North Avondale - nice on the prime streets or still too dangerous? (Norwood: rental, sex offenders)

[jmecklenborg]

I get out of work late and bike around the city after dark with some regularity. I biked Clinton Springs and Mitchell around 10-11pm at least 10 times this past year and saw zero drug dealing or other suspicious activity.

Overall the amount of visible drug dealing, prostitution, and loitering is WAY down in Cincinnati as compared to about ten years ago. I don't know if it's because of cell phones or if all of the activity has moved elsewhere, but Walnut Hills, Avondale, and especially Over-the-Rhine used to be an absolute mess. I am not aware of North Avondale having ever had any problems.

I was friends with a guy who grew up on Red Bud and another who grew up on Mitchell and neither have any war stories.

[cincydave8]

Originally Posted by Investor001

I would try to get into Fairview in Clifton. If not, I think I would go private school if I lived there. NA Montessori hasn't impressed me but if you all know something that I do not, I'm open to taking a look. Fairview seems really nice. Is NA Montessori just like that or a couple steps below?

I honestly don't know much about NAM. Just wanted you to be aware it was a magnet. Fairview, SCPA and Sands seem to be the best magnets.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Investor001

This is all good feedback. Yes, my criteria to be close to work almost forces me to live in a less than 100% safe area. I'd love to be in Hyde Park or Mount Lookout, but the homes and yards are much smaller for the price. I could probably do East Walnut Hills (although nothing is on the market there right now), Gaslight Clifton or North Avondale only on those prime streets. Would the crime be much higher in North Avondale than the others. Would driving home and to work be dangerous, especially at night moreso in North Avondale?

As crime-averse as I am, no, I don't think driving between home and work at any time of day or night should really be a concern with North Avondale. As I said previously, I think my biggest worry would be instability of individual property values. Drive the whole neighborhood and see if you observe any things of concern from that standpoint. If you do, then realize the same thing might happen next door to you.

[Chemistry_Guy]

I have several good friends that live in North Avondale very close to Xavier(Winding Way, Marion). They occasionally complain about college students making noise late at night, but other than that they have no complaints.

Beautiful mansions aside, Reading Road itself is not a safe street, even in North Avondale. While not nearly as bad as Avondale (where it is among the most crime ridden streets in the city), it is the artery of choice for a lot of illicit activity. There is a lot of police presence, but quite a bit of crimes happen regularly.

I would take a look at houses on Terrace and Howell in Clifton. Tons of UC professors live there, and the houses are really stunning, especially on the inside. If my wife and I ever wanted to move closer to the city that is the first place we would look.

[Investor001]

Sarah Perry and others, thanks for the feedback. This is all very helpful. To be clear on the safety front, I want to feel safe driving to work, walking around my nice neighborhood streets, and living in my house. I've lived in urban areas and I have an idea of what to avoid. However, if I'll get mugged on Beechwood, Betula, Rose Hill, Rose Bud (I'd avoid main roads like Reading & Mitchell in North Avondale) then I would not like that neighborhood. If I have a home break in while I'm there, I wouldn't like that. If I'd have to worry about dodging bullets to and from work, I wouldn't like that (I saw in the Enquirer that a lawyer died driving through Walnut Hills recently). Those our my main concerns. If the risk is fairly high there for any of those or much higher than other areas, then I probably would avoid NA.

However, if those are fairly low risk or almost the same as Clifton Gaslight/Ludlow area then I am not too worried about it. I understand that sometimes comes with living in the urban core. Car break ins (hopefully not on an annual basis), garage break ins, muggings late at night can happen in Clifton Gaslight area and so I wouldn't worry too much about those type of things.

Originally Posted by Chemistry_Guy

I have several good friends that live in North Avondale very close to Xavier(Winding Way, Marion). They occasionally complain about college students making noise late at night, but other than that they have no complaints.

Beautiful mansions aside, Reading Road itself is not a safe street, even in North Avondale. While not nearly as bad as Avondale (where it is among the most crime ridden streets in the city), it is the artery of choice for a lot of illicit activity. There is a lot of police presence, but quite a bit of crimes happen regularly.

I would take a look at houses on Terrace and Howell in Clifton. Tons of UC professors live there, and the houses are really stunning, especially on the inside. If my wife and I ever wanted to move closer to the city that is the first place we would look.

Great feedback! Winding Way seems like a safer street since it's so close to Xavier. I wish I could find something there. Right now there is not much over in Clifton but it's on my list. It seems from the sold listings that homes in Clifton are $100k-$200k more expensive than similar square foot homes in North Avondale. There are more smaller homes in Clifton. I'd really like something over 3000 square feet. Yeah, Reading worries me as that's a quick route to the hospitals in Clifton so I'd be driving it daily.

So I was looking at listings and saw these ones in North Avondale (links below). Any better than the others or in a slightly better part of the neighborhood than the others? They all seem kinda high priced as I looked at the sold listings over the last year. And it looks like most of the sold homes sold around $350k unless they were huge mansions.

4015 Beechwood Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 - realtor.com®

3936 Rose Hill Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 - realtor.com®

4235 Rose Hill Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 - realtor.com®

3950 Red Bud Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 - realtor.com®

[mimi in cinci]

These are all viable options at decent prices. I think this is the point where you get a realtor who's very experienced in the area and run the comps. PM me if you'd like a few names.

Good luck on your hunt!

[CinciFan]

OP, I live a few blocks away from the Red Bud/Rose Hill neighborhood you're looking at and I seriously, seriously doubt you'd ever have a problem with violent crime or major property crime in the area. I also can't think of any problem properties on those streets off the top of my head. Just my $.02.

[Investor001]

Originally Posted by CinciFan

OP, I live a few blocks away from the Red Bud/Rose Hill neighborhood you're looking at and I seriously, seriously doubt you'd ever have a problem with violent crime or major property crime in the area. I also can't think of any problem properties on those streets off the top of my head. Just my $.02.

Thanks for this feedback. It's good to hear from someone who lives nearby. Those streets seem very nice. I've seen some unsavory characters on Reading Road but never on those streets but I'm also not there 24 hours a day. Hearing from someone who lives nearby is very helpful. I'm not fearful of living in a more urban area, I'd be fearful of home invasions, kids getting messed with in our yard and stuff like that. I think some of the perception of North Avondale is trickling over from what you see on the news about Avondale or hear about Avondale. Thank you!

[Investor001]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

North Avondale is a collection of fine houses without a neighborhood. No place for children unless they are on house arrest.

Wilson, I'd love to understand more of your point of view. I always like to hear both sides of an issue. I'm not hearing this same thing about North Avondale from everyone else on this thread.

[SalamanderSmile]

Why not just buy this house and call it a safe(r) excellent school-ed day. Settle for being a little further from work.

https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/C...oming-OH-45215

not my house or listing or anything, it just popped up today and I love that street.