Just wanted to say thanks... (Cincinnati, Lebanon: middle-class, affordable apartments, mortgages)

[CatieD]

I've never posted on this forum before, but wanted to say thanks to all who post here. My husband and I moved to the area 9 years ago and purchased an old home in Lebanon. While we have loved the festivals, being able to walk everywhere and the cost of our home in Lebanon, we decided about a year ago that we really wanted to be closer to the city in a proper neighborhood.

Based on little more than random things I had read, I started our search in Oakley and Hyde Park. While we weren't priced out of those areas, what we could get for our money was a bit underwhelming in terms of space (we have a 5 year old boy).

Then, a weird karma turn of events, I was reading here about great neighborhoods and a friend recommended Pleasant Ridge in the same day. Long story short, we are in contract on a gorgeous old home in "The Ridge" on a gaslight street and can't wait to move in at the beginning of December.

Our Lebanon home goes on the market tomorrow, but we can afford to carry both mortgages for as long as needed. I feel like Pleasant Ridge is the neighborhood and house we were really looking for while not putting us in a tighter financial position than we wanted to be in while we wait for our house to sell.

A lot of the reason we gave Pleasant Ridge a look was what posters here have said about it, and for that I say thanks! I'll buy you a beer in gratitude if I run into you at Molly Malone's!

[kjbrill]

Pleasant Ridge has some fabulous old sections. I hope yours is in one of these. Best of luck and glad you are staying in Cincinnati.

[tntnb]

Congrats! My wife and I lived in Pleasant Ridge for 6-7 years after we were married. Parkview Avenue. It was so great to be able to walk up to Montgomery Road for all the shopping/restaurants/etc. I think you'll love it there.

[mimi in cinci]

I grew up in "The Ridge" ... on a wonderful gaslight street - enjoy!

[progmac]

Pleasant ridge really is a fantastic location and is one of our more walkable neighborhoods. You have a bunch of restaurants, a park, library, four schools, a rec center, a couple of convenience stores and neighborhood businesses all within a relatively tight radius surrounded by nice middle-class housing. Plus, there is higher end housing so you can move "up" and stay in the neighborhood. Or if things are tight there are number of nice clean affordable apartments around. So I feel like there is real income diversity. You are also less than ten minutes driving distance to pretty much anything (trader joe, aldi, kenwood mall, all fast food that isn't burger king, french park, home depot, etc etc).

Like most city hoods there is room for improvement, but we'll talk about that another day!

Most of the blocks also have active groups and there are tons of young couples and young families.

Oh, and enjoy the new house. Most of the homes around here are loaded with charm and many still have original details and woodwork.

And bus 2x provides great downtown commuter service.

Thanks for posting!

[goyguy]

Thank you in return for posting! It reminds me, and doubtlessly other "regulars" as well, that not everyone who reads our stuff ever crosses the radar.
Ahh, Pleasant Ridge, where you can get a 4-way with cheese at 3:30 in the morning when the mood hits!
Swing by the meet-up on the 17th, we'd be glad to take you up on your offer.

[motorman]

Glad to hear that your family will now be moving to gas-lit Pleasant Ridge -- when so many families do just the opposite by moving farther and farther out. May I support what other posters have observed about "The Ridge." As for myself, I grew up on a gas-lit street in next-door Kennedy Heights -- thus I also can assure you that this "old line suburb" shares both charm and practicality.

[deg1114]

We looked in Pleasant Ridge and like the area but the houses that were available at the time didn't fit our criteria. If we decide to move, Pleasant Ridge is definitely on our short list. We have friends that live there and they love their neighborhood. Friendly neighbors and block parties. Heck, where we live, we know our neighbors names and chat with them from time to time but really don't see them that often. Enjoy the neighborhood.

[mike1003]

We have friends that live in the Ridge. They love it. Great multi-cultural/ multi-racial area. Their kids are grown and gone, but whenever we visit, there are tons of kids playing in the neighborhood.

Lots of young upwardly mobile families moving back.

Our friend is a lawyer, takes the bus downtown every day. She says the riders have become a "family"

You will be close to churches, )little farther from synagogues), good schools, great shopping and restaurants.

[Tubby513]

Yep, I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said. Pleasant Ridge is amazing...been hanging out there since I was a kid. The area near Montgomery and Ridge is just awesome. Everybody's Records, Molly Malones (I'm lucky enough to have a friend who bartends there!), Queen City Comic and Card (not really my thing anymore, but still just a cool place), Emanu, PR Chili, etc etc etc.