Any 'urban' "hip' towns on the outskirts of Cincinnati? Great schools, walkable downtowns? (Columbus: mortgage, house)

[NicoleWh]

I suppose when I say 'hip' I mean, perhaps, progressive, growing with the times...we love farmers markets, Whole Foods, organic foods, small businesses...art and culture, coffee shops, etc. We have in Milwaukee the 'east side' which is very young and trendy, and very accessible to us from where we live, so we are hoping to find a neighborhood connected to areas like that without having to get on the freeway, or go through bad neighborhoods. A lot to ask for, I know!

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by NicoleWh

I suppose when I say 'hip' I mean, perhaps, progressive, growing with the times...we love farmers markets, Whole Foods, organic foods, small businesses...art and culture, coffee shops, etc. We have in Milwaukee the 'east side' which is very young and trendy, and very accessible to us from where we live, so we are hoping to find a neighborhood connected to areas like that without having to get on the freeway, or go through bad neighborhoods. A lot to ask for, I know!

Well, unless I missed something, not really. Most of the suburbs around here are mostly big box and chain stores. You may be able to find a downtown area or two from before certain towns were swallowed by commuter sprawl. Mason comes to mind. But again, the culture will not be what you are looking for, though I am sure you would be welcome. That about exhausts my very limited knowledge on the subject. Others will have to chime in, and hopefully prove me wrong.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by NicoleWh

I suppose when I say 'hip' I mean, perhaps, progressive, growing with the times...we love farmers markets, Whole Foods, organic foods, small businesses...art and culture, coffee shops, etc. We have in Milwaukee the 'east side' which is very young and trendy, and very accessible to us from where we live, so we are hoping to find a neighborhood connected to areas like that without having to get on the freeway, or go through bad neighborhoods. A lot to ask for, I know!

Off the top of my head, I'd say that what you're looking for in a suburban setting with good schools and within your price range probably doesn't exist. My best suggestion is for you to visit the area for a few days and systematically look at the city and surrounding neighborhoods.

[TomJones123]

You'll have to live in Cincinnati to find what you are looking for. Or check out Yellowsprings over near Dayton.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Off the top of my head, I'd say that what you're looking for in a suburban setting with good schools and within your price range probably doesn't exist. My best suggestion is for you to visit the area for a few days and systematically look at the city and surrounding neighborhoods.

I have to concur. What the OP is describing just does not exist in Cincinnati, especially with environment you actually want to live in.

Mason has a old downtown with virtually nothing to go to on a regular basis. There is one decent old time drugstore which probably only exists since they will home deliver to the old foggies around here. There is a bank and a bank/savings&loan. There is a VFW and a American Legion. There are numerous dentists, lawyers, insurance agents, and doctors. There are 3 local pizza joints and one chinese carryout. But it is just not a place you would go on a regular basis except maybe the bank. Oh I did forget a local coffeehouse named Kidd's which is always busy. People just flock there. Perhaps they sell drugs along with the coffee?

The OP definitely needs to visit Cincinnati, drive around the area which admittedly takes time, and evaluate what is here.

I spent far more time in Manitowoc than Milwaukee when I was working. Really liked that area. But as we all know things change over the years.

[Joeytraveler]

The only quasi-hip small towns you'll find are college towns for the most part. Mariemont is likely more hip than Wyoming but that's not really saying much. You'll just have to check them out in person!

[motorman]

I sure hope our OP finds what her family's searching for in Ohio's "3-Cs." (Hopefully everyone realizes by now that these exact same questions have been posed on both the Cleveland and Columbus forums... )

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by motorman

I sure hope our OP finds what her family's searching for in Ohio's "3-Cs." (Hopefully everyone realizes by now that these exact same questions have been posed on both the Cleveland and Columbus forums... )

I wonder if Gahanna would more fit the bill.

[neilworms2]

I was kind of curious about Bellevue KY's schools? I've heard the neighborhood is on the up and up (like very high rises in property values) and I've been around it and seen a lot of signs of gentrifications. I also know that the city leadership is progressive (I know their zoning administrator who put in a form based zone to encourage urban oriented development), there is a walkable downtown with coffee houses and its quite close to downtown itself... might be a fit if there are good schools. Though its still got a bit of Appalachian culture left over there, but the architecture is beautiful.

I think the OP wants a place like Evanston IL or Oak Park IL in the Cincy area, sorry to say but that doesn't exist. Mariemont would be the best and closest bet.

Actually doing a google streetview on Whitefish Bay - it looks an awful lot like Mariemont - large older houses impeccable yards and gardens - I think that would be perfect for the OP though it won't be as progressive as they may be used to. In spite of Cincy having as strong (or stronger) a German heritage as Milwaukee its not a place known for things like Sewer Socalists, more for things like the Maplethorpe exhibit censorship cases.

[NicoleWh]

Thank you, neilworms2...I'll look into Mariemont.

I'm not sure why I'm the 'OP'...this is the first time I've ever posted to a forum. And yes, I know I posted to the 3 c's with the same post.....this is extremely overwhelming, and if I'm going to look in person, I have to narrow it down. Whitefish Bay is an idillic place to live, but we are looking in Ohio for various personal reasons...so it's hard to give up what I have, but we do hope we can find a place that's not too isolated with a bigger house. We're pretty cramped here....no yard, kitchen the size of a large bathroom...with 3 kids, that's a frustration for us. So, in search of that, we're willing to leave our idillic town. I don't mean to annoy anyone by posting in all 3, but I feel like I'm searching for a needle in a haystack, except I don't get to actually 'look' at the haystack, lol. So forgive me! I do appreciate all the help so far though!!