Top 5 Best neighborhoods in Cincy

[lakefront]

I forgot to add... I've heard the Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens in Hartwell are all not 24 hour ones because of crime issues? As I recall there have been a few gun incidents in Hartwell within the last decade - a family acquaintance was shot (he survived) while working at the cashier at one of the drugstores several years ago. I recall at least 2 gun incidents at the Lee's Chicken place, then the young girl who was accidentally shot in 2008, and the most recent shooting at the BP in August.

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by lakefront

You're posts are always interesting to me Hartwell Girl, because personally (no offense intended! just sayin') I've always found Hartwell to appear to be be a fairly down trodden, declining area and I can't quite grasp the appeal... I do adore quirky little Country Fresh Farm Market, but I've noticed that other businesses on Springfield Pike in that area just as you enter Hartwell from Wyoming seem to have a tough time staying afloat (IIRC - last time I checked the old Thriftway building and the old dollar store building were both vacant). When I was in Hartwell Kroger a few months ago all 3 parties in front of me in line paid with food stamps, and the store itself was sure looking pretty shabby compared to the other Krogers in town that have really been invested in - it gave the distinct impression that due to economics the local consumer base isn't a priority.

I could see the appeal of Hartwell to someone who had several generations of family established there, but I can't imagine Hatwell being attractive to newcomer professionals or people concerned with finding the best schools, and I'd be concerned about a property purchased there depreciating in value, too. I've spent a good deal of time in both Harlem, NY and several years in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, so it's not like I have a Beverley Hills baseline by any means, but really - Hartwell? It's very refreshing to hear someone asses the area with such genuine positivity. Which residential streets do you think are nicest? I'll have to look them up and take a driving tour sometime.

Wow..really? Hartwell is a great neighborhood. Crime stats are still some of the lowest in the City and 2nd lowest in dist 4 behind Paddock Hills which is surrounded by a Golf Course. Declining..not at all, a recent study of the neighborhood less than a year ago showed stats for our community well above the City averages.
Couple of problems with your post is you seemed to focus your attention of the Hartwell area on the Business District of Vine Street only. And there is FAR more to Hartwell than the Business dist. I can understand and agree with a couple of your points but here are a couple of things to consider...Vine street is cut in half right down the yellow line...east side is Hartwell, West side is Springfield Twp. from the WYoming border ALL the way to Carthage. The only thing that is Hartwell on the west side of the street is our NEW recreation Center and Kroger. If you know the history of Kroger, you know that they are doing NOTHING for neighborhood stores and instead only building new stores next to expressways...or if you live in a well to do neighborhood, they might build you a fresh store. Some of the vacant buildings on Vine you referred to...land locked by property owners (owners in Hyde Park & Wyoming) who think they should get top dollar for their properties and do nothing to maintain them--much less try to find good businesses to be ran out of them. Unfortunately, their lack of upkeep doesnt affect them, or they would do something to change it, it only our neighborhood & peoples perception of it.
But lets get back to the positives, the new recreation center, the new k-8 school, the work of developing a master plan for the neighborhood and business dist. MANY people buying these large multi families and STILL converting them back into single family owner occupied properties....it is happening. Get yourself off Vine & Galbraith sometime and look at our neighborhood, not just the business dist. Some of the same people who built homes in wyoming, built them homes in Hartwell. Hartwell was designed after Glendale...but Hartwell gets a bad rap because it is part of the City of Cincinnati.
I apologize, some people love their neighborhoods, some people just live in them. I happen to LOVE my neighborhood, know much about it, and spend hours a day doing things completely devoted to the improvement of the neighborhood. I know facts, not what is reported in news; I know the history and how it affects us today....I know that Hartwell IS a great neighborhood and those who live here are doing all they can to keep it that way and find ways to improve it...but that doesnt happen overnight.

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by lakefront

I forgot to add... I've heard the Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens in Hartwell are all not 24 hour ones because of crime issues? As I recall there have been a few gun incidents in Hartwell within the last decade - a family acquaintance was shot (he survived) while working at the cashier at one of the drugstores several years ago. I recall at least 2 gun incidents at the Lee's Chicken place, then the young girl who was accidentally shot in 2008, and the most recent shooting at the BP in August.

Both Springfield twp...hardly ever patrolled by them, AND because of this and people thinking it is Hartwell. SPringfield Twp is doing NOTHING with their side of Vine street to make improvements, but they have spent a ton on WInton Road. You cant even get them to enforce building violations...the worse is Andys Coin laundry owned by an Amberly VIllage person.