Moving to Cincinnati in August as an incoming freshman at Xavier, what should I know? (Brunswick: best city, home)

[Crazey4wwe]

Currently I live in Woodbridge, NJ. a large suburb (100k population) about 15 minutes from Rutgers main campus in New Brunswick. I love to visit New York City, and am aware from my visit to Cincy that it's very different in every way. As someone moving into the area onto the campus of Xavier, what should I know about the surrounding area?


P.S. Has anyone ever mentioned how odd it is that you guys have a town, Norwood, inside the city, but its own separate entity? I've never heard of anything like that!

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Crazey4wwe

Currently I live in Woodbridge, NJ. a large suburb (100k population) about 15 minutes from Rutgers main campus in New Brunswick. I love to visit New York City, and am aware from my visit to Cincy that it's very different in every way. As someone moving into the area onto the campus of Xavier, what should I know about the surrounding area?


P.S. Has anyone ever mentioned how odd it is that you guys have a town, Norwood, inside the city, but its own separate entity? I've never heard of anything like that!

I'm very ill-qualified to answer your question, but mostly I wanted to say welcome and that I hope your time in Cincinnati is productive and enjoyable. From the perspective of a Cincinnati native who is nonetheless unfamiliar with Xavier's specific culture, I think a heads-up may be in order that you'll encounter a number of students who are from the area and went through the Catholic school system together. Across the board in Cincinnati age and income-wise, those relationships can definitely lead to a newcomer being made to feel like an outsider. Not saying this will be a problem, just something you might be aware of if it happens.

The Xavier campus is surrounded by some pretty rough neighborhoods. Use the urban caution/survival techniques you probably already know.

Finally, YES! It's very weird that Norwood is a city completely surrounded by another city. I'm not sure there's even another instance anywhere in the country, but don't quote me.

[cincydave8]

Xavier is under a building boom. They've torn down a ton crappy old buildings. Added tons of new businesses and restaurants with all the new construction being built along the corner of Dana and Montgomery. Most students who live off campus live in Norwood.

I disagree with X being surrounded by rough neighborhoods, but to the South of 71 is Evanston and the SW is Avondale, but not sure why any X student would be walking there. Those are both not nice. Directly to the west is North Avondale which a nice part of town. North and East is Norwood. Plus you're a 5 minute drive to Hyde Park and Oakley, some of the best city neighborhoods.

Anyways...welcome and try not drink too much at Dana Gardens during your time here!

[motorman]

First of all, welcome to Cincinnati. I'm glad that, early on, you realize that it's not the East Coast. Instead,begin by seeing Cincinnati for what it actually is - one of the most beautiful and cultured cities of the Midwest. Now, on to XU and its immediate environs.

Although XU can be lauded for numerous reasons (especially for the remarkable physical transformation of its campus over such a short time period), the university is surrounded by bland and blighted neighborhoods. Nothing much to see and do, until you travel to/through Norwood or to UC/downtown.

However, at this point, it's necessary to know more about your own living and transportation arrangements. Will you be living on or off campus (and, if so, where) and will you be driving your own car or relying upon public transportation (or both)?

[motorman]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

...Finally, YES! It's very weird that Norwood is a city completely surrounded by another city. I'm not sure there's even another instance anywhere in the country, but don't quote me.

Yes, Norwood being completely surrounded by Cincinnati is strange. I really wish it would be incorporated into the larger city, however, we know that's never going to happen. The only other parallel I can think of is that of a sovereign state being completely surrounded by a city, then a country - ie: Vatican City-Rome-Italy.

[kruschev]

from a rival alumnus, welcome to cincinnati! just unexciting enough to be a great place to live. there won't be much to distract you from meeting and cultivating life long relationships. not to say the city isn't interesting. far from it. you just won't be overwhelmed by all of the incredible happenings around you. it's tough in any city to meet new people, but at least you're in college. i think a lot of people take it for granted or can only see beauty if someone says it is, but the landscape is quite remarkable. just a series of hills and valleys and plateaus (could be wrong on that one) and beautiful rivers.

i take the bus daily, but live in northside. haven't taken it to xavier. i can only imagine service is frequent. they have nice bus stops around campus. i'm a big fan of cincy's bus system.

you're close to uptown. northside isn't that much further away. pleasant ridge is close and so is walnut hills. norwood is nice. those are the cool neighborhoods for day and nightlife. stones lanes is a great bowling alley. make friends with juniors and seniors and have them buy you some listermanns, which is a brewery/ home brew supply store.

have fun

edit: i happen to love the fact that norwood is a sovereign. nice quirk. it's still cincinnati

edit: on a side note, norwooders for secession, would be a sweet shirt

[Crazey4wwe]

Originally Posted by motorman

First of all, welcome to Cincinnati. I'm glad that, early on, you realize that it's not the East Coast. Instead,begin by seeing Cincinnati for what it actually is - one of the most beautiful and cultured cities of the Midwest. Now, on to XU and its immediate environs.

Although XU can be lauded for numerous reasons (especially for the remarkable physical transformation of its campus over such a short time period), the university is surrounded by bland and blighted neighborhoods. Nothing much to see and do, until you travel to/through Norwood or to UC/downtown.

However, at this point, it's necessary to know more about your own living and transportation arrangements. Will you be living on or off campus (and, if so, where) and will you be driving your own car or relying upon public transportation (or both)?

I will be living on campus, and am bringing my car, as i understand public transport isn't the greatest in the area.

[thomasbw]

Originally Posted by Crazey4wwe

I will be living on campus, and am bringing my car, as i understand public transport isn't the greatest in the area.

Public transit from XU to Uptown or Downtown (the areas you'll probably need to visit the most) is pretty decent. IF you have a car you can get everything else you need with a trip to the store once a week.

Over-the-Rhine is really cool and we have a great arts scene for a city of this size. lots of fun, free stuff to do at our parks, especially in the summer

[motorman]

Originally Posted by Crazey4wwe

I will be living on campus, and am bringing my car, as i understand public transport isn't the greatest in the area.

Originally Posted by thomasbw

Public transit from XU to Uptown or Downtown (the areas you'll probably need to visit the most) is pretty decent. IF you have a car you can get everything else you need with a trip to the store once a week...

Adding to this, just a few more observations regarding local public transportation...

First of all, let's reiterate what's already well known (ie, that, in public transportation, Cincy is not the BosWash corridor) and eliminate this stumbling block from becoming a platform for Cincy bashers to take potshots at the city and derail the thread.

Instead, let's focus on what Cincinnati does have in public transportation that may interest the OP, vis-a-vis XU. Much can be gleaned by linking with METRO's web site (Cincinnati Metro - Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority - Home) and downloading bus schedules for routes #51 & Metro Plus, both of which pass XU's front door @ Dana & Woodburn:

(a)#51. Cross town bus. Runs weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Connects XU, on one end, with Oakley/Hyde Park/Norwood; and, on the other end, with the Hospital District/UC/Clifton-Ludlow corridor/Northside (and beyond).

(b)Metro*Plus. Limited stop express bus. Runs weekdays only. Connects XU on one end, with Kenwood Town Center/Pleasant Ridge/Norwood; and, on the other end, with the Hospital District/Corryville/UC/OTR/CBD.

There are also two other bus routes (the downtown #4 & cross town #31) that could prove useful because of their close, Montgomery Rd. proximity to the new XU student housing clustered up and around Cleneay Ave.

[ProkNo5]

Downloading bus schedules!?! Just get the "Transit App." It tells you where the bus is in real time, gives you directions to anywhere you want, lets you set alarms so you don't miss your bus, etc.

Cincinnati Metro works very well when you're in the city limits. Outside the city is a different story. This is because Metro is funded entirely by the City. You'll be just fine with transit in Norwood. Get a stored value card (which works like a gift card for transit) that allows you to never have to carry change. Also look out for the mobile payment app that Metro should be rolling out in about two months, just in time for the streetcar opening.

Also, regarding Norwood being surrounded by the city, there are actually three different cities within the borders of Cincinnati. Norwood, St. Bernard, and Elmwood Place. Cincy's not the only place with enclaves though. Detroit has Hamtramck and Michigan City.