Where to Live for 23 year old business professional moving to town?

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Where to Live for 23 year old business professional moving to town?

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Started 1 year ago by bbatt
Latest reply from howatzer

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bbatt

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I will be moving to Columbus in the upcoming month, as I am accepting a position in the area, but I have never been to town and I need your help! I am a 23 year old male and still enjoy to go out and party.

I am looking for suggestions on apartments to look at in the area. I will be working out of my apartment and on the road 4 days a week. It obviously needs to be safe enough so I will not get robbed while I am away.

I also would like a community of younger people, so I will be able to meet people in the area. I currently do not know anyone in the area, so this is one of the most important parts. I am open to living on/near campus.

Ideally, I'd like a 1 bedroom apartment or condo. Amenitities such as pool & fitness center & parking space would be ideal.

Cliff Notes
Requirements
* Community of young people
* Pool
* Fitness center (optional)
* 1-2 bedroom
* Parking Space
* Safe location
* Under $800/month

Appreciate your help!

Posted 1 year ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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Try http://www.lifestylecommunities.com

Posted 1 year ago #
DR
Short North
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The Quarry -2 pools, fitness center, all young people, gated community

Posted 1 year ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I would check out lifestyes or some of the JDS cityspace residential buildings. Most of JDS condos have secure garages and are secure buildings but close to areas where things are happening. I think you will be disappointed with the Quarry's proximity to any sort of life. You may also want to consider looking for a duplex in Clintonville or Grandview with a garage. Both are safe neighborhoods. Feel free to post on here before you sign for anything and we'll all tell you different things about whether or not you should move there.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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I think something to keep in mind is do you want to be able to walk to all of your social life - restaurants, bars, movies, whatnot... and maybe have to sacrifice living in a large complex with amenities (but being near a gym that would likely have a pool); or are the amenities/complex lifestyle what you really want.

At your price range, you could easily live within some of the best adult playground areas of the city - Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village... and have a quick walk or short bike ride to all of downtown. There are a few different gym options downtown -- not all have pools, but I think at least one of Urban Active gyms around has a pool.

I know when I first moved to town, I was out in the 'burbs, in a huge complex - and I found it to be very isolating. It's a lot easier to have a great social life here (in my experience), the closer you live to town.

Posted 1 year ago #
bbatt

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Any other suggestions?

Twixlen wrote >>
I know when I first moved to town, I was out in the 'burbs, in a huge complex - and I found it to be very isolating. It's a lot easier to have a great social life here (in my experience), the closer you live to town.

Twixlen - Very good points! I guess I'm more concerned with meeting people than the amenities, and usually complexes are good places to meet people because they have pools, gyms, etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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bbatt wrote >>
Any other suggestions?

Twixlen wrote >>
I know when I first moved to town, I was out in the 'burbs, in a huge complex - and I found it to be very isolating. It's a lot easier to have a great social life here (in my experience), the closer you live to town.

Twixlen - Very good points! I guess I'm more concerned with meeting people than the amenities, and usually complexes are good places to meet people because they have pools, gyms, etc.

Just checking in with Columbus Underground will have you meeting folks --- if you tweet, there are lots and lots of great Columbus folks out there, and a lot of the businesses Tweet as well.

I thought the same thing, re: meeting people easier @ complexes. Maybe other folks have different experiences - living in complexes and knowing their neighbors, or folks nearby. To me, it seemed that people were much more about minding their own business, and keeping the walls up - living in a neighborhood kills that, for the most part, because you'll find yourself walking around, and engaging more with the people that live there.

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

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seems like everything (except maybe the $800/mo) would be met by the Arena District. How spendy are like the Arena Crossing places?

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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Arena Crossing starts at $650 for a true studio - they are quite small. Right in the middle of a ton of great entertainment, but tiny.

http://www.arenacrossing.com/

I was also wondering about Flats on Vine, but I can't find any rental information on that location. The only stuff I can find online says they'll be ready Fall 2010.

Posted 1 year ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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I think I have the best of both worlds - apt complex and the types of amenities that come with that while being in the neighborhood with access to the fun of the Short North/Arena District. http://www.villagewestaptsoh.com/default.aspx

Only real downside is no in unit W/D's. If you can survive without that it's a pretty great place to live with a really diverse group of residents.

Posted 1 year ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Duh, forgot about Flats on Vine even though I drive past it every day, lol. They are moving fast with that construction, looks dramatically closer to finished every time I see it.

There is probably one studio in Arena Crossing for $650, lol. When I lived there, almost 5 years ago my studio was $750 and it didn't even have the wood floors or the "good view". I think when I checked this last time I moved, a little over a year ago, all available were well over $800 so that's why I went with where I live now. If the Flats come in more competitively priced they might have to lower their prices, not sure how that works.

Posted 1 year ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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So this is interesting. Same company managing Arena Crossing is going to manage Flats on Vine.

Here is how you find out available apts in Arena Crossing. Studios now start at $815 (pretty sure that includes parking or W/D so that's another $75ish per month). I do not think this is a good deal unless you're super into needing new and higher end finishes.

http://www.villagegreen.com/columbus/arena-crossing/

Posted 1 year ago #
JoeMitchell

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if I were a single young man I would live in the short north

have lunch at northstar, take a walk in goodale park

the scenery is impressive

same advice I give my brothers

Posted 1 year ago #
Talcott
Clintonville
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I'll also chime in that the Short North would be a good bet. Really though, anywhere along High between downtown and the Old North Columbus/North Campus/South Clintonville area would be good. I can't offer advise on apartment complexes, but Twixlen is absolutely right about meeting people on here/twitter. I'm not a remotely social person, and I'm amazed by how many people I've met through this site.

Also, I'm living in a small apartment building now (four units, not a complex, but not a duplex either), and I'm friends with my neighbors for the first time ever (well, as an adult). In my own experience, the apartment complexes I've lived in have been more impersonal than anything else. Granted, I never used the gym/pool, but if you're more concerned about the social aspects, a small apartment building might be better for you. Also, you'll probably pay less (although it might also have fewer amenities).

Posted 1 year ago #
brettcbrown

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Brewer's Yard Apartments is in the Brewery District, near German Village and south downtown. It meets all of your requirements. You will get a little more space for the money compared to Arena Crossing, but I would give the nod to Arena Crossing for location. Not that BYA's location is bad is just hard to compete with the Arena District. They frequently had wine tasting and cooking classes which was fun. It's also close to the start of the Olentangy bike trail which is nice if you like biking or long runs.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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bbatt - what city are you moving from?

Posted 1 year ago #
gphoto
N 4th
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not clintonville

Posted 1 year ago #
bbatt

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Thanks for the suggestions everyone, especially regarding meeting people. Everyone is extremely helpful on this site.

Flats on Vine are really nice, but $950 for a 1 bedroom.
Brewer's yard starts at $875
The Annex start at $760, but I don't know if that includes parking.
Also, Arena Crossings looks good, but has really bad reviews on google so far.

Because I will be gone 4 days per week, I can't really justify paying more than $800 just to be there 3 days per week. I'd like to stay in the $600 range, if possible.

How are the areas near the campus?

JonMeyers - I'm moving from the Chicago suburbs

Any other suggestions? I'm definitely open to non-complexes, as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
Coach Rich
Harrison West
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You want to be in the Short North (Victorian Village, Italian Village, Harrison West, ect.). There are some nice places on campus, but also some sketchy places. Lifestyles Communities have nice facilitates. But aren't most of those places out in the burbs? The burbs are fine and all once you start breeding, but they absolutely suck if you're single.

With OSU starting classes soon, you couldn't have picked a worse time to look in the campus or Short North areas. But I'd look into perhaps renting one side of a duplex or something like that from an individual owner. that can come with a whole different set of problems, but rents tend to be a little more favorable.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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bbatt, you should be in the Short North.

Especially if you're 23 and want to meet people.

Posted 1 year ago #