Now now now... lets not resurrect these old issues!
In full disclaimer mode - I live in Lebanon - moved there this year. Lived prior to that for 5 months in a rental in Monroe. Lived before that for about 8 months with my brother/sister-in-law in NORTHSIDE. Moved to Northside from Detroit-metro.
I did not buy in Northside. Could have. Did not.
Reason one. Too transitional. Yes, I know - "Northside is on its way up". Except for the fact that I LIVED there, on a "decent" street - and every night at the UDF 1/2 block away there was some kind of issue going on. Kids (literally, couldn't have been more than 11) smoking dope. Yes, dope - I know what it is, what it smells like and this was children on a public street corner smokin' down. In the 8 years my brother has lived there, I have not noticed the neighborhood get appreciably "better" -- i.e. "less transitional".
Reason two. Gun shots. 2 blocks away on the "less decent" streets - semi-weekly at least. I was told it was because of "drugs" and I shouldn't worry because since we were not involved with drugs we would not be in danger. However I come from the Detroit-metro area and I know darn well that bullets may be aimed in one direction, but often end up somewhere unintended.
Reason three. Transitional can go Up or Down. No guarantee its going to get better. Yes, it is a cool neighborhood. People there some of the most liberal I've met yet, hip restaurants, neat stores, cool street life on Hamilton. But still -- not worth the gamble - for me.
So... I am a fan of Northside, I would reccommend it to people PREPARED to deal with the above issues. But, that means they need to be AWARE of these types of issues.
For the record, I looked at buying in Oakley, HP, and Norwood. Ultimately decided owning an acre was more important than being in the city (for me) and thus I now live in Lebanon. I work in Westchester - so my commute (from the city to westchester v. lebanon to westchester) would have been equi-distant.
Cinci-urban is cool. But there are some real issues that people need to be aware of. I'm sure there are crime statistics for Northside, no I haven't looked at them recently (since I stopped living there). I don't know if all random gunshots that don't end in a victim are reported there. But I KNOW they occur, because I heard them - on a disturbingly regular basis.
I will be thrilled if/when N. Side turns the corner. I probably still won't live there, as hopefully by then my hubby and I will be settled into our life in the hinterlands. But I am not a city - basher by any means. There are things the city offers that you just really can't get in the burbs. However I believe the burbs are equally valuable, just different and for people who value other things.
Lets all hope the OP finds what they are looking for in the city and are able to make an informed (by all sorts of people's opinions) decision on what is best for them both (op and mother).
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Linear Mode
