Downtown Cincy (Cincinnati, Kent, Mason: real estate, broker, budget)

[indolent1]

I plan on moving to Cincinnati in a few months and would like to live in the Downtown area. I had visited Cincy many years ago, I was about 6 or 7 at the time, but still the city left enough of an impression for me to have become a long-time Bengals fan for the past 25 years.

So, my question is this: Is downtown Cincinnati that bad of a place to live? I know like any big city there are areas that you do not want to go strolling into and I'm sure Cincy has its share, but I've been reading through these threads and I can't help but notice that there are a lot of people who seem petrified of downtown. I would like to live in or as close to possible to the CBD without getting too expensive. So what are my options?

[UncleRando]

I will always recommend Downtown as a fantastic place to live. To truly get a good feel for a place go beyond some recommendations you hear from people on a forum...especially if they don't live in the area. What that means is don't necessarily take someone's recommendation on Downtown living when they live in West Chester for example. To each their own.

Downtown has seen a strong growth in population over the past decade and that rate is only growing stronger. Crime has been plummeting across the entire city and in particular Downtown and OTR. There are new stores, restaurants, and bars/clubs opening up all over Downtown...and business owners are instituting later operating hours and increased weekend hours as well.

If you would like more information on Downtown living go here:
Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated :: Living Here

[jlrosen]

downtown is a great place to live. those who are pertified of downtown probably haven't been there recently. You can buy a condo in or near downtown for under 200k. I don't think I have ever felt unsafe walking downtown. cars getting broken into is a issue, but if you don't leave anything visible, you will never have a problem with that.
Comprehensive Real Estate Brokerage Servicing Kentucky, Ohio & Indiana (realtor)
Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated :: Main

[kingjordana]

When I moved Downtown a little more than a year ago from a community called Mason (“little boxes on a hillside, little boxes made of ticky-tacky”) about a half-hour north of Downtown my friends were all shocked. As many people I knew were very nervous about coming to visit me, and my grandparents promised I would be shot I arrived in my loft apartment and learned that living downtown was wonderful. I’ve not been shot and my grandmother now feels safe coming to see me.

I actually live in a neighborhood called Over-the-Rhine or OTR as people are calling it these days. It is the fifteen blocks directly north of the Central Business District (down-town proper). It built by Germans and is the largest collection of buildings of its style in the world. Looking out the windows, one might easily thing they are in Munich or Salzburg.

I live in an amazing place, where I can walk my dogs to the river or be to fountain square on foot in five minutes. Within three blocks of my door there are two coffee shops. There is a lot going on in this neighborhood, if you are looking for apartments, a one bedroom or loft is a real steal either Downtown or in OTR. I haven’t had any problems with crime, and several of my friends are following me down over the next few months.

Check out OTR, and Downtown, it’s really a wonderful place to live.

[indolent1]

Thanks, you guys have been a lot of help. About the OTR; I heard this is the worst place to possibly live (ie. highest crime rate), so it is good to hear that it may not be as bad as people perceive it to be. I can't wait to move, and plan on taking a trip before-hand to check things out for myself. It sounds to me like Cincinnati is making steps towards creating a safe, and vibrant downtown/urban life-style for its residents and I look forward to being part of that.

[Ohiogirl81]

Another area of downtown that's interesting (to me, anyway) is the Betts-Longworth District off Central Avenue, and the whole area around Court and Central. Some of those streets -- Elizabeth, Clark -- you turn the corner and it's like you're not in Cincinnati anymore, but instead in some fancy neighborhood in 19th century New York or Boston. Very cool.

[movingsoon2007]

I love Cincinnati... I just moved from there and would go back in a heartbeat. Downtown is nice, but there are definitely places to avoid living. Look at Hyde Park or Mt. Adams. They can be pricey (not sure what your budget is), but very nice options.

[HWilliams77]

Does anyone have an opinion on the City West Apts Downtown on Linn St? I'm thinking about moving there...

[UncleRando]

I know a few people who live there and they seem to have zero issues and really enjoy living where they do. Keep in mind that they are not all apartments...there is a mixture of apartments and owner-occupied dwellings. This element adds to the neighborhood's variety of people...plus it is very accessible to Downtown and the rest of the center city.

[HWilliams77]

Thanks UncleRando!