Streets in Norwood (Cincinnati, Middletown, Mason: middle-class, city hall, houses)

[DDerringer0807]

Hi all -

My husband and I have looking at many different neighborhoods to buy a house. I've heard good and bad things about Norwood. There are a few houses there that are beautifully fixed up and the price can't be beat, so I'm thinking what's the catch? One house is located 2418 Shanmoor Ave. Is this a good area of the neighborhood? Another one is on Norwood Ave. Any feedback on these streets or other streets that are in a good part of Norwood would be great. Thanks so much!

[babigyrl5]

to my knowledge nothing is wrong with Norwood, its a good area welcome and happy shopping!

[HuskerDu]

All of the streets back in the neighborhood where Shanmoor is located are nice. The closer you are to Rookwood, the more desirable Norwood becomes. I believe that section of Norwood will be the next to inherit the "up and coming" status Oakley has held for so long. Once the housing crisis is over and home values become even more ridiculously overpriced in Oakley, people will start looking at the great values in the eastern potion of Norwood.

I have no idea about Norwood Avenue.

[Ohiogirl81]

Norwood Avenue is parallel to the Lateral, so there's plenty of traffic on the street and the view wouldn't be so pleasant.

[Redlegs]

I grew up in Norwood. The best area of town is Indian Mound, IMO. Shanmore is also very nice. The worst part of town is probably West Norwood. I wouldn't want to live on Norwood Avenue due to the traffic. Norwood's a great location because it's "15 minutes from anywhere" in Cincinnati.

[goyguy]

I haven't heard of Shanmoor (so nothing bad must've ever happened there, LOL) but ditto on the comments re Norwood Ave. Living opposite an expressway means zero peace and quiet, ever, at least in the front of the house.
Between the "Rookwood" developments, and XU's expansion into the south end of the city, Norwood is definitely poised to take off. But here are the three things working against its progress:
1. So-so public school system, which of course is funded by...
2. Taxes. Norwood used to be a hub of manufacturing, with a sprawling GM plant and the headquarters of the US Playing Card Company feeding beaucoup bucks into the municipal coffers. When the factories closed it was like pulling the rug out from under the city treasury. Some shopping and office developments have sprung up where those companies once stood, but the tax revenue generated by those businesses isn't nearly as much. Therefore, another thing poised to "take off" is potentially what property owners may have to pay to City Hall each year.
3. Popular perception. Norwood began life as a "streetcar suburb," and was solidly middle-class until the factories came in. Thousands of Appalachian immigrants, drawn by high wages and job security (can't close a unionized plant, right?) flooded into the area and many residents moved away in response. Consequently, the overall community slipped a few notches economically and gained a reputation as a haven for "brars." The ridicule in newspaper columns and on radio shows reached the point, in the '70s, that an "I'm Proud of Norwood" bumper sticker was introduced and was soon seen on many a vehicle. It also is a noticeable fact that the city has retained "lily White" demographics even as surrounding communities save for Hyde Park and Oakley have become diverse in population (Pleasant Ridge, North Avondale) or essentially all-Black (Evanston, Bond Hill.) Legalized housing discrimination is history, but the redneck rep earned by Norwood has kept its racial composition unchanged. Whether the town evolves into a more diverse place or not, the hillbilly stigma is bound to hang on for a while.
Having said all that, I think Norwood has a lot of things going for it and a long-term investment should be a good one.

[HuskerDu]

GoyGuy,

Shanmoor is a small cross-street that intersects Catherine, Grove, Jefferson and so on. It runs paralell between Williams (south of Smith) and I-71. We live around that area and it is very nice.

[Ohiogirl81]

A friend of mine grew up on Glenside, and then purchased a house on the same street. In that residential area between Montgomery and Carthage, the homes are well-kept and everyone seems friendly.

Originally Posted by goyguy

gained a reputation as a haven for "brars."

Hee! I haven't heard that word in awhile. [hijack]Do y'all remember the Middletown radio station WPFB? We Play For Briars?[/hijack]

[gman5431]

I live in Norwood and have for over 3 years. I know it has a stigma but its not necessarily true. The "Mason Dixon" line is basically Montgomery Ave. Depending on what side of Montgomery you are on, you will either see the "common perception" of Norwood that people shy away from, or a neighborhood that could easily be confused with Hyde Park. I live on the east side of Montgomery, the side i think it much nicer. This is the side that has Rookwood on it. The other side, like back near the highschool and areas like that are less desirable, in my opinion.

So, for the street near Rookwood, i bet its pretty nice.

I live very close to Norwood Ave. Its on the right side but the street aint the greatest. Its very busy, right across from the higway so may be kinda loud too. I live in cul de sac so i wouldnt want to be there but it would have very easy access to the highway and if its down from Mongomery a little ways where it bends from the lateral it may be okay. Really gotta check it out first hand to be sure.

G Rizzle

[gman5431]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

I grew up in Norwood. The best area of town is Indian Mound, IMO. Shanmore is also very nice. The worst part of town is probably West Norwood. I wouldn't want to live on Norwood Avenue due to the traffic. Norwood's a great location because it's "15 minutes from anywhere" in Cincinnati.

I live right off of Indian Mound so i couldnt agree more. I love it here. Being centrally located cant be over rated. I can get to work in Blue Ash, downtown, over to my parents place in Hyde Park, and most of my friends houses, even the ones on the west side within 20 minutes.

G Rizzle