Moving to Colerain Township, OH? (Cincinnati, Hamilton: housing, condo, rent)

[stlmogal]

I have received a transfer to Colerain Township, OH. I was wondering if anyone has any info. on the area (crime, etc.)? Where are good places to look for housing and what places to avoid?

[jlrosen]

I recomend glendale wyoming college hill (not north college hill) mt. airy and northside.

[hheil32587]

I reccommend west colerain and the White Oak area. They are in a good school district and nice family friendly places.

[Linda Pratt]

I know I'm gonna catch for this, but here goes . . . anywhere in the "Northwest" school district, yes. "North College Hill" school district, no. (The two districts butt up against one another). I used to own a house in North College Hill. When it was "for rent", the first question was "what school district is it"? It made a huge difference.

[philmac62]

Colerain TWP is Cincinnati's best kept secret. It still has a rural feel to it but has great access to downtown or north to Tri-County. I would look in the western portion of the TWP, Harrison/Rybolt Rd, Springdale, Sheed, Althaus, Thompson, Blue Rock. Cross County Hgwy goes right through that area and provides great access. Some great buys on property and also has homes in developments. Stay away from anything on the east side of Colerain Ave and down near Mt. Airy.

[CincyExpert]

I recommend Finneytown, which is not too far east of Colerain. The houses are very affordable, the community is diverse and fairly safe, and it is centrally located (about 15 minutes or less from everything of importance in Hamilton County).

[bruster57]

I live in Colerain, it's not too bad, some areas are rough though, don't move to the Northbrook or Skyline Acres areas, and you should be okay. Also some nice homes around the Ross and Oxford areas if you have kids

[goyguy]

By your not mentioning children, my assumption is that you don't have any. That takes "school district" out of the mix of things to consider. With that in mind, the principal factor would be how much having open land around you matters. Crime largely isn't part of the picture in northwestern Greater Cincinnati except in the areas already brought up.

If having no less than an expansive yard, if not "acreage," is key, then you're restricted to north and west of 275. Between US 27 (Colerain Ave) being a "fast highway" until not far north of 275, and 275 itself, you could live relatively far out in the countryside yet be at your desk within 30-45 minutes. So don't rule out anywhere beyond the 275 loop, whether in Kentucky (west of the airport) or eastern Indiana or past the Great Miami River along 27.

If possessing little or no yard (1/2 acre or less) works better, then most parts of Colerain and Green Townships boast plenty of 1940's to '70s homes in well-kept and safe communities. Ditto for Forest Park, Springdale, and Fairfield - all along 275 - plus Finneytown and Greenhills. People knock "NCH" (North College Hill) but I think it's not entirely deserved. Headlines screamed for days after some Boy Scouts in NCH were robbed as they sold Christmas trees, and the proprietor of a clothing store was killed by an acquaintance, but the reason for all that is that crime's still "out of character" thereabouts. My instincts as a born-and-bred Cincinnatian tell me that it's the prevailing and not-challenged-enough attitude of "Blacks move in, neighborhood automatically goes on the skids" at work. NCH was German-American turf during most of its existence, is now very "mixed" with an AA majority attending its schools, and much of White Cincy can't and won't deal with that transition. Take a closer look and what you'll see is longtime merchants still in business on Hamilton and Galbraith. Bungalows and Capes and ranches and some colonials from throughout the 20th century line clean and tranquil streets with lots of mature trees. I frankly wouldn't put NCH high on my own list of places to move, but ruling it out wouldn't happen either.

If an apartment or condo suits you, some of the best complexes are along Galbraith Rd between Finneytown and Valleydale/Hartwell. A brand-new development called "Central Parke (sic)" - or maybe it's "Central Pointe (sic)" - has joined the ranks of converted and unconverted apartment clusters dating back to the '60s, the nicest of which would be Williamsburg of Cincinnati. The once snubbed suburb of Woodlawn now has a pair of apartment/condo collections which have proven popular; you'd be minutes from 275 via Route 4 and then just a few exits from Colerain. Similarly, there are "communities" like those two in Woodlawn - less than ten years old, spacious apartments and "townhomes" - on Kemper Rd in Forest Park. Within Fairfield, Springdale, and Colerain Township are numerous complexes of less recent vintage that have aged better in some cases than in others.

All of which is to say that you'll be well accommodated wherever and however you want to live. Good luck!

[middyDJ]

Originally Posted by goyguy

My instincts as a born-and-bred Cincinnatian tell me that it's the prevailing and not-challenged-enough attitude of "Blacks move in, neighborhood automatically goes on the skids" at work. NCH was German-American turf during most of its existence, is now very "mixed" with an AA majority attending its schools, and much of White Cincy can't and won't deal with that transition. Take a closer look and what you'll see is longtime merchants still in business on Hamilton and Galbraith. Bungalows and Capes and ranches and some colonials from throughout the 20th century line clean and tranquil streets with lots of mature trees. I frankly wouldn't put NCH high on my own list of places to move, but ruling it out wouldn't happen either.

You are so correct. Unfortunately that attitude will continue to be passed on by the MAJORITY.

[donaldgage]

I grew up in the Northbrook area so here goes...
Colerain, in general, is becoming a dump. The "rural" & "family-friendly" areas mentioned by one poster are pretty much entirely found in the western part of the township. So, yes, some of Colerain is fine; but, with many homes having been rented as section-8 housing in this area, property values (obviously) have suffered. And, let's be realistic, when you live near the "geto" it's impossible to keep the "geto" from coming to you--even if you live a "family-friendly" parks, etc.