Comparison of areas- downtown, Hyde Park/Oakley, N KY (Cincinnati: apartment, lease)

[new_to_town]

Hi, another person moving to Cinci... I just got a job which will be in the Central Business District downtown. I've been reading threads and talking to people and I think my top three choices are N. KY, Downtown, and Hyde Park/Oakley.

I've been living in ultra-small town USA teaching at a University for the past several years, and am burnt out of that scene! I really want to live in a place I can walk to multiple things to do - cafes/coffee shops/libraries/see live music/places to go out/others my age around/etc. I'm single and in my early 30's so while I really don't want to be living amongst a bunch of seniors/married people w/kids, I truly don't want a re-enactment of the college scene, either.

I really dislike spending time commuting, so in that sense it seems downtown would be best, but then again I don't know that I want to get off work and have everything be closed, either. I would either be working 7:30-4:30ish or 9-6 most likely. I thought N KY would be a better option than Hyde Park due to the drive and costs, but now I've read going over the bridge can be bad commuting just the same?!? Walking/biking to work from N KY wouldn't be much of an option as part of my job I will be driving from place to place in cinci anyway and would need access to my car during the day.

I'd like to pay 600-650 or less/mo for rent... if possible. Also, I have a dog, so not sure if that matters.

Confused?!?! Any advice would be great!

-Amie

[jlrosen]

I wold recomend covington or downtown

[new_to_town]

I get one house hunting trip as part of the deal. I thought about actually driving over the bridges during rush hour to see how bad it really gets commuting from Covington.

Does it get bad daily or just if there is an accident, or ??

[Ohiogirl81]

Bridge traffic isn't a big deal as long as you stay off the Brent Spence, and some days the Clay Wade Bailey. The rest of the bridges aren't as crowded. The Central Bridge ... erm, Taylor-Southgate Bridge ... from Newport is almost deserted at 8 a.m.

Another neighborhood to consider may be Northside.

[new_to_town]

I just looked it up, and Northside seems interesting. Is it more families though? A friend who used to live in Cinci just suggested Clifton and OTR, but I've read on other posts some parts of those areas can be rather sketchy...

aaaargh I'm wondering if I should just pick one and go with a six month lease on an apartment, so I can move if I've made the wrong choice. Moving is such a pain though...

[Ohiogirl81]

I really can't think of a neighborhood within the city that isn't a mix of ages: families, couples, singles, grannies, etc. -- which, IMO, is one of the appealing things about Cincinnati. Northside is a mix as well, and has restaurants, night clubs, unique shops, galleries, etc. The commute to downtown is easy via Central Parkway or Spring Grove/Dalton avenues.

If you're going to need your car during the day and hate to commute, I'd suggest living downtown, but to be honest I haven't rented an apartment in 15 years and have no idea what rents are anywhere in the city. LOL Downtown, Mt. Adams, Eden Park, Hyde Park are likely to be at the upper end of the scale. Northside and Northern Kentucky will likely be a little less expensive. Newport and Covington are a stone's throw from downtown, with the commute from Newport being a little less hectic.

None of these places, I don't think, would be totally wrong for you. If anything, it would be a matter of preference. Can you spend a weekend driving around some neighborhoods before you sign a lease?

[jlrosen]

clifton isn't sketchy, crime is down nearly 20% this year alone. the only real problem is people breaking into cars around the park to grab cd wallets, ipods, etc, but if there isn't anything visible in your car no one is going to bother you.

I think there was one assault last month and it was between a boyfriend and girlfriend

[new_to_town]

Yeah they are going to provide 1 "house hunting" trip that I can go there for 2-3 days. I want to make sure I drive some of these routes in the morning during rush hour - see what it's like. I was thinking of N. Kentucky but was told the commute can be 45 mins to an hour to just cross the bridge . . .

I guess my concern is that the town I lived in for several years was small and college-oriented, so I'm really not wanting that again. And the town I moved to and have lived for most of the past year has nothing to do if you are young and single - mostly married people and older people. So, I'm bored! And need to be around other singles my age in a place with easy access to work and things to do.

My main concern with downtown is that I read things close really early around there. So, like you mentioned I think my best bet is to go down there and drive around and ask people that live there what they think.

[jlrosen]

there are a lot of places downtown that stay open later, you can go to Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated :: Main for a list of what is available. keep this in mind, if downtown has 100 places and 15% stay open late, that is still more than a neighborhood buisness district with 12 buisnesses that stay open late

[Ohiogirl81]

That's great that you've got some time to look around before you move. Another neighborhood you might want to consider is Mt. Adams, although it's a bit on the pricey side, or Columbia-Tusculum, which is a 10-minute drive in on Columbia Parkway or Eastern Avenue.

Not all of downtown closes up all that early. Some of the restaurants, especially the older coffee-shop/diner sorts of places, may be breakfast and lunch only. The retail stores might close at 6 most days. But you've still got plenty of bar/restaurants, coffee shops, food stores, night clubs, etc. that are open late.

But again, the commute across the river depends on where you live in Kentucky, and if you take I-75 over the Brent Spence Bridge. If you lived in Newport or Covington -- or even Park Hills or Southgate a little further south -- you wouldn't need to get on the freeway, and your drive in wouldn't be more than 15 minutes. When I worked downtown, I'd drive to Newport at 5:30 a.m. to go to the gym (!), and at 8 a.m. head across the Central Bridge ... erm, the Taylor Southgate bridge ... to a parking lot near Paul Brown Stadium. Didn't take me more than 10 minutes, and traffic was negligible.