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Grandview sounds up your alley, although Bexley is closer to the east side of 70. I loved living in the Bexley area and there are a ton of affordable townhouses for rent on Sherwood Rd.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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If you are interested in rentals in German Village;
talk to the people at hausfrau Haven. It's a wine store, but they keep an eye on a lot of propoerties for out of town owners.

Posted 2 years ago #
twentzel

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I am trying to rent out my condo in the Hartman Building downtown. Here is a link to my ad:

Condo Ad

It is also posted on Craigslist. I know that you said you aren't looking for something for a couple of months, and my condo may not be available then, but Craigslist is a good source for downtown rentals. The Hartman is a great place to live and there are usually a couple of rentals available.

If downtown proper isn't your thing, I second the Grandview recommendation.

Posted 2 years ago #
jarsloth
west side
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Tenzo wrote >>
If you are interested in rentals in German Village;
talk to the people at hausfrau Haven. It's a wine store, but they keep an eye on a lot of propoerties for out of town owners.

+1; the Hausfrau folks helped me when I was looking for an apartment several years ago. I ended up not renting down there, but they're super nice and helpful. And, if nothing else, you can pick up a nice bottle of wine while you're in there :)

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Well I'd vote for Grandview, more specifically Grandview Ave where the new 4 story apartment building that is under construction.

Or the usual, Victorian Village, Harrison West, German Village combo.

Posted 2 years ago #
melikecheese
Merion Village
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If you want to live IN the action, go just north of downtown in Short North /Italian Village.

If you want to be close to the action, have things to walk to and so on but not be stuck in the middle of valet parking world and people all over, stick with just south of downtown in the German Village area. The min. you leave the boundaries of that area prices generally drop. Very easy access to i-70 from there.

I recommend you download Google Earth and start over Downtown Columbus, turn on all the markers for bars, coffee shops, gas stations etc etc and you will start to get a good idea of where things are.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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eg37 wrote >>
I say German Village and Schumacher Place. I live right on the cusp of the two and it sounds like what you are looking for. Right by I-70 and I-71, walking neighborhood, good bars/restaurants, and it's relatively safe. As long as you don't leave anything valuable displayed in your car you should be good. Are you looking to buy or rent as that could change your search criteria.

I second this. I live in the same area and love it. Began Columbus life in OTE, replaced two car windows (and I didn't leave anything in the car -- I mean ANYTHING), then moved here. I LOVE it and can't imagine living in another part of Columbus. I first really wanted to live closer to Short North, but I love this area. I can walk to anything I want (gym, salon, grocery, bar, restaurant, park). Most enjoyable neighborhood I've ever lived in.

Posted 2 years ago #
melikecheese
Merion Village
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TaraK wrote >>

eg37 wrote >>
I say German Village and Schumacher Place. I live right on the cusp of the two and it sounds like what you are looking for. Right by I-70 and I-71, walking neighborhood, good bars/restaurants, and it's relatively safe. As long as you don't leave anything valuable displayed in your car you should be good. Are you looking to buy or rent as that could change your search criteria.

I second this. I live in the same area and love it. Began Columbus life in OTE, replaced two car windows (and I didn't leave anything in the car -- I mean ANYTHING), then moved here. I LOVE it and can't imagine living in another part of Columbus. I first really wanted to live closer to Short North, but I love this area. I can walk to anything I want (gym, salon, grocery, bar, restaurant, park). Most enjoyable neighborhood I've ever lived in.

I will third that, I spent years in the burbs visiting the urban hoods in Columbus, once I moved into the south end GV area I feel in love, I don't ever want to leave for any other place.

Posted 2 years ago #
Motorist
The Trots
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I live in Olde Towne East and really like it. Believe it or not, some people live in OTE for years and never have bad things happen to their cars. They even park on the street!

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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what is your age range?

my initial thought was definitely german village, but that might be a little "slow" for you if you want constant action. that being said, it seems a little sleepy but there are lots of great bars and restaurants in german village, but i think because there really isn't a central part of GV, you don't get that "happening" vibe like you do with the Short North. I don't think GV is particularly safe, though. I lived there for 6 months when I was younger and everyone's cars were constantly getting broken into - i mean, daily. I finally just started leaving the doors unlocked. I worked down there for years and I was always amazed by how much crime there was because it seems so quiet and charming.

Short North is about the same, crime wise. cars are always getting broken into. If you want a vibrant neighborhood where there's always something to do, the short north might be up your alley.

and then, there's the indie capital of Columbus, SoHud!! (aka "old North Columbus" or "North Campus" I live here, it's just north of downtown. Not too close to 70 but it's under 6 minutes on the freeway (71). housing is inexpensive and it's pretty young and diverse. It's also very safe - 2 car windows have been broken that I know of in the past 6 years (on my block). and my car was broken into, but they used a slim jim to pick the lock (how nice of them, right?) One thing I like about this neighborhood is that it really isn't a destination, so we have really great bars that aren't full of packs of douchebags coming in from the suburbs or wherever they live. Bars and restaurants in this part of town are almost all small and independent and best of all, cheap!! it's very working class/student driven. Plus you can get a lot of space and offstreet parking for you rent money, something you rarely find in German Village or the Short North.

Posted 2 years ago #